Wordless Wednesday: In My Backyard Today

In my backyard today! Spring!

-Anne

TTT: Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon

Top Ten Tuesday: Unread Books on My Shelves I Want to Read Soon

Books given to me: Books others have given to me always scream the loudest to be read next. Unfortunately these three must be hoarse by now as they've all been on my shelves for several years.

• The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. My husband gave me this book as a Christmas gift. He selected it off my Amazon Wish List. Bless his heart. Now if I'd only bother to read it.
• The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. My sister gave me this book for my birthday. I'm not sure if she read it first. I'm afraid to ask, not wanting to draw attention to the fact I haven't read it yet.
• If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais. My mother gave me this used book which I gave her after we both read the first book in the series, Hum If You Don't Know the Words. Honestly, I should pass this print book on and just listen to the audio version of it. I guess I keep it as a reminder to do just that.

Books I purchased new: I honestly don't often buy new books. If I do it is usually because I am committed to reading the books in good time. Well, these two books missed that memo and have been sitting around on my shelves for longer than I wish to confess.

• Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach. I have enjoyed every Mary Roach book I've read (Gulp; Stiff; and Grunt) but I can never seem to get any purchase on this one and I've tried several times. Once again I should just admit it and seek the audiobook.
• A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene H. Peterson. A devotional book by the author of The Message version of the Bible. I admire his religious insights. I'm moving this book to the top of the list. If I finish it, I will donate it to the church library.

Books I purchased used: I have library cards for three library systems -- Puyallup City Library (where I live); Pierce County Library (which has reciprocity with Puyallup); King County Library (a nearby neighboring county which also has reciprocity with Puyallup.) All three of the branches I go to have little library stores where they sell donated or weeded-out books for cheap ($.50-3.00). Everytime I visit a library I stop off to see if they have any copies of books I want to read, or books I think my mother would enjoy. All of these books were purchased this way.

• Edna St. Vincent Millay. Collected Sonnets: I bet this book cost me $.50. My problem is I don't know how to read sonnets in the right rhythm therefore I don't enjoy this form much.
• Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. I've enjoyed two other books by this author and know I will enjoy this one, too, but it is so long. How do I begin?
• The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. I loved the first book in this series, The Shadow of the Wind. This is a recent pick-up for me, less than a month old.
• The Known World by Edward P. Jones. When I get around to reading this Pulitzer Prize winner I will have completed my goal to read all the past winners from the 21st Century. Maybe the audio version would work better for me. Less daunting.
• Love and Friendship: In Which Jane Austen's Lady Susan Vernon is Entirely Vindicated by Whit Stillman. Another very recent addition to my used pile. I do love Jane Austen and usually enjoy read-alikes of her characters. We'll see what I think of this one soon. Lady Susan is not a character I know well.
• 
  Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik. This was a find. A first edition of the the Little Bear series illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Someone bought the book used for $30 then donated it the library for resale and I got it for $5. Little Bear's Adventure (I mistakenly photographed this book instead of Little Bear's Visit in the above photo, so I've attached a separate photo of this book) was the first book I ever received as a child and one of the few I saved. I thought I'd read this with my grandson but it hasn't happened yet.
  

What about you? Name a book you've had sitting on your shelves unread.

-Anne

Sunday Salon ... TULIPS!

Tulip hearts

Weather: Overcast and cool. The current weather blew into our area yesterday afternoon with quite a strong blast. It had been warm and beautiful for the days preceding it.

Tulips: Don and I drove to the Skagit Valley, two hours north of us toward Canada, to gawk at the tulips this past Friday. The skies were so clear we could see all the peaks in the North Cascades mountain range, including Mt. Baker. We could also see the Olympic Mountain range to the west of us as we drove north. There were scads of people at the tulip fields. All of us were flocking to see the beautiful flowers, jostling for the best positions for photos.  And now without further ado, here are a few of the photos to give you an idea of our experience.

The lone white tulip

Mt. Baker behind the foothills.

Good advice.

Books and blogging: 

• I finished only one book this week: When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur. A poetry book by a Sikh Canadian woman. Many of the poems really touched me but the middle of the book (section 2) abruptly changed to a novel-in-verse. It just didn't work for me from that point on. 3 stars.
• I am almost finished with several books:
• West With Giraffes by Linda Rutledge. A book club selection for this coming Wednesday's meeting. It is a cute, unique story. Two men are driving giraffes from New York to San Diego in the 1930s. The story's tone seems like the whole project is teetering on the edge of disaster the whole time. I'm finding myself a bit impatient with the pacing. 52%, audiobook.
• Suddenly We by Evie Shockley. Another poetry collection. Once again, many of the poems spoke directly to me, while others were a complete miss. I especially liked the concrete poems. 89%, print.
• Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow. This nonfiction book takes a look at another time in American History when Fascism gained a toe-hold. It is frightening the parallels with the politics of today. 66%, audiobook.
• Serenity: Poems by S.F. Yousef. Another poetry book which isn't matching my mood. Some good, some sappy. 21%, print.
• Blogging: 
• Let's Discuss: Are the these the twelve best novel?
• Classics Club #37 --- Where I will be reading something by Virginia Woolf
• Review: The Killer Angels
• Audiobooks We Listened to on a Recent Trip

Precious and hilarious: Our daughter and grandson went for a hike today. This is the photo she sent us to show his hiking outfit:

Cute, but not sure what I'm seeing

Ah. The close-up shows a bear, jaguar, Luigi, medal-decorated, boot-wearing creature! It is so fun being three!

I know you are laughing right now. You are welcome. Have a great week!

-Anne

Audiobooks We Listened to On a Recent Trip

On our recent 16-day, 3000+ miles vacation, my husband and I listened to five+ audiobooks together. Last night we finally took the time to compare notes on our thoughts. Now you get the benefit of two opinions on each book.

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

This is Ms. Smith's first historical fiction book and the first either of us read by this famous author. The story is based on actual people and a famous court case in British history. Unfortunately, as Americans, we'd heard of neither the court case or any of the people, other than Charles Dickens.

My rating: 3 stars. I honestly think Zadie Smith tried to do too much with one novel and moved back and forth in time too many times. It was confusing. My review.

Don's rating: 3 stars. Zadie Smith read the audiobook, and though she did quite well with the Scottish accent, it didn't translate well to his ears above the car noise. He admits he gave up trying to keep all the details of the book straight after a while.

12 hours, 26 minutes. Read by the author.

Listen to a sample. 

Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Moonflower Murders is the second book in the Susan Ryland series by Horowitz. Don and I listened to the first book, Magpie Murders, a few years ago and enjoyed it a lot. Moonflower Murders was very similar to the form used in the first which involved a book within the book.

My rating: 3 stars. I didn't connect with any of the characters and the plot just didn't add up for me.

Don's rating: 4 stars. Having met Susan Ryland in the past book, he was glad to "meet her again." The book within the book was better this time because he understood what was happening and it didn't jump from present to the book and back, which was confusing about the first part in the series.

18 hours, 29 minutes. Read by Lesley Manville and Allan Corduner.

Listen to a sample.

The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

A novel of the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg and the days leading up to it. The story is character-driven and told from the perspective of historical figures from both the Union and the Confederate side. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1975 and a filmed titled "Gettysburg" was made from it. My review.

My rating: 5 stars. Even though I know how this battle works out I still was hanging on every word, eager to get back to the book each time after we had to take a break. I learned so much, too.

Don's rating: 5 stars. He's visited Gettysburg three times and has a military background. We had to stop the book often to allow him to expand on aspects of the battle or to describe the terrain. He was very moved.

13 hours, 45 minutes. Read by Stephen Hoye.

Listen to a sample.

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

In a small village in Ireland in 1985, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, makes a discovery that causes him to confront is past and the complicit silences of town's people due to the church's influence. It is touching Christmas novella.

We both rated the story: 4 stars.

1 hour, 57 minutes. Read by Aidan Kelly.

Listen to a sample.

Sweet Thunder by Ivan Doig

Morrie Morgan returns to Butte, Montana in this third book in the series. This time Morrie is asked to serve the miner's union by writing editorials about their cause for a new newspaper, The Thunder.

My rating: 4 stars.  I absolutely LOVE Morrie Morgan as a character and Ivan Doig as a writer. I probably should rate this book with a 5, but I keep comparing it to the first book in the series, The Whistling Season, and I love that book more. Ha!

Don's rating: 5 stars. He's an even bigger Doig fan than I am. Don is a strong supporter of unions and of freedom of the press, so this book spoke to him on this level, too.

11 hours, 11 minutes. Read by Jonathan Hogan.

Listen to a sample.

-Anne

Review: KILLER ANGELS (+ Friday56 Sign-in)

Title: Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Book Beginning quote:

Friday56 quote:

Summary: The Battle for Gettysburg was the pivotal battle of the American Civil War. For four days in July 1863, the Union and Confederate troops fought over a hill overlooking the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Killer Angels is a novel of this famous battle, giving life to characters. Author Michael Shaara said his aim was to tell "what it was like to be there, what the weather was like, what men's faces looked like."

For this purpose he stayed within the historical record, but blended two fictional approaches: a careful expository description of strategy and tactics, aided by a series of eloquent maps, and a graphic evocation of the clashes themselves, wherein it is shown how the small happenings, the human elements and chance occurrences confound the plans of the greatest chiefs. The blurred, obscure, smoke‐covered meetings continually mock the higher strategies. (NYT Review of Books, May 10, 1975)

The result was a story which becomes real and human to its readers. In the course of the book readers primarily follow three men: Colonel Chamberlain, of the Union Army; General James (“Pete”) Longstreet, of the Confederate Army; and General Robert E. Lee, of the Confederate Army. They will also wander around with Union cavalry General John Buford, Confederate General George Pickett, and a few others. The battle is fought and won/lost but at great cost to all the individuals involved.

Review: During a recent road trip my husband and I listened to the audio version of Killer Angels, read by Stephen Hoye. I was interested in the book for two reasons. First, Killer Angels won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1975. Very slowly I am making my way through past winners. Secondly, years ago a teacher at the school where I was the librarian came to me and told me that Killer Angels was the most amazing book he'd ever read. I assured him I would read it some day, and now I have. I guessed my husband, who attended West Point after high school and spent 37 years in the military, would enjoy the book, too. Listening to the audiobook together was a good choice. Stephen Hoye did an exceptional job reading the story, building up the tension preceding the battles to a perfect pitch. His accents for the both the Southern Generals and for the Maine men were spot-on and led to an even more personalized experience with the text. Even though I knew who won the battle historically, every time we stopped listening, I wanted to get back to it as soon as possible to find out how things worked out. I'm fairly sure this audiobook will win my favorite audiobook of the year award.

The title, "Killer Angels", came from a speech made by Col. Joshua Chamberlain to his men prior to the battle. He took the quote from Shakespeare's Hamlet: “Well, boy, if he’s an angel, he’s sure a murderin’ angel”. This inspired Chamberlain oration topic: Man, the Killer Angel. 

The introduction to the audiobook was written and read by Jeff Shaara, Michael's son, on the 30th anniversary of the publication of the book. Jeff remembers going to Gettysburg as a child and walking the hallowed grounds with his father. That family trip led Michael to spend the next eight years writing his historical novel. It was rejected by many publishers but finally a small printing company, McKay, decided to publish the book in 1974. They didn't do much publicity and the book didn't sell well, probably related the state of unrest in the country related to the Vietnam War which was still going at the time. It surprised everyone when Killer Angels won the Pulitzer Prize in the 1975, but still sales were slow. However, the award brought the book to the attention of a Hollywood movie producer who expressed interest in making a movie from it. Shaara worked with this producer for years and was very excited about the project. Unfortunately he died from a heart attack before the movie went into production. When the movie came out in 1993 it was named "Gettysburg" and though it was very long, over 4 hours, it was well received. The result it had on the book was astonishing. Eighteen years after the book was published, Killer Angels made the New York Times Best Seller List. Jeff Shaara was sad that his father, who had worked so hard on the novel, never got to experience all of its success. Jeff went on to write a prequel and sequel to the book and several other historical novels about US wars.

I don't often read books about battles in wars, but I do enjoy reading good historical fiction. Killer Angels may very well be the best of the bunch. And my husband, what did he think of the book? He enjoyed it, too. He has been to Gettysburg three times, once with me and our daughters in tow, and he found that experience to be very moving every visit. Several times while we were listening he would stop the narration to explain some aspect of the battle to me, or describe the geography and the location of the armies. He sends along his recommendation, too.

Sign up for The Friday56 on the Inlinkz below. 

As many of you know Freda over at Freda's Voice hosted #Friday56 for many years. On September 7th she told us she was going through some personal stuff and could no longer host. I've attempted to reach her but have had no reply. So I will host The Friday56 until she comes back. Help me communicate with past participants so they can figure out where and how to find me, please post this post's URL on your blog. Don't forget to drop a comment on my post also! Thanks.

Also visit Book Beginnings on Friday hosted by Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Reading is My Super Power to share the beginning quote from your book.

RULES:

*Grab a book, any book

*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader

(If you want to improvise, go ahead!)

*Find a snippet, but no spoilers!

*Post it to your blog and add your url to the Linky below. If you do not add the specific url for your post, we may miss it!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

-Anne

Classics Club Spin #37

It's that time again for another Classics Club Spin Selection.

Here's what you need to know if you want to participate:

1. Create a list of 20 classic books you'd still like to read.
2. Post that list before April 21st.
3. Watch the Classics Club site on 4/21 for the Spin #.
4. Whatever book you have listed on that number is the book you will read.
5. Complete, or try to complete, that book by June 2nd.
6. If you want, share your review on the CC site.
7. Easy!

My list of Twenty Classics for Spin #37 -- Spring 2024

        1.   Iliad by Homer

1. 2         Something by Forester, E.M

   3.       Something by Anne Bronte

   4.       Something by Sylvia Plath

   5.       Something by James Baldwin

   6.       Something by Shakespeare

   7.       Something by Dostoevsky

   8.       Something by Woolf

   9.       Something by Elizabeth Gaskill

   10.   Something by Pym

   11.   Something by Hardy

   12.   Something by Bellow

   13.   Something by Tolstoy

   14.   Something by Highsmith

   15.   Something by Bradbury

   16.   Something by Dickens

   17.  Something by Muriel Sparks

   18.   Something by Hawthorne

   19.   Grimm’s Fairy Tales

   20.   The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

And the winner is.....

EIGHT!

Looks like I will be reading something by Virginia Woolf. I'll see what the library has available right now and let you know what I pick.

-Anne

The Twelve Best Novels? Take a look. What do you think?

Plus: Top Ten Tuesday Freebie Post (I am off-topic today!)

I stumbled upon this intriguing headline: "Twelve of the Best Books We've Ever Read, Hands Down." Now that is such a teaser I had to click to see if I agreed with their choices. Take a look for yourself at the original posting here.

Here is the list of "The Twelve Best Books" (with a little commentary from me) in reverse order:

12. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

• Why: "[R]eaders can almost picture themselves within the story. The narrative is heartfelt and will stay with readers long after they turn the final page."
• Me: I haven't read The Sound and the Fury but I read Faulkner's As I Lay Dying and I thought it was awful. Awful. So awful I am hesitant to read anything else by this author.

11. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery

• Why: "This short book consists of beautiful symbolism. Everyone can find joy in this story, whether old or young."
• Me: I agree this is one of the most wonderful little books which should not be missed and must be reread often.

10. The Waves by Virginia Woolf

• Why: "It is a remarkable novel written masterfully. The voices of all the characters blend and intersect. This emphasizes the fluid identity of humans and their connections."
• Me: I confess I've never read anything by Virginia Woolf but I want to read Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse. I've never even head of The Waves before. I wonder why this one was picked over her other more famous selections.

9. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

• Why: "With the help of Siddhartha’s journey, the writer shows the worth of every individual on earth."
• Me: My husband has been telling me for years that every man needs to read this book. Now I'm curious if it speaks to women also.

8. Watership Down by Richard Adams

• Why: "The commentary on humanity’s brutal tendencies shows their indifferent attitude towards nature."
• Me: I read this in the late 1970s. I barely remember it. I guess it is time for a reread to see if it deserves to be on this list of the twelve best.

7. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

• Why: "This is a narrative about transition. It consists of everyday family dramas but adds a unique layer of teenage angst...[yet] it manages to maintain sensitivity and respect."
• Me: I remember being absolutely blown away by this book when I read it. Not sure it is one of the 12 best books of all time, but it is very good.

6. The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

• Why: "Adams takes an ordinary guy and tosses him into space. The rest is just an observation of what happens. It is about accepting what life presents you with: patience, humor, and a cup of tea."
• Me: I love this book. In fact, just the other day the whole family started a conversation about how this book answers the big question of the universe. And it is a number. Ha! Yes, I think this book is one no one should miss.

5. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

• Why: "Reading this book will alter a person’s view of good and evil. It reshapes readers’ perception of humanity."
• Me: It took me 10 months to slog my way through this book. By the time I finished I was quite impressed with it but it took me months to get to that point. 

4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

• Why: "It captures the essence of the human condition during its most horrific moments."
• Me: I feel daunted by books written by Russians. They, to my mind, are all so long and complicated. Yet, when I read short stories by the same authors I don't feel that way. I think it is time for me to tackle a book by Tolstoy or Dostoevsky. I admit I do wonder why this book is on the list and not Tolstoy's War and Peace. BUt I haven't read either, so what do I know?

3. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Why: "The writing in this book is hauntingly poetic and meaningful. Most interestingly, the tale is narrated by no one other than Death himself! "
• Me: This is a very powerful book with a unique narrator. I was very moved by it.

2. 1984 by George Orwell

• Why: "This book effectively raises important existential questions all of us should contemplate."
• We: So many times these days I think we are living the reality of 1984. Read it!

1. Persuasion by Jane Austen

• Why: "Out of all of Jane Austen’s works, many consider Persuasion the most mature. It fills the readers with tenderness and longing that becomes a part of them."
• Me: I love all Jane Austen books and Persuasion is one of my favorites. (It shares the spot in my heart with Pride and Prejudice.)

So what do you think? Are any of these books ones that you think deserve the designation as top twelve books, hands down?

If I were making a list of top books, one by Jane Austen would definitely be on it, but I'd probably prefer Pride and Prejudice. I'd also include a book by Tolstoy (Anna Karenina) and Dickens (Great Expectations) because of their reputations. And of course, something by Toni Morrison. I think Bluest Eye is better than her more famous Beloved because it is more accessible.  I also would include To Kill a Mockingbird and A Handmaid's Tale. I would include some fantasy and Sci-Fi. How about Lord of the Rings and Dune to represent those genres? Though 1984 does fill the Sci-Fi niche and is a good choice, too. I'd also want to include more world lit. Good options would be One Hundred Years of Solitude, Things Fall Apart, and The God of Small Things. The Little Prince is so wonderful, I'd leave it on my list. And I'd round out my list with something directed toward teens or children. How about Charlotte's Web or A Wrinkle in Time? Though The Book Thief is considered a YA novel, so it would be a solid choice for this category, too.

What books would you include on a best books of all time list?

Start a discussion topic at Feed Your Fiction Addiction or It Starts at Midnight

-Anne

Sunday Salon -- Leave Only Footprints + Our National Park Odyssey

Sunset as we were hiking out of the Canyon Overlook trail in Zion National Park

We are back from our sixteen day odyssey to visit Utah's five National Parks (Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, and Capitol Reef) and a vacation with our family.

While on the trip, I read Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton. The book is organized on themes, not alphabetically by park. I thought I'd tell you about our trip using the themes Knighton used in his book. That way I can knock off a book review at the same time as updating you on my life and our trip. I hopscotched around the book, reading the chapters related to the parks we were visiting and then other parks I've visited in the past or would like to visit in the future. My review will jump around, too.

Sunday morning view from the rental house.

Our grandsons enjoying their 'snow day.'

God (Chapter 4 -- Capitol Reef, Yosemite, Lake Clark)

     We all arrived at our rented house on Saturday around dinner time. Sunday being Easter we decided to forgo visiting Zion the next day, at least early in the morning, preferring to stay back and attend our Easter Church service remotely, have an egg hunt for the boys, and enjoy checking out the neighborhood. Lucky we'd made these stay-close-to-home plans because we woke up to snow -- six to eight inches of it -- and wouldn't have wanted to travel that day in snow. Instead, we donned what warm clothes we could find and went out to explore the snowy environs.

     This chapter in Leave Only Footprints, explores how spending time in nature can be a very sacred experience, making one feel closer to God. Knighton compared his experiences in the three named parks (listed in chapter 4) with his experiences attending church camp as a teenager. I could relate. As a teenager, I attended summer camp in the Oregon Cascade Mountains every summer. There is something about being in nature that makes one/allows one to feel closer to God.

     We sure felt closer to God and to each other on this special, snowy Easter day. Later in the week, especially during hikes in Zion and at Bryce Canyon in general, I wanted to burst out into song in thanks to God for this tremendous gift of beautiful nature.

A majestic view of the Virgin River running through Zion NP. This serene view is how we all picture nature at our National Parks.

Some of the people at Zion NP: us! This is the end of my favorite hike, taken at dusk -- The Canyon Overlook Trail.

People (Chapter 11 -- Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches)

     Don and I gave our family this trip as a Christmas gift. We rented a big house 30 minutes east of Zion National Park. The house was a perfect fit for our family of seven. It had three bedrooms with attached baths for the adults, and a game room with a pull out bed for Ian and a pack-n-play crib for Jamie who at three doesn't mind scrunching into to sleep.  Don and I made the trip in our EV pickup, the rest of the family flew from Seattle to Las Vegas, rented a car, and drove the 3 1/2 hours to get there.

     In the book, Conor Knighton named the chapter which included three of the Utah parks 'People' because there are so many tourists (read TOO many people) parking is a problem and the serene hikes you envision may end up being more like being in the middle of a mob. We especially experienced this overcrowding in Zion. The first day after our snow day, we didn't all get to the park in time to find a parking place. Don had to park far from the central parking lot and rode the shuttle back to join the family. From that point forward we always made a point of arriving at the parks before 8 AM, if possible, for fear of not finding any parking spots and because the only way up the valley is via shuttles, we didn't want to have to wait for hours in line to catch our ride.

      Several of our hikes in Zion were overcrowded and I found myself often stepping aside so that others could pass me, since I am a slow, plodding hiker and don't like to feel pushed. But even so, the beauty of the place was so awe-inspiring. And it was such a joy to be with our young grandsons who were so exuberant and happy being outdoors.

Don and I and lots of dinosaur skeletons in the Utah Natural History Museum

Mama Desert Bighorn Sheep with her lamb in Zion National Park. Photo by D. Adams.

Animals (Chapter 3 -- Everglades, Channel Islands, Pinnacles, Death Valley)

     It took Don and I several days to make the trek from our home near Seattle to Southern Utah. We stopped one night at my sister's home in Boise, and spent some time in Salt Lake City, while there we visited the Utah Natural History Museum which is stuffed full of dinosaur bones. We had a wonderful afternoon exploring extinct animals. In addition we saw many, many deer (dead and alive) en route, a few pronghorns, a family of desert bighorn sheep, elk, and several chipmunks. Outside of the plethora of deer, I was pretty surprised how few mammals we saw on our trip. We did identify many new birds, however, many that don't live near us like Wild Turkeys and Juniper Titmouses. We thought we saw two California Condors flying overhead as we munched on our daily lunch of peanut butter sandwiches, but on closer inspection I realized they were just Turkey Vultures, very common birds. Wouldn't it have been fun to see Condors, though? These huge scavengers are making a recovery from near extinction and the National Parks are good places for them to live. 

     In the book Knighton talks about how the Channel Islands are home to a special fox and it is thanks to the National Park that those little guys are making a big comeback today.

Rita and her family horsing around at a snowy overlook in Bryce Canyon NP. I sure love all these goofballs.

Carly and I with the Bryce Canyon sandstone hoodoos behind us.

Love (Chapter 18: Canyonlands, North Cascades)

     Conor Knighton embarked on his year-long crusade to visit all of the US National Parks after his fiance broke up with him months before their planned wedding. He was hurt and angry. In this chapter he talks about how he found love and friendship on his journeys, and eventually healing. At one point while hiking in the North Cascades he met and dated a woman several times before realizing that the relationship wasn't special. He wanted "a national park kind of love. Something that felt different and special compared with everything else surrounding it" (228).

     I experienced love from my family as they would help me on the hikes by staying close to me in case I needed a hand up or a shoulder to help my way down. Knighton mentioned and we experienced the collegiality of hikers in greeting one another and offering encouragement and advice. I sure experienced the encouragement from others: "You can do it. This is not a race. Go slow and you'll make it." "You go girl." Or, "The best path is to the right and you'll be there in ten minutes." It is rare that anyone receives this kind of encouragement and support as you pass them on a city street. Ha!

This is the beautiful picnic spot we found during our visit to Arches NP. Unfortunately it was too windy and cold to enjoy an outdoor picnic and after a few minutes of trying to eat and enjoy nature at the same time, we retreated to the truck to finish our meal.

Food (Chapter 19: Gates of the Arctic, Kobuk Valley, Cuyahoga Valley)

     Everyone needs to eat but sometimes, in fact lots of times, national parks aren't anywhere near to an easy source of food. The ranger at the Gates of the Arctic NP, for example, has to buy all of his food ahead of traveling to his work station and has no easy source of food if any of his supplies run out. Now we weren't in the Arctic, obviously, but the home where we stayed wasn't anywhere near a store or a restaurant. So we purchased all the food we needed for our stay in the town of St. George, Utah before we arrived. Everyday before heading out on our day's adventure we'd make up a lunch of peanut butter and jam sandwiches, cut apples, carrot sticks, and veggie straw chips. We carried water and granola bars with us as we hiked. We shared the responsibility of preparing dinner for the group each night. Don and I carried on the same tradition after the family returned home at week's end of preparing lunch each day before setting out to visit a park each day.  

      

Don at the trailhead of one of our many hikes in Arches NP. We were particularly aware of the diversity of races and nationalities in this park because we had a timed entry to the park so we found ourselves traveling to the many scenic sights with the same people all day.

Arches was the first park we visited after the rest of our family returned home. As retirees Don and I weren't on a time schedule. Our kids were. We wore ourselves out this day hiking over 20,000 steps. Most of the arches landmarks can't be seen from the road.

Diversity (Chapter 21: Mount Rainier, Shenandoah)    

     While hiking on Mt. Rainier, Conor Knighton, came upon a Black woman guide. It hit him that he had not seen many Blacks on his travels through any of the national parks. The woman confirmed that that is the case. There is a lop-sided number of Whites in the population who utilize tha parks and she is hoping to do something about this. I thought of this chapter often as we hiked through the five parks we visited because I think it isn't correct. There may be a lack of diversity from within the US but there certainly is a huge diversity at the national parks from around the world. One couldn't take a step without overhearing a plethora of world languages, many of which we had no idea what they were. We, of course, heard a lot of the Germanic, Spanish, and French languages. Those are the ones we recognized. But many of the visitors were from all parts of Asia: Indian subcontinent, East Asia, Russia, Japan...we don't know where since we couldn't identify the languages. It seems like the national parks are our best tourism draws. We may not have old cathedrals but we've got The Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Take that, Europe!

Rita and Jamie playing on the floor of the rental house east of Zion.

Disconnecting (Chapter 22: Isle Royale, Olympic, Virgin Islands)

     Our national parks vacation was certainly a time of disconnecting -- from politics, church business, work, school, bills and other responsibilities -- but it was also a time of connection with our family and each other. Don figured out that we spent 65 hours in the truck together alone! That's a lot of time with one person, even if you love them. My parents used to rent houses for our family vacations and have continued this tradition even to this day, allowing the next generation and the next to enjoy time with cousins and siblings we might not see otherwise. I hope our children and their families will remember our holiday together, where we disconnected from the rest of the world and enjoyed spending time together in nature.

I really enjoyed reading Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton. But I would not recommend this book if you are looking for a guide to the Utah National Parks. You know the kind of book I'm referring to? The kind of guide tells you about the best trails, where to find accommodations, and where to park. This is not that kind of book.

Love (reprise)

     Don and I stopped to spend a night going and coming with my sister and her family in Idaho. I am so grateful for their hospitality and loved the evening we spent together with them and our nephews and their significant others. Family love is the best. Thank you, Grace and Rock!

Highlights/favorites from each park:

ZION: Everything about Zion NP is stunning. My favorite hike was the Canyon Overlook Trail. We found a spot to park among the limited places and hiked late in the day, just before dusk. (Pictured: my daughters and grandson, Ian.)

BRYCE CANYON: Don, Dan (S.I.L) and Ian took a hike among the sandstone hoodoos. They all reported how wonderful this hike was and the guide we consulted said it was one of the best hikes in the nation. (Pictured: Don and Ian holding hands among the hoodoos.) My daughters and younger grandson, Jamie, and I went for a hike around the rim. But the snow was high and prevented easy passage or we found a lot of mud in the melt.

ARCHES: This park has so many highlights it is hard to pick one. (Pictured: Don approaching the North Window arch.)

CANYONLANDS: The views were all spectacular.

CAPITOL REEF: My favorite was the hike we took in the Capitol Reef Gorge. It was breathtakingly beautiful but I also loved the huge, old cottonwood trees, one is named the Mail Tree due to its proximity to where the mail was delivered. We lunched under these huge trees. They are not in leaf yet. 

And a bonus park:

Mudstone hoodoos

Goblin Valley Utah State Park. It is the setting of one of our favorite movies: Galaxy Quest.

Books: I finished two additional print books besides Leave Only Footprints. (Watch for a post about all these books and audiobooks this coming week):

• Dark Testaments: Blackout Poems by Crystal Simone Smith
• No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler

Audiobooks finished during the trip:

• The Fraud by Zadie Smith
• Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
• Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
• Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
• Sweet Thunder by Ivan Doig

Currently reading/listening to:

• West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge (a book club selection I postponed listening to during the trip)
• When You Ask Me Where I'm Going by Jasmin Kaur (a poetry month selection)
• Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism by Rachel Maddow (We finished about a quarter of the book on the last leg of our drive home. Now Don and I will have to find time to finish it when we aren't in the car.)

Funny signs seen inside/just outside the national parks:

This handmade sign just outside of Canyonlands.

Lucky we were paying attention because moments after seeing the sign, there they were, cows on the road.

Inside Capitol Reef we were warned to be on the lookout for marmots crossing the road.

Since we are finally back from our big vacation, our daughter finally is moving out and into the townhome she bought over a month ago. I need to sign off and go help her batch up all her stuff. Have a good week!

-Anne