Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Regional Subjects - West    3. Travel    4. United States - West - Pacific (General)    5. Regional   

Reviews (5)

How Life in Colorado has changed since Ida's day
Ida, her labor of Love, by carol crawford mcmanus
What a Woman!
All women everywhere should read this book about a truly amazing & courageous woman.Ida is a lady that all women can admire & appreciate.I didn't want this book to end.You won't be disappointed in this beautiful book.

One of my favorite books
An interesting and well written story of one woman's life.You will not be disappointed in this book.Ida's life is written in novel form with her many triumphs and disappointments drawing the reader in.I couldn't wait to get back to Ida and her life while I was reading this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Colorado    6. Frontier and pioneer life    7. Herwick, Ida,    8. Historical - General    9. Historical - U.S.    10. History / United States / 19th Century    11. Pioneers    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. Women    14. d. 1919    15. 19th century    16. Herwick, Ida    17. Herwick, Ida Oyler    18. History    19. Women pioneers   

Subjects:  1. 1912-    2. Alaska    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Ethnic Cultures - Native Americans    8. Inupiat    9. Inupiat women    10. Pinson, Elizabeth Bernhardt,    11. Reference    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. Social conditions    14. Social life and customs    15. Teller    16. Women   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Historical - U.S.    3. Regional Subjects - West   

Reviews (8)

Great Book about the Back-to-the-land movement
This is one of the best books I've read about the back to the land movement of the late 60's and early 70's. It is both insightful and enjoyable. Well worth reading. Her experiences and writing style really bring the period to life.

Rare Poetic Memoir from a 60's Commune Experience
I really enjoyed savouring this gem. This wasn't a book to be devoured but enjoyed for all the details of time and place and dialog that is quite good. In those details I was transported into a perspective of our historical culture that I never have experienced before. Ms. Price experienced the 60's and commune life from quite a different view than I expected. Yes, there was the "normal" sex-capades, pot, and a dislike of bougouis society, but through it all a voice shines through as she is just watching herself from within that same consumer society. Voluntary poverty and....Food Stamps? I never would have thought!The experiment shows through. I did feel she held back from exposing much that I was looking to read about, but I guess some were kept out to protect the innocent.It was gilded with elloquence but there was that veil of herself fighting to be a Hippie with all her heart, and her wanting acceptance from her family. I really wanted her to to bust out and be all that she wanted without mental chains. After finishing the book I came away with what I felt was an understanding of what personal freedom can mean and how it works within two opposing paradigms. The two really don't blend but through Roberta's eyes I found how it's possible they still can.

A passionate, sexy, memoir of a high and passionate time.
Roberta Price's book captures the moral fervor, the enormous amount of work, the sexual explorations, and the personal growth curve of one very smart, very attractive, highly educated woman who "threw it all away" (as her parents might have said) to found an alternative community in the mountains of Colorado. I knew her then and now, knew the community and lived in one like it myself. The tone, the details are compelling and true, filled me with pride, and sympathy (and a couple of shared winces.) This is a very very good book and deserves a wide audience. Peter Coyote, actor/author, Sleeping Where I Fall ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Personal Memoirs    3. Popular Culture - Counter Culture    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Regional Subjects - West    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - General    9. Biography: general    10. Colorado    11. Social groups & communities    12. c 1960 to c 1970   

Reviews (3)

The real Los Angeles
George Garrigues uses the medium of letters to depict a history of LA through a native's eyes. An emerging voice of California history, Garrigues brings the sides of LA to life, the down and gritty, and beyond the glamorized versions most of the world thinks is LA. Must read for all those who left their hearts in California. The Father and Son theme here beats the John Irving's take on the very same theme West-Coast style.

George Garrigues hits a home run
George Garrigues has established himself as a new and emerging historian of all things Los Angeles. He skips the well worn issues like the pueblos and Olvera Street and jumps right into the lesser known but eqally important parts of L.A. history like political corruption, racism, commercialism, crime, and many more.His website and his book will be read for many years to come!
Like Father, Like Son, an Inspiring Life Through Letters
In this stirring tribute to his legendary father, Charles Harris (Brick) Garrigues, George Garrigues weaves a lifetime of Brick's remarkable letters with his (Brick's) novel/memoir, "Many a Glorious Morning," and writes the book his father only dreamed of writing. On the surface, we see Brick as a courageous newspaperman exposing city graft and corruption, and we see him as a lover, husband, father and liberal activist. Beneath the surface, though, we see him as a man and artist struggling to discover and express himself. He succeeds, brilliantly, in this book which illumes the combined joys and agonies of relationships between the sexes, fathers and sons and daughters, citizens and governments, and between a writer and his typewriter. We are also carried along through Brick's eclectic interests, ranging from history, politics, literature, music, to gardening, and beyond. And we are treated to the clarity and color of an earlier Southern California, as seen through the eyes of a sensitive child and adolescent who is destined to leave a rich legacy of words, ideas and love as revealed in these letters. Brick's son's memories and his painstaking and thorough research tie it all together. As the son most like his father, George Garrigues is a crusading journalist himself. He has done his father proud with this book. Don't miss it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Editors, Journalists, Publishers    2. Historical - U.S.    3. Regional Subjects - West    4. California    5. Garrigues, Charles Harris    6. Journalists, American   

Reviews (2)

Quick and fun read
This book was assigned for me in an American Literature of Nature and Place class in college.It is a great story of a man starting college at Reed, learning college and school isn't for him (now who in college hasn't thought that?), and moved on in the world to learn about nature and writing by living it.Not all environmental appreciation books are about people yelling and rebeling - this environmental book yields appreciation.

Good read!
A wonderful, warm, enlightening story of a young man's journey into natural wonders and wonderings. Daniel's poetic prose is delightful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Daniel, John,    8. Literary    9. Naturalists    10. Poets, American    11. Regional Subjects - West    12. United States    13. Daniel, John   

Reviews (6)

The year's round of seasons on a Montana ranch
Montana has produced so many fine writers. Here's another one. Aadland is the son of a Lutheran minister, growing up in south central Montana between the Beartooth Mountains and the Crow Reservation. His "memoir" is mostly about the present, with flashbacks to the past, which include stories of his wife's forebears, who emigrated from Norway in the late 19th century to set themselves up as ranchers. And there are memories of his boyhood, working as a hired hand, a tour of duty in Vietnam as a marine, and raising a family. An engaging compilation of the thoughtful writings
Sketches From The Ranch: A Montana Memoir is an engaging compilation of the thoughtful writings of Dan Aadland. Sketches From The Ranch is about living on a western American ranch (which was founded in 1892), experiencing the turn of the seasons, rejoicing in the birth of colts and calves, embracing simple means of life even as Thoreau did at Walden. Superb black-and-white sketches by artist Nik Carpenter add a visual and emotional touch to this moving memoir.

A moving memoir
Sketches From The Ranch: A Montana Memoir is an engaging compilation of the thoughtful writings of Dan Aadland. Sketches From The Ranch is about living on a western American ranch (which was founded in 1892), experiencing the turn of the seasons, rejoicing in the birth of colts and calves, embracing simple means of life even as Thoreau did at Walden. Superb black-and-white sketches by artist Nik Carpenter add a visual and emotional touch to this moving memoir. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Aadland, Dan    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Montana    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Ranch life    8. Ranchers    9. Regional Subjects - West    10. Social life and customs    11. Travel    12. United States - State & Local - West    13. United States - West - General    14. Travel / United States / West / General   

Reviews (4)

Well worth the read
I enjoyed Diski's self revelations and conversations with Americans on her cross country train trips. Yes, she clearly needs her cigarettes, and yes, she discusses what are clearly uncomfortable settings of her own mental health, but people, her writing is fantastic, and she creates a definite view of what train travel in the US is like these days. The reviewer that wonders what happened in certain legs of the journey needs to realize that yes, one does sleep on the train and certain geography is doomed to be missed in such a trip. THis book is less about the external geography and more about the internal geography the authors sees with her traveling compatriots across America. A wonderful look at Americans and at an author examiningherself while traveling.

Very poor ? not a great Travel Book
This is the first book I've read by Jenni Diski, and I'm told it's not typical of her work. Certainly this was disappointing. It's not a conventional travelogue; in fact after 70 pages (25% of the book) she still hadn't got on the train! great trip
Jenny Diski clearly had a great trip and this book proves how even a 'non-traveler' can easily fall beneath the spell of long-distance train travel. Anyone planning to follow her example and journey around North America by train should also get hold of the excellent USA by Rail guidebook by John Pitt. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. British    7. Description And Travel    8. Diski, Jenny    9. History    10. Literary    11. Novelists, English    12. Railroad travel    13. Regional Subjects - West    14. Travel    15. Travelers    16. United States    17. Women   

Subjects:  1. Regional Subjects - West    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Women    4. Historical - General    5. Modern - 19th Century    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Biography & Autobiography   

Reviews (12)

Great Memories
Just to reiterate. My [...] teacher, Mrs. Childs, from Madison Elementary in Ogden Utah read us this tale, daily, but only if we were good. We lived righteously in those days, just to hear the tale. I have bought it now, to read to my grandkids. Maybe the best book I remember as a child...right alongside Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, of course. A MUST READ! Please, don't let a chance to read this with your kids, or grandkids, pass.....you will never forget the experience.

Real West, Real Westerner, Great Native American Stories
This book was written as a series of stories told by the author early in this century.It was first published in the early 1900's and has been republished multiple times since.All of the versions, variously titled "The White Indian Boy", "Uncle Nick among the Shoshones", or "Among the Shoshones" have the same text and pictures.For many years it was required reading in the Intermountain West during Elementary or Secondary School.Whenever I give a copy to someone, many of them remember loving this book when they first read it or had it read to them by a teacher 50 or more years ago.
The Real American West
Uncle Nick is my great, great, great, great grandfather.I have heard and read the stories many times.I own Among the Shoshoes which came after The White Indian Boy. I have been trying to find a first edition of this book if anyone can help please let me know. My E-mail address is hunterik1@comcast.net
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional Subjects - West   

Reviews (1)

An excellent sampling of New Mexico women in history
More Than Petticoats: Remarkable New Mexico Women is an excellent sampling of women in New Mexico history. This book offers brief biographies of women, crossing ethnic and cultural barriers and spanning several hundred years of herstory. Some of the women included in this volume are Mabel Dodge Luhan (patron of early Southwest Arts), Mary Colter (Fred Harvey/Santa Fe Railroad architect), Georgia O'Keefe (aritist), Maria Martinez (potter),and Elsie Clews Parsons (anthropolgist). Seven other women or groups of women (like the Harvey Girls) are also included.This enjoyable book of significant women is a wonderful volume for those who would like to know a little about a lot of people from one book.I particularly appreciated the regional/state focus because I was familiar with most of the women written about. "More Than Petticoats" is a series focusing on the women who were influential in individual states, and I would definately read more from this series! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. History    4. History: American    5. New Mexico    6. Regional Subjects - West    7. United States - State & Local - General    8. Women    9. Travel / United States / West / Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY)   

Reviews (1)

ADVENTURES OF A TRULY GREAT MAN OF ALASKA
I loved this book.I am not much on reviews, but I had to speak my mind on this one.Sidney Huntington was born to an English-Scot father and a Athapaskan Indian mother in 1915 in Hughes Alaska.This is on the Koyukuk River in central Alaska.These were hard times, but these were very hardy people.The likes of which you do not see anymore.This story is of Sidney's life growing up there as told to Jim Rearden, who did a great job in telling this story.It is filled with adventure, heart ache, even death, but it is a great story.If you love adventure and Alaska this is the book for you.I highly recommed it.He is a truly great man.. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1915-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. History    7. Huntington, Sidney,    8. Koyukon Indians    9. Regional Subjects - West    10. Social life and customs   

Subjects:  1. Pioneers    2. California    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Larkin, Thomas Oliver,    5. Historical - General    6. California - Local History    7. Regional Subjects - West    8. Biography    9. Consuls    10. Biography & Autobiography    11. Biography/Autobiography    12. 1802-1858   

Reviews (1)

BEST book on Navajo Traders
"Wide Ruins" is a wonderful reading experience on an interesting topic.Sallie Wagner weaves a personal tale of her experiences as the trader at Wide Ruins, Arizona, in the 1940's.Her story progresses quickly and she seems to provide enough detail of her experiences without lingering too long on any one topic. She vividly describes the role of the trading post and of the traders.The trading post was a general store, a pawn shop, and a safety deposit box.The traders were resourceful businessmen who could conduct business without any actual money trading hands. They were esteemed residents who helped the Navajo people survive a difficult time in America's history.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies - Tribes    6. General    7. Historical - U.S.    8. Indian traders    9. Native American Anthropology    10. Navajo Indian Reservation    11. Navajo Indians    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. Social life and customs    14. Biography: general    15. Folklore    16. Indigenous peoples    17. North America    18. Wagner, Sallie R   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. California    4. Emigration & Immigration    5. Ethnic Cultures - General    6. Hispanic American women    7. Orange County    8. Regional Subjects - West    9. Social Science    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Women    13. Women cleaning personnel    14. Women immigrants    15. Women's Studies - General    16. Social Science / Ethnic Studies    17. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. (Isabelle Randall)    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. English    7. Farmers & Ranchers    8. General    9. I. R    10. Lawyers & Judges    11. Montana    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Ranchers    14. Regional Subjects - West    15. United States - 19th Century    16. United States - State & Local - General    17. Women ranchers   

Reviews (1)

Moving collection of essays about author's life in the SW.
In this lovely collection of essays, the author, Russell, explores the relationship between the American search for mythological Home to the landscape, the community and the self.In her title essay, she writes about memories of her father, a former test pilot in the Air Force, who died while setting a new speed record in the X-2 over another desert in California, when Russell was still a child.Her memories of him are recovered through her exploration of the image of the Kokopelli man, part of the mythological landscape of the Southwest that she struggles to identify with in this search for Home.In the other essays, Russell tries to balance her utopian ideal of a quiet, slow-paced life in a small rural community with the reality of the isolation and financial struggle of raising a family and building a home in the harsh, though stunningly beautiful, landscape of the Southwest desert, along with the politics and problems that arise intheir eccentric and somewhat transitory community.Russell writes to understand, to make meaning--and the writing seems to discover itself over and over, allowing the reader a fresh journey, no matter the number of readings.Beautiful language ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Farm life    5. Mimbres River Valley    6. Mimbres River Valley (N.M.)    7. New Mexico    8. New Mexico - Local History    9. Regional Subjects - West    10. Russell, Sharman Apt    11. Social life and customs    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. Women    14. Women In The U.S.    15. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Oregon    7. Reference    8. Regional Subjects - West   

Reviews (1)

Got to read these wonderful sketches compiled by Despain.
Hafen's sketches have been favorites.This new compilation has made it easier and more enjoyable to learn about the trappers and traders of the Southwest.Despain has done a masterful job of selecting the best of thecollection.Definitely worth your time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Frontier and pioneer life    4. Fur traders    5. Historical - U.S.    6. History    7. History: American    8. Regional Subjects - West    9. Southwest, New    10. Specific Groups - General    11. Trappers    12. U.S. Local History - New Southwest States    13. United States - State & Local - General