5 comments about Dead Men Don't Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa.

1. Brandown Wilson shares some interesting stories but suffers greatly from self-publishing. His choice to publish this without the trained eye of an editor short circuits some interesting tales.
   
   Travel in Africa is never easy and Wilson does include the difficulties of travel with a group, especially with people one hasn't previously met. But the stories seem to have no cohesion, and often, no real conclusion. We lurch from tale to tale in this travelogue.
   
   Travel in difficult circumstances can often lead to self-reflection. Some of my favorite writings find the author learning lessons of self and humanity through their adventures. Unfortunately, Wilson seems to learn little more than the physical aspects of Africa.



2. Wilson's trials and tribulations across Africa should have provided excellent fodder for an amusing and entertaining read, but this book disappoints. The writing lacks impact, and the few attempts at humor fall flat. The writer also falls into the common travel writers trap of failing to examine the behavior of those he meets - both his fellow travellers on the overland tour and the locals, and simply accepts and in some cases idealizes the local culture, and criticizes his trip mates without context. The book overwhelmingly suggests that Wilson and his wife are the only two people on the tour who are suited to such a journey, and is filled with smug satisfaction at their self anointed superiority. This book is not a patch on Swahili for the Broken Hearted: Cape Town to Cairo by Any Means Necessary which is recommended instead.



3. Each time I read a new book by Brandon Wilson ("Along the Templar Trail" and "Yak Butter Blues"), I could not imagine a next book could be as nearly as adventurous, drama-filled, moving, informative and inspiring. And each time I was proven wrong, as I was after reading "Dead Men Don't Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa".
   Where do I begin? Crossing Africa from top to tip is a daunting idea in itself, but to do it for 7 months, in an overlander truck with 20-some motley crew travelers and two clueless guides would be crazy! Crazy or not, Brandon and his parther in adventures, Cheryl, forged ahead on one of their most daring, insane, adventurous and wild journey of their lives! At one point Brandon and Cheryl left the overlander group and set off on their own, relying on nothing but banned maps, their wits, help from kind strangers, and most of all...miracles to survive to the end of their journey home. There was never a dull moment, never an easy ride, never a smooth sailing. If you wondered what could happen next, something did!
   As with "Yak Butter Blues"- the journey across Tibet, this book also serves as an informative guide and educational tool about what life is in parts of the world we're either not permitted to see, or would never dare to. Where malaria and civil unrest met some of the most majestic places in the world, like Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and Djomba Sanctuary in Zaire, Brandon Wilson was right there in the midst of it all with his camera and journal in hand ready to capture every breathtaking, frightening, inspiring, and heart wrenching moment.
   If you ever thought of traveling through Africa, learn more about it, or just experience a wild adventure of a lifetime vicariously, you need to read no further than Brandon Wilson's "Dead Men Don't Leave Tips: Adventures X Africa"!



4. Wow!
   Here is a guy that gets an opportunity of a lifetime. Touring Africa for seven months.
   Instead of hearing about some of the wonders of Africa, this author would rather 'bitch' about his traveling companions.
   He seemed much more concerned about how much food he could get, throwing bottles because somebody pitched a tent too close to his or making fun of the tour guides.
   What a guy! What a waste of ink, time and money!
   Just sorry I bought the hardback edition.



5. I climbed right into Brandon Wilson's boots and was sad to have to jump out at journey's end. I think what made this such an engaging read was that it was not written by a well-known author, but an average joe on a quest for deeper life experience, so I could relate. Like many of our favourite travel writers, Wilson is sensitive yet intrepid, insightful, with a dry crusty sense of humour, and he paints a colourful portrait of a mysterious land and the characters he runs into along the way. Though there were definitely issues in the editing/proofreading dept, it was still a most compelling read!

5 comments about The Alaska River Guide: Canoeing, Kayaking, and Rafting in the Last Frontier (Canoeing & Kayaking Guides - Menasha).

1. This book enticed us to take three fantastic trips: on the Noatak, the Selawik and the Kantishna rivers. Jettmar's book provided absolutely essential information about the river, maps, and travel arrangements. The information was accurate and succinct. Great guide for Alaska rivers! We hope she'll write another about more of the rivers.



2. I purchased this book solely for information on a couple of rivers I am considering canoeing in the ANWR. This book has a meager (to put it nicely) section on this part of Alaska. I can appreciate the author not wanting to encourage a bunch of travel to this area, but at least make it clear to potential buyers.
   
   Otherwise, the book has good sections on trip planning, logistics, etc.



3. I have read many river guides and find this one to be little help in any whitewater decents. I would instead try to find the out-of-print book "Fast and Cold" for information that contains valuable whitewater information. The Alaska River Guide is a book for someone who needs general directions and an incredibly broad overview of the larger picture. Details and maps are incredibly vague to the point one wonders if the author actually ran the rivers described.



4. In addition to all of the more than 90 rivers and runs from the previous edition, the 3rd edition of the Alaska River Guide includes new detailed descriptions of the runs of the Nenana Gorge, Upper Alatna, Tlikakila, Eagle, and Upper Chena, and other rivers. It also includes 13 new runs:
   
   Delta Clearwater River
   Kantishna River and Moose Creek
   Chulitna River
   Gulkana River and Middle Fork Gulkana River
   Little Nelchina River, Nelchina River, and Tazlina River
   Matanuska River
   Willow Creek and Little Willow Creek
   Stikine River
   
   The 3rd edition also includes information on the application process for a Tatshenshini River permit. The entire book has been updated with websites and contact info, updated Leave No Trace info, detailed information on wildlife and fish species found on each river, and more history and archeology for some rivers.
   
   P.S. Sorry for the self-serving rating, but I couldn't post the review without completing a rating!



5. The hallmark of a good guidebook is how accurate it is. Unfortunately, this book contains more than its share of errors - some are merely nuisances, but others are more serious.
   
   I bought this book because I wanted to expand my knowledge of Alaska's river systems. I live in Alaska, and enjoy exploring new waters; I try to get in at least one major trip each year. This book offers a brief survey of over 100 rivers, with an effort to cover systems in each of the major regions of Alaska.
   
   Most of the river descriptions are 2 to 3 pages; the information usually contains a map showing the most common put-in and take-out spots, then a brief description of the overall character of the stream with some of its standout features. A few paragraphs of historical notes are often added. Following the description of the river is a section of useful data: appropriate USGS topo maps; the best seasons for floating; specific safety issues; prominent fish and wildlife likely to be seen; and a list of the government land management agencies who oversee the river and adjacent territory.
   
   The book also contains some nice sections at the beginning on trip planning, with sections on appropriate gear for a river trip, trip safety, and ethical camping practices.
   
   The structure of the book means it probably shouldn't be looked at as a detailed trip planner for any specific river system in Alaska; instead, the book represents more of an encyclopedic listing of float trips, with some background advice common to all river trips. It's a nice book to have when you're facing a question like: "I want to do a trip, but which river should I choose?" It's also a nice book to keep by your favorite chair, to browse through and to dream about the dozens of quality excursions in Alaska.
   
   The river maps are a definite plus and are helpful. Consisting of black and white sketches, they usually cover one column in the two-column page layout of the book, so the maps are oriented longitudally. For orientation, a north-arrow pointer is placed on the map. This means that rivers which run in a mostly-east or west direction are shown with the easterly direction oriented toward the bottom of the map. That's fine I guess, but it would have been nicer if the maps were printed in a more standard fashion: for rivers running predominately east or west, the maps could have been printed so they spanned the width of the page across both columns; for north or south-flowing rivers, the maps could be oriented in the standard longitudal fashion. In either case, the maps would then be oriented with north at the top, east to the right, etc.
   
   This leads to one aspect of the book's maps that is a mystery to me: some of the maps for rivers that run in a north or south direction are oriented with north at the bottom (down) of the page. What purpose does this achieve? Why can't the map be flipped around, to be printed the standard way, with the northerly direction at the top? I don't get it...
   
   But apart from the map issues, it's the number of errors in the text of the book that presents the most serious deficiency. I have no way of knowing how many mistakes the book contains because my first-hand knowledge - and consequent ability to catch mistakes - is limited only to a fraction of all the waters covered. Nevertheless, when I concentrate on the places well known to me, too many blunders begin to jump out.
   
   Some of the faults are very minor, like the description of the Situk River fish where distinct runs of both "steelhead" and "rainbow trout" are mentioned (there are no runs of rainbow trout in the Situk, and the population is very small. All the trout that ascend, or "run" in the river are steelhead).
   
   And then are other errors - again relatively minor - that are merely annoying, like places where the text is mistakenly repeated (e.g. page 275) or where a river is misnamed in the middle of the description (page 163), or places where the text is worded in a way that you wonder if some of the author's stream-of-consciousness notes somehow made it into print (page 277).
   
   But the most serious mistakes I found involve specific descriptions of some of the rivers. The location of rapids is sometimes misplaced, roads are occasionally misnamed, geographic features are goofed up, and sections of text appear under the wrong heading. Again, I found these mistakes in the small number of rivers that I am familiar with. I am left to assume that the rate of inaccuracy is equally high among the other rivers where I don't have first-hand experience. This begs the question: what good is a reference book when the data is fraught with errors?
   
   I checked with the publishers and their web site now offers substitute pages that help correct some of the mistakes. People who already own this book will want to download the pages. Be advised, however, that the substitute pages only cover a portion of the book's faults.
   
   To sum up, I think this book might have value to those of us who want to use it as a "dream book" - a sort of a listing of "what's where" and the possibilities for wilderness trips in Alaska. But I urge caution to anyone who needs to rely on the book for cold facts. I would hope that subsequent editions of this book (if it someday gets printed again) will be more carefully researched and edited.

2 comments about The Complete Whitewater Rafter.

1. Jeff Bennett has been doing rivers in North and Central America as a guide, whitewater instructor, international racer and professional photographer since the early 1970's. He has co-authored several other books, including Class Five Chronicles. The Complete Whitewater Rafter is the culmination of his river experiences and the progeny of his previous book Rafting!. Although sole author, he envisions The Complete Whitewater Rafter as the culmination of a river-running evolution that has been ongoing for the last half century. He has borrowed tips and techniques from contemporary instructors and classic technique textbooks.

   Bennett characterizes this book as a complete course in river running. For those who raft, the book has it all, beginning with a chapter on the Evolution of Rafting: From Powell to Paddle Cats and ending with a chapter that covers becoming a professional guide, whitewater photography, rafting for the physically challenged and rafting with children.

   I primarily bought the book to get tips on oar rigging and everything was there, including all existing boat, frame, and oar designs. The chapter on gear maintenance and repairs was first rate and complete (it even included material on maintaining wetsuits, drysuits, lifejackets, and pumps). For those with interests in paddle rafts the cook covers all the strokes and more importantly has an entire chapter on Paddle Captaining: The Art of Whitewater Choreography. Several major rafting companies include this as mandatory reading for guide certification. Finally, the book has several chapters on multiday trips, which review packing and carrying gear, river camping and cooking, and river exploration. This material is applicable to anyone who is contemplating a multiday trip (whether raft supported or not).

   If you are not particularly interested in rafting check-out the book for the information in chapters 5, 8, and 10. Chapter 5 - River Morphology: The Dynamics of Running Water looks beneath the surface at river mechanics, laminar flow, turbulent flows, chaos, helical currents, and meanders and relates all this to tongues, upstream Vs, standing waves, diagonal waves, haystacks, breaking waves and stoppers, pillows, undercuts, rooster tails, boils and holes. It's really well written and excellently illustrated. I will probably scan-in some of the illustrations and make slides to use in lectures for paddling classes. Chapter 8 covers running rapids in oar rigs and paddle rafts but the information is equally applicable to hardboats. Again, the illustrations and suggestions on tactical approaches to rapids are excellent. Finally, chapter 10 - Rafting on the Cutting Edge discusses class V rafting including boulders and slots, waterfalls, high water techniques, and even steep creeking. I hadn't even imagined creeking in a raft but it is done. I have a whole garage full of hard boats for every possible use. This book has made be consider getting an R-2 for this year's creek season.




2. Bennet's book is detailed, readable and contains all the information that is needed to start rafting, though the information on the types of boats available is a bit dated. His chapters on the river bed morphology and the effects on the moving water are understandable and excellent and far makes up for the older information on this years raft models.

   We have used this as a basis for our white water rafting cours.

2 comments about Whitewater Rescue Manual: New Techniques for Canoeists, Kayakers, and Rafters.

1. Mssrs. Walbridge and Sundmacher cover the subject of whitewater rescue well. It is geared toward the recreational boater, but is also a valuable tool for the public safety officer (police, sheriff, fire/rescue,SAR, ranger, etc.). It does not cover reading whitewater, since assumes the reader is already a boater of some sort. It does present the most common problems and solutions. In addition it covers use of the tools needed to safely execute timely rescues. Easy reading, excellent photographs and drawings illustrate the points well.



2. Great book that anyone who plans on kayaking, rafting, or anything on the river, should own. There's the important and simple things that every one should know about what to do in possibly dangerous river situations. There is also a good amount of advanced rescue techniques involving many ropes, pulleys, carabiners, and people so if that's what you're looking for this has it.

5 comments about A Long Trek Home: 4000 Miles by Boot, Raft and Ski.

1. This is an excellent first book. Obviously it's the story of the author's journey from Seattle to the Aleutians, accompanied by fabulous photographs (I wished for more of those, as I read, as well as a detailed gear and food list). But it's also a story about what they learn from the landscape and the people they encounter on the trip, so it's reflective as well as practical. Finally, as other reviewers have mentioned, it chronicles Hig and Erin's partnership after 10 years of exploring together. It's kind of like the newlywed version of _Rowing to Latitude_, another favorite book. Erin's writing is engaging and I'm sure her next book will continue the nuanced analysis of the Alaska she now calls home.



2. Although I love the outdoors and I value books that describe the adventures others have had there, I felt I was taking a gamble when I bought this book. It's apparently the author's first book,and I've often been disappointed by new authors' first efforts. Also, the publisher's description emphasized that "environmental concerns" had motivated the book and the trip it described. So I was concerned the book might be preachy and narrow minded. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that none of my concerns were justified. Although the author is indeed concerned about environmental issues (who isn't?), her discussion of these issues was balanced and unobtrusive. In most respects, this was a genuinely interesting description of what must have been a truly great adventure. Frankly, I'm somewhat awe struck that the author and her husband actually completed their amazing trek. And the writing is so good that I look forward to reading more by this author. I believe she has a great future ahead of her, not only as an adventurer but as a writer. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves the wilderness and who cherishes the life-changing experiences that they and others have had there.



3. I couldn't put this book down. Erin does an amazing job describing their epic journey that I almost felt like I was right there with them. It is also clear from the photos throughout the book that both Erin and Hig are talented photographers and I'm hoping that they publish a photography companion book. Rarely do I want to read a book again having just finished it, but I'm looking forward to a second read. I think this book will appeal to a wide variety of people and think it will make an excellent gift for any person who is interested in environmental issues or who appreciates hiking or nature.



4. This book is destined to be an Alaskan wilderness classic in the literary sense of the phrase.
   
   Not only was Hig and Erin's packraft and walk journey immense, epic, and original but her story is told so much better in this book than in their on-line blog. It's no wonder that "A Long Trek Home" is already in its second printing.
   
   While I am not really a big reader of first person adventure narratives (so can't speak with much authority), I would put the book in the same class as "Arctic Wild" by Lois Crisler, the 1950s story of a couple who spent a year in the Brooks Range filming caribou and raising wolves. Perhaps, and depending on how important Hig and Erin's non-profit activism turns out to be, "Long Trek" might some day land in the same class as "Two in the Far North", the autobiography of Margaret Murie.
   
   "A Long Trek Home" is a chronological collection of vignettes of Hig and Erin's 4500 mile trip that stretched over a year -- and into a pregnancy -- from Seattle to the Aleutians. Erin expends most of her text as emotional and detailed landscape and weather description at all scales, from boot-tip and arms length to as far as the eye can see. More interestingly, she does a wonderful portrayal of Hig, who is one of the most fascinating people I have ever met. She captures him well, but as a reader of the book, and as a fan of Hig, I long for more of him in her narrative. In fact, I'd like more human life and description of the interesting characters they meet and interact with along the way. Finally, she describes -- rather unevenly -- a host of environmental issues that are at the heart of "Ground Truth Trekking." With the exception of the Pebble Mine project, I found the treatments mostly superficial with few new insights, although her personal realization that guided trophy hunting on the Alaska Peninsula is actually a good way to value the land, in contrast to the logging on the other side of the Gulf of Alaska in Southeast AK and BC, was refreshing.
   
   But the book really shines in its details of camp and travel life as a husband and wife crossing wild landscapes. Erin's book offers up the best modern descriptions I have read of couples-style wilderness travel, something Peggy and I have done a bit of in Alaska and elsewhere. In 1986 we walked and packrafted for a month across the Gates of the Arctic National Park in one boat. She was two months pregnant with Cody Roman. Reading Erin's accounts of snuggling with Hig, of showdowns with curious grizz, of perpetual hunger, of staying comfortable in worn-out gear and sharing a two-person bag inside a floorless shelter, of reading the landscapes - those vignettes brought back strong memories of our own adventures.
   
   Indeed, I got my copy of the unpretentious little paperback on a Wednesday afternoon and by that night I'd read the first two sections, "Summer" and "Fall". The book is a nice size, with evocative B&W photos and Hig's maps are superlative. I finished "Winter" and "Spring" over the following weekend in another push. Her writing is breezy and easy, with some interesting viewpoints and fresh phrases of an activity as old as humankind - one man and one woman together, surviving, living, even reproducing as they cross wild landscapes.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone with a packraft, a spouse, and an interest in slow-motion adventure.



5. I love this book! It has everything I look for in an Adventure / Travel Essay story. First is incredible writing, you are with Erin and her husband Hig each step of the way. Second is needing almost superhuman strength to complete the journey. Third is a reason for the journey through the environment. And Fourth is the never ending desire to complete the journey in spite of very difficult odds. This "Classic" book is indeed destined to be a "True Classic." "Walking from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands." That statement alone should entice everyone to pick up this book, just to make sure this couple is not certifiable and in need of immediate wilderness rescue. Not only are Erin and Hig completely capable of completing their amazing journey, Erin has written an incredible book, a book that indeed matches their journey and will stand forever as a true testament to the human and wilderness spirit. Buy this book and support Eric in her travels so she can write another book for us, and another! FANTASTIC BOOK! WONDERFUL STORY! AMAZING JOURNEY!!

5 comments about In the Heart of the Canyon.

1. I read this book in one sitting and it carried me away for a lovely ride down the Grand Canyon. Interesting, believable characters and a nifty plot twist late in the game had me completely absorbed, and a few sobs escaped me at the end... totally fun and immersing.



2. After reading the New York Times review, I was very much looking forward to reading this book and indeed, was quickly engaged in the first few chapters. Unfortunately, I began to find the writing more geared to the "young adult" genre and soon found myself skipping pages. I think this would make a great Walt Disney movie, dog and all.



3. I had no expectation regarding this book but was thrilled as I read. The imagery, characters and relationships were thorughly enjoyable. I have always wanted to take a white water rafting trip and this seals the deal. Delightful!!Don't miss this one!!



4. I enjoyed this book, more than I expected to. I was not impressed with The Abortionist's Daughter (unbelievable characters acting in unbelievable ways, and way too scripted), and I have no interest in rafting, but I read a strongly positive review of this book and decided to give it a try. I feared it might be too much adventure, or too "literary" (boring, not easy to get into, characters I couldn't identify with, self-conscious etc), but I was hooked from the start. Several points of view, more about the people on the raft trip than the actual adventure, although there was enough of that to give me a real sense of the river (and confirm my sense that it's not a sport for me). The ending was a bit Hallmark (smaltzy, upbeat) but I truly enjoyed the ride (no pun intended) and found myself drawn back to the book every time I had to put it down. Enjoyed it enough to recommend to friends.



5. I loved this novel. I listened to the audio-book, and was engaged throughout. The author does a great job of getting us to know this great mix of characters on the white water trip through the Grand Canyon. The author does a super job of letting us understand the outdoor experience as well as see how that experience affects all the adventurers on the trip. This trip certainly had more than its share of unexpected crises, starting with the group taking on a stray dog, but it made for a more fun story even if it was a little less believable. The characters came alive, and as they parted at the end of the trip, I was sad to be leaving them and the trip myself.

3 comments about Buffalo River Handbook: Buffalo River Handbook.

1. Admittedly, it is difficult to be comprehensive and remain a "handbook," meaning something that you could take with you and refer to while on the trail or the river. If you are looking for specific maps for trails, I would recommend books by Tim Ernst, or if you are looking for details on running the river, A Canoeing & Kayaking Guide to the Ozarks are both superior for their individual information. This said, if you want something to refer to in general with historical as well as geological information along with talk of the flora and fauna with generalized information on trails and the river this book is outstanding. Excellent color and black and white pictures, and a searchable index.



2. If you are interested in learning about the trails, river, people, geology and biology of the Buffalo River . . . this is the place to start. No one knows the Buffalo River country better than Ken Smith. It has been his passion for more than 40 years. An earlier book he wrote, Buffalo River Country, played a key role in the creation of America's first national river. He knows the Buffalo River trail as no one else can. He laid it out and supervised its construction. He is actively involved today in the extention of it from Hwy 65 to Hwy 14. This trail will ultimately make it possible for a hiker to travel by trail from St Louis, Missouri to near Ft. Smith Arkansas.
   
   Buffalo River Handbook easily rates five stars for anyone going to the Buffalo. I would also buy the Trails Illustrated maps of the Buffalo which he also edited and which go hand in hand with the Buffalo River Handbook.



3. It took 5 weeks to receive this book - I almost didn't get it in time for my trip. The book is a good reference for the Buffalo River.

5 comments about The Raft.

1. This is such a nice (feel good) story about a boy discovering his love of drawing and his relationship with his grandmother, who is also an artist. My two year old will sit and listen to this story, although it is probably meant for children a little older (3 and up). I have read a lot bad children's books, but this one is a winner.



2. I first encountered this book at the school where I teach. The children were captured by the story of this little boy who, at first, didn't want to be out in the country but who quickly became enamored with nature as it, it seems, was enamored with him. The pictures are beautiful. My students wanted to eat up every page and see everything in every picture. They understood just what he was going through and felt the same way about their journeys into nature. This book is a beautiful, gentle and simple reminder of the loving magic that comes from a relationship with the natural world. It's incredibly moving to witness the inner landscape of this little boy changing as he spends more time outside. If you wish that for your children, or whomever you are shopping for, I highly recommend this book. (Or a car ride to the nearest mountain lake.)



3. I love using this book in my class. After I read it aloud, I have all my students write down different events in the book. Then, I pass out 8 popsicle sticks to each student. On six of the sticks, they write down events from the story. Then they switch with a partner and put the events in chronological order. They glue their six sticks together in order side to side, with two additional sticks glued under them (holding them together) - creating their own raft. They love it.



4. The Raft by Jim Lamarche is one of those works that will grab you right from the start and keep you turning the pages, page after page. This is one of the better books for children I have had the pleasure of reading for some time now. I suppose that the entire subject is near and dear to my heart. Having spent the majority of my over sixty years in the outdoors, and being an amateur naturalist, this one hit quite close to home.
   
   A young boy is being taken to his grandmother's house for the summer. This child is obviously a city boy and has little enthusiasm for the life his grandmother (a self confessed "river rat") leads. After all, he has no friends there, and heaven forbid, there is NO television! The young boy is never-the-less taken to the woods, Wisconsin, and left for the summer to be with his grandmother. Her house is located by a river and is quite isolated.
   
   This entire little book is a story of discovery; as the young boy learns from his grandmother and from his own observations of the natural world around him. He soon discovers an old raft in the river which changes his life and his perception of the world around him.
   
   The author tells a simple tale here with none of the wild adventures of Huck Finn and his ilk. I like a calm tale now and then to read to the kids and this one fits that liking quite nicely. The text is quite precise and quite readable, either by the child, or better yet, to be read by an adult reader. This is an ideal group reading book. I have used it numerous times in front of large groups of children and even the most dull and insensitive of the group ask for repeat readings. This is an excellent endorsement for any child's book.
   
   The art work in this book is worth the price of the book alone. The author has used mellow, chalk-like tones and colors which capture the mood perfectly. The author is quite a talented follow by any standard. Actually, I would not mind having some of his originals on my wall.
   
   For a pure delightful and thoughtful read, it would be difficult to find a work better than this one. I highly recommend it for any personal, school or public library.
   
   Don Blankenship
   The Ozarks



5. The Raft, an unusual mentor text, reveals the treasure of a child's summer memories. Jim LaMarche not only gives us a narrative, read aloud, but illustrates his book with life like drawings so that our students can visualize the writer's words. I love this story, the setting, and the way this grandmother leads her grandson to experience her world. I recommend this book to any teacher that reads aloud to her students and uses mentor texts to teach the craft of writing.

5 comments about Borderline (Anna Pigeon).

1. I too have read the Anna Pidgeon series and loved them all except for the last two. In Winter Study, while the plot was decent, there were behaviors that were implausible, which infected the story line. There is no way that young couple would have suffered no consequences for what they set in motion.
   
   What I'm feeling in the recent books is endings are being rushed as though there is a deadline that has to be met. The resolutions are choppy and leave some loose threads, leave questions.
   
   I just don't feel that her heart or attention are focused on her work. It's like she's writing to have a book out for the publishers instead of for her readers.



2. I don't know why I'm so hit-or-miss with Nevada Barr because I generally enjoy her books but I hadn't read her in a while when two friends recommended this book within a week of each other. It's a good book but something about it felt really uneven and even surreal, like we were asked to do just a little too much suspension of disbelief.
   
   Barr's constant heroine Anna Pigeon is in a bad way after her last outing and so she and her husband are on leave and on a rafting trip on the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, where things go horribly amiss. That part of the story was enchanting, startling, and very well done. The part about the big-time political handlers and state-level Texas politics was harder to handle. The characters were just not believable to me. But I will give Barr major credit for putting a face and a feeling on the despair of the borderlands Mexicans.
   
   All-in-all, I'm glad I read this but not delighted.



3. Excellent Anna Pidgeon adventure. This writer gets better with every book, writes with humor, insight, and skill. The plot moves along briskly.



4. 
   I have read and enjoyed every single Anna Pigeon novel since what, Track of the Cat, or something like that? I prefer character-driven stories, and although I personally like the first-person best, I enjoy Nevada Barr's sociological spin on life, gender roles and equality, and the strength and insight she has given Anna thoughout the series. Over the years Anna's character has evolved and matured in a way that I, as a mid-life female, can identify with. In the current novel within the plot, Anna examines her maternal choices over the years, and becomes more human than I've ever seen her. I also loved how her character never judges character's and their truth-telling ability with certainty, admitting to a human reality that most fictional characters rarely admit to. I did not find that the "evil-doers" were given away too early; in fact I could have seen it go either way until well past the 90% (according to my Kindle. I enjoyed this book very much, and found it a warm and comfortable read, especially after the frigid and dark Winter Study.



5. I'm an avid follower of Anna Pigeon's exploits who was disappointed in the latest book in the series. Barr's plots aren't her strongest suit, but this one was truly out there. I had a very hard time believing the motives for many of the characters' actions. While Barr does her usual great job describing the physical setting for the novel, along with Anna's inner thoughts, this believable depiction is at odds with most other parts of the story.
   
   As usual, we are expected to believe that Anna (and others) are somehow physically strong enought to endure multiple injuries, fatigue, lack of food and water, etc. without succumbing to their attackers. That's OK -- most male protagonists in crime novels have to do the same and as a 50-something female, I enjoy reading about a middle-aged woman who isn't a couch potato. But this time I was annoyed by Barr's inaccuracies about the subject of the book: a river trip. She has a whitewater outfitter ignoring a basic rule of wilderness river travel by floating the Rio Grande in a single raft, with no other craft for safety or backup. No NPS concessionaire would be allowed to do that on a river with any hazards. Then she repeatedly confuses oars with paddles. Along with this, the WW guide seems unfamiliar with the river's flow stages and rapids. She does not have much of a plan for the float trip, e.g. one that would allow for sufficient rest, for scouting rapids, or that involved the kind of pre-trip basic safety training the outfitter's insurance company would mandate, as would NPS and the guide's professional association. The rafting accident that follows, while necessary as a plot device, is difficult for this reader to believe -- especially given Anna's substantial experience.
   
   Ms. Barr, please bring back more believable story lines. And we're still waiting for a book set in Alaska, where over half the land NPS manages is located! I'm sure Kate Shugak wouldn't mid too much if Anna spent some time mushing near gold claims in DENA, or sea kayaking among cruise ships and humpbacks at GLBA, or dealing with end-of-roaders in McCarthy (WRST).

4 comments about Down River.

1. STORY BRIEF:
   Lisa and Mitch were attorneys working for the same law firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They fell in love and were engaged. Then Mitch decided to leave the law practice and move to Alaska to run a lodge/resort which he recently inherited. Lisa did not want to go and broke up with him. This book starts one year later. The senior partner in the law firm is deciding which of three candidates to promote to senior partner. Lisa is one of them. He books a trip to Mitch's resort for the three junior partners plus himself and his wife. He wants to see them doing challenging outdoor activities before making up his mind. Someone pushes Lisa into the river rapids. She almost dies but Mitch rescues her. She and Mitch decide not to tell anyone she was pushed until they can figure out who did it and why. The rest of the story is about the group's activities and some more bad things happening while Mitch and Lisa attempt to uncover the culprit.
   
   REVIEWER'S OPINION:
   This is classified as romantic suspense, but the romance is not very much and is not typical for romance novels. We don't get to see a couple meeting and developing a relationship. This story starts with a couple who broke up. During the story, they slowly reconnect while trying to solve a mystery and avoid being killed. This is primarily a mystery suspense story. There are no sex scenes which is unusual for something labeled romantic suspense.
   
   The first half was above average, but I had some problems with the plot and events during the second half. Three things bothered me.
   
   Someone cut a leather line. We never learned who did it or how they did it without being seen. A group watched as someone set up the sleds and lines. A few minutes later the race started. Someone would have had to cut the line in front of the group during that couple of minutes. That was never answered.
   
   Someone has been trying to kill Lisa. Yet she does two things that make it easy for the killer to attempt killing her again. As she is doing those two things I'm shaking my head saying that is stupid. I would never have done those things, being alone and/or putting myself at risk in those ways. Those two things hurt the story the most. I was also annoyed that Lisa and Mitch did not inform the sheriff or let him help them investigate. The results were obstructing an investigation, delaying it's start, and withholding evidence. That too was stupid.
   
   I also did not like the way the author made it so easy for the killer. Each attack was based on convenient opportunity, not planning. The killer would see someone alone and then attack. Yet to everyone else it looked like an accident or self inflicted. How convenient for the killer. I would think most killers have to carefully plan to get that result as well as being lucky. They don't just happen to see multiple opportunities to do this and get away with it each time. I need a little more realism.
   
   DATA:
   Story length: 380 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Talkeetna and a small rural town in Alaska, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with minimal romance.



2. The teambuilding event planned by Carlisle, Bonner & Associates at the Duck Lake Lodge near Bear Bones, Alaska could prove divisive as managing partner Graham Bonner will use the off site to choose the next senior partner. One of the three attorneys in the running for a senior slot is Lisa Vaughn, who feels strongly this is not a good way to select. She also has bigger personal issues with the location chosen by top management that overlooks the Wild River where her mom and baby sister drowned twenty-six years ago and the lodge is owned by Mitch Baxter, her former fiancé who dropped her last year when he relocated from Fort Lauderdale.
   
   Lisa falls into the Wild River with its strong rapids. Mitch knows something is wrong and follows her by kayak until he jumps in to complete the rescue. The powerful current had carried the pair several miles from his lodge, but they survive the water. As they struggle with the ordeal of getting back to the lodge, Lisa believes someone deliberately nudged her into the icy water. Though Mitch initially leans towards her accidentally tripping; he soon believes his Lisa is in peril from an unknown adversary who will try anything to kill her, but neither know why.
   
   Down River is an exhilarating romantic suspense thriller as the audience wonders along with the heroine why this location and who wants her dead. Faster than the raging Wild River and yet filled with vivid descriptions of the Talkeetna Mountains, readers will feel transported to the home of Sarah Palin. Karen Harper provides a powerful who is doing it and why that sub-genre fans appreciate.
   
   Harriet Klausner



3. pedantic. clumsy transitions. awkward dialog. forget romance. save your money. and the kindle is lousy for pasing on opinions. maybe the ipad will be easier.



4. From the beginning it was very obvious who the killer was. I also got tired of main female character always bringing up her past history. It was explained about 50 times. The book was OK, just ddint live up to Karen Harper's past books.