Reflections of the Brazos Valley

Book Description

Many years ago, John Graves said goodbye to a wild river that tumbled out of the Hill Country and was forever changed by dams and people. In this book we say hello to that same river farther down its course, in the valley that carries its name.

When naming the signature landscapes of Texas, if you have never said "Brazos Valley" in the same breath as "Hill Country" or "Big Bend," this book could change your mind. In the fine, penetrating photography of D. Gentry Steele and the revealing, affectionate reflections of M. Jimmie Killingsworth, the Brazos Valley has found its champions in two adopted sons who have learned to love its quiet, uncelebrated beauty.

In words and pictures, Killingsworth and Steele remind us that this valley was the birthplace of a republic, was once the agricultural heart of Texas, and was the ancestral home of a great alluvial river. Here, the Brazos is--and isn't--John Graves's river, the one with clear-running waters flowing beneath limestone cliffs. A little south of Waco, the river gets bigger, slower, muddier. In its middle reaches it creates a wide swath of bottomlands and prairies where, if you take the time to look, you will discover the natural virtues of this place: peaceful glens, watered forests, flowers, birds, and backyard wildlife.

Book Description

Originally published in 1984, River Reflections compiles forty writings of voyageurs and explorers, pioneers and naturalists, historians and river runners as they recorded their enchantment with rivers.

Three hundred and fifty years of river literature come together in this memorable collection, which expresses a history of peopleÂ's dependence on, enjoyment of, and concern for the waterways that course through our environs. Appealing in its spirit of adventure, enjoyable in its variety, this is an anthology that will be read again and again. Divided into sections, the first offers Â“ClassicsÂ”Â—Lewis and Clark Expedition journals, Astoria by Washington Irving, portions of the diary of Mrs. Amelia Stewart Knight, The Big Sky by A. B. Guthrie, Jr., Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, The Wild Palms by William Faulkner, and Goodbye to a River by John Graves.

Part II includes writings from Â“Modern TimesÂ” by Tom Brokaw, Michael Frome, Joel Vance, Norman Maclean, Patricia McCairen, Edward Abbey, Franklin Burroughs, and Wendell Berry.

Three-hundred-and-fifty years of river literature come together in this memorable collection.

Amazon.com

Whether you want to scramble up the parched red rock of Boynton Canyon, soak your weary feet at the base of Havasu Falls, or cross Hidden Valley's desert sands dotted with Saguaro cactus, Arizona has a hike to suit your inclination and ability. Classic Hikes offers 100 choice trails for day hikers and backpackers alike to explore five regions of Arizona, including the Colorado plateau, central highlands, central deserts, southeastern basin and range, and western deserts. The guide features awe-inspiring color photos by the author, along with maps and at-a-glance information that details mileage, hiking time, elevation, seasonal considerations, and contact information. Each trail description contains directions to the trailhead, possible hazards, trail gradation, major junctions, and notable vegetation.

Longing for solitude far from frequently used trails? Warren examines little-known routes where "stone spires, totems, and hoodoos" will surround you, but also covers trails where rafters and "4WD vehicles packed with tourists" become part of the landscape. He also touches on the region's rich history, noting facts about the people who once lived there and the ruins they left behind. In other words, Classic Hikes offers something for everyone ready to explore Arizona's storied past and diverse wilderness. --Jenny Burritt

Book Description

The best reviewed full-color guide to Arizona hikes has now been updated and expanded with the most spectacular canyon, desert, and "sky island" trips in this dramatic state.

100 hikes, 10 new to this edition, with color photos and maps.

Now includes detailed topographic maps, elevation trail profiles, and a trails-at-a-glance chart indicating distance, level of difficulty, and seasonal considerations.

Includes a mix of trails from easy day trips, to never-dull loop hikes, to more remote long-distance treks. No hiking guide captures the beautifully complex and varied landscape of Arizona like Scott Warren's. Thoroughly updated and expanded with useful topographic maps and elevation trail profiles, this third edition of 100 Classic Hikes in Arizona offers a wide range of the state's most scenic hiking trails. You can stand in a mile deep canyon one day, hike through a saguaro cactus forest the next, and stand on a nearly 10,000 foot "sky island" in the Chiricahua Mountains yet another day. You can hike Lenox Crater, an actual volcano with a nearby lava flow, or lose yourself on Dutchman's Trail, a solitary long distance trek in the fabled Superstition Mountains.

This classic guide gives you the best trails for both day hikes and overnight backpacking trips in the state.

Customer Reviews:

100 Classic Hikes in Arizona.......2007-05-15

I ordered 2 copies of 100 Classic Hikes in Arizona, one for myself & one for my sister. We were both very pleased with the books. Thank you

Great BUT..........2006-02-21

I really like this book (though I'd hoped for a bit more in the white mountains) it is quite varied and has great, concise trail descriptions. But my problem with it is quite serious; how do you get to the starting points of ANY of these hikes? They say things like "near Prescott" or "at the Grand Canyon" but don't tell which highways go there. The maps are great OF the trail but don't tell you how to get TO the trailhead. I know there is more than one route to almost any point, but a number in a vague area on a map in the front of the book really doesn't cut it. Hopefully in the next edition they will give the maps a bit wider scope.

Looking to do all 100 hikes.......2005-08-09

Moved to Arizona about a year ago and bought this book to get pointed in the right direction for hike selection. I find it easy to use. I just photo copy the page of the hike as the book is too heavy to take with me. As I travel the state I select a hike that's near my current location. I have found the hiking time given is accuate and it's nice to have info on "Difficulty" and elevation gain. I have had to get another map or use a map search to get me to the trailhead as I'm not yet familiar with the state. Would recommend.

hiker.......2003-12-20

I bought this book best on the excellent recommendations
found in this site, and I was quite disappointed.
Some pointers to consider:
- The book is printed on chromo paper, making it too heavy for its size
in your backpack.
- The maps are tiny schematic things, giving you zero appreciation of
the topography you will traverse through.
- Has enough photos to fit coffee table display, BUT has no
gradings of hikes for quality. If you have limited time in AZ you will
not know how to cherry pick based on this book. Picking trails based on
one narrow-view photo is not optimal.
- For desert country most trails in this book are in-out the same way rather
than loops.
- Many hikes are concentrated near big cities. Do you really want to climb
a ridge for commanding views of Tucson or Phoenix?
And eventually spend the night in a camp site 1-2 hrs drive from these?
- The NE and W are almost ignored (see p.11, using this book).
It is not a bad hiking book. Just definitely not a great one,
and probably not quite for serious hikers.

Excellent Guide!.......2003-06-22

I am not an Arizona resident, so I only have the oportunity to hike there every now and then. This book has helped me to find some of the nicer spots, and go on those hikes well prepared. Maps are pretty good (although it seems that one of them was a little off in scale... not sure though... the textual description was extremely accurate).

The book is beatifully illustrated, and well written. A must-have for hiking enthusiasts.

Book Description

Whether traversing the Nile or exploring Cairo's labyrinthine alleyways, delve beneath the surface and discover the intriguing language and culture of Egypt. Confidently converse in Egyptian Arabic and ensure you don't miss out on the friendliness and humour for which Egyptians are famous. Enhance your travels through this enticing country!

key to deciphering hieroglyphs
essential phrases for sightseeing, architecture & bargaining
comprehensive sections on diving, trekking & sport
everything from smoking a sheesha to sha'bi music
mouthwatering range of traditional cuisine
easy pronunciation throughout
cultural tips & essential etiquette

Customer Reviews:

Egyptian Phrasebook a Lifesaver!.......2007-08-01

I ordered this book 2 years ago just before going to visit my in-laws. My Arabic is still not to the point where I can hold a decent conversation, but thankfully some of the family spoke English. This book definitely helped when we were all at a loss for words because it contains both the transliteration and the Arabic script. Even if you're not familiar with the sounds of the Arabic letters, you can always just show someone the book and they can read it and perfectly understand what you're trying to say.

I really love this book and recommend it to all my friends who are traveling to Egypt.

Easy way to learn beginning Arabic.......2007-07-10

I love this book! For those who are more visually oriented than phonetically inclined, this is a life saver. Makes Arabic easy and fun.

Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic.......2007-03-23

This is a very well thought out and nicely organized book. Any student of Egyptian Arabic will like this phrasebook, and the illustrations inside of the book offer casual entertainment while the reader continues to learn Egyptian Arabic. I admit that I was disappointed to read that the author started to include sexual words and phrases, then backed out of doing it. It really would have been a lot of fun to learn how to say some of those things that were deleted from the final text.

Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook.......2006-11-03

An excellent and handy little book that is easy to carry and contains a lot of very useful information especially when one is at a loss for a phrase or a word. It helped jog my memory because, as a youth, I was once fluent in colloquial Egyptian Arabic but regretably no more.

Egyptian-Arabic This Book is a Must !!!!.......2006-08-19

This book is outstanding! It gives you everything that you will need. One thing I would advise is to couple it with something audible because the Egyptian language is very particular in pronunciations. Most of their vowel sounds are quite a bit different from English. Just one slip of the tongue and you could be saying "I want to go to the bathroom" or "I want to eat pigeon"

Lonely Planet Traveltalk Egyptian Arabic (TravelTalk)

Average customer rating:

Difficult to use

Lonely Planet Traveltalk Egyptian Arabic (TravelTalk)
Inc. Penton Overseas
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook
Lonely Planet Egypt

ASIN: 1591253594

Customer Reviews:

Difficult to use.......2007-08-11

The content of the CD and the phrase book do not match exactly - sections are divided differently and the order of phrases are completely different. It would've been easier if contents did match, so I can follow the book while listening to the CD.

Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook

Average customer rating:

don't bother
Amazing Easy Arabic

Lonely Planet Egyptian Arabic Phrasebook
Scott Wayne
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0864420706

Customer Reviews:

don't bother.......2000-07-27

At first glance this tiny book looked to be a treasure; for me, it turned out to be a dud. Even with reading glasses, the Arabic script is too small to be deciphered. The English and transliterated Arabic also is very tiny (for no apparent reason--the ample white space would easily allow for larger type). The pronunciation guide is useful for vowels, but not for the consonants (guidance boiled down to "ask a native speaker")--it would be even more helpful if the vowels were repeated in a header or footer on each page. No indication of syllables or stress is given either--fortunately people were very nice about offering corrections. Only the section on food (which has good descriptions of typical dishes) would move this from a "don't bother" to a "maybe" purchase for a casual traveler. For someone who has studied Arabic (highly recommended for extended stays!), it might be helpful as a vocabulary memory jog. All I needed for a casual visit was in the "Lonely Planet Egypt" book. Get it instead and photocopy its pronunciation guide and key words; carry a copy and paste one inside the front cover of the book. English is widely spoken, but the niceties (esp. "please," "thank you," "NO THANK YOU," "hello," and "goodbye") earned me warm welcomes and good conversation. The indispensible "la' shukran" was far more effective than the English "no, thank you"---street hussles typically turned into greetings (a pleasant bonus!).

Amazing Easy Arabic.......2000-06-13

This book makes traveling so easy, it gives you very many useful phrases, and is overall, a great buy!

Amazon.com

"Claypitts, Pearl of the Prairie... it's the kind of town you drive right through without noticing... it's where we live... three not-exceptional daughters and one exasperated mother." So starts Carol Patterson's story, the story of a 15-year-old middle child who longs for a life less ordinary, one outside the boundaries of Claypitts and her mother's expectations. Carol has always been a responsible, stoic soul, helping her single working mom by caring for younger sister Liz and steering clear of older sister Ellen's bad habits and reputation. Carol lives her life safely in the middle--never too sad, but never very happy, either. It is only when Ellen upsets the balance of the small family by getting pregnant and moving to a home for unwed mothers that Carol finds herself taking thrilling risks like dating the school bad boy and sneaking away in the middle of the night to visit Ellen. After years of turning away from problems so they couldn't hurt her, Carol suddenly realizes that she must experience life's pain in order to better recognize its joys.

This debut novel by legendary young adult author Richard Peck--back in print after 27 years--is a quiet story whose strength is in its timelessness. Today's teens will quickly recognize their own conflicting desires as they identify with Carol's need to stay safe yet at the same time explore new territory. Don't Look and It Won't Hurt foreshadowed Richard Peck's brilliant writing career and makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read, whether you're diving in fresh or revisiting an old friend. (Ages 12 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

"Out at the city limits there's this sign that says WELCOME TO CLAYPITTS, PEARL OF THE PRAIRIE, and if you'd believe that, you'd believe anything."Sixteen-year-old Carol Patterson is a girl in the middle: in the middle of her sisters, in the middle of her adolescence, in the middle of her family's problems.It is the early seventies and the world is in turmoil, but hardly anything from the outside ever seems to creep in to effect the Pattersons, who live in half a house at the wrong end of town. But there is turmoil enough in Carol's own life. The family is barely getting by on her mother's waitress salary. Carol's bookishness and shabby clothes make her an outcast. Then Carol's older sister gets pregnant.Still, in the midst of it all there is hope: Carol's first fledgling romance; her unexpected friendship with the preacher's daughter. And suddenly a door opens, providing Carol with a glimpse of the world outside Claypitts and a glimpse of her own inner strength.Originally published in 1972, Don't Look and It Won't Hurt was Richard Peck's first novel. It was adapted for the movie Gas/Food/Lodging in 1992.

Customer Reviews:

Fighting Against the Odds.......2007-08-02

She has no father to speak of. Her mother, who works hard but gets nowhere, is skilled at trying to be in charge, but not at being close or understanding. Her older teenage sister, who does pretty much as she pleases, turns into an unwed mother. Only her little sister is close to her.

Carol doesn't particularly like her town or her school or herself, but you'll find her open and honest and her story very moving.

[Realistic fiction suitable for junior high to high school.]

Excellent Story!.......2002-09-20

"Don't Look And It Wont Hurt" by Richard Peck is a very good book!
It tells about a girl that is very poor and doesn't have many friends and her mom works all the time and she feels very alone.
The book is very good because it is based on a true story and in the book the girl tries to escape her terrible life but she cant it is a very extraordinary book for many readers

Read it as a kid and still love it.......2001-10-17

I read this book when I was bearly a teenage and fell in love with it. Every teenager goes through the same feelings and worries Carol does about "fitting in". This book helps to show that growing up we all have the same worries and fears, and the only person you have to worry about liking you is you. If you can like who you are, then what everyone else thinks about you is meaningless. It is definitely worth reading. I still have my copy and will pull it out once and a while to read it again. When my children get older, I want them to read it too!

Don't Look and it Wont Hurt.......2000-03-03

A readers first impression of Don't Look and it wont Hurt by Richard Peck, is if you are a teenager, you could identify with the normal problems teenagers do. This is a book of suspense and courage. This is a great book and I encourage you to read it. Claypitts, known as the "Pearl of the Prairie," is where the Patterson's live. Liz the youngest, Carol in the middle, and the oldest is Ellen. Claypitts is the kind of town you drive right through and don't even notice. Even thought it is small it still has its share of problems. Kids using drugs and teenagers getting pregnant. Carol Patterson is a girl in the middle; in the middle of her sisters, in the middle of her adolescence, and in the middle of her families many problems. At Carol's high school her shyness and ragged clothes maker her outcast. When Carol and Liz get together her shyness goes away. They let their imaginations take them places they've never been before. An unexpected turn happens in Carol's life when she finds out her older sister Ellen is pregnant. Through it all Carol changes in a way she has never changed before. Don't Look and it won't hurt; in my opinion is a great book. Anyone could read it even if you aren't the best of readers. It has a satisfying ending which you will love. Don't Look and it Wont Hurt will touch you with its honesty and sensitivity.

Tough life her sister gets pregnant, but she's poor !!!!!!!.......1999-10-19

I found this book to be nothing but good. It was very good, and even though the ending was like shortened it's ok. The book is about a girl who's family is not to rich and her sister gets pregnant. The teenage girl Carol is like and outsider and is not popular at all. She later on meets a boy and becomes very close. She now is enteracting with other people and actually has friends. Once you start reading this book you won't be able to put it down. At the end you find your self wishing the author had written more, I for one read slow so that I could still have it iguess I was quite attatched. You'll enjoy it! I reccomend this book to everyone young and old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Don't Look & It Won't Hurt
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Average customer rating:

DON'T LOOK AND IT WON'T HURT
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEL8CQ

Average customer rating:

Don't Look and It Won't Hurt
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000Q06170

Product Description

Carol Patterson is a girl in the middle: int the middle of her sisters, in the middle of her teens, in the middle of all the problems of her family. Carol briefly finds happiness in love but family problems intervene when her older sister Ellen becomes pregnant and is sent to a home for unwed mothers in Chicago. Torn with worry about her sister and beset by her own problems, Carol takes to the Road the huge highway that leads to the World Outside. What she finds there is a surprise to Carol and helps her take a crucial step toward maturity. Young Adult - 158 pages.

Average customer rating:

Don't Look and it Won't Hurt
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0380411946

Average customer rating:

Don't Look and it Won't Hurt
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KSDUAY

Average customer rating:

Don't Look and it Won't Hurt
Richard Peck
Manufacturer: Henry Holth & Co (J)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OA9ON0

Average customer rating:

Don't Look and it Won't Hurt

Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000I2YXCG

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