Susan Lamb

This book is thirty years old but such a high quality printing that it is as fresh and bright as the Spring outside my door. I used to take lots of California wildflower photos for decades so this large size primarily pictorial book had a lot of appeal to me. If you follow my Facebook page you know I still can't resist flower photos. A few of the photos at first glimpse I'd know almost exactly where it was and what it was. Many of these were new to me, especially some from out of the way locations. Every photo didn't work for me. I know the appeal of the close-up but in this book I preferred the landscape one like on the cover. Most of these were close-up shots which are beautiful but as I said I liked the flowers in their setting better.

The majority of these photos were taken in the Spring of 1992 through 1994, when California was emerging from a hard drought of 6 or 7 years. We've had a number of these droughts before and after but the flora is continually reborn (although with casualties) when the rains do return.

A very enjoyable book for light reading. There is some interesting and informative text by Susan Lamb. I learned things.… (mais)

A very beautiful book with spectacular illustrations. This book is an explanation of Native American life and also an appreciation of the various elements of traditional communal life: dance & music, food, craft making, religion. Also covered is the engagement with European culture. There are many excellent books on the California missions but this book covers the New Mexican missions including Taos and Chimayo. This is a sensitive and perceptive view of the ideals and adventure of Native American life as it still exists. Glossary, Notes, Index, Bibliography, Color Photos, 149pp.… (mais)