nevada books
Reno author plans a sequel, plus info on other Silver State reads.
Photo: Matt Smith
| NM: Why do you think your book appeals to readers? | |
 MA: One of the reasons the book is attractive to people is it cuts through myths about the Vietnam War and its aftermath. A lot of it is the macho Rambo-type stuff. Then there’s the demented vet who can’t find post-war success. What I tried to do in the story is tell it from the perspective of a young marine who grew up in the Bay Area—and show people who found themselves. I tried to tell anecdotes about ordinary people trying to survive in extraordinary circumstances. Generally you don’t make good decisions when you’re an adolescent. [Volunteering for the war]—something that might seem noble and exciting—can end up being a disaster. That’s what happened to a lot of people in Vietnam, myself included. |
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| NM: I’ve often wondered how book authors stay so dedicated to a subject. How do you do it? | |
| MA: I do tend to get tired of the subject matter, especially working on a sequel. Occasionally you hit a wall, but you get past it. Destiny has been pulling me along. Now [the sequel has] taken on a life of its own, and it’s going to make one hell of an interesting story. It took me almost 30 years to get going on [A Patch of Ground]. I started writing from the moment I got back, but there was so much baggage. I think survivor’s guilt is hugely underrated. | |
| NM: Who are some authors that have inspired you? | |
| MA: William Manchester’s Goodbye, Darkness: A Memoir of the Pacific War was inspirational in giving me an idea to write A Patch of Ground. Throughout my life I’ve read everything [John] Steinbeck has written. I like J.D. Salinger’s style, too. I like Robert Graves’ Goodbye To All That. It’s one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. I think I’ve taken some [style elements] from all those guys. Like most Nevadans, I’ve read Robert Laxalt’s work. I find it beautiful. | |
| NM: You have several speaking engagements each year. Where and to whom do you speak? | |
| MA: I’ve lectured for two years. It’s kind of a word-of-mouth thing. Professor Bob Topmiller, who teaches at Eastern Kentucky University and was our Navy Corpsman at Khe Sanh, got me started in Kentucky. I speak to several campuses there, and I spoke to a veterans group in Lexington this last time. I’ll be speaking November 29 to a history class at UNR and later in the year to a U.C. Santa Barbara religious studies class. I’ve also been invited to lecture two history classes at Texas A&M University. Last year I spoke at the University of Delaware and Bentley College near Boston. I have the usual book tour places like Barnes & Noble. It’s fun. I’m really having a great time. | |
| WORTH A CLICK
apatchofground.com |
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| REVIEWS | |
| Reviews by Audrey Greene | |
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Death Valley National Park: Impressions |
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Nevada: Impressions Photography by Scott T. Smith Welcome to Nevada—land of rugged terrain and lavish casinos. All that is inherent to the Silver State is highlighted in this photographic portfolio. From blooming mountainsides to the cracked floors of dry lakebeds, and from the shores of Lake Tahoe to cityscapes of Las Vegas, Smith offers an all-encompassing collection of Nevada imagery. Informative in its descriptions, this book is a good resource for Nevada visitors and residents. Farcountry Press, P.O. Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604, 800-821-3879, farcountrypress.com. 80 pages, 87 color photos, $9.95, paper (ISBN 1-56037-3083). |
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Who Pooped In The Park? |
| Reviews by Wilma LaRocca | |
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Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas In the storm drains beneath the blossoming neon and the megaresort casinos of Las Vegas, there’s a subterranean city. More than 200 people have set up camps in tunnels, finding refuge from the desert heat and risking death from sudden violent rainstorms. O’Brien, Las Vegas CityLife editor, entered the drains with a reporter’s mission to gather real-life stories. New York’s subway tunnels seem safe and cozy by comparison. Transients, runaway kids, drug addicts, and lost souls find rent-free shelter here. O’Brien’s stories are thrillers, funny and heartbreaking. His compassion shines through, and readers won’t drive by the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign again without remembering what’s below it. |
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Gay Vegas: A Guide to the Other Side of Sin City This guidebook to Las Vegas addresses the interests of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender (GLBT) visitors and locals. Readers will learn what to do and see, where to go, and where to eat from the author’s openly gay perspective. Friess, a Las Vegas resident since 1966, freelance writer, and Las Vegas Review Journal staffer, has watched the city’s growing interest in accommodating alternative lifestyles. Today most hotel-casinos allow same-sex unions in their chapels, and major casinos advertise in gay journals to promote Las Vegas as a gay tourist destination. Friess points out the gay-friendly shows, restaurants, and lodging on the Strip and tells where to find gay-friendly bars, businesses, spas, and bath houses. Also included are gay-oriented bookstores, nightclubs, a couple of nudist spots, and a dozen cruising areas. The chapter on Vegas’s most phallic symbols, starting with the Stratosphere Tower, is imaginative. Huntington Press, 3665 Procyon Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89103, 702-252-0655, farcountrypress.com. 211 pages, 106 b&w photos, seven maps, $19.95, paper (ISBN 978-0-929712-46-8). |
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Great Basin Rock Art: Archeological Perspectives |
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Great Train Robberies of the Old West Nearly 1,000 train robberies were attempted in the United States between 1866 and 1910, most of them in the West. Some failed, but many succeeded and become the subject of colorful adventure stories and movies. In 1871 the Central Pacific’s Overland Express, as it passed near Verdi, became the first Western train to be robbed. The six road agents carried off more than $40,000. The event became a landmark, establishing a method of operation for other bandits to follow. It didn’t take long for former stagecoach robbers to focus on trains and their bigger rewards. Wilson’s collection of train robbery stories is limited to the great ones, those involving stolen fortunes from Western mine shipments and also events celebrating the robbers’ bravado and the lawmen’s persistence in tracking and capturing them. A Twodot book, the Globe Pequot Press, Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437, 800-962-0973, ext. 4551, globepequot.com. 167 pages, 23 b&w photos, 1 map, $12.95, paper (ISBN 13-978-0-7627-4150-2). |
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The Laws Field Guide to The Sierra Nevada If you have room in your backpack for only one guidebook, this one is a good choice. It’s use extends beyond the Sierra Nevada. Many of the 1,700 flora and fauna species described as inhabitants of the national parks and forests of the Sierra Nevada are also found throughout California and the rest of Nevada. The guide includes aquatic life, spiders, animal tracks, and many topics not found in most guides. Consulting with field specialists, Laws spent six years researching and painting to create the guide. For the armchair naturalist, Laws’ watercolor illustrations give a vicarious experience of our natural world. Color tabs and cross-reference organization simplify quick identification. Heyday Books, Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510-549-3564, ext. 309, heydaybooks.com. 366 pages, 2,800 illustrations with text, five maps, one weather chart, four seasonal star charts, $24.95, paper (ISBN-13 978-1-59714-052-2). |
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The Lincoln Highway: Coast to Coast Along Route 30 From Times Square to The Golden Gate Wallis’ Lincoln Highway road trip begins at New York’s Times Square and travels through 13 states to San Francisco. Along the way he points out places to explore and describes cities as they were and as they are. Wallis adheres to his thesis—“The Lincoln is a route for travelers, not for tourists.” He writes for those who want to get off the interstates and explore forgotten places. His local histories are colorful. The book is funny and informative, including must-see sites like the portrait of Ronald Reagan in Illinois—made from 14,000 jelly beans. In Nevada, the Lincoln Highway is now known as U.S. 50, which follows portions of the Pony Express Route of the 1860s. For die-hard explorers who want detailed driving instructions, the Lincoln Highway Resources section lists maps and further information. W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 500 5th Ave., New York, NY. 10110, wwnorton.com. 320 pages, 300 color illustrations, $39.95, hardcover, (ISBN 978-0-393-05938-0). |
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The Lincoln Highway: California This (volume 6) is the last of Franzwa’s western Lincoln Highway series, started in 1995. Books on Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, and Nevada are also in print. All include maps showing routes through the particular states. The California volume shows the northern route over Donner Pass and the southern route through Carson City, entering California at Lake Tahoe. Franzwa’s driving directions are mile-for-mile specific and rely on mileage measurements, landmarks, and odometer readings. They sometimes take you onto dirt roads and require a short hike to see some sections of the Lincoln. Along with the fun of exploring forgotten places, you’ll also learn much about early 20th-century California history. The Patrice Press, 319 Nottingham Drive, Tooele, UT 84074, 435-833-9168, patricepress.com. 199 pages, 120 b&w photos, 128 maps, $39.95, cloth, (ISBN 1-880397-58-7 cloth). |
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Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking with Children Hauserman is an experienced hiker, wilderness guide, and outdoors writer, and also a parent who takes his “little monsters into the wilderness.” This book tells parents how to have fun while introducing their children to backpacking. He advises the distances children of different ages can hike, what supplies to take, even whether to take the dog. Also included are bear-safety tips, how to use duct tape to fix almost anything, and wilderness etiquette. Hauserman knows the Sierra and can recommend appropriate backpacking trips for various age groups. Besides the fun of getting acquainted with nature, Hauserman sees an essential reason to introduce backpacking to today’s kids: “They can learn that just like millions of people for millions of years before them, they can really get by without all the luxuries of civilization.” University of Nevada Press, MS 166, Reno, NV 89577, 775-784-6573, unpress.nevada.edu. 137 pages, 27 b&w photos, $15.95, paper (ISBN 978-0-87417-711-4). |
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The Opium Debate and Chinese Exclusion Laws
in the Nineteenth-Century American West This study examines the economic and political arguments that led to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which ended Chinese immigration to the United States in the 19th century. Historians have documented the anger created by job competition between Anglo and Chinese workers as the major reason for shutting off Chinese immigration. Strengthening the exclusionist argument was the perception of the Chinese as a moral threat, due to their brothels, prostitution, and failure to assimilate into American society. Expanding on these exclusionist reasons, Ahmad points out that the opium debate also needs to be included in the discussion. The author shows the far-reaching effects of opium, not only on the American West, but also its influence on U.S. legislation, medical studies, and attitudes toward the Chinese. University of Nevada Press, MS 166, Reno, NV 89557, 775-784-6573, unpress.nevada.edu. 146 pages, $34.95, cloth (ISBN 978-0-87417-698-8). |
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Out From Las Vegas: Adventures a Day Away Lawlor, a travel writer, is a veteran explorer of the back roads around Las Vegas. Her guide describes getaways and scenic trips a day or less away from downtown Las Vegas. Besides detailed driving directions and guidance on what to look for on each trip, Lawlor entertains day trippers with tales of Southern Nevada’s ghost towns, lost mines, and ancient people who left trails in the backcountry. Contributing writer Zdon explains the geological significance of fossils and rock formations. The day trips are organized by location: those north of Las Vegas, in the Red Rock vicinity, along the Colorado River, south of Las Vegas, in the Death Valley area, and near hot springs and mirages. Out From Las Vegas is a user-friendly guide for visitors and Las Vegas residents looking for a new atmosphere beyond the glitter. Updated edition, Spotted Dog Press, Inc., Box 1721, Bishop CA, 93515-1721, 800-417-2790, spotteddogpress.com. 288 pages, 67 b&w photos, 39 maps, $16.95, paper (ISBN 1-893343-07-3). |
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The Pocket Guide to Hold ’Em Poker Designed for both the seasoned and beginning poker player, the author advises you how to better your game—and yes, the guide will fit in your pocket. Pannell has played hold ’em full time in casinos and private games in Las Vegas, California, and Hawaii and contributed to Card Player and Gaming Times journals. Following his advice you’ll learn how to evaluate and play sample hands and strategies that can save you money and heartache when you don’t get hands worth playing or hit a losing spell. His psychological tactics will keep you confident if you decide to employ a bluff or sandbag. And always, Pannell advises, practice, practice, practice before you sit down to play and watch other players. Buford Books, Inc., Box 388, Short Hills, NJ 07078, 973-258-0960, bufordbooks.com, 78 pages, 11 b&w photos, $9.95, paper (ISBN 1-58080-141-2). |
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Sweet Promised Land This 50th anniversary edition of Sweet Promised Land confirms the early reviewers’ recognition of this book as a classic. Half a century later its popularity—a book by a Nevadan about Nevada—extends far beyond the Silver State. It tells the story of Dominique Laxalt, a Basque who at 16 traveled from his homeland in the Pyrenees Mountains to make his fortune in America. Dominique prospered in America through the lonely and dangerous hard work of a sheepherder, but he always dreamed of returning to his village in France. Follow the story of that trip told by Robert, his son, who attended him on the journey, which became more than a flight across the Atlantic. The two traveled from the new world to the old. During the sojourn the son came to understand his father as never before, and the father learned with certainty to which world he belonged. It’s a lively, entertaining account for anyone looking for a good story. University of Nevada Press, MS 166, Reno, NV 89577, 775-784-6573, unpress.nevada.edu. 207 pages, $18 paper, (ISBN 13 978-0-87417-706-0), $29.95 cloth, (ISBN 13 978-0-87417-705-3). |
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Tough Towns: True Tales From the Gritty Streets of the Old West This book is a collection of true stories about tough towns where the good guys fought back against bank and train robbers of the Old West. In town after town ordinary citizens armed themselves and stepped up to defend their turf against bank robbers like Sam Bass, Bill Dalton, and the James-Younger gang. The book also includes shootouts against gangsters in midwestern towns in the 1930s. A historian, Smith sifts through newspaper reports and eyewitness versions to separate embellishment from reality, thus putting to rest many absurd accounts. Yet myths of the Old West endure, because what really happened is lost in time. A Twodot book, The Globe Press, Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437, 800-962-0973, ext. 4551, . 243 pages, 37 b&w photos, 1 map, $12.95, paper (ISBN 13: 978-0-7627-4004-8). |
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Touring the Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada is the longest continental range in the United States and a national scenic wonder. With photos and maps of the region, Koehler suggests day trips and driving tours and describes geography, flora and fauna, and the unique features of the areas. Included are famous destinations like Lake Tahoe and Yosemite and historic mining towns, lakes, and hidden byways. Too often guidebooks can leave you wondering if the writers have ever been there. You’ll never doubt that Koehler has been there—and recently. She’ll convince you not to make the mistake of dismissing the southern part of the Sierra Nevada south of Bishop on U.S. 395 as drive-through country. She’ll lure you to take another look at charming Inyo County cities like Big Pine, Independence, and Lone Pine, the gateway to Mount Whitney. There is practical advice about service offices, visitor bureaus, lodging, campgrounds, and restaurants along with way. University of Nevada Press, MS 166, unpress.nevada.edu. 370 pages, 142 b&w photos, 14 maps, $24.95, paper (ISBN 978-0-87417-700-8). |
| SPECIAL INTEREST | |
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Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area With this guidebook you can explore the Star Trek film location and locate petrified wood and petroglyphs. The guide will also enhance your visit to Blue Diamond, Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, Lake Mead, and other Southern Nevada geologic wonders—including the desert with its bighorn sheep and wild burros. Special Publication 16, $21.95, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Publication Sales, Mail Stop 178, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0178, 775-682-8666 or 784-6691, nbmg.unr.edu. |
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Geologic and Natural History Tours in the Reno Area This driving guidebook gives detailed road information as well as an explanation of landscapes, geologic history, rock formations, mineral deposits, and cultural history. The tour takes visitors off the main roads to visit ancient sites in the Reno area. Special Publication 19, $24.95, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Publication Sales, Mail Stop 178, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0178, 775-682-8666 or 784-6691, nbmg.unr.edu. |
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Traveling America’s Loneliest Road, A Geologic and Natural History
Tour through Nevada along U.S. Highway 50 This is an adventurer’s guidebook. It invites the driver to get off U.S. 50 to spend a few days seeing Nevada’s historic and natural beauty. Included is a place where you can dig garnets for free. Other parts of the tour lead to ghost towns, Pony Express ruins, Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, ichthyosaur fossils, and historic towns like Eureka. Special Publication 26, $21.95, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Publication Sales, Mail Stop 178, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0178, 775-682-8666 or 784-6691, nbmg.unr.edu. |
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Weather and Climate of the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe Region If you want to know more about ice storms, fog, and dew point, this is your guidebook. It also includes weather statistics, such as the top-25 weather-related events in the region since 1850. Special Publication 34, $20, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Publication Sales, Mail Stop 178, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0178, 775-682-8666 or 784-6691, nbmg.unr.edu. |
| Reviews by Joyce Hollister | |
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The Donner Party: Weathering the Storm Although many books have been written about the Donner Party, few have explored in detail the role played by the heavy winter of 1847, which trapped 81 men, women, and children in a wagon train heading West over the Sierra Nevada. McLaughlin, a weather historian, consulted weather records, ships’ logs, contemporary newspaper articles, military journals, diaries, books, letters, and eyewitness accounts to tell the story of the stranded pioneers, which resulted in 36 deaths and purported cannibalism among some of the survivors. He also discusses the results of recent archaeological excavations that some researchers say shows cannibalism did not take place at Alder Creek, where the Donner family camped. Mic Mac Media, P.O. Box 483, Carnelian Bay, CA 96140, 530-546-5612, micmacmedia.com. 192 pages, 102 b&w photos, images, and maps, $19.95, paper (ISBN 0-9657202-5-X). |
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Las Vegas: A Photographic Portrait Las Vegas resident Bishop photographed the Strip, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, and the Southern Nevada desert for this 128-page glossy book. She also offers photos of ethnic celebrations, such as Native American powwows and Cinco de Mayo, and natural attractions, wildlife, and dramatic skies. Bishop’s work has been displayed in international exhibitions, including those offered by the National Geographic Society, and her work has been seen in solo exhibitions in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Twin Lights Publishers, 8 Hale St., Rockport, MA 01966, 978-546-7398, twinlightspub.com. 128 pages, $26.95, hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-885435-74-3). |
| MORE NEVADA BOOKS | |
Abandoned and Forgotten: An Orphan Girl’s Tale of Survival during World War II Now a resident of Reno, Tannehill was a victim of the expulsion of German families from East Prussia at the end of World War II. Her memoir details her struggle to survive alone as a young girl, then as she was reunited with her brother and other family members, and finally her journey to America. wheatmark.com, 520-798-0888 |
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Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Nevada Nevada is home to a variety of bird species. This book documents the results of a statewide breeding-bird survey between 1997 and 2000, and profiles 275 birds with descriptions, analysis of breeding distribution, conservation status, and the birds’ distribution in the state, among other information. The atlas is illustrated with line drawings by Ray Nelson and maps by Robert G. Elston. unpress.nevada.edu, 775-784-6573 |
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The Bristlecone Book: A Natural History of the World’s Oldest Trees The book was written for people who want to explore the bristlecones, the world’s oldest living trees, in Nevada and other Western states. Readers will find why these trees live so long and learn about threats to their existence—for example, the bristlecone doesn’t die of old age but of fire, erosion, or pests. The author has a PhD in forestry and taught tree biology at Utah State University. The book includes color photos and a bibliography. mountain-press.com, 406-728-1900. |
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Casino Camping: Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos RVers can learn which casinos have RV parks and which offer free overnight stays in their parking lots. rvbookstore.com, 800-274-9378 |
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A Century of Enthusiasm: Midas, Nevada 1907-2007 The author, who holds a master’s degree in women’s history from the State University of New York, also wrote Forward With Enthusiasm: Midas, Nevada, 1907-2005, which encouraged townspeople and others to come forward with more information and photos of early Midas. As a result of the first book, the Friends of Midas was organized and published this expanded volume, a celebration of the town’s centennial. , 520-744-8765 |
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Rainbow Rhino The author, a Dayton resident, is an artist and former Disney book illustrator. He uses the story of a hero with an unusual appearance to help young children develop self-esteem. ovationbooks.net, 512-478-2028 |
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| NOVELS | |
Echoes of Torment Set in Las Vegas, the story follows retired veteran Chicago firefighter, now casino dealer, Carl Braun as he uncovers a cheating scheme. echelonpress.com, 410-878-7113 |
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The Motel Life The author tells the story of two working-class brothers, Frank and Jerry Lee, who take to the road following a hit-and-run accident. harpercollins.com, 212-207-7000 |
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Scraper Jones, Treasure Hunter Suitable for mature teens and young adults, Butler’s first novel is the story of a research professor who joins a motley assortment of treasure hunters in the desert Southwest and, in the eye of Hurricane Andrew, the bayous of Louisiana. Butler’s second book, Baba Thidodaux, 1-40 Terror, an adult novel about a crazed killer on the loose along I-40, is due to be released in November. rockpublishing.com, 800-411-2230 |
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The Watermelon Patch This coming-of-age mystery story is set in rural 1950s Nevada. The body of a high school boy is found in a watermelon field in Pinon Valley, and as the reason for his death is uncovered, valley secrets are revealed. publishamerica.com, 301-695-1707 |
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Comments
Q: Where can I find Nevada Magazine’s Ghost Towns & Historic Sites Map?
A: The most recent version of that brochure is from 1995, but there are plenty of copies available. Call 775-687-0609 for more information.