D-A Books

This romance is a great stand alone story! The characters are well-rounded and the turns of phrase are amazing!

It also introduces you to all of the people who arein the Grea Brain series as well.

Excellent book I will read to my children.

I read the Great Brain series as a kid, and continue to re-read them as an adult. Recently I discovered "Papa Married a Momon" and was not disappointed by Fitzgerald's story telling. But after doing a little online research I was disappointed to find that it is only very loosley based on his life in Utah (i.e. Fitzgerald was born in 1906 and the stories take place in the 1880s-1890s and papa lived until 1937). But I would highly recommend the book, especially if you enjoyed the adventures as told in the great brain series.

This wonderful book is a perfect mix of the Little House on the Prarie and Great Brain books. What I found the most interesting was the equal treatment of Mormons, Catholics, Methodists, and even Agnostics in frontier Utah. In fact, there are both good and bad examples of each. The overall religious message of the book is that "all religions are but windows in the same church letting in the light of God," which stresses the ideas of tolerance, love, and respect for all people irregardless of their religious beliefs. I highly recommend this book for all people who are fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder and John D. Fitzgerald or even pioneer life and Utah history. Although it's out of print, you can probably find a copy in your local library. For 300 pages, it's a quick read. I have to warn you, though, it'll make you cry in the end. Even I teared up a bit, and I very rarely get emotionally involved in books. I also laughed out loud a few times, too. This book is really special.

I have loved every book by John D. Fitzgerald that I was able to get my hands on. All of his books are wonderful but perhaps the best one is Papa Married a Morman. The true story of the Fitzgerald family is uplifting, powerful, and very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to any one who loves history and who loves a good story. The other two books in this serious, Mama's Boarding House, which takes place after Papa Married a Morman, and Uncle Will and the Fitzgerald Curse, which tells the story of Uncle Will from childhood up until the time of the end of silverlode, are also great to read.

I found this book at a swap meet--took it home more from the quirky title then anything...and I discovered my favorite book! The story is an easy & non-demanding read with pictures of the family--your unable to set it down! I once lent this book to my Mom, she in turn lent, and so on. The book was returned to me 2 years later, and had visited over 25 homes!! I know of no other book that has had that wide of an appeal, regardless of religious background...a DEFINATE must have!

Book arrived within a few days and was in the condition that it was described or better, very happy with there service.

I recently purchased this book through an South African bookstore and it rocks ! It is great book to read .

For years my family has wondered what happened during this period of the conflict. I was eight years old when my brother, Bruce Walker - Covey 282 Alpha, was declared MIA. This book gave my family and I a real view of what happened to him. This is something the government was never willing to do. I'm thankful to Darrel Whitcomb for this well researched and well written book detailing the rescues and attempted rescues during the Easter Offensive.

The lone survivor (Bat 21 Bravo) of a six-man crewed American warplane shot down by a surface-to-air missile parachutes near the DMZ and seeks cover to await recovery. Heavy clouds obscure visibility, but other than that the search and rescue aircraft crews have no reason to believe that this won't be anything but a moderately easy pickup.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Jay Crowe commanding an Air Force rescue helicopter drops through the clouds heading for the survivor when enemy fire comes up from all directions. The dashboard begins to disintegrate. Crowe and his copilot struggle to control the helicopter and clear the area. The crew is amazed at the scene below. North Vietnamese Army trucks, tanks, guns, and soldiers are everywhere. Bat 21 is trapped between two enemy divisions barreling across the borders in a full offensive to conquer South Vietnam. Still, the rescue attempt goes on.

As the author of "Coast Guard Action in Vietnam," I am pleased to read, not only a darn good true book about the Vietnam War, but, one that brings out the fact that Coast Guardsmen were active in that long engagement. Flying combat search and rescue was only one of their numerous missions. For example, LORAN, the electronic navigation system used to keep Bat 21 pinpointed and to place ordnance on enemy positions, was installed in the theater and manned by the Coast Guard.

Do yourself a favor, get both "Bat 21" by William C. Anderson and "The Rescue of Bat 21" by Darrel D. Whitcomb. Read them in tandem. Read "Bat 21" first. It puts you with the survivor on the ground evading capture for twelve days. Then read Whitcomb's book. It pulls back the camera to take into view the entire panorama of situation, equipment, and people, that went into this remarkable rescue exploit.

When you start the reading make sure you have a block of uninterrupted time because you may not want to stop until--the end.

This book is an extremely accurate history of this rescue and its heros. I was the on scene commander who arrived to find the Jolly in flames. There are other books written about this rescue but none are as accurate and well presented. The author did an excellent job in allowing a "non" military reader to understand this rescue situation without missing the power of the enviornment.

Yes, I'm biased. Despite my connection with the authors, I truly promise a fine read. It took me a little over one year to finally finish the book because of my emotional connection. It's really tough to relive some of the most difficult moments of my life. I guess you did your job--reader pathos. Awesomely done, Dad & Krissy!

This book is fabulous. A great introduction to the art and science of paleontology which is easy to follow and reads very warmly. It also tells the maddening story of a justice system gone absolutely berzerk. It is a fascinating example of how a handful of horrible judges, attorneys, agents, and other ne'er-do-wells can ruin lives. It really makes you shake you head in disbelief that this could have possibly happened in OUR country only a few years ago.

"Rex Appeal" is the amazing story of one of the most significant fossil discoveries in the last fifty years. The story of "Sue" the fossil Tyrannosaurus Rex discovered by Peter Larson's associate Susan Hendrickson spins a web of intrigue from the moment the dinosaur's bones are discovered. With splashy headlines and national press coverage "Sue" becomes the darling of science, then the bane of Larson.
The landowner from whom the fossil was "bought" cries foul. Maurice Williams who is one eighth Lakota Sioux had put his land in trust with the United States Government. When Williams realizes the fossil may be worth many multiples of the $5000 he was paid for its excavation, the United States Government gets involved and when that happens it makes an IRS audit look like a toddler's birthday party.
The problem for Larson is that he is not strictly a scientist, but has established a for-profit organization called the Black Hills Institute. Not to say that Larson has nothing to contribute scientifically to the study of dinosaurs. His science is outstanding by current standards. But, the government suspects that Larson has nefarious intentions and pursues him with the fury of, well, of a pissed off T.Rex.
"Sue" is seized by the FBI and the South Dakota National Guard and the ensuing legal battle is extremely one-sided, according to Larson of course. He is confronted with an over-zealous prosecutor and a biased judge. Without hearing the other side of the story it's impossible to pass judgement on the veracity of the case against Larson. But it is safe to say that the judge in the case certainly defied all logic when he declared "Sue" real estate. 65 million year old bones hardly qualify as real estate, especially if the landowner was paid a handsome sum for their retrieval.
In the end Larson winds up in prison for nearly two years, his marriage to co-author Kristin Donnan dissolves, and his Institute is nearly bankrupt. Somehow Larson manages to emerge at the other end of the tunnel a changed man. He still pursues fossils with vigor after learning what many who have gone before him could have told him, "you can't fight City Hall".
The only criticism of the book is the complete lack of any intimations about Larson's relationship with co-author and ex-wife Kristin Donnan. Donnan is a free-lance writer who covers the "Sue" story and eventually falls in love with, and marries Larson. There is nothing in the book about their affairs. Whether that is intentional or not it would have at least contributed something to the story and clarified some of the events.
In all the book is highly recommended. Larson's theories about T.Rex and other issues related to dinosaurs are well thought out and informative. This book is a must for all us amateur paleontologists who can't get off our couches to go out west to do a little digging ourselves.

I found reading Rex Appeal to be highly entertaining and informative book. I learned quite a bit about the people who dig dinosaurs and about the T-Rex itself. The author's legal problems smack with pure malice by the justice department. I wondered why such a thing was allowed to go as far as it did. Highly readable book, it revealed the world of paleontology and its rewards and risks. I wonder if Judge Battey can look in his mirror and see a honest man?

This is not just another dinosaur book. It is not just another dinosaur book with some fascinating facts about T-rex. This is THE book about T-rex by one of the foremost authorities on this bad boy of the Cretaceous.

Peter Larson's intimate knowledge of this beast comes from excruciatingly hard-earned experience. While it is a recounting of the nightmare saga surrounding the Sue specimen, it is also a manifest of the current thinking regarding T-rex, its lifestyle, and place in prehistory. Despite his own grievous experiences with the legal system, there is no self-pity in Mr. Larson's book. He simply states the facts as he knows them to be, as any researcher worth his salt should.

An A+ all the way.

Book arrived quickly and in shape described. I am very satisfied with the seller. Thanks.

I love the Thoene books but this series is especially great reading for me as they bring the past to life and I can understand and get excited all over again about the impact that Jesus has had on the world.

I highly recommend this book! It is the 2nd book in the A.D. Chronicles. I am currently on book 6 and this is the best series of books I have ever read (and I have read many). I stayed up until 4:00 A.M. because I couldn't put it down!

Second Touch (A. D. Chronicles, Book 2)
I thought this book was very touching and very informative of the way lepers were treated and handled in those days. It was a really good book and I highly recommend it.

First of all the book was delivered before the delivery date and I was pleasantly surprised. Secondly it was a very good book.

Hello avid readers of true stories. I appreciated The State Boy's Rebellion, as I too was a victim of the mental health system when I was 8 years old. I remained institutionalized for 10 years; even though authorities were informed I was not retarded. Like the kids in The State Boys Rebellion, I was deprived of my civil liberties, denied an education, and horribly abused. If you want to read a remarkable story of the human spirit to survive horrific odds, read my true story. You'll be glad you did.
Charles A. Carroll, Author, Victim/Victim's Advocate
HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies Over the Cuckoo's Nest

A must read for anybody. I am currently employed at one of the said institutions in MA and heard of this book through a co-worker. I have worked here for over 20 years, long after they stopped admitting people. The residents that currently reside there get the best of care available and the staffing ratios way outnumber the amount of clients residing here. I am in no way condoning what happened to Freddie and all the other state children, I just wonder how some of the residents would have turned out if not institutionalized. My supervisor and I have roamed through the old dormitories and found a wealth of info and pictures. Some of the pics show young children about Freddies admission age that looked scared to death, it brought tears to my eyes to think of what these poor kids went through and reading Freddie's story helped me better understand just exactly why these children were admitted. When I started working here, over 1,000 residents lived here, now we have under 300 and the remaining people really do benefit from the care they receive. I just could not comprehend why some of the residents were there 20 years ago, now I know. My family has welcomed in a former resident in the shared living program and it has been benificial to both him and my family. After reading the "State Boys Rebellion", my only regret is that I never got to meet Freddie Boyce. In my eyes, he and all the other state children are true heroes for surviving the great injustice done to them. In closing, I have to truly say that I have been humbled.

Michael D'Antonio has provided us with a very interesting book that he has subtitled "The Inspiring True Story of American Eugenics and the Men Who Overcame It". There is no doubt that he cares tremendously for his subject, but this is not a comprehensive history of the Eugenics movement or even of the the State Boys Rebellion at the Fernald School for the Feebleminded.

From a journalistic perspective, this is a tremendous piece of writing & investigation. Evaluating the events primarily through the eyes of Fred Boyce, the author skillfully weaves in the stories of fellow inmates at the Fernald school and the events leading up to the rebellion. Unfortunately, the key point that I see as the "rebellion" only gets about 4 pages of treatment, with regular references to the people involved in the riot throughout the rest of the book. Boyce's life is traced up through the time when the book was written, and is a compelling story.

From a historical standpoint, although there is no clear thesis, the book obviously was written to educate the reader about the Fernald school and a few key residents that were able to make great strides in their lives and lead a relatively "normal" life after being released from the institution. The most interesting argument the author presents is that some of the medical experiments conducted within the confines of the Fernald school were reflective of Cold War America, where government aims included furthering science in an effort to find a way to defeat the Communists.

Overall, this is a very interesting book and an easy read. The story is enthralling, and keeps the reader entertained throughout. If the reader is looking for a comprehensive story of the American Eugenic movement, this is not the book; I believe there are probably better scholarly works out there that address eugenics in America. I would recommend this as a book to start one's understanding of eugenics and how this one school in the Boston area plays into the bigger picture.

I never gave the imposing Fernald School campus much thought, even though the house I shared with my friends was literally across the street from the large brick buildings. It was not until I researched the effects of radiation on soldiers during the Cold War that I learned Fernald's dirty secrets. I immediately bought this book, and it filled me with rage and despair. D'Antonio's style is not preachy, nor does he editorialize. He allows the recollections of those who were there to speak for him. Wherever he can, he uses several sources to shade each event, from conversations with the boys, to the memories of the staff members, to the cold, un-enlightening medical records from the school. As others have said, the story ends not in misery but in triumph. It is a cautionary tale about society's complacency and willingness to let the horrors of our past remain behind the locked doors of our crumbling institutions.

The State Boys Rebellion tells the story of the Fernald State School in Massachusetts. Michael D'Antonio does a great job of telling the story through the eyes of Freddie Boyce, a child that grew up in Fernald. The story is quite chilling, specially to those of us who did not live through that time period. It is disgraceful that we, the United States actually started Eugenics, although I was taught in school that Nazi Germany was the creator. This book should remind us that as a society, we sometimes leave out the bad stuff our forefathers did, even if they meant no harm. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone, but it will touch the heart of anyone with a child who is considered "special".

This is by far one of the most spell binding books I have read in quite a while. You are hooked from the first page, and will not want to put it down until you are finished. I recieved this book at 10:30 AM, and had it finished by 7:00 PM, the same day. (Good thing it was Saturday) :)
I have told everyone I know about this book. My daughter, who hates to read, stayed up late every night until she finished.

I can't wait for DL's next book.

Two thumbs up

Written very well. Excellent storyline. Publisher should use spellcheck, though.

genre: Mystery

Title: Sweet Dreams

Author: D. L. Edwards

Megan Montgomery is young, beautiful and lonely. Nightmares of horrendous murders haunt her nights, deadly premonitions of things to come. She knows that she must tell the police about her dreams but will they believe her? Can she stop this reign of terror?

Unable to put the horrible nightmares out of her mind and encouraged by her surrogate mother Nancy, she calls Detective David Stark and gives him the details of her dreams. Stark, a young, handsome but self-centered career cop, does not believe Megan and laughs it off: until the murder actually takes place in every vivid detail that Megan gave him. Is she involved? David is determined to find out one way or another. When they meet, there is a definite chemistry between them. The two get together in order to solve the crime but will Megan turn out to be the woman of his dreams or his worst nightmare? Is David going to believe Megan and help her or will he subject her to ridicule and use her?

D.L. Edwards has a talent for suspense. Vivid descriptions bring the scenes to life. Her characters are bright, intelligent and not without faults making them very believable. Fast paced plot is filled with twists and turns, interesting suspects and unexpected turn of events. The reader is drawn in on page one and Edwards does not let go until the end.

The book, as with many self-published works, does contain a few typos and spelling errors but this does not detract from the plot.

Highly recommended. Reviewer: Shirley Roe, Allbooks Reviews.

DL Edwards offers fiction readers a little bit of everything in this well-blended book...suspense, gore, deep thought and a touch of erotica. "Sweet Dreams" is not a book to be ignored.

The main character is described nicely, easy to empathize with and very believeable. Edwards obviously did her homework in regards to psychic visions because her descriptions of them as well as their affects on Megan, the main character, are well planned out and not difficult to follow.

Edwards' story offers readers an enjoyable ride that is filled with plot twists and literal misdirections that keep her readers guessing all the way through the tale. I glad I read this book!

T. Anthony Truax
Author, A Whole New Breed

Megan Montgomery is living a nightmare. Not only is she dreaming of gory murders committed by a psychotic serial killer, but she has to awaken two mornings later to find that she has seen the crime before it was committed. And this isn't anything new - as a child, she saw through the eyes of another killer, and the experience nearly killed her.

I could not put this book down. From start to finish, Sweet Dreams had me biting my nails, unable to sleep. The images created by DL Edwards are so vivid that you almost feel like you're there. I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to see what DL Edwards does next.

I used this book to study for NRP, and reading through it and doing the tests definitely prepared me for the class. Others I know used the disc to study and liked it as well. It's nice that there are 2 different types of study tools for people since not everyone learns the same way.

Make sure you get this book, its the most updated and is very user friendly!

Helped me a lot in my neonatal resuscitation licensure. The CD was a good source by itself.

even though i bought it used, the condition of the book is wonderfully new. i was also glad to have received the book on time( indicated during purchase). i would gladly deal with the seller again.
faru, chicago

I'm a computer person moreso than a booky.......
So using the DVD that comes with the book was VERY helpful.. It has the exact information the book offers and MORE!

I met Mr. James Newton and his wife Ellie, almost twenty five years ago in his Fort Myers real estate office. Jim was in the process of finishing the manuscript for this outstanding book in which he shares many life changing moments with his five unusual friends. Jim delightfully reminds us of his firsthand experiences with them. Throughout the book, he gives us a clear understanding of how these historical icon friends impacted his life. Each of them, 'The Uncommon Friends,' had high standards of personal and business ethics. Reading the book is a flash back in American history. You may have heard some of these stories previously. But they were secondhand. Now you can read in his book as Mr. Newton relates many of these firsthand, intimate moments with Edison, Ford, Firestone, Lindbergh and Carrel. I recommend the book!

My only regret is waiting so long to acquire the it.

What a lucky man, to have lived and shared the time he did, with those incredible people. Mr. Newton tells it like he lived it, you get the distinct impression, from reading this book, that Mr. Newton saw these men as both great leaders and great men. It is impressive today to be able to get a cross section of turn of the century greatness, all rolled up in one place. Interestingly enough, Mr. Newton has a strong sense of faith that worked it's way into all of these relationships, yet he incorporates it into the text with minimal overtones. I would recommend this book to anyone, like me, that only has a passing knowledge of these people and their times, it helped to color these people in as human.

This book gives insight in many discussions on business, theology and philosophy among five extraordinary people. But I find it regrettable that the belief of Edison, Ford & Lindbergh in reincarnation is rather superficially worked out. Perhaps because of the religious stance of his wife and the author.
I deem it also regrettable that no mention is made of the membership of Edison of the Theosophical Society while it is obvious he was much inspired by the books of Blavatsky.
Apart from a few inaccuracies (on p. 10: Edison is attributed to have received as a gift every new car that ran from the Ford assembly line, among which the first V8. But the V8 was introduced after the demise of this great inventor, p. 100) I find this book very readable and stimulating.

This book originally caught my eye as an addition to another book I read called Edison: A Life of Invention by Paul Israel. I wanted a book that would cover a little more of Edison's personal life, and this book did just that. However, James Newton's close, dedicated friendships with all of these great men of the twentieth century is truly amazing, and I learned more than I would probably learn otherwise about some of these important historical figures.

The entire book is fascinating, and surely different parts will appeal to different readers. I was particularly enchanted with a poignant description of how Charles Lindbergh handled dying as he lay on his deathbed. I was also fascinated with how environmentally conscientious some of these men were, particularly Edison and Lindbergh, but also Ford. For example, Ford was very interested in making automobile parts out of soybeans in order to reduce the need for metal parts. It seems that all of these men had numerous ideas and ideas for inventions that were way ahead of their time - perhaps some of them still are.

Newton's writing is quite good, and I only have one very minor criticism: it seems that he preaches a little bit and dwells on the religious facet of his relationships with these people. Of course, I'm sure this was a very important part of his relationship with these men and their families, but it seems that there is a grand, overarching agenda he has in constantly illustrating their connection to God and religion.

If you are interested in any of these historical figures and their fascinating relationships with each other, this book is definitely the best book you will find on the subject.

This book originally caught my eye as an addition to another book I read called Edison: A Life of Invention by Paul Israel. I wanted a book that would cover a little more of Edison's personal life, and this book did just that. However, James Newton's close, dedicated friendships with all of these great men of the twentieth century is truly amazing, and I learned more than I would probably learn otherwise about some of these important historical figures.

The entire book is fascinating, and surely different parts will appeal to different readers. I was particularly enchanted with a poignant description of how Charles Lindbergh handled dying as he lay on his deathbed. I was also fascinated with how environmentally conscientious some of these men were, particularly Edison and Lindbergh, but also Ford. For example, Ford was very interested in making automobile parts out of soybeans in order to reduce the need for metal parts. It seems that all of these men had numerous ideas and ideas for inventions that were way ahead of their time - perhaps some of them still are.

Newton's writing is quite good, and I only have one very minor criticism: it seems that he preaches a little bit and dwells on the religious facet of his relationships with these people. Of course, I'm sure this was a very important part of his relationship with these men and their families, but it seems that there is a grand, overarching agenda he has in constantly illustrating their connection to God and religion.

If you are interested in any of these historical figures and their fascinating relationships with each other, this book is definitely the best book you will find on the subject.

This book was wonderful. I couldn't put it down. For anyone who is into (fantasy) romance I highly recommend this book.

It is a great symbol of how good cannot exist without bad (evil) and vice versa. Kamara is a priestess who is whole heartedly good, she gives and gives to everyone until it nearly destroys her. Kayente is a warrior who is Kamara's polar opposite, he takes and takes until it nearly destroys him. The balance that develops and is created between the two is touching, and at times comical. The story flowed perfectly, along with the characters.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because I spent $20 on it expecting it to be better than a mere "mass market paperback" and there were so many typos in it, it actually interupted the story line because you lost track of who said what.

This is the BEST book I've ever read. There is fantasy, romance, magic, intrigue, mystery--an absolute genius plot. The psychology of the characters are so moving. I cried. I laughed. I felt deepened in myself and uplifted after reading this book. I would recommend it for anyone not only seeking to be entertained, but to those who want to learn more about themselves and the human condition.

A love story about acceptance in seemingly unacceptable situations. All of Kaliors stories have a lesson. This was a great fantasy novel.

This book was a great romance that had a lot of suspense throughout it. Was filled with great plots. The author did a wonderful job and can't wait to see more books from her!!!

The story is about one of those epic romances,like Gone with the Wind,only this story has all the elements of dark fantasy,including magic,and uncovering all dark psychology of humane nature. I found this story interesting because it wasn't as much about good against evil,(although the tension there is strong.)as it is about how one can't exist without the other. And what happens if there is a great imbalance? The culprit in this story played by the main antagonist is Apathy, although that word is not used but played by a supernatural character. The plots and subplots were characteristic of Shakespeare,and the medieval magical epic story reminded me somewhat of the story Excalibur. There was alot of depth to this book,many layers to it that all came together in the end unraveling a very exciting mystery.

this IS truly a BOOK FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES AND RESPECTS nature as the majority of us do here in BEAUTIFUL MAINE!!

ALL of her books are super! This one tops them off!!

MACHIAS, MAINE!!

Louise Dickinson Rich is a star! A truly wonderful and gifted writer. You can't put her books down.

A friend gave me this book when I was at a very low point in my life. My wife and I read it together, over a long weekend, and packed the car Monday morning. By Wednesday we had our old house listed and Friday we put in an offer on 40 acres with an old farm. We haven't looked back since; but we have given copies of this book to all of our old friends for Christmas.

This book is a great read for anyone who's ever had the desire to just chuck it all and head for the woods (a desire that seems to wax and wane like the tides, popular one decade [1970s, for example], totally passe the next). Today taking to the woods for many means building a $500,000 "rustic retreat" with pool, hot tub, and wine cellar included. For Louise Rich, back in the 1930s (the book was published in 1942), things were much different.

For one thing, her house had no plumbing. Water had to be hauled to the house in buckets. Supplies and the mail came by boat. Life was no picnic for her and her family. But, of course, there were trade offs. The beauty of the place, for one. The living as one with nature. The need to be resourceful, and the feeling of pride and accomplishment that goes with it. Trade offs worth the hardships, Rich makes perfectly clear.

Rich captures the flavor of her idyllic spot in the Maine woods a few miles east of Upton along the Rapid River (the swiftest river east of the Mississippi, even though it is only about four miles long). She describes what life is like there, how the busy summers are a prelude to the slow, long winters. She talks about her neighbors, the loggers, the animals they encounter, how one endures and enjoys life in the woods. She describes the effects of the hurricane of 1938 and the havoc is caused even there, so far inland. Her prose style is clear and direct, and she truly makes the reader jealous of her situation rather than sympathetic. It's an excellent book, one that I've read a number of times, always with an I-wish-I-was-there enthusiasm. Highly recommended.

"We Took to the Woods" is as charming and delightful a book as you will ever find. It's the story of a city woman living on a remote Maine river with her husband and children. She's not poor, nor a rube, nor does she display the eccentricities one associates with people who flee to the wilderness. Rather, she seems happy, well-adjusted, and full of sympathetic tales about the few -- very few -- people she comes into contact with in the course of her daily life. And she really did live in the woods --the nearest store was a long boat ride away and she didn't go "outside" for a four year stretch. Her township of Upton had a population of 182.

The book is set up in chapters that answer questions: "Isn't housekeeping difficult?" or "Aren't you ever frightened." One of the better stories in the chapter, "Aren't the Children a Problem" tells about her husband delivering the author's baby in the dead of winter -- and greasing it with olive oil which he kept to dress his trout flies. The new parents discuss what they are supposed to do with the hot water always called for when a baby is being born -- and they decide to make coffee.

For the modern reader, the highlights of the book are probably tales of the trials of living without conveniences. The Rich houses -- they had a winter and summer house -- had no plumbing. Heating and cooking were with wood. What you needed for groceries was delivered by boat once a month; the Sears catalog supplied the rest. For anyone who has ever thought wistfully of fleeing civilization, this is a humorous primer of both the rewards and hardships of such a life. It deserves a permanent place on the short shelf of Americana classics.

Smallchief