My Side of the Mountain

Amazon.com

Every kid thinks about running away at one point or another; few get farther than the end of the block. Young Sam Gribley gets to the end of the block and keeps going--all the way to the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. There he sets up house in a huge hollowed-out tree, with a falcon and a weasel for companions and his wits as his tool for survival. In a spellbinding, touching, funny account, Sam learns to live off the land, and grows up a little in the process. Blizzards, hunters, loneliness, and fear all battle to drive Sam back to city life. But his desire for freedom, independence, and adventure is stronger. No reader will be immune to the compulsion to go right out and start whittling fishhooks and befriending raccoons.

Jean Craighead George, author of more than 80 children's books, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves, created another prizewinner with My Side of the Mountain--a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA Notable Book, and a Hans Christian Andersen Award Honor Book. Astonishingly, she wrote its sequel, On the Far Side of the Mountain, 30 years later, and a decade after that penned the final book in the trilogy, Frightful's Mountain, told from the falcon's point of view. George has no doubt shaped generations of young readers with her outdoor adventures of the mind and spirit. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Literature Guides
A complete guide to teaching My Side of the Mountain. Includes an author biography, background information, summaries, thought-provoking discussion questions, as well as creative, cross-curricular activities and reproducibles that motivate students.

Customer Reviews:

Sam Gribley got so lucky in this book.......2007-10-07

I realize this book has already been anointed as a great children's book, and a great book for boys, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. My 14-year-old son loved this book when he read it in elementary school, and my 9-year-old daughter is loving it in fourth grade presently.

That being said, the people at Puffin dodged the issue of a child in the wilderness by making a cover where Sam looks like a teenager instead of the 11 or 12-year-old he looks like in Jean Craighead George's illustrations. There were numerous occasions in the book where Sam could have been seriously injured or killed, and George just blurbs or whooshes past them.

The back cover said Sam was terribly unhappy with living in New York City, but the book doesn't suggest that anywhere

I was impressed with the level of natural knowledge Sam possessed, and I was impressed that my children could come up with plausible ways that he acquired this knowledge. I considered the bit about hunger having an intelligence to be particularly clever.

Maybe the moral of the story is that as a parent, I could tell my kids without fear of contradiction that they are nowhere near as knowledgeable regarding the wild as Sam Gribley was, and that Sam was rather lucky in a few spots.

By: Nicholas MB 5th grade My Side of the Mountain.......2007-09-26

My Side of the Mountain is a very catching book it had me jumping out of my seat the whole story!. It told you some facts about the wild and also it had a sad story of a kid living off the land. I learned alot of facts about the Catscill Mountains too. I think evrey outdoor kid should read this thrilling book. Its truth, fiction and wildlife mixed! This is truly one of my favorite books. READ THIS BOOK!

Yeah for Sam Gribley.......2007-09-14

My Side of the Mountain is a great book. Jean Craighead George must have spent a lot of time in the forest. Her descriptions of the landscape and anecdotes regarding the animals are vivid. The only thing that doesn't ring true is the fact that a young kid goes and lives on his own in the wild and no adults appear to be concerned. A very enjoyable read.

My Side of the Mountain 1959.......2007-08-15

Plot Kernel - A young boy runs off to live in the Catskill Mountain wilderness, taking nothing but a penknife, a ball of cord, an axe, $40, and some flint and steel. He fashions a home within a standing hemlock tree, makes clothing out of animal skins, and eats only what he can catch or harvest from the Earth. He trains a falcon to hunt, and lives with it for an entire year.

Nature Kid.......2007-07-10

This was a good book, in my opinion. My favorite part was in the middle, when Sam has just survived his first winter in the Catskills. It was very good when he had just realized that he could survive alone in the forest wthout aid.

-Emma D. (for a school project)

The Mountains of My Life (Modern Library Exploration)

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Still not yet received
Bonatti's morality inspires deeply
A classic of mountaineering by one of the greats!
Driven To The Extreme
Outstanding writings of a true mountain man

The Mountains of My Life (Modern Library Exploration)
Walter Bonatti
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 037575640X
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com

Walter Bonatti had been scaling mountains for only a few years when, in 1954, he qualified to join an expedition of fellow Italian alpinists making the first ascent of the forbidding Himalayan peak called K2. There, for reasons that are unclear, the 24-year-old ran afoul of senior members of the team, who accused him of turning back before delivering needed oxygen to them below the summit. Accusations and counteraccusations flew, followed by a libel trial from which Bonatti emerged victorious but ostracized. He went on to bag a few peaks, retired from "extreme" climbing in 1965, and became an accomplished explorer and photojournalist, writing memoirs of his earlier expeditions to mountains on nearly every continent that earned a small but devoted following.

In The Mountains of My Life, translator and editor Robert Marshall gathers those scattered accounts of ascents in the Alps, the Patagonian Andes, the Himalayas, and elsewhere. In his commentary, he describes and defends Bonatti's actions on K2, which, he insists, made it possible for the Italian team to reach the summit. The evidence he offers--including photographs--is convincing. For his part, Bonatti writes that all the mountains he has climbed, "with all the trials they brought me, are a precious, living part of myself." His book will be of interest to anyone who shares that passion for the world's high places. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Published for the first time in English, The Mountains of My Life collects the classic writings of world-famous mountaineer Walter Bonatti, and tells the real story of the 1954 controversy over the events on K2 that changed his life.

Bonatti is one of the greatest mountaineers of all time, a man who continually reset the benchmark of human possibility by ascending routes that others dared not even contemplate. He climbed with an audacity and panache that epitomized the purest spirit of alpinism, and inspired an entire generation of climbers. Jon Krakauer calls him one of my heroes. He is not only a mountaineer of astonishing talent and vision, but one of the world's most engaging writers about mountaineering.

Bonatti has also been dogged by controversy and often been at odds with the climbing community. The Mountains of My Life not only collects the best of Bonatti's writing telling of adventures in the Alps, the Himalayas, and little-known South American peaks it also tells Bonatti's version of what really happened on the Italian expedition that made the first ascent of K2 in 1954. Bonatti's selfless actions helped avert disaster, yet in the expedition's aftermath he found himself cast as a scapegoat. Part detective story, part hair-raising adventure, part meditation on his craft, The Mountains of My Life is as awe-inspiring and controversial as its author, and is beautifully illustrated with Bonatti's own photos.

Customer Reviews:

Still not yet received.......2005-09-29

I ordered this in August. Here it is September 28th and I haven't received it and you are asking if I like it?!

Bonatti's morality inspires deeply.......2004-12-21

English is not my first language, yet, the quality of the translation is evident. Walter speaks himself and reading the book I felt he looked at my eyes and told me the very essence of his life like an intimate friend.
I am not surprised that such an extraordinary climber Bonatti proved to be a moral and sensitive man. It could not be different !
Bravo to all who have contributed to this book, especially the translator who investigated ingeniously the affair.
As a human, a mountaineer and a reader I storngly recommend this book.
I would appreciated a few more photographs in the book but for its price it is still a bargain.
Only one question remains unanswered in my mind: Why Walter does not comment on the Camp9 spot ? Was it due to the darkness he could not reach it ? I guess there were no steps left from the other two that explains why he followed a different path.

With my full respect to the man
P.a.

A classic of mountaineering by one of the greats!.......2004-02-16

Along with Ricardo Cassin, Bonatti is perhaps the most outstanding Italian climber of all time! How ironic that he should become embroiled in one of the longest lasting (almost 50 years) controversies in mountaineering history, and how gratifying that he finally is clearly vindicated in this fascinating book.

The book is an autobiographical account of Bonatti's major climbs, including several sections on the much-discussed 1954 Italian expedition on K2. Bonatti clearly comes across as a committed climber, seeking purity and excitement in his climbs, who is often at a loss when faced with public criticism (on several accounts described in the book). As is often the case in the lives of people with outstanding talent, Bonati's life is beset by other people's envy and underhanded tactics, most frequently by his own compatriots. Yet, the book succeeds in demonstrating Bonatti's passion, drive and determination, while retaining the purity of mind and spirit that the mountains bestow on all!

Aside from being a highly personal account by one of the greatest mountaineers of all time, three things make this book outstanding:

(1) The beautiful translation by Robert Marshall (an Australian, who learned Italian for the sole purpose of reading mountaineering accounts!), who introduces each chapter with a short summary of the significance of the peak or route undertaken. Marshall also plays a key role of an "investigator" pointing out several pictures, which show that Compagnioni's and Desio's accounts of the K2 expedition are clearly false and manipulative;

(2) The book finally sets the record straight about the 1954 K2 expedition -- the fact that Lacedeli and Compaginoni used oxygen all the way to the top; the fact that they recklessly (if not intentionally) abandoned Bonatti in the bivouac, just feet from their warm tent above 8,000 meters; the fact that they manipulated accounts of the expedition to go as far as claiming that Bonatti wanted to charge ahead to the top on his own, endangering others. Two pictures, ironically published by Desio in an article immediately following the expedition clearly show Lacedeli and Compagnioni wearing oxygen masks at the top -- pictures, which are subsequently removed from Desio's book; and are only by accident discovered and brought forward by Rpbert Marshall only almost 50 years later! What a horrible thought that such an incredible climber, only in his 20s, could have been lost high up on K2, and we would have never come to know Bonatti as one of the all time greats! What a great feeling it is to know that truth sooner or later triumphs!

(3) the book is a true mountaineering story; it shows the aspirations, achievements and excitement of climbing in the immediate post- WW II era in Europe and Italy -- a period full of what is best about mountain climbing -- hope, innocence and passion!

This is a highly recommended book for everyone! My compliments to John Krakauer for including this wonderful book in the new Exploration series!

Driven To The Extreme.......2003-12-10

The Mountains Of My Life is such a dense and intense work that even the experienced alpine climber is likely to slip into a stupor while reading of Walter Bonatti's incredible climbs. The only solution is to plan on reading it twice. Otherwise, you can expect to miss some of the subtlety in Walter's economical writing style. I can now claim to have followed my own advice.

One can read here many details of the big climbs Bonatti did in the Alps and only get a hint of the level of suffering, fear and intensity of the experience, even though the text focuses much on just those aspects. Only by going out onto the big alpine walls and experiencing those emotions yourself can you expect to have even the slightest clue as to just how understated The Mountains Of My Life really is. But that's still only an approximation unless you climbed routes such as these back in the day, using the primitive gear that Walter and his partners had - and then only if your ethical stance was as strict as theirs. These dudes had mondo cajones, to say the least.

But you don't need to trust me - I've never climbed anything of significance. But would you dare not trust the opinions of Reinhold Messner and Doug Scott? Go read what they have to say about Walter's climbs. Then sit back and imagine what it was like to solo big routes back then. I've done just enough soloing to understand just how much more of a mental game it is.

I can't forget to mention how important Robert Marshall's role was in this book. Not only did he translate, but he played a key detective role in the K2 controversy. Once one has fully digested what transpired on the hill, then after, then one can begin to better understand just how driven Bonatti was, and why. This is an incredible story, but it is also incredibly sad to think how horribly one person can treat another. Even pursuits such as climbing are victim to those that are dishonest and apparently without a conscious. Clearly, evil men are capable of much greater evil when acting to conspire. I for one was happy to see all of the details of K2 be brought to the forefront, to have the liars exposed and for the truth to finally have its day.

The next to last chapter is the true gem of this book. Years after retiring from extreme mountaineering, Walter climbed a route on Mt. Blanc solo. The description of the landscape, the place and the space in this chapter are truly incredible. The reader is transported, smelling the air, sensing the dangers and feeling the coarse granite on the palm. This chapter is a true high point inmountaineering literature. I wonder if this writing was only possible after the wounds of the K2 debacle had adequate time to heal?

Outstanding writings of a true mountain man.......2003-03-09

Bonatti is one of the boldest and leading figures in mountaineering of the 20th century; he is also one of the most creative of his peers in communicating his feelings on the subject. This book is interesting in the context of the author's youth in post war Europe and the effects this had on his life. Unfortunately, the author was subject to a smear campaign regarding his contributions to the first ascent of K2 for reasons outside of his control and this book reveals the injustice and presents a convincing case as to how the whole episode originated. So, part mystery story, part eloquent ode to mountains and climbing. It's a winner on both fronts and Bonnatti emerges as a champion not only of technical mastery of climbing, but mountaineering ethics and of mans relationship to the outdoors. I rate this as a must read.

The Land of My Fathers: A Son's Return to the Basque Country

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"The language of the eyes"

The Land of My Fathers: A Son's Return to the Basque Country
Robert Laxalt , and Joyce Laxalt
Manufacturer: University of Nevada Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0874173388

Book Description

In 1960, renowned Nevada writer Robert Laxalt moved himself and his family to a small Basque village in the French Pyrenees. The son of Basque emigrants, Laxalt wanted to learn as much as he could about the ancient and mysterious people from which he was descended and about the country from which his parents came. Thanks to his Basque surname and a wide network of family connections, Laxalt was able to penetrate the traditional reserve of the Basques in a way that outsiders rarely can. In the process, he gained insight into the nature of the Basques and the isolated, beautiful mountain world where they have lived for uncounted centuries. Based on Laxalt's personal journals of this and a later sojourn in 1965, The Land of My Fathers is a moving record of a people and their homeland. Through Laxalt's perceptive eyes, and his wife Joyce's photographs, we observe the Basques' market days and festivals, join their dove hunts and harvests, share their humor and history, their deep sense of nationalism, their abiding pride in their culture and their homes, and discover the profound sources of the Basques' strength and their endurance as a people.

Customer Reviews:

"The language of the eyes".......2001-06-03

Nevada writer Robert Laxalt's "The Land of My Fathers" is a description of life in the French Basque Country in the 1960s. Laxalt -- the son of Basques who immigrated to Nevada about 1910 -- spent 1960-61 and 1965-66 getting to know his parents' ancient homeland. Making use of his family ties, he succeeded in breaching the "impenetrable wall of Basque reserve" (in Rodney Gallop's words) in a way only a few outsiders have been able to do.

The book is not a straightforward narrative and Laxalt writes about much more than his own experiences. A collection of vignettes, histories, and folk-sayings, it is an exploration of the Basque character. We read about everything from "Basque troubadours" to the humanization of German soldiers stationed in the Basque lands during the occupation of the Pyrenees. Trying to capture the essence of this ancient people, Laxalt gives us glimpses of the "poetic truth" of the Basque land and Basque history, the emotional truth gleaned from "the language of the eyes." Of course the approach is not without its drawbacks, but for a book like this, "The Land of My Fathers" is remarkably free of immigrant-son's-come-home romanticism.

In addition to Laxalt's vivid prose poetry, many of his vignettes are interesting as anthropological descriptions of life in the "Pays Basque". Here, we encounter aspects of Basque folklife such as pigeon-hunting, contraband, dancing, the unique brand of "shepherd justice", and the "bohèmes" (literally "Bohemians", they are a poorly-known group of shunned outsiders -- not unlike the Gypsies -- who have lived in the Basque country for years). A couple of these "ethnological vignettes", in fact, appeared in the August 1968 issue of "National Geographic".

Although throughout one is struck by the Basques' indomitable ability to overcome adversity, unfortunately the beautiful culture described by Laxalt is rapidly slipping away -- if it has not, for the most part, slipped away already. The Spanish sector of the Basque lands has long been one of the most heavily industrialized in Europe and the French sector, although still largely rural, has seen the same kinds of cultural changes places all over the world have seen with the onslaught of globalization. Many things have changed for the better, and Laxalt certainly doesn't claim the past was perfect, yet it is difficult not to agree with him that "something of the romantic past has been lost." For all that, his many books are even more important, small safeguards against a rapidly deteriorating humanity.

If there were ten stars, "The Land of My Fathers" deserves them.

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A must read for any teenager

Montel reveals his true, inner self in this work!

Mountian Get out of my way life lessons and learned truths

Mountain, Get out of my way

It is beatiful and from the heart

Mountain, Get Out of My Way: Life Lessons and Learned Truths
Montel Williams
Manufacturer: Bt Bound
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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A Dozen Ways to Sunday

Life Lessons and Reflections

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Women Living with Multiple Sclerosis: Conversations on Living, Laughing and Coping

ASIN: 0613139496

Customer Reviews:

A must read for any teenager.......2003-04-14

In Montel William's book, he brings much light onto the never-ending battle people have with frustration and "hard times." I was given this book as a gift from my mom. She said she heard from people at work that it was very eye-opening and motivational. I would be lying if I said I didn't agree. From the opening chapter, until the very end, you'll get a feeling of warmth and bursts of motivation as you read about the trials and tribulations of Montel as you begin to relate to your own life experiences. His recollection of a motivational lecture at a high school where he calls on a young boy to discuss issues of morals (chapter 2?) will put an ear-to-ear smile on your face. While this book is not a "billion-dollar" winner, it sure is worth a read. I find myself thinking about this book in particular when I come across situations in my life that require personal integrity and determination. I am now 18 and I still think about the words and wisdom that Montel had to offer. Do yourself a favor and give it a chance, it might be as influential on you as it was me.

Montel reveals his true, inner self in this work!.......2000-10-30

When I first saw this book it was on the bargain/clearance rack at the local bookstore. Having seen Montel's wonderful TV show, I decided that I'd buy the book and take it home for immediate reading. I made a big mistake. Instead of finding glimmering little gems of wisdom and insight throughout the pages of the book, I found nothing but a lot of self-congratulatory references to Montel's supposed superior public speaking abilities and his assumptions that he has all of the answers for society's various ills. When I was through reading this book I experienced a feeling that I have never had before -- I wanted to slowly roast his book in my barbecue grill! No other author has ever managed to raise such a truly unpleasant feeling inside of me like this guy has. Before I read the book, I respected and even admired Montel, but after I read it I began to dislike him immensely. Maybe this would have been a better book if Montel had the common courtesy to check his ego at the door and focused on something other than how great he thinks that he is.

Mountian Get out of my way life lessons and learned truths.......2000-09-30

I purchased this book several years ago and found it to be very down to earth. I appreciate the fact that while Montel shared his not always so bright life with the public he was able to share lessons learned that could bless someone else who may have been going down the same path. I commend him as a man to be able to receive correction but to also admit fault and openly correct his behavior to make his future better. I also enjoyed the example of him standing up for his show and doing what he thought was a proper format not matter what the cost or what the network execs thought. Being an example for our youth is important and Montel showed that he could influence our children on their level and not preach at them. This book gives us all a reality check in things we can do to improve ourselves, our relationships, our children and our society. Continued success!

Mountain, Get out of my way.......2000-05-14

I loved this book. Montel puts alot of love in everything he does. Not only in the show but in his book as well. He really cares about his viewers and guests. I love his show and I think he is a gift from God for many.

It is beatiful and from the heart.......1999-03-11

I have read the book from front cover to back and it is a book that not only teaches you but makes you laugh and cry at him and yourself. I really enjoyed the book. He is a wanderful man and it really does show in the book. thankyou Montel hugs and kisses

Scholastic Bookfiles: My Side Of The Mountain By Jean Craighead George (Scholastic Bookfiles)

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Scholastic Bookfiles: My Side Of The Mountain By Jean Craighead George (Scholastic Bookfiles)
Beth Levine
Manufacturer: Scholastic Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439538246

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A review of "My Grampa's Woods: The Adirondacks
Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack handbook

My Grampa's Woods, The Adirondacks
Larry Beahan
Manufacturer: Coyote Pub. of W.N.Y
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Camping | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0970310404

Book Description

"My Grampa's Woods, The Adirondacks," is a 173 page, soft cover, six by nine-inch book illustrated with 50 black and white photos. The cover is a wraparound picture of Grampa Tom Beahan and one of his logging crews, taken in 1911.

Five generations of the Beahan family have been in the Adirondacks, one way or another. In 1902, three Beahan brothers, Tom, John and Barty, Tom's wife, Minnie, and John's wife, Liva, began the epic with a logging job near Star Lake on the Little River. Children from the camp worked some in the woods and returned to hunt and fish.

Larry Beahan, a grandson, grew up a city kid in Buffalo. On trips to visit his Gramma and Grampa in Carthage at the edge of the Adirondacks, he tasted the flavor of the woods but didn't catch the significance of it until his forties. Kerosene lamps, double-bitted axes, two-man-crosscut saws, grindstone, wooden vice for carving axe handles, the wood cookstove and water from a pump were just the way things were at Gramma's.

Then he began exploring the Adirondacks, climbing mountains, skiing, canoeing, camping and digging into family lore. He, his sons and grandchildren have explored the site of the family lumber camp, where Larry's dad was born, nearby Five Ponds Wilderness, Cranberry Lake Wild Forest, Stillwater and a good bit more of the Adirondacks. His stories will take you to there and span the century, 1900 to 2000.

In Barty's Girl visit the Camp on the Little River the day they took the cover picture. In Grampa's Watch and Chain listen to Tom and Barty banter about the days when they were bachelors. Witness Grampa Beahan break up a fight and make a little profit out of it. Watch Larry's Dad in trouble on his first independent job in the woods.

Read a logging contract the Beahan brothers signed on to. Read a little boy's first hand account of the camp by Larry's Uncle Raymond, and a hunter's charming thank you after his stay with the Beahans.

Visit the site of the Camp on the little river with Larry and his kids by canoe and overland. Listen to stories of tragedy, death, the demolition of a lean-to and construction of a new one as a memorial. Ski the Old Kunjamuk road. Laugh at fuel bottle blues. Struggle through Larry's failure at Winter Mountain School, then return and conquer it with him. Thrill at mountain climbs and bushwhacks. Try the 25mile one from Stillwater to Wanakena. Come see Minnie Beahan's misery in that lonely camp and share her joy when her mom and dad arrive by sleigh for a Christmas on the Little River about 1905.

Customer Reviews:

A review of "My Grampa's Woods: The Adirondacks.......2000-11-27

Even though I never actually visited the Adirondack State Park, after reading Larry Beahan's new book, "My Grampa's Woods: The Adirondacks," I feel that I enjoyed a wonderful trip to the woods of long ago. Larry Describes life in a lumber camp in the Adirondack woods of 1900 in an honest an intimate way, so that you hear the noise of the loggers talking at breakfast, taste the hot cakes covered with maple syrup, and smell the horses as they sweat and strain at pulling the logs across the snow-ccovered forest floor. Life was hard then, and Larry doesn't cover over the hard part. There was loneliness and poverty. A dollar was always hard to find. Sometimes someone had to sell their horse to get the fixens to visit relatives at Christmas. And this was in the dayswhen some people depended on the horse not only for transportation, but needed the horse to help them earn money. Mr. Beahan writes about all of these events. There are no kings or queens in Larry's stories of the 1900's, just a lot of average folks struggling to make a living. When I was a boy I saw a two-man crosscut saw, and I also saw a two-bitted axe. Larry's descriptions of real men using real saws and real axes to felll real trees brought these humble tools to life. These wern't just decorative antiques. Real people, often young people, used these tools every day, scratching a living in the woods. Last weekend I read Mr. Beahan's book straight through, non-stop, until I was done. Afterwards, I felt that my trip to the Adirondacks of 1900 had ended too soon. I wanted to hear more about the loggers, their wives and girlfriends, and their life in the woods. It was a fascinating world to me, and now it's gone.

Adirondack Mountains.......2000-11-26

I thorougly enjoyed the book because it is a good handbook for hiking the beautiful Adirondack Mountain area, tells with humor some adventures of the author and his family, and tells about the Beahan family dating from the early part of the 20th century. If you like to hike and camp, if you live in upstate New York or if your name is Beahan, you will especially enjoy the book.

Adirondack handbook.......2000-11-23

My Grandpa's Wood's is a great handbook for someone who wants to learn about hiking in New York's wilderness treasure, the Adirondack Mountains, about some of the history of the logging days of the area, and about the people who made their living in that area. It was good reading.

My mountains, my people (Western North Carolina)

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My mountains, my people (Western North Carolina)
John Parris
Manufacturer: Citizen-Times Publishing Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007ENGX2

There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse: Misadventures of a Mountain Man Wannabe (Capital Discovery)

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I'm STILL laughing!
Well-written, Funny, Engaging
Cover to Cover , a Smile on Every Page
Hilarious adventures from a great writer

There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse: Misadventures of a Mountain Man Wannabe (Capital Discovery)
Michael Tougias
Manufacturer: Capital Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1931868123

Book Description

In this funny, honest, personal "natural history," Michael Tougias describes his evolution from hapless flatlander into acclaimed outdoor writer. Aching to become a real mountain man, he buys a remote mountaintop cabin only to find that misadventure follows calamity in his encounters with wildlife, the locals, and nature. In There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse, Tougias reveals his deepening respect for and connection to the natural world and how this transforms his ideas on all aspects of life. As his love of the outdoors grows, so does his feeling of responsibility and stewardship toward the environment.

Customer Reviews:

I'm STILL laughing!.......2005-10-19

This was my first adventure into the world of author Michael Tougias and I haven't looked back. I admit, the title is what prompted me to pick this book up since I'd not yet had the pleasure of reading anything by this author. I sat down to read and was up until 2am finishing the last page. It'll have you laughing right out loud! I felt as if I were there sharing in all the antics of Mike and his friends through his delightful descriptions. This is one of those books I'll go back and read again and again.

Well-written, Funny, Engaging.......2002-12-27

Michael Tougias's latest book, There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse, is a well-written, humorous account of some his adventures (and misadventures) surrounding his rustic camp in northern Vermont. Tougias bought the small A-frame when he was only 22 years old. Over the years, with the outdoors world as his teacher, he learns to live with nature, rather than by asserting dominance and control over it. Middle-aged suburbanites, such as myself, will readily see aspects of their own youthful development in Tougias's stories.

Don't expect the eloquence and introspection of a Thoreau. Tougias's style is light and very engaging. Also, as a bonus, the book is filled with great recommendations for further reading about naturalists and mountain men. The pages turn very quickly, which is unfortunate, since there are only 160 of them, including lots of porcupine filler. I found myself wanting more after the tales came to a rather abrupt ending. Further development of the three characters might have added to the tales. Overall, I enjoyed the book immensely.

Cover to Cover , a Smile on Every Page.......2002-10-09

After putting my three year old to bed for the night, I collapsed into my favorite chair, picked up "There's a Porcupine in My Outhouse", and found myself welcoming the morning sun with a smile on my face, memories my own misadventures, and thoughts of childhood friends. A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining book. Michael Tougias has the uncanny nack of combining an extensive knowlege of the outdoors along with Wit and heart of a great storyteller. I found myself longing for my own special place, and to share adventures with Michael, Boomer, and Cogs as they learn about the great outdoors and themselves. I will return to this book over and over to share their stories.

Hilarious adventures from a great writer.......2002-10-03

Michael Tougias, a well-respected outdoor writer, has written a wonderful book about his growth from a young novice outdoorsman to a competent expert. "There's A Porcupine in My Outhouse" is funny portrait of one man's experience learning about the natural world. After I finally stopped laughing, I realized that I had even learned a lot in the process of reading his book.

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My Life on Mountain Railroads
William John Gilbert Gould
Manufacturer: Utah State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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My Mountain Song
Shutta Crum
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0618159703

Book Description

In this tender, lyrical story set in the mountains of Kentucky, Brenda Gail is spending the summer with her great-grandparents. Gran Pap tells her that "everybody born in the mountains got a song inside 'em," made of memories. That means Brenda Gail has one, too, "just waitin' to come out." A squabble with her troublesome cousin Melvin, in which Big Ma's favorite hen is injured, and their reconciliation help Brenda Gail start to choose the moments that will be in her song. Rich, poignant art from esteemed illustrator Ted Rand is paired with an atmospheric text written by a true storyteller. Kids everywhere will want to make up their own "mountain songs."

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