Race to Tibet By Sophie Schiller. Tradewinds Publishing, NY. ISBN 9780692254097
Race to Tibet is a historical novel about the French explorer Gabriel Bonvalot and his attempt to reach Lhasa in the late 1800’s, a time in which Tibet’s borders were closed to world.
I had never heard of Bonvalot, and Sophie Schiller’s book was a pleasant introduction to the man and his exploits.
Below is a quick synopsis of the novel from the author’s website but a featured review will be posted soon:
An intrepid band of explorers headed by Gabriel Bonvalot, France's greatest explorer, and his partner, Prince Henri d'Orléans, attempt to be the first living Europeans to reach Lhasa. Before they leave Paris, Bonvalot meets Camille Dancourt, the beautiful, strong-willed wife of a French surveyor who disappeared in Tibet, who desperately wishes to join the expedition.
When the caravan sets out they face freezing temperatures, violent winds, mountain sickness, hostile Tibetans, duplicitous Chinese Mandarins, and a beguiling Tibetan Buddhist princess with a deadly secret.
When the explorers reach Tibet, they discover a land of mystery and intrigue, a land of danger that promises them only one thing: death. On the verge of collapse, Bonvalot realizes they must resort to deadly force if they ever wish to escape Tibet alive.
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All Fishermen Are Liars By John Gierach. Simon & Schuster, NY. ISBN 9781451618310
Best of 2015 Award
John Gierach is surely in the top echelon of outdoor writers, but there is nothing rarefied about his writing. He emerges from his books and articles as an easy going, down-to-earth guy, not much into fancy clothes, who simply loves to fish.
It comes, then, as no surprise that his writing style isn't fancy either. He doesn't write at his readers. He writes with his readers.
But there's something else, a quality evident just below the surface, that makes Gierach such a pleasure to read, and that's his warmth. Reading his books is like sitting down with a favorite uncle and listening to his stories while a fire crackles and pops in a nearby wood stove. What could be better?
All Fisherman are Liars consists 22 stories, ranging far and wide from way up north in Canada to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to his home fishing streams in Colorado. In all of these, his simple but highly effective story telling skills are on full display.
Thoreau who once wrote that "many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after." There's no better proof of that truism in the writings of John Gierach.
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Defending Idaho's Natural Heritage By Ken Robison. Boise, ID. ISBN 9870578140933
Best of 2015 Award
Defending Idaho's Natural Heritage is an impressive and penetrating history of Idaho's conservation movement, and there was no better person to write that history than Ken Robison.
Ken Robison is a journalist and for many years served as the editorial editor at Idaho's flagship newspaper, the Idaho Statesman. He was later elected to the Idaho legislature, but he continued reporting and writing on environmental issues, founding a magazine called the Idaho Citizen.
He was present on the scene, a keen-eyed observer and reporter, during the most tumultuous — and productive — times in the Idaho conservation movement.
It was during the three decades of the 1960's, 70's and 80's that monumental battles were waged over Idaho's wild lands and rivers. These were David and Goliath battles: small Idaho-based conservation groups and individuals with little or no funds up against business lobbyists and corporate lawyers with unlimited expense accounts. What came from those struggles are such national treasures as the River of No Return Wilderness, the Sawtooth Recreation Area, the Selway-Bitterrroot Wilderness, and Hell's Canyon National Recreation Area.
Robison's book is one of the most important works on the Idaho conservation movement ever to be published, and it will long be a reliable source of historical information.
For a more lengthy review, see Defending Idaho's Natural Heritage
Defending Idaho can be purchased directly with the author's site: Defending Idaho
2014 Reviews
The Last Voyageur: Amos Burg and the Rivers of the West by Vince Welch The Mountaineers Books, Seattle.
ISBN 9781594857010
Best of 2014 Award
This labor-of-love book is a vivid portrait of a pioneering river explorer and a welcomed addition to outdoor literature.
Vince Welch co-authored the Doing of the Thing, an outstanding biography about another pioneering river runner Buzz Holmstrom which won the National Outdoor Book Award in 1998.
After a long period of research, he is back with a new book, this time about Amos Burg. Entitled The Last Voyager, the book fills in the blanks and has greatly expanded our knowledge of this adventurer extraordinaire.
In a burst of activity over a 20-year period from 1920 to 1940, Burg ran the Columbia, Snake, Green, Colorado, Yukon, Mackenzie, Yellowstone, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers. Gone for months at a time, he was both consumed and seduced by rivers and never married until very late in life.
Burg was determined and ambitious, but he was also refreshingly modest. “Burg would have been embarrassed to find himself hoisted on a pedestal,” Welch writes. “Nevertheless, he serves as a marker on the river of time, a witness to change who wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to rivers. He traveled the western waterways in pursuit of beauty, adventure and excitement . . . . His explorations were as much of the landscape as the human heart.”
Bravo to Welch for putting an equal amount of heart into this fine biography and giving us front row seat into Amos Burg’s fascinating life.
For a more lengthy review, see The Last Voyageur
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Cabin Creek Chronicle: The History of the Most Remote Ranch in America By G. Wayne Minshall, Streamside Scribe Press.
ISBN 9780984949014
Best of 2014 Award
The central Idaho wilderness has left an indelible mark on author Wayne Minshall. It was plainly evident in his first historical work, a fascinating account of the Caswell brothers who through plain hard work and inventiveness eked out a living along Big Creek, a major stream in what is now known as the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
Minshall returns to the Big Creek country in his second book Cabin Creek Chronicles, and once again, recounts the drama of human life far away from civilization.
Even in this remote country where only a handful of people live, there are murders, adultery, and greed intermixed with a modicum neighborly goodness. His book is all focused on one piece of ground — and the succession of changes that occurred there — at the mouth of Cabin Creek, first homesteaded by the Caswells.
Cabin Creek Chronicle is another exceptional work by a fine historical writer. Put this one on your “must read” list. You won’t be disappointed.
For a more lengthy review, see Cabin Creek Chronicle
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Adventure Inward: A Risk Taker’s Book of Quotes by Jonathan Wunrow, Life is Twisted Press. ISBN 9780985188146.
Best of 2014 Award
I have several books of quotes on my bookshelf, but with the publication of Jonathan Wunrow’s Adventure Inward, I’ve moved all of the others aside. This 200-page volume is packed full of quotes by famous writers, poets, climbers, and philosophers. It also includes quite a few names that you probably won’t recognize and which gives the book a down-to-earth feel, adding to its appeal.
It’s an eclectic collection of quotes, from the ancient words of Li Po and his love of a
mountain . . .
We never grow tired of each other,
the mountain and I
To Edward Abbey’s benediction of the outdoor life . . .
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
You’ll find plenty of gems. There are words of inspiration . . .
Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. (Mark Twain)
And the humorous . . .
You have to stay in shape. My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. Now she’s ninety-seven and we don’t know where the hell she is. (Ellen DeGeneres)
Wunrow divides the book into sixteen sections. Here are a few: “Why Play a Risky Game,” “The Beauty of Nature,” “The Moment,” “Find Your Path in Life,” and “Being Open to the Possible.” Each section is introduced by Wunrow with brief commentary which nicely sums up the collection of quotes that follow.
As I read through them, every so often I’d wonder about the author of the quote – particularly those by little known authors. Did Wunrow overhear it? Is it re-quoted by someone else? Did he come across it in a book or an article? Albeit, it is understandable that Wurow wasn’t able to include source notes. Books are expensive to print and there’s only so much space, but perhaps we can prevail upon Wunrow to include source information some day on his website.
But I’m splitting hairs here. What’s important is that Wunrow has done a commendable job with Adventure Inward — and done us all a favor by putting together this fine assemblage of quotes.
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Personal Best - Fishing and Life: An Obsessive Weekend Tournament Angler’s Pursuit of Perfection. By Kurt Mazurek JLS Mazurek Publishing ISBN 9781940474021
This is a warm-hearted novel about weekend fishing tournaments. What are fishing tournaments? They are contests in which fishermen attempt to catch as many fish as they can of a certain species.
The fish are kept in live tanks in the competitors’ boats until, at the end of a certain amount of time, officials weigh the fish and return them to the water. The fisherman with the heaviest catch is declared the winner.
If you’re looking for seamy scenes, or guns blaring and fists flying, you won’t find it here. There are, however, some very competitive characters in the novel, and one in particular who will stop at nothing to win.
If you’re a fisherman — and particularly if you’re keen on competitive fishing — you’ll find Mazurek’s novel an entertaining read. Take it with you fishing. Keep it handy for that day when you need a little encouragement, sitting alone in the boat, trying everything, and no matter what, the fish just aren’t biting. Who knows? After reading it, your luck may change.
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2013 Reviews
The Sparks Fly Upward: A Novel. By Jon Correll, Inkwater Press, Portland, OR. ISBN 9781592998883
Best of 2013 Award
Sparks Fly Upward takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in the early 1970's. It’s about Nate Miller as he finishes high school, leaves his rural home, and goes on to college in the big city. It’s about young romance and homespun decency - and one inevitable, fatal flaw, the consequences of which are foreshadowed on a hunting trip taken by Miller in which he drives himself to near collapse tracking a deer that he has wounded.
What impressed me most about this book is the author's ability to capture dialog. There's nothing contrived about the characters. They are well developed, and real enough that you feel like you're in the midst of the hill country, standing with Nate Miller as he interacts with family and friends. I found it a fine first effort by a new author and quite worthy of having a look.
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The Milepost: Alaska Travel Planner. Edited by Kris Valencia, Morris Communications Company, Anchorage, AK. ISBN 9781892154309.
Since 1949, the Milepost has been the bible of North Country travel. This is the 2013 version. Like the versions before, it provides mile-by-mile descriptions of all major highways and roads in Alaska and northwestern Canada. It's indispensible if you drive from the lower 48 to Alaska as well as a useful resource if you travel by plane, ferry or even bicycle.
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High Points: A Climber's Guide to Central America. By Jonathan Wunrow. Life is Twisted Press, Kasaan, AK. ISBN 9780985188115
High Points is both a guidebook and travelogue. It covers the climbs of the highest peak in each of the seven countries of Central America. Route descriptions are supplemented with journal entries from the author's own climbs, as well as information on the country in general and other helpful travel information for climbers.
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2012 Reviews
Canyons and Ice: the Wilderness Travels of Dick Griffith. By Kaylene Johnson, Ember Press, Eagle River, AK. ISBN 9781467509343
There is no doubt in my mind. Alaskan Dick Griffith is the most hardened and experienced wilderness traveler of our age. Canyons and Ice is his story.
Griffith has walked and skied more than 6,000 miles across Alaska and the Canadian Arctic. Think about that. It's just under 3,000 miles across the entire U.S. from Albany, New York to San Francisco. Dick Griffith did that distance twice over - twice over! He had no roads to follow, no trails to guide his way - persevering, alone, through wild, remote country and bitter cold temperatures.
That's not all. Griffith was among the early river runners of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. He was the first to run the formidable Lava Falls in an inflatable raft. Along with his wife, he traversed the length of Copper Canyon in Mexico.
Canyons and Ice is Dick Griffith's story - and it's one story well worth reading.
For a more lengthy review, see Canyons and Ice
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Big Water, Little Boats. By Tom Martin, Vishnu Temple Press, Flagstaff, AZ. ISBN 9780979505560
In this elegantly designed book, Tom Martin chroncles the adventures of the pioneers of wooden dories on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Martin focuses on Moulty Fulmer and Fulmer's innovative and ground breaking dory that he constructed named the "Gem."
The river was truly wild then before the advent of the Glen Canyon Dam, and in one chapter, Martin tells the story of a 1957 trip when the Colorado was running at an amazing 126,000 cubic feet per second. (The average flow on the Colorado River these days is 15,000 cubic feet per second.)
His descriptions of 1950's river trips are a joy to read and revealing, in many ways, of the dynamics of egos and personalities when a group of people live closely together and face the challenges of a wilderness river.
At the conclusion of the book, Martin re-constructs a replica of Fulmer's "Gem" and with it attempts a run down the canyon. It turns out to be the perfect finishing touch to this fine, new historical text, certain a find a place among exceptional works about the river runners of the Grand Canyon.
For a more complete review, see Big Water, Little Boats
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Walking the Amazon: 860 Days. One Step at a Time. By Ed Stafford, Penguin Group, New York. ISBN 9780452298262
Honorable Mention: Best of 2012
Tangled jungles, sweltering humidity, fetid swamps, bitting ants, lethal snakes, and a beaucratic maze of governmental and native permits, author Ed Stafford lived and survived a nightmare. He set out with a friend at the Pacific Ocean in Peru and together they crossed the Andes, reaching the real starting point of the journey: the source of the Amazon.
Somewhere afterwards, his friend bows out and others join him from time to time, but finally, he ends up with forestry worker "Cho" Rivera who, committed as he is, walks all but four months of the twenty-eight month epic.
There's nothing fancy about Stafford's writing. It's a plainly told narrative, but I guarentee that once you start the book, you won't be able to put it down - even if you're like me and don't have a particular affinity for jungles. He re-creates the journey: the day-to-day grind, the dark and wet, steamy forest, and the internal debate going on his mind which leads him chillingly close to madness.
The Amazon is not all tangled jungle. We learn that towns and roads have increasingly encroached on this last outpost of rain forest wilderness, and where they lie close to the river, he follows roads and forest trails. At night, when near outposts of civilization, he stays with families, or recovers in hotels in small and large cities. Frequently, he is re-stocked with food and supplies. He keeps admirers informed of his progress with regular blog reports.
But, he is never lured away from his goal, and along with his trusty and grounded companion Cho, he heads back again and again for days and weeks at a time in the dark Amazon forest.
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Eastern Alpine Guide: Natural History and Conservation of Mountain Tundra East of the Rockies. Edited by M.T. Jones and L.L. Willey, Beyond Ktaadn, Inc., New Salem, MA. ISBN 9780988353510
This well-done, colorfully illustrated guide covers the high elevation biozones of New England, New York, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador. Written by a variety of experts - biologists, geologists, geographers, explorers and naturalists - it begins with several informative chapters on Eastern mountains in general: geological history, climate and weather, flora and fauna. From there the book delves into detail on each mountain region, starting with New England and working it way up through Newfoundland to the Canadian Shield. If you're a hiker, climber or sightseer who likes to get above tree-line, this is one companion to take with you on your next journey.
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An Island Between Two Shores: A Novel. By Graham Wilson, Friday 501, Whitehouse, Canada. ISBN 9780978036768
This is a spare, haunting tale of escape and survival. Taking place in the time of the Klondike Gold rush, it centers on an 18-year old girl who, after her father is killed, must find her way through the Arctic wilderness to Dawson. Travelling downriver in a canoe, she capsizes in a rapid, and finds refuge on an island, but she is also finds herself imprisoned since the fast flowing current on either side of the island prevents her escape.
Written by an author who is experienced in the ways of the North, it's imbued with realism and brutal honesty. The realism, however, doesn't carry over to its sudden and distorted ending. Of course, mine is only one opinion. It's a short novel and it can be read in a sitting or two. Have a look for yourself and you can be the final judge.
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Eagles in the Flesh: A Wild Hang Gliding Adventure. By Erik B. Kaye, n.p., ISBN 9780615674155
Eagles in the Flesh is a memoir of Erik Kaye's hang gliding experiences: the joys, near misses, tragedies and downright debauchery of Kaye and his pals playing out against the fickle realm of sky and clouds. Kaye clearly could have used a hard-nosed developmental editor to bring some order to this rambling narrative, but if you have an interest in hang gliding - and late-night carousing with the boys - then you might find something of interest here.
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Beyond Learning by Doing: Theoretical Currents in Experiential Education. By Jay W. Roberts. Routledge, New York. ISBN 9780415882088
In this meditative work, Jay Roberts mines deeply into the philosophical underpinnings of experiential education. The book is organized around the metaphor of a river: Roberts walks us up to the edge of the canyon rim above the river, and then we're off on a hurry, hiking with him "down to the details." From there on, we follow the swirling currents of thought: romantic, pragmatic, critical, normative and hopeful. It's a highly academic and thought provoking narrative. Before launching a boat upon this winding river, however, readers will want to have an understanding of educational philosophy and theory, but with the requisite background, there are certainly gems to be found.
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Wilderness Brothers: Prospecting, Horse Packing & Homesteading on the Western Frontier. By G. Wayne Minshall. Steamside Scribe Press, Inkom, ID. ISBN 9780984949007
Honorable Mention: Best of 2012
The book centers on the diaries of Luman Caswell who along with his brother in the 1800's, take a 2,500-mile journey by buckboard wagon and horseback, eventually settling along Big Creek deep in the mountainous wilderness of central Idaho. It is, in fact, still wilderness to this day.
There's much here more than homesteading. In the wilderness, a day or two journey from their small ranch, Caswell and his brothers eventually discover enough gold that they set off what would become one the last great gold rushes: the Thunder Mountain rush.
For a more complete review, see: Wilderness Brothers
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2011 Reviews
Murder on Aconcagua: A Summit Murder Mystery By Charles G. Irion and Ronald J. Watkins. Irion Books, Phoenix, AZ. ISBN 9780984161850
Murder on Aconcagua is the fifth novel in a series about deadly characters and devious deeds on climbing expeditions. In Aconcagua, the plot revolves around the possible existence of three ancient Incan idols and an attempt by Hugo Chavez (yes that's the arch, anti-imperialist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela) to possess the idols. Why? Because, of course, the idols will bring him supernatural power.
Our hero, mountaineer Scott Devlon is there to investigate on behalf of the US Government which is concerned that Chavez might actually end up with the idols and achieve - well, whatever he might achieve by getting his hands on golden Incan idols. The CIA agent Fowel from one of the previous novels (Murder on Elbrus) makes a return appearance. Somehow the sixty-something, creaky-kneed, chain smoking Fowel makes his way to the top of the 22,841-foot summit along with Devlon.
Even with such improbable premises, the book does move along. Through most of the book, the reader is kept waiting for the murder: you know it's coming . . . it's got to happen . . . it's in the title of book for Pete's sake! It doesn't occur until very late in the narrative. When it finally does occur, after the summit and while the climbing team is on the journey back down, it's hard to understand how the exhausted murderess Kira pulled it off.
Never mind. At that point the book is coming to a rapid close. But is the book leading to a resolution? Bloody hell no! It's a cliff-hanger (this is mountaineering after all), and on the final page, Scott Devlon is off chasing the dangerous Kira (who "has the killing bug now") and a new character named Ainsworth, "one of those super-rich lefties."
Where are they going? Another mountain, naturally. This time it's Mount Vinson, the highest summit on Antarctica - where, no doubt, there's bound to be . . . another murder.
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Flooding Granite: A Novel By Tom Mahony. Casperian Books, Sacramento, CA. ISBN 9781934081341
Honorable Mention: Best of 2011
This is a fine first novel by an author who has nicely captured the ambiance of a whitewater river trip: the interactions between guides and members of the party, the challenges of the river, all played out against the backdrop of the natural environment.
The story centers on Zack Pruitt who is a guide on three-day trip down a Class V river in the Sierras. In his boat is a family of three: father, mother and their grown daughter. The father comes across as a potent and masculine figure who works for a security firm providing protection to select clients. Victoria, the daughter, is in her twenties and possessing with a rebellious streak, drops hints to Pruitt that she's open for something more than a client-guide relationship.
Pruitt senses danger in both the father and Victoria, and that's mirrored by the dangers of the river. The river, however, is getting the best of him. He keeps making mistakes while maneuvering the boat through rapids, and at one point, dumps the father overboard. His confidence diminishing, he is haunted by the thought of the last rapids on the river, the most treacherous one. He needs to pull himself together before they reach it.
It begins to rain. The river rises dramatically. The dangers increase and demons appear. Pruit is facing his own demons. When not re-hashing his performance on the river, his mind is occupied by his ex-girlfriend and their young son. Slowly it is dawning upon him that he has made a mess of things and that he may be slipping beyond the point of saving the relationship and having a chance to be a father to his son.
Victoria has her demons as well, and one night, roused by them, she slips into Pruitt's tent. How does Pruitt respond? Has Victoria been seen entering Pruitt's tent - and, if so, by whom? What does the father learn? The tensions between the characters - Victoria, the father and Pruitt - rise as the water rises and floods the granite walls of the canyon. One last rapids looms . . . .
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Paddlefish By Christine Warren. Departure Publishing, Austin, TX. ISBN 9780983385721
Honorable Mention: Best of 2011
Christine Warren is a divorced mom, very much devoted to her daughter, and a "girly-girl-tomboy" as she describes herself. But somewhere along the line, she develops a fascination with the idea of racing in the Texas Water Safari, a grueling 260-mile paddle race down the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers. The term "grueling," however, doesn't quite describe this race. It's downright brutal: a punishing paddling marathon which pushes contestants to the limits of their endurance.
Paddlefish is the well told story of that race and one woman's quest to survive it .
Warren and her paddling partner Phil Meyer spent 73 hours trying to reach the finish line. For most contestants, the race turns into a complete blur of endless broiling days, slippery muddy banks, innumerable portages - and in the absence of sleep, hallucinations. Somehow, Warren manages to re-construct those 73 hours, recalling her own thoughts as the race proceeds, capturing the dialog between Phil and herself, and laying bare the tensions and emotions that invariably crop up when two people are placed under the stress of a race like the Safari.
Conflicts between the two come up early. Phil is an experienced paddler. Warren, although she has trained with Phil, is not so experienced. He's been in the Safari race on a previous occasion, and he clearly has a competitive bent, occasionally snapping at her blunders.
"What the . . . ?" She thinks to herself after one of his outbursts, "Who is THIS Phil?" But later she gets even. Phil, as it turns out, has a bit of a problem with right and left and sometimes confuses the two. At one point while they approach a bridge, he yells "Draw right! Draw right!" Warren knows that she should draw left or otherwise they'll end up turning toward a concrete bridge piling. She draws right as instructed and they end up slamming into the piling.
They bounce off the concrete. The boat is unhurt and they continued down the river. Touché!
They both know, however, that conflicts left to fester can destroy the partnership and their chances to finish the race. As the day stretches into night and fatigue sets in, they gradually come to understand one another better and work together as team. In the dark of night, they navigate the river by headlight. When the exhaustion becomes too much, they pull off, catching a short hour of sleep and then they are back at it.
On the river, there are rapids to navigate, log jams to avoid, and portages in which they must carry and drag their boat around old dams. At times, they capsize. The boat full of sloshing water must be pulled over to the shore, hefted up and emptied before continuing. Christine has an encounter with poison ivy and the itching drives her nearly mad.
The last of the race is a 6-mile crossing of the exposed waters of Guadalupe Bay, but as luck would have it, upon reaching it, the winds are howling and the waves splashing over the sides of their boat. It's at night. It's pitch black and it's too dangerous to attempt a crossing. Hope is at low ebb. Can they finish within the 100 hours cut-off time? Will she reach the goal she has worked so hard to achieve? There's only one way to find out.
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The Orvis Guide to Small Stream Fly Fishing. By Tom Rosenbauer. Universe, New York. ISBN 9780789322258
With the publication of this large format, scrumptiously illustrated work, Tom Rosenbauer has added another splendid book to his burgeoning list of titles on fly fishing. His previous Guide to Fly Fishing has been exceptionally successful among the fishing kindred, and the Orvis Fly-Tying Guide authored by Rosenbauer was a 2001 National Outdoor Book winner.
In this book, Rosenbauer concentrates on small streams - that is streams less than 30 feet across. Or to put it another way, streams where a single cast can, without much effort, end up snagged in the brush on the other side.
Why small streams? James Babb the editor of Gray's Sporting Journal who wrote the introduction to Rosenbauer's book, posits that these are the streams where one can truly learn about fly fishing. Most importantly, these are the streams on which one can really get away from the crowds and still find solitude. Babb explains it this way:
"Fly fishers these days seem mostly inspired by magazine covers featuring buff dudes wearing flashy clothes and brandishing big fish caught from name-brand waters, where their long, carefully schooled casts unfurl like candy canes. But on a small stream, there's no room for that beautiful school room cast. And your reward, if you make the cast and don't fall splat into the pool? A wild trout the length of a dollar bill, most likely. Try that for a magazine cover."
If you want to get away from streams found on magazine covers - and experience the essence of fly fishing - Rosenbauer's book is a fine and pleasant way to get underway.
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Pub Paddles: The Best Short Canoe Trips in the South of England. By Peter Knowles. Rivers Publishing, Keswick, Cumbria, UK. ISBN 9780955061417.
Can there be a better way to explore southern England? Not if you love water and tranquil rivers! With this colorful and superbly done guide, you can enjoy some of England most famous tourist attractions from the seat of a canoe, kayak or rowboat: paddle past royal palaces, castles and country houses; slip quietly under ancient stone bridges; and stop for refreshments at pubs and tea houses along the way. Don't have a canoe? No problem. Author Peter Knowles provides information on where you can rent boats for the trips - some liveries will even deliver and pick up boats for your trip. Whether you live in the UK or you're visiting from elsewhere, this book is just the ticket. Guides don't get any better than this. Well done Peter Knowles!
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Brook Trout and the Writing Life: The Intermingling of Fishing and Writing in a Novelist's Life. By Craig Nova. Eno Publishers, Hillsborough, NC.. ISBN 9780982077146.
Craig Nova is a novelist of note, having written twelve fictional works and one autobiography. This book is a little bit about trout fishing and a lot about his writing life and family. Throughout the book, these three subjects intersect at times, diverge and intersect once again. Nova has a nice way with words: they tumble out over the page, soothingly and revealingly, like water flowing over a stony river bed.
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Murder on Mt. McKinley: A Summit Murder Mystery. By Charles G. Iron and Ronald J. Watkins. Irion Books LLC, Phoenix, AZ. ISBN 9780984161836
Let's see. In this murder mystery, we have two oil executives who for some obscure reason decide that a climb of Mt. Mckinley might be a suitable place to conduct business. They each drag along an aide-de-camp both of whom it appears have never climbed before and one of whom seems to have an endless supply of bottles of booze stuffed in his pack allowing him to get plastered every night on the climb. We also find an environmental group on the mountain at the same time which we learn earlier in the book has tortured a pipeline worker and hung the body scarecrow-like along the highway. They are clearly a tough bunch of enviros, some of whom don't bath on regular basis. On McKinley, of course, no one is bathing. Not satisfied with pipeline workers, the environmental group is out for bigger fish and they use dynamite to start avalanches in an attempt kill off the oil executives. When that doesn't work, a knife fight ensues at 19,400 feet. Yep. You're absolutely right. The whole premise is so silly that the book almost seems like a farce - which, perhaps, it is.
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