Product Description
Park Ranger Anna Pigeon stumbles upon a gruesome murder with frightening racial overtones in the latest installment of the bestselling series.

"What lifts the Anna Pigeon novels far above most of the other contemporary amateur sleuth mysteries is Barr's exquisite writing--it swoops, it soars, sails then catches you unawares beneath the heart and takes your breath away," proclaimed the Cleveland Plain Dealer of last year's Liberty Falling. In Deep South, Nevada Barr takes our breath away once again as her heroine travels cross-country to Mississippi, only to encounter terrible secrets in the heart of the south.

The handwritten sign on the tree said it all: REPENT. For Anna Pigeon, this should have been reason enough to turn back for her beloved Mesa Verde. Instead she heads for the Natchez Trace Parkway and the promotion that awaits her. Almost immediately, she finds herself in the midst of controversy: as the new district ranger, she faces resentment so extreme her ability to do her job may be compromised, and her life may very well be in danger. But all thoughts of personal safety are set aside with the discovery of a young girl's body in a country cemetery, a sheet around her head, a noose around her neck.

The kudzu is thick and green, the woods dark and full of secrets. And the ghosts of violence hover as Anna struggles for answers to questions that, perhaps, should never be asked. Deep South proves that, "like the parks and monuments she writes of, Nevada Barr should be declared a national treasure" (The Bloomsbury Review).Amazon.com Review
After her urban adventures on New York's Ellis Island in Liberty Falling, park ranger Anna Pigeon has finally "heeded the ticking of her bureaucratic clock" and signed on for a promotion in the boonies: district ranger on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Anna's mental images of Mississippi come from black-and-white stock photos from the civil rights movement of the 1960s, so it's not surprising that she finds it beautiful but strange, its residents caught in a teased-hair, fried-food time warp. But she's got more than an unhealthy diet to worry about--as the first female district ranger on the Trace, she immediately encounters more than a few good ol' boys and local miscreants who resent her authority, especially after a 17-year-old beauty is murdered on a booze-soaked prom night near the Trace, her head covered with a KKK-style sheet.

There are plenty of reasons her friends and family might have wanted Danielle Posey dead, ranging from her $40,000 insurance policy to jealousy to flat-out insanity. Anna wonders whether the sheet's a red herring, but she can't dismiss it entirely. Though the local culture's no longer built around segregation, racism still exists at a deep level that Anna finds unsettling. Both Danielle Posey and the prime suspect--her boyfriend--are white, but Danielle had secrets her friends won't reveal. Still, no one else appears to be in danger, until a prankster--or could it be a murderer?--sets an alligator loose in Anna's garage (nearly killing her faithful black Lab, Taco) and a local preacher commits suicide.

With the help of the handsome local sheriff, Paul Davidson, Anna pulls together clues from local history, Civil War reenactors, and the Mississippi mud and kudzu. Anna Pigeon's one tough bird--she survives not only a little alligator wrestling but also a brutal attack that leads her to the truth of what happened to Danielle Posey and why. What's most fascinating is how much of her famous emotional shield she lets slip in the process. --Barrie Trinkle ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Not the best in the series, but enjoyable
Just a short review.While I usually enjoy the Anna Pigeon novels, I've got to say that this one was slightly more of a misfire than not.The mystery itself -- the brutal murder of a Mississippi girl on the Natchez Trace National Parkway -- is interesting, but the big problem with the book is that its resolution felt rushed and disappointing, as if Ms. Barr was more interested in the story of Anna's personal life than the raison d'etre of her mystery series.Still, it is an Anna Pigeon novel, and Barr's titular heroine is as endearing as ever, and that more than makes up for the book's shortcomings.

Deep South isn't the best of the series, but it is an entertaining enough read to occupy a lazy afternoon with.

Loved this book!
This book was great. I loved trying to figure out the crime, and also, about reading about Mississippi. Now, I need to order another one!

Anna Pigeon in the South - Gators & Murder & Men Oh MY!
This was a great book. Portrayed in the South, Anna is new to the South with lots to learn. In her typical style she accidently stumbles on a murder and the whole book revolves around her solving the mystery in her courageous fumbling style. She battles teenagers, men that don't like women in positions of power, gators and manages to just hedge a little romance too. Again portrays her smartness, persistence, but vulnerability. You will love this one.

Southern Reflection
This was an excellent book for giving the feel for the south and its unique natural environment. As usual for Barr, the blend of mystery,romance, nd community together with a special understanding of the environment made this a really fun novel to read.In addition, her understanding of the challenges of leadership makes the novel even more relevant to our times.

Death Road
I have not traveled the Natchez Trace since the parkway was build, but the old road is one from which not even Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, returned. The Trace is steeped in mystery, death and kudzu, which covers everything if allowed free rein.
Anna Pigeon accepts a promotion and finds, a not unexpected wall of resentment, from male Park Service members under her supervision. What she didn't expect to find on her first watch was the murder of a popular high school coed, whose life had dredged up resentment.
DEEP SOUTH by Nevada Barr leads the reader alone with Anna to a fine conclusion. No guessing on this one, you will be surprised along with Anna when Barr tips her pen.
Nash Black, author of WRITING OF A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS. ... Read more

Product Description
"Some of the most beautiful writing in contemporary American literature is between the covers of this book . . ." BOSTON HERALD

The triumphant collection of short stories by America's most acclaimed novelist.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Bringing life to the mundane
Updike's abilities as a short story writer are best exemplified in _Pigeon Feathers_. His narratives often focus on the philosophies of the protestant middle class, in which the protagonist struggles to either accept or escape from the shackles of religion and society. Updike's narrative voice is so strong in these stories that the reader has the feeling that each one is in a sense autobiographical.

There is a lot of variety in these short stories. Seven of these stories take place in the fictional Pennsylvanian suburb of Olinger, in which Updike pays homage to his adolescence. While each story in this collection is unique and special in its own right, there are some that I found to be particularly strong:

"A&P": This is one of the shortest and straightforward stories in the collection, but was my favorite. Sammy is a 19-year-old cashier working at the A&P when he becomes infatuated with three girls who come into the store wearing bathing suits. When the manager scolds the girls for being indecent, Sammy is brought to a moral crossroad of conformance or to reject the values that A&P represents.

In "A&P," the manager is the voice of parental authority (friend of Sammy's family), pastoral authority (Sunday school teacher) and a business leader. Sammy represents the middle class conformist, who works behind the third register eating HiHo crackers. The girls represent the unattainable, with their sexual promiscuity and Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks. Great symbolism and struggle is packed into this condensed narrative that is truly rewarding.

"Flight": Allen Dow's mother predicts that her son will fly -- escape the destructive hold of ordinary life that has plagued their family. When Allen develops a relationship with the Olinger girl Molly Bingaman, this prediction is compromised and the relationship between Allen and his mother soon changes. "Flight" is about relationships and the conflict of deciding between young love and the yearning to escape.

"Pigeon Feathers": The title story reflects on David Kern, who is approaching his fifteenth birthday and ponders on death and theology. He is in search of reassurance in God's existence and eternal life, but is continually misdirected, and is even discouraged by his minister when he inquires in Sunday School. Later in the story, David is asked shoot the pigeons in the barn so they will not harm the Olinger furniture that is stored in there. Through this experience, David comes to terms with God, creation and death.

"Packed Dirt, Churchgoing, A Dying Cat, A Traded Car": This story seems to be a favorite by many readers. For me, the structure was a bit loose; however, the story and prose still show why Updike is one of the more talented writers in recent history. "Packed Dirt. . ." continues from "Pigeon Feathers" with David Kern as an adult. His struggles with faith are looked at from a different perspective as an adult in four episodes. He receives news that his father is ill and returns to his home. The traded car that David will soon exchange becomes representative for his writing and life itself, which is "dismissed without a blessing, a kiss, a testament, or any ceremony of farewell." This story is fittingly placed at the end of the collection and strongly represents Updike's views.



For any fan of John Updike or for someone interested in getting a taste of his writing, this collection is strongly recommended. I do not place these stories as highly as I place the Rabbit Angstrom tetralogy, but from what I have read of Updike, they stand the closest.

Updike is always a pleasure to read.
I love great literature, and bold and intricate thoughts expressed with wit and insight.Updike never fails.His short stories are a pleasure. He never ceases to catch me off guard and appreciative of his fine writing style.

A collection of Updike's short stories
Powerful words from a master of literature educate and influence his audiences across the boundary of time and location. This is a collection of Updike's short stories that for sure makes your leisure reading a enjoyable moment of the day.

Incredible!
This is an incredible book, which features many of Updike's earlier stories.The title story is amazing in its meaning and moral complexity. FIVE STARS!!!

Is there a better book of stories anywhere?
If there is, you have my attention. Maybe Isaac Babel's Collected Stories orFitzgerald's Selected Stories. I've been writing for 27 years; I may have written three sentences that compare with the average in an Updike story.In "Flight" he captures more in several sentences about family than I've disentangled through an entire career. Sorry for being self-referential; it's a measure of my awe. Updike's magic is that he can tell a story in a single sentence. If you only know Updike through his novels, you're in for a treat. By my lights, this is one of the greatest living story writers and this is the book that made that clear. ... Read more

Product Description
Cumberland Island, off the coast of Georgia, is a breathtaking setting for tedious fire presuppression duty. But Anna’s boring routine is shattered when two men die in a plane crash, victims of sabotage.Amazon.com Review
As her legions of loyal readers know, Nevada Barr is not astripper nor a Las Vegas lawyer; she's a former actress and NationalPark Service ranger who writes excellent mysteries set in thewilderness. Her alter ego, ranger Anna Pigeon, is once again calledupon to be mentally and physically astute--this time on CumberlandIsland, off the Georgia coast, where the ghosts of the millionaireswho used to live there are being added to by a determined killer. Asusual, Barr is best at creating believable scenes of action in asetting that is beautifully detailed but never romanticized. Past Barrbooks in paperback: Firestorm, Ill Wind, A Superior Death,Track of theCat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Amateur Sleuth Goes Above and Beyond
A fire watch assignment on hot and humid Cumberland Island isn't too exciting for park ranger Anna Pigeon until a twin-engine Beechcraft crashes, killing two people inside. When investigators determine the Beechcraft was sabotaged, Anna's curiosity prompts her to do a little snooping. But snooping on this quiet little island becomes dangerous, although not dangerous enough to stop Anna. And this is the problem I had with Endangered Species.

Because there's no emotional stake in the outcome for Anna, why is she investigating at all except to relieve boredom and quench her curiosity?. She's been warned off by both her supervisor and a mysterious stranger who ends up striking her on the head with the butt of a rifle. You'd think that'd be enough of a hint to stop most people, but not Anna. On the other hand, if she stopped investigating, there wouldn't be a mystery, so what can I say?

The thing is, I liked the basic plot because it's a true whodunit. Here's a group of people with secrets and tumultuous relationships, stuck on a small island. Nevada Barr's detailed narrative descriptions made the island intriguing. I also enjoyed the subplot involving a death threat to Anna's sister Molly. Molly's life as a New York psychotherapist is a terrific contrast to Anna's world. While some secondary characters are more interesting than others, this book should have a lot of appeal to those who love whodunits set in parks all across the U.S . . . and Anna Pigeon fans, of course.

Debra
Fatal Encryption (Alex Bellamy mystery)
Taxed to Death (1st in Alex Bellamy Series)

Endangered Park Personnel
THE SETUP
"Endangered Species", set on Cumberland Island, Georgia, opens with Park Ranger Anna Pigeon (usually a Park Policeman, but this time working on a fire-suppression crew) helping to gather eggs from a loggerhead seaturtle, as they are being laid.Soon thereafter, a small plane, piloted by Slatery Hammond (a somewhat shady character), carrying Tod Balfour (the District Ranger) as a passenger, crashes, having been sabotaged.Both were previously the sole law enforcement officers in a district of Cascade National Park.Tod's beautiful young wife (who has been harrassed by Slatery) is near-term pregnant.The same day, a young Austrian tourist is shot in the leg while hiking overland.Things snowball from there.Among other notable characters:Mich Hanson (a maintenance man) and his wife Louise, seem to have excess time on their hands.Marty Slesinger is an eccentric slobbish doper marine biologist.

In the meantime, a completely independent side-story, of interest only to fans reading the series in order:Anna's sister, Molly (a NYC psychologist) has received death threats, and Anna asks her (FBI agent) boyfriend Frederick Stanton to look into it.

COMMENTS
The plot develops slowly, but that's okay.Barr creates a vivid compelling setting in exceptional clarity, detail, and accuracy.The setting (a subtropical coastal seaisland) will be unfamiliar and alien to most readers, but fascinating.

The plot isn't the usual collection of evidence toward a sudden satisfying revelation of "who did it".Rather, the plot is mostly less-satisfying slow revelations of relative culpability and related but independent criminal and immoral activities, revealed in layers, like pealing an onion.This gets a little long for my tastes--I would have preferred fewer characters and fewer complications.In this story Anna is a bit irrationally "gung-ho".

I especially appreciate Barr's depictions of NPS employees violating NPS regulations by feeding wildlife, and even keeping wild animals as pets.Okay, I understand the justifications, and generally approve.Don't feed the bears.Yet in my opinion, feeding a family of racoons at picnic ground (for example), or nursing a squirrel back to health, cements a child's love of wildlife (and later devotion to preservation of nature) stronger than any other experience.Indirectly, Barr also unveils the illusion (rigorously promoted by NPS) that the Parks are pristine, or must be "made pristine".Truly pristine wilderness is virtually non-existant, but nature can "reclaim" even extremely disturbed areas without assistance within a few decades.Nature works best left alone---the NPS itself has caused much damage to the Parks on misguided theories of "management".

I understand that in the original hardcover version, Marty was a woman.The gender change in subsequent editions was undoubtably a great improvement.Barr's greatest strength is that the appeal of her novels is gender neutral.As a crusty 60-year-old guy, Barr is one of the few female authors I read.Without getting into an elaborate explanation, a female Marty would have seeemed implausible or at least unseemly to male readers.Many of the themes, pregnancy, loss of a woman's "man", sexual harrassment, excessive concern about insects, etc. are already heavily female---not a problem per se, but with a female Marty, the novel would have been unbalanced and much less appealing to male readers.

Note to the author:One technical annoyance are excessively abrupt change of scenes, which are particularly disconcerting when listening to the audio version (in my case, audio-CDs). Several times, I found myself going back to check if a tract was missing or defective.This is not a trivial concern.At least several years ago 75% of the "e-audiobooks" I heard had missing tracts, or large sections were out-of-order.

For American readers, a "budgie" (aka "budgerigar") is British English for what we call a "common parakeet".

VERDICT
Despite the minor caveats above, this is my third reading of "Endangered Species" (at intervals of several years), and it only gets better with additional re-readings.I consider that high praise.

One of the Better Anna Pigeon Stories
... that' said, I've only experienced 4 and 1/10 of them. I enjoyed the story, even though some parts weren't really believable, like the Disneyeque baby deer named Flicka.The descriptions in any Nevada Barr book might be overdone, but they are beautiful if heard aloud.If you like the series but are tired of plodding through the prose, grab a copy of the audio cd's from a library.They're excellent.

I really thought there'd be more about the baby sea turtles, but they were very much overshadowed by all the other events.It's a predictable, yet enjoyable story.Anna, flaws and all, is a likable character.

Hard to put down
I always enjoy Nevada Barr's books and this one did not disappoint.I was fully involved in the story and while her main character Anna Pigeon, prefers her life in the parks to a full time relationship with someone, there is just enough personal story to make her human.There is suspense and tension throughout and while I suspected who the killer was, I was content to let the author lead me to the conclusion.

great story, but not a great reader
I'm a fan of Nevada Barr and enjoyed the plot of this book, but Cindy Williams makes this one hard to listen too.She reads like she is racing to the end in a performance with all the passion and variety of a lump of coal. Buy the book; it is an engaging story. But wait for an unabridged audio version read by Barbara Rosenblat. ... Read more

Product Description
Another term has begun at Meadowbank, a prestigious, well-respected British girls' school. The indomitable headmistress is preparing to retire and name her successor. There is a disconcertingly mature Middle Eastern princess among the students and several new staff members in residence. And a brand-new sports pavilion is the pride of the campus.

Customer Reviews (4)

Cat Among the Pigeons
This product was delivered in a timely fashion.This book was enjoyable to read.

where's Hercule?
First, let me say that Hugh Fraser does his usual great job narrating this book.If you've listened to any of the other audio books he's done in this series, you know what I mean.If you haven't, well, pick one and give it a try.

Now, the story is a decent one with lots of Christie craftsmanship.If you're used to Hercule Poirot from the popular BBC/PBS/A&E video series starting David Suchet, you may be a little surprised by this story.Yes, yes, all his personality is there, and Fraser does his voice well.The surprise is that at least 80% of the story develops before Poirot shows up to solve it.

Again, absolutely fine as a mystery tale.It's just a bit limited on the famous Poirot mannerisms due to the way the story is constructed.

[Update:Since I wrote this review, I saw the new David Suchet version of this on PBS.As expected, the video version turned things around a bit and featured Poirot more prominently from the start.You will not find that to be the case in this audio book.]

Cat Among Pidgeons
I am a great Agatha Christie fan and have all her books. I am very busy now so do not have time to sit down and reread them.It is great fun to listen to them in the car as I travel from place to place.I really cannot get enough of them

Better and Better
Agatha Christie has been my favorite author since I read one of her books (The Body in the Library) for a book report in high school. My english teacher told me that if I enjoyed the book, I would read all of her books. She was so right. I have read every one of her books more than once and I have them all in my bookcase. This book is one of my favorites and now that I have the CD I can listen to it whenever I am in my car.Agatha Christie will never go out of style. She is the best mystery writer that I have ever read. Her characters (Hercule Poirot & Jane Marple) are unique and her plot lines are complex. I recommend this CD highly to anyone that enjoyes a good mystery! ... Read more

Product Description
''If you are reading this letter it could only mean that I'm dead and I suspect the circumstances of my death were less than natural,'' begins the letter from Simon to his dear friend Peter.

Peter, appointed the executor of the deceased's estate, uncovers more about Simon's life during the administration of his Last Will and Testament than during the lifetime they had shared as friends. Simon's reflections, codified in a small, black notebook, of the variety that Hemingway and Picasso were purported to have used, provide insights into the deepest recesses of Peter's own life, allowing him to find love and meaning in an existence that had to that point been marked by loss.

From the insidious room salons that discreetly litter the side streets in Midtown Manhattan, to the cafes and night clubs frequented by young Asian professionals and kyo-pos, War With Pigeons artfully immerses the reader into a segment of American society that is rarely seen.

At its heart, the book is a story of love, loss and hope, whether it's in the context of one courageous woman's hardships in coming to America, the sufferings of her son to secure love in an unsympathetic world or the struggles of a beautiful woman to continue on the path of life after her beloved has departed.

This debut novel from writer Tae Kim is a tribute to the tradition of storytelling, using prose that is entertaining and sensually romantic at times, heart-wrenching and poignantly riveting at others, but always passionate and beautifully written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Great Book!
The subject matter of room salons, which is referenced on the inside cover of the book, originally put me off. For those of you who are unfamiliar with room salons, they're hostess bars where Korean women serve drinks and are generally not highly regarded. Notwithstanding the references to room salons (which the author probably cites to drive sales), the book focuses more on two endearing love stories - rather tragic, but endearing nonetheless. The main female characters of the novel, with the exception of Gracie, are all strong personalities. Catherine, who is Simon's love interest and the daughter of a wealthy Korean family, is not your typical soft-spoken, twig of a character that has come to fill the stereotype of Asian-American women. The same is true for Helen, a hostess at a room salon as well as a prostitute, who takes more action into her own hands (no pun intended) than most of the other characters. What perhaps surprised me the most, however, was how I liked Gracie's character best.I was the last person to think that I'd be drawn to the kind-hearted, unassuming, countryside Korean girl. I loved what Tae Kim has done with the characters and I loved the book - the description of room salons notwithstanding.

A fascinating glimpse into the world of Asian-Americans
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (08/10)

If there is one culture that is truly a perennial mystery to me here in the USA, it would be the world of Asian-Americans. Down South we do have a fair amount of Vietnamese-Americans, and a token few others; and while I've always enjoyed their cuisine as well as shopping their markets, I can not say I've ever made a friend among them. They always seem so mysterious, so different and slightly withdrawn from the rest of us. So I have to admit that I've read "War With Pigeons" with real pleasure, not only for the story, but even more so for the slight unveiling of this mysterious world.

At first glance, Tae Kim's "War With Pigeons" would probably be classified as a mystery novel, although further reading would reveal strong elements of an engaging and intriguing love story as well. More than anything though I would call it a love song to being strongly rooted in one's culture and not losing one's identity even while being successful in a foreign world.

Peter, a young attorney, is in charge of taking care of his deceased friend's estate. Simon died under violent circumstances, and through a diary found among Simon's possessions emerges a very different image of the successful young Korean-American. Peter realizes how little he really knew his friend, and how little he understood what was driving him, and at the same time also discovers some rather unsettling truths about himself.

Filled with detailed, thoughtfully drawn and engaging characters, with a great flow to the story and a series of fascinating descriptions of scenes probably well known to Korean-Americans, but utterly foreign to most other readers, this novel grabs you and does not let go. Absorbing interactions between family members, business partners and acquaintances; great insights into the dynamics of Korean-American society and its rules; scenes from Korean cafes, room salons and clubs; appealing, yet very human heroes and truly despicable villains - all of this draws the reader in quickly and definitely keeps one's interest fully engaged.

Simon's struggle to do the right thing and his tormented musings are very credible and I found myself turning pages with anticipation, wanting and needing to know more. While the whole book was fairly dark, it was also undeniably beautiful and rather poetic. One of my favorite passages was the one about Peter eating the Asian pear, where at least as much was said between the lines as it was in them.

My only - and very slight - criticism is actually something that could well be a cultural difference and not really author's failing at all. I found a lot of the dialogue somewhat stiff, but that could well be a reflection of a culture totally unknown to me. Also, a bit of proofreading would have caught some misspellings, typos and inconsistent punctuation - which at times proved to be rather amusing.

I would highly recommend Tae Kim's "War With Pigeons" to readers who are curious about cultures different from theirs, and all those who simply enjoy a well written book.

WAR WITH PIGEONS - Tae Kim novel
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book but first time writer, Tae Kim, spins an impressive first novel full of intrigue, suspense and drama.WAR WITH PIGEONS spans a lifetime - from the story of a woman leaving Korea in search of a better life for her family, to the start of the friendship between Peter and Simon, to the eventual twists and turns that growing up and growing apart do to a friendship.The novel is a complex tale that explores loss and regrets, sacrifice and redemption, love and happiness.

An intriguing and fascinating novel, highly recommended
There is more to an estate than simply money. "War with Pigeons" tells the story of Peter, as he receives a collection of his friends reflections and memoirs. Through the novel, Tae Kim gives readers a vivid picture of Asian American society and how the Asian culture still remains prominent in their lives at many levels of society. "War with Pigeons" is an intriguing and fascinating novel, highly recommended.

a must read
Love and loss are inescapably a part of everyone's life. Tae Kim's debut novel War With Pigeons plays upon these universal themes in a manner that's engaging and unique to read. It's a bit difficult to determine who, as between Simon and Peter, is the main character of the novel. If it is Simon, as the book jacket indicates, readers may be unsettled by the fact that Simon is already dead by the time they are introduced to him. The author uses the convention of secret journals to allow Simon's story to be told in a rather personal, almost lyrical manner. There are moments in the book when Simon's entries are rather dark, focusing on themes of suicide and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, for instance. But there is this underlying thread of hope that runs throughout the book which grabs the reader and seemingly reels him in. Whether the author ultimately decides to cut that thread I won't say. I'll leave that for the reader to discover. A suspenseful and thrilling love story that alternates between warming your heart and wrenching your gut. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Park ranger Anna Pigeon is enjoying the open spaces of Colorado when she receives an urgent call. A young woman has been injured while exploring a cave in New Mexico's Carlsbad Cavern Park. Before she can be pulled to safety, she sends for her friend Anna. Only one problem: a crushing fear of confined spaces has kept Anna out in the open her whole life.

Amazon.com Review
Feisty, resourceful forest ranger Anna Pigeon faced everythingfrom raging fires to deep-water dives with cool aplomb in her first fiveadventures. Very early in Blind Descent her courage is put to an even greater test when she learns that a woman seriouslyinjured while exploring a cave next door to New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns is afriend who has requested Pigeon's help in getting her out. "A chillingimage filled Anna's mind: herself crouched and whimpering, fear pouringlike poison through her limbs, shutting down her brain as the cave closedin around her." Pushing aside her fears, Pigeon takes the plunge, leadingreaders through a truly harrowing series of tight squeezes. Nevada Barr isso good at involving us in Anna's terror that when she finally resurfaces, we share her "unadulterated joy. Even the dirt smelledalive... When she saw her first stars, she croaked out her delight fromtired lungs." Above ground, Anna quickly gets involved in two possiblylinked murders and becomes a rifleman's target. As we share the progress of her investigation, a sneaky suspicionstarts to grow of possiblesuspects within the small community of spelunkers and National Park Servicebureaucrats. Barr couldn't possibly ask Anna to go backunderground again, could she? When it happens, of course, it seemsinevitable--and just as frightening as the first time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (74)

Thought I wouldn't like caving as a context...
... but I did. I like Nevada Barr's protagonist, I like that I can count on her always surviving (although I don't know how that would be physically possible in reality - Anna Pigeon should be dead by now), I enjoy her insights into personalities and human nature, her insights and descriptions of Nature, and they're always just fun story lines.

Blind Descent
I have enjoyed most of Nevada Barr's books but this one was too long in the tooth on the technicality of spelunking. Only someone who is a caver would be interested in this book and I am not. She goes into too much detail re the rigging and climbing techniques. How many people really cave who read her books? I find the rest of her jaunts through the Southwest and the MidWest and Lake Superior where I used to live enjoyable, but a cave? Not enough people who would be interested in all the explanation of it. I was very disappointed that I had spent the money on this book & wish I had gone to the library to get it to read. Was a waste of time and money. Only could recommend it to cavers, who I am sure, would be very interested and rate this 5 stars

Nevada Barr, Blind Descent
I'm afraid to start another book by Nevada Barr. This was my test book for her and it was so tedious and boring, I had to skip lots of it to finish it. Sorry.

Best Barr BookEver!
I deliberately skirted around reading Blind Descent because I wasn't keen on reading a Anna Pigeon novel set in a cave in the Carlsbad Caverns.It was definetly not the National Park setting I was looking for!What a surprise when I finally picked it up to read. The Lechuguilla cave is a terrifying setting and in my opinion Blind Descent is Barr's best novel.Don't miss reading this thriller!

My favorite Nevada Barr offering to date!!!
I'm relatively new to "Anna Pigeon," so I haven't read them all yet. Still, I have to say that "Blind Descent" is my favorite so far. I admit to a special interest in caving, having been spelunking once, decades ago. Even so, I found the relentless pacing impossible to put down since I always HAD to find out what happens next!

In case Nevada Barr is reading, I'm particularly fond of the books that take place in the more "exotic" parks--Liberty and Carlsbad, for example--and I can't wait to read more. ... Read more

Product Description
When grandmother sails away, she leaves behind a collection of birds' nest--and three eggs in one nest miraculously begin to hatch out passenger pigeon chicks.Amazon.com Review
The mystical and the natural blend superbly in this first children'sbook by the accomplished literary novelist Louise Erdrich. The eccentric,well-traveled grandmother of two young kids decamps in mid-vacation, riding aporpoise to Greenland and leaving behind a trove of strange treasures andartifacts including a collection of bird's nests and three old eggs whichhatch, marvelously, into passenger pigeons. Erdrich wields her NativeAmerican ancestry and her worldiness--Grandmother owns an original Klee--to give youngreaders a sense of the world's wonders and the wisdom of the elders, the oldwisdom of the natural cycles that we are losing. A letter from Grandmother,promising to return, winds up this fetching tale. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Grandmother's Pigeon
Outrageously imaginative story with an environmental message, set with real character in a loving relaxed family.
There is a beautiful symmetry between the text and the illustration, with one enhancing then leading the other. Why didn't this win an award?

Heartwarming
This is a wonderful book that has a special message of conservation and environmentalism.The characters are very appealing and the grandmother has a special magical gift within the story.This is a treasure to give your children or grandchildren.

a wonderful little book
Louise Erdrich is the author of the award winning novels Love Medicine and The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse , amongst others. She is an incredibly gifted novelist. Grandmother's Pigeon is her first book for children.

I haven't read a book written specifically for children in well over a decade (Harry Potter and The Narnia series would be more for young adults and are suitable for adults on different levels), but Grandmother's Pigeon is a true children's book. It is only about 30 pages, half of which are illustrations. Like any good children's book, this one is mixed with the simple and the fantastic (perhaps all the more understandable considering Erdrich's American Indian heritage). The story is simple, a grandmother goes away on a trip and bird eggs are discovered in her room. When the eggs hatch, the birds turn out to be Passenger Pigeons (a long extinct species), three males. There is some commotion about the pigeons and finally they are released into the wild by the family. The fantastic comes in from the very start when Grandmother announces she is going to travel to Greenland on the back of a turtle and it is hinted the a stuffed animal toy pigeon may have been the cause of the mysterious eggs. It is a very sweet, charming story and I would imagine any child would enjoy reading this book.

A Bookful of Wonder
The illustrations in this book are wonderful and are a perfect compliment to this strange,comforting story of a loving family and the legacy of their magical grandmother. There are some subtle nuances that parents will pick up if they pay attention. This is a tale about ecology and love for free and wild creatures, with a bit of shamanism thrown in for good measure. There is humour here and wisdom. I love this book for the satisfying feeling of gentle wonder that I feel as I turn the last page and close the book. I recommend it to all with childish hearts.

wonderful illustrations, and unusual story.
helps to show children that people in their family can be different, but you still love them. ... Read more

Product Description
Through a friendly text and full color photographs, the history and habits of pigeons are described and detailed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Pigeon Info
I, being a pigeon lover was very impressed with background information on different types of pigeons and beautiful on sight photography.The book being only 70 pages was very easy reading enough to handle in a day or two. My favorite chapter is "Pigeon Intelligence."It is remarkable how intelligent these little guys are! It was an easy learning and a much fun book.

A beautiful book.
I remember the first time I saw pigeons; I was five years old and had been taken into Washington, D.C. on a field trip.There was a group of them on the sidewalk near the Natural History Museum, strutting around a food cart.I took one look at their iridescent necks, gray and buff bodies, and inquisitive orange eyes, and I was hooked.Never mind that the adult who accompanied us sneered, "Oh, they're just vermin."Being a child, I knew better than to listen to someone who was unable to see beauty when it was staring her in the face.

In this book, Ms. Patent gives children a view of pigeons for what they really are, touching on their beauty, their intelligence, and the benefits they have brought to mankind throughout history.The color photographs by William Munos are excellent and complement the text well.The photos appear on almost every page, which makes the book easy to read to children who like visuals during reading time.

Adults can enjoy the book as well.For those of us who love pigeons, it's difficult locating books about them, especially books specifically about rock doves (our feral city pigeons).This book is a great start.Although it's a slim volume, it offers quite a bit of scientifically accurate information.

I now have a pair of pigeons nesting in a double nesting box on the back of my house, plus numerous pigeons visiting my feeding site every day.I never get over my fascination with these gentle, intelligent creatures, who are, by the way, magnificent flyers.This book has helped broaden my knowledge of these wonderful birds. ... Read more

Product Description
Just days after marrying Sheriff Paul Davidson, Anna Pigeon moves to Colorado to assume her new post as district ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park. When two of three children who'd gone missing from a religious retreat reappear, Anna's investigation brings her face-to-face with a paranoid sect--and with a villain so evil, he'll make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on endAmazon.com Review
Ranger Anna Pigeon, Nevada Barr's series heroine (High Country, Flashback), meets her match in this engrossing new thriller set in Rocky Mountain National Park. Heath Jarrod is a climber now confined to a wheelchair after an accident that left her crippled, angry and depressed: "For a few months after the fall, she'd played Christopher Reeve, pretending to be as optimistic, as cheerful, but she was a lousy actor and ... she'd rung down the curtain. The first of many curtains." But there's a second act in her future that begins when two terrified, half-naked little girls stumble out of the woods and into Heath's "handicamp"--they've been missing for weeks, but are too traumatized to tell Heath and then Anna where they've been, or what happened to the third girl who disappeared with them. Beth, the younger, wins Heath's heart; with Anna, she pursues an investigation thatleads to a bizarre, quasi-religious cult that's set up itsheadquarters just outside the park's boundaries, and the youth group leader who'd taken the girls into the wilderness and returned without them. Is Robert Proffit the gentle, spiritual man Anna's seasonal law enforcement agent Rita Perry thinks he is, or a twisted rapist and probable killer whose prayers for the innocent girls in his charge mask his evil nature?

The mysteries keep piling on, as one gruesome discovery leads to another, and Heath begins to realize that even though she's lost the use of her legs, the same tenacity that made her one of the world's leading mountaineers has even more rewarding summits to achieve. Barr builds the suspense skillfully and drives the narrative to a bloody, violent, and unexpected conclusion in one of her best mysteries to date. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (101)

3.5: grim, gripping enough, flawed, with excellent narration
"Hard Truth" is certainly a grim tale, with violence and a dark theme running throughout. Even one of the two main females, the guest character Heath Jarrod, struggles with her disability as a secondary thread. That thread, which allows for contemplation about her specific problems and the treatment of similarly afflicted people, at least also provides an opportunity for some personal gain and aid to others in the midst of the grimness.

The darkness of the story, with its degradation of children, bothered me less than I expected and certainly less than many reviewers. Perhaps it was the quality of the narration by Barbara Rosenblat, which was smooth and balanced, or perhaps because the details were not over the top for me. The pace was reasonable, with some sluggishness headed toward the half-way mark.

The main interaction with the perp goes on for an unusually extended stretch compared to a typical detective novel or thriller, which would have more scene changes and back and forth. I guessed the perp fairly early, although without certainty enough to take the edge off.

Two negatives: I'm a big fan of strong, talented women, but there aren't really any good-guy men in this one. I suppose Anna's husband a thousand miles away is probably a good one, safely out of the way this time. The small religious "family" is run by scum, and the author wastes no chances to get her digs in about fundamentalists (easy, somewhat tedious, pickings with characters like these) and more negative commentary about religion than necessary.

Serial killers are depraved!Beware!
Nevada Barr is my kind of writer.Strong, secular, humanist, nature-loving and a woman.I can't understand the murderers she writes about.But, I know they exist.I've had just enough darkness in my life to identify with her protagonist.When Anna Pigeon rights the wrong, I am vindicated.But, like Anna, I know too much to live a traditional life, now.Yes, most of her other Anna Pigeon mysteries have less painful situations.So, start with them, experience the National Parks and their beauty.I take comfort thinking there are rangers and police who, like Nevada Barr, keep their sanity when very bad things happen.

Uncomfortable but well written mystery
I agree with other reviewers that this is the darkest and most chilling installment in the series so far.It's not the sort of topic I choose to read about and I, too, noticed the relative lack of engagement with the natural park setting that drew me to this series in the first place.Neither is there much in terms of further developing the Anna Pigeon character. But that said, as far as a mystery story goes, this one was well done--enough so to give me a nightmare.

Chilling Graphic Exciting
This was my first Nevada Barr book. This book only averaged a 3 star from the readers but I think it was a very exciting read. The villian is a real villian and the heroes are true heros. Very graphic not for the faint of heart but definitely a thriller.

good story but chilling...
I've always loved the spunky Anna and she is great in this book as always. It's the plot itself that I found chilling. Children being abducted and molested, a cult of ex-mormons, all taking place in the remote Rocky Mountains...well, you get the picture. You are on the edge of your seat the whole book. It's certainly not a cozy series any longer but still a very good series.

The author is a great author, but I'm getting a little spooked by the plots. I think I liked her earlier books better when you could expect the men to always be the bad guys! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Best Book Ever
This story of Cat and her friends is even better than the first. From living at a boys school to fighting slavery and saving one of her best friends Cats life is about to get very interesting.

Great First Mystery for Spunky Girls
Love the series. Cat is a vivacious, street-smart heroine and the theater/historical facts are integrated effortlessly. Told from our heroine's perspective, this book is a great pick for the tomboy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Beautiful story on a little-known type of hero
This is a delightful narrative, written in the beautiful language of the early 20th century, which gives readers a glimpse into the incredible personalities of pigeons, and the heroic deeds they've done for centuries on the battlefields of the world.Definitely tugs hard on the heart-strings!

Gay-Neck-A Quick Read
I enjoyed reading this tale because it's not to often that I travel through Himalayan jungles or traipse across the Indian countryside. I'm sure anyone would like reading about sleeping high up in a tree and listening to all the wild animals in the jungle. Gay-Neck encounters many adventures that test his will. He overcomes his fear of flying time and again with the help of a dutiful owner and nearby Buddhist monks. The end of the book has a beautiful moral that all could benefit by reading.

Read This Extraordinary Novel
Gay-Neck the Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji is literarily a story of a pigeon but much more captivating than a normal realistic fiction book.

What makes this story different from other animal stories is that it's so amazingly told that you can't put it down. This story is about a boy in a high caste (Indian social classes) and a beautiful pigeon. At first, it talks about Gay-Neck's birth and training less thrillingly, but when you get to Gay-Neck's first experience against a hawk, you'll want to know what happens next. Soon you experience the battle field tension as Gay-Neck goes to war as a carrier pigeon for the first time. You can almost actually feel Gay-Neck's experience when he was shot and then healed by the lamas (the lamas are Buddhist monks in India). Dhan Mukerji's describes this story in such agreat way. Imagine the distress to find out Gay-Neck's dad had perished in a rain storm after all Gay-Neck and his dad has gone through: pain, frustration, stress, and joy. For a few days Gay-Neck and his mother only sat on the tall roof top looking up at the sky through rain, sand, and wind storms waiting and hoping for a miracle that wouldn't come. Read this extraordinary novel. You'll love it.

Being a bird lover, I really enjoyed the story. There was adventure, some excitement, and wonderful insights on bird and animal behavior. The author uses English in such an artistic manner that you'd think it was for young adults. He gives a wonderful descriptive story of the war life because he was a boy in India, something you don't get from history books. Sometimes I didn't really like it because it wasn't suspenseful enough and the chapters were too long. But other wise it's a great book!

Alec X.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi

A wonderful nature story and an even better adventure.
Gay-Neck: The Story of a pigeon literally is the life of a pigeon, but what makes it different from other animal stories is that it's so thrillingly told you can't put it down. At first, it talks about Gay-Neck's birth and training less thrillingly, but when you get to Gay-Neck's first experience against a hawk, you'll want to know what happens next, and soon you get so engrossed in it you'll actually fell Gay-Neck's experience like when he was shot and when he was healed by the lama's wisdom (the lamas are Buddhist monks in India).
Now, when I first looked at a picture of the book on a poster, my eye caught the author's name, Dhan Gopal Mukerji, and I was thrilled.
Why? Because that name was an Indian name and my heritage came from India. But enough of that. Gay-Neck's story had been told so movingly that you'll never forget some of Gay-Neck's adventures. Read this book, which has been weaved together so beautifully you can't help but like it.

Quality literature that begets good writers
This is the highest quality of writing that I have seen to date in a children's book.I have been talking to my older son about using "10 cent words" in his writing as opposed to "1 cent" words.After reading this book he was inspired to use his words to paint a picture for his readers instead of just telling them what happened.He wanted his readers to experience what he was trying to convey as he had experienced what Dhan Gopal Mukerji had written.His writing has improved 150%.

Not only does Dhan Gopal Murkerji not write down to young readers; he also does not shy away from tackling complex life issues in his books.We enjoyed the discussions that were sparked in the course of its reading.Both of my sons really enjoyed this story and we look forward to reading another one of his books. ... Read more

Product Description
"Readers familiar with Barr's entertaining national park mystery series know that Anna rarely finds tranquility in God's country. Her fans can only be grateful that there are still plenty of national parks left for Anna Pigeon to visit."(People)

When Anna answers a call to historic Mt. Locust, once a producing plantation and inn on Mississippi's Natchez Trace Parkway and now a tourist spot, the last thing she expects to encounter is murder. But the man Anna finds in the stand's old bedroom is no tourist in distress. He's nearly naked, and very dead, his body bearing marks consistent with an S&M ritual gone awry. On a writing table nearby is an open Bible, ominous passages circled in red.

It seems the deceased is the brother of Raymond Barnette, local undertaker and a candidate for sheriff, who wants to keep any hint of kinkiness out of the minds of the God-fearing populace. Ray may be hiding a house full of secrets in the old family homestead, but before Anna can start her investigation, she's waylaid by malevolent poachers, peevish coworkers, and a suddenly turbulent romantic life. And when hidden agendas and old allegiances are revealed, it's suddenly Anna's life that's on the line.

Tightly plotted, brilliantly suspenseful, and beautifully written, Hunting Season offers solid evidence that mankind can be as unpredictable and dangerous as the great outdoors.Amazon.com Review
When the body of Doyce Barnett turns up in unsavory circumstances in Mississippi's Natchez Trace National Park, district ranger Anna Pigeon finds her investigation stymied at every turn. The dead man's brother, an undertaker with a secret that's been kept by three generations of his family, will do anything to protect it, even if his cover-up puts Anna's life in danger. Her own deputy, jealous because she got the job he wanted, seems to be sabotaging her case in order to advance his political ambitions. A bunch of Mississippi good old boys who've been poaching on park territory are gunning for her, and something strange is going on in a slave cemetery that's also in her bailiwick.

In this, her 10th outing, the prickly, ever-likable Ranger Pigeon puts all the pieces together in a lively, well-paced mystery that evokes two dimensions of the Deep South: its lush beauty and its tangled racial history, dimensions that, as Anna herself puts it, are "both a balm. History because its sins had already been committed, nature because she was supremely indifferent to the petty hysterias of the human race." --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Good story
This is a good story.I am trying to read all of the Anna Pideon Series by Nevada Barr.I like her writing and enjoy good stories about strong women.Disappointed that amazon search engine listed a cassette when specifically asked for CD.And disappointed in myself for not noticing.

Killing Season
THE SETUP
District Manager, law enforcement ranger Anna Pigeon is called from the wedding of her (Black) field ranger Lonnie Reston to Mt. Locust (a historic inn on the Natches Trace Parkway, in Mississippi), where the body of "good ole boy" Doyce Barnett was just found.Coincidentally, a slave cemetery is located on park land between Mt. Locust and the Barnett family home, and Raymond Barnett, Doyce's younger brother is the local mortician, running for county sheriff.Randy Thigpen (think "pig pen"), another of Anna's field rangers who has gone far out of his way to make Anna's life miserable--since he had expected to be promoted to District Ranger.Randy will be retiring in a few months, and is also running for county sheriff.The third of Anna's field rangers, Barth Denkus, has been working to identify the graves in the slave cemetary.The current county sheriff is Clintus Jones.Anna's boyfriend is Paul Wilson, an Episcopal preist and the sheriff of an adjoining county. We soon learn that Doyce had three alleged poker buddies:Badger Lundtsrom, Martin Crowley, and Herm Thornton.That's the setup.Confused yet?It gets worse--there are about a dozen minor characters I haven't mentioned.

DEVELOPMENT containing possible spoilers:
Later Anna twice escape terrifying attempts on her life.As it turns out Doyces "poker buddies" are actually poachers. The sign identifying some graves in the slave cometary are desecrated.Raymond Barnett is building a child's coffin, although no children have died in the area recently.Back in the 1860s, a freeman with the last name Reston had been a partner in the cabinet business with the Barnett family.

CRITIQUE
This is one of the very best Barr novels, and that is saying a great deal.The mystery is intriguing and is uncovered at just the right pace.Several seemingly independent plotlines converge with a crash.The imagery and characterization are brilliantly vivid.For the reflective reader, Anna's incisive mussing will stay with you for years.This is my third reading, and it just gets better.Buy a hardcover.

Forgetable Story, Still a Good Series
I'm still an Anna P fan, but I can whole heartedly say I don't remember much about this book.I listened to it about a week and a half ago, and my memories of the plot are fragmented and dull.The names stuck out certainly, but not much else.The wrap-up seemed so laid out.It's like the author used her synopsis as the last ch/ epilogue... this happens, then this happens, then this happens sort of feel to the end.

If this is your first Anna P book, pick up another, they're good ones out there.Endangered Species and Deep South are both nice entries.

Anna Pigeon
I've read all of Navada Barr's works and will buy anything she writes.They are fast and easy reads. Makes me feel like I'm right there in the place she is writting about.Sometimes she get's a little over the top but that doesn't stop me from reading her. Right now reading IS my vacation. Now really what's better then a beautiful place and mystery.

Mixed Feelings
It is hard to review anything by Nevada Barr, because her works contain, on one hand, passages of great beauty, as she describes various parts of our country.And then, there's the other hand:she tends to overdue many scenes of violence and pain.I find myself skipping over too many passages, because they sicken me. ... Read more

Product Description
The author and photographer who opened a glorious window into the world of exotic birds with his hugely successful Extraordinary Chickens and its well-received follow-up, Extraordinary Pheasants, continues his startling photographic exploration with another singular and charming book. The striking images in Stephen Green-Armytage's first book showed that "the world of chickens is a world of wonders" (New York Times Book Review). Now this arresting new volume-a look at pigeon breeds from around the world-captures as we have never seen before the eccentric and often surprising features of these amazing creatures.

Pigeons of all sizes, shapes, and colors parade through these pages-from the Volga Tumbler Pigeons to the Philippine Bleeding Heart Doves (doves are actually pigeons, just small ones), from the flamboyant Jacobins who wear their lavish feathers like a boa, and the Pouters who puff out their chests to absurd proportions, to the Trumpeters who sport floppy crowns reminiscent of moptop 1960s pop groups. The astonishing color photographs, enhanced by a brief, informative text, make this a perfect gift for birders, breeders, animal lovers, and photography buffs alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Never knew....
I never in my wildest days had any idea there were pigeons out there that looked like this!!!!Amazing birds in all different shapes and sizes.Some I never would have even guessed were pigeons.Totally intertaining,educational and wonderful book.

Pigeons from the Black Lagoon
Stephen Green-Armytage is a photographer who worked for LIFE, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, amongst others. He has published several artistic photo books about birds, including "Extraordinary Chickens", the sequel "Extra Extraordinary Chickens" and "Extraordinary Pheasants".

As the name suggests, this one is about pigeons! The first part of the book shows ornamental pigeons, photographed at various pigeon shows. The second part deals with wild, exotic pigeons. There are about 200 color photographs in the book. As usual, Stephen Green-Armytage is particularly drawn to bizarre breeds and specimens. Many of the extraordinary pigeons look unnatural, as if they stepped out of a bad zombie movie. There are pigeons that look like crosses between doves and roosters, others look like lizards, miniature vultures or gigantic swifts. There's even a pigeon that looks vaguely like a flamingo (I think). I must admit that I don't really liked it. Are these birds really healthy?

But yes, the photos are exquisite, and the book is an excellent birthday or Christmas gift. Personally, however, I'm not going to place the Pigeons from the Black Lagoon on my coffee table. They just look to spaced out, LOL!

Extraordinary Pigeons! A Wonderful Resource!
Wow!! The photography in this book is stunning! You will be amazed at the beauty of Pigeons and you will have a whole new appreciation for the breed.The word "beautiful" usually doesn't come to mind when you mention the word Pigeons to most people....but after you see this book, you might just change your mind.

Amazing diversity beautifully photographed.
This is not an important book, but it is very enjoyable. It is a wonderful tribute to the variety and beauty that can be developed by either natural selection or selective breeding.Or, if you are creationist in your outlook, it is a wonderful example of the Creator's whimsy.The book is mostly photographs; there are somesome brief descriptions of the types photographed, and a little general background text - but basically, it is a photography book.

All Pigeons Are Extraordinary.
The cover of this book has a marvelous picture of an extraordinary pigeon.All liveing beings need adequate amounts of food containing a balanced measure of ingredients if they are to function successfully.As do people.Pigeons are vegetarians and if ovrefed it reduces their mental alertness.At the Episcopal Church across from that awful noise maker used to keep the pigeons off one certain building in town, they put out the grain.I come along and give them my bread and crackers, biscuits when I can and rolls.Anything to keep these beautiful creatures alive.After all, they are God's creatures.

Correct feeding is necessary for growth, release of energy so that the body can function properly, and for the production of eggs to reproduce and to replace old tissue with new.Each year, thousands of eggs fail to hatch and that is due to vitamin deficiency.The mourning dove, a favorite of mine, so gentle and pretty, has a lovely singing sound, but some mean people use them as skeet targets.When a neighbor cat ate one which took up residence on my porch, I would throw things at that mean, nasty cat.And I love cats.I've owned cats for 27 years consistently but I also love the beautiful birds.The mournful "oooahh, ooh, ooh, ooh" sound is the song of the South.There were some in the attic of an apartment house right over my bedroom and their scurrying around with that sound of theirs had me concerned.I thought that the old man who lived in the place below mine was wheezing and about to die.

Urban pigeons have highly developed scavenging skills, raiding trrashcans and fast food litter.However, in Knoxville, we have enough bus riders who feed the pigeons wherever and whenever we can.The rock pigeon originated in northern Europe, Africa and India, but migrated to cities and towns worldwide some five thousand years ago.A flock may contain birds in every color from pure white to reddish purple, grayto solid black.They are a delight to they eye and heart as they are so appreciative. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The five-week New York Times bestseller, now in paperback. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Flashback by Nevada Barr
I enjoyed Flashback except for the skipping back and forth between eras.It could have easily been 2 books.I do like her books though.

Anna Pigeon and A Killer Setting
"Flashback" is sturdy work.At least, the main plot is classic Nevada Barr as Anna Pigeon unravels the secrets behind a series of odd events and boat explosions on the Dry Tortugas.Barr takes full advantage of the setting, as she always does.The settings are characters in her books and she's a master at weaving the backdrop (or in Barr's case, foredrop?) into the storyline.There's something so effortless and natural about Barr's storytelling style and there's no change here.The writing is crystalline and fresh.A school of fish move "like polished chain mail in a glittering curtain."Inspecting a small bathroom, "even a dropped tissue would have been sufficient to inhibit passage in the confined space." Struggling to avoid snipers on the shore, Anna is forced underwater."Anna's life retreated into the confines of her skull," writes Barr. "The light of her mind was shrinking to a pinpoint. She was blacking out. Pass out and you die. The tiniest part of her welcomed that darkness. It seemed comforting somehow.That which has kept the human race procreating for two million years overrode it."

The plot feels unforced because it's based on Pigeon's solid, grounded intuition and also because Barr isn't afraid to let the story unfold in a relatively calm sequence.Anna is blunt, self-effacing and fearless (except when it comes to figuring things out about how to deal with the marriage proposal from Sheriff Paul Davidson, who spends this book mostly off-screen).But even the "romance" angle is played Anna Pigeon style, with a minimum of fuss.When the going gets tough and events put Anna in the path of true bodily harm, the way out is gripping and stays true to Anna's character.Downside?I didn't care for the every-other-chapter "flashback" of the historical story, told via letters jotted down by a great-great-aunt.It's a bit of a conceit, of course, that the letters would follow a separate storyline that would also give Anna a chance to uncover a clue or two in the modern setting.I started skipping the "letters" chapters and suffered no ill effects following the main--and every entertaining--central plot.

I didn't like this one
Generally I'm very impressed with Nevada Barr's "Anna Pigeon" series.This one is dreadful.She should leave her Deep South biases out of her books, a culture I despise to begin with (I had to endure one-third of my life in the South until I escaped in the mid-80s)--but that isn't the crux of the problem.

This isn't really a novel.It jumps around through time, she was unable to create sympathy with ANY of her Civil War protagonists, the Yankee villain is a reversed Simon Legree (totally cardboard; I wouldn't believe even a Confederate jailer at Andersonville could be that bad), and altogether it's a muddle.Knowing I'd never read it again, I gave this one away.

Better writing next time, Ms. Barr.

well done, up to Ms. Barr's best
I have been reading Ms. Barr's books for many a year now, and always find them entertaining.I enjoy trying to decide who the culprit is before I get to the climax, and occasionally, I even figure it out.Kudo's to another well written and entertaining story.

Always enjoyable for her park settings and inside scoops
Park ranger Anna is on assignment in Dry Tortugas National Park, a tiny island 70 miles south of Key West Fla., which once served as a prison /army barracks at the end of the civil war. Each chapter alternates between modern-day Anna's sleuthing, and Anna's great great aunt dealing with a crisis while living there as an army wife in the 1860's (relayed through Anna's reading of her letters). The infamous Dr Mudd was being held there and figures in the story line (he was accused of doctoring John Wilkes Booth after Booth shot President Lincoln.)
I really had to hang in there for a hundred or so pages...esp. in the present-day chapters, but then it started gettingmore interesting, with enough characters beginning to look potentially guilty to start building some tension. I enjoyed the wayBarr led each chapter into the subsequent, cleverly blending the past and present time periods into parallel mysteries.It wasn't my favorite Nevada Barr, nothing to compare with Blind Descent or Track of the Cat, but it was a pleasant enough "beach" read for this genre.
My curiosity got the best of me halfway through the book and I researched Dr Mudd and Samuel Arnold (especially when Barr described how good-looking Arnold was!), the other Lincoln assassination conspirator imprisoned there.I pulled up fascinating information about them and Fort Jefferson on google, much exactly as the author describes it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Mine is all worn out - I need a new copy!
I read this book as a 4-H for my farm projects.It gives good details on multiple small farm subjects.It is a little dated but animal husbandry has not changed all that much in the last 30 years.Now that I have my own house and some land I need a new copy.Goats, chickens, pigs and Guinea fowl are in my future and this book gives details on housing, care and feeding.A good basic primer in a day and age of where it will be cheaper to raise a feeder pig than to buy roasts!(And I will know that mine are not contaminated with who knows what.)

Raising Small Livestock
The ideal handbook for those looking for information in a simple formatthat is complete in detail and content. It is apparent the author haswritten from first-hand experience on everything from birds to turkeys. Agreat reference book to have on the shelf when your daughter wants acageor hutch for her new pet rabbit or you want to know how to tan that hidefrom your most recent hunting expedition. Want to try your hand at a smallfarm? This book is a must first. ... Read more

Product Description
What animal has feathers, a round body, and a head that bobs when it walks? Pigeons! But do you know how fast pigeons fly? Or where pigeons build their nests? Read this book to find out! Learn all about different animals in the Animal Close-Ups series - part of the Lightning Bolt Books(tm) collection. With high-energy designs, exciting photos, and fun text, Lightning Bolt Books(tm) bring nonfiction topics to life! ... Read more

Product Description
"Jonathan Livingston Seagull as imagined by the Marx brothers." That's one take on "Frisco Pigeon Mambo," an uproarious new comic novel by C.D. Payne. When a flock of alcohol- and tobacco-addicted lab pigeons are liberated in San Francisco, the whole city turns topsy-turvy. Our feathered heroes dance into bars, stick up liquor stores, spy on socialites, swipe a van full of cats, and even dodge a murder rap. Soon they have a price on their heads, cops on their trail, beer on their breath, and amour on their minds. Call them "America's Most Wanted," but don't call them pigeons. These swashbuckling outlaws think they're human. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Found myself wanting a more Nick Twispian flair
I was really disappointed with this one. I read Youth In Revolt and Revolting Youth. They were both hilarious and they really got me excited about this one. The description of the book was pretty funny but I just haven't been able to get in to it. It does have funny parts and I am not saying it is bad but it is just not my thing.

Pure Genius!!!!
If you haven't read Frisco Pigeon Mambo, you've been missing out! This hilarious book about boozing, chain-smoking pigeons is an excellent satire. Lots of funny cultural references and inside jokes about San Francisco life - not to mention, a great story with awesome characters (yes, they're birds, but that makes the story even better!).

There should be more books like this one. I'd recommend this to anyone...it's one of my favorites. And if you're looking for another good book to read after FPM, check out National Darkroast Day.

Very amusing
My wife and I have widely different reading tastes, but we both enjoyed this book.The style has some similarities to Orwell's Animal Farm, but is lighter in nature.The plot is clearly outlined elsewhere on this page, so I won't bore you by repeating it.

Frisco Pigeon Mambo pokes fun at a wide variety of human institutions (eg. research laboratories, the media, city hall) and proclivities, but it also has some very funny one-liners.

So much fiction published is genre fiction, clearly fitting into a box of being romance, fantasy, thriller, etc.:it is nice for a change to read something well written that is different.The Killer Pigeons make for a killer of a fun read!

Loved It!
As a resident of SF, I found the book absolutely hysterical.It's a must read for anyone who has ever lived or loved in this city.

Hilarious homage to San Francisco
Note:It would be helpful to be familiar with "The Maltese Falcon" before reading this book.A familiarity with San Francisco and the area also helps greatly.

The first few pages of this book didn't immediately capture me, but I slogged through, and it was worth it:This book is funny!Even if you hate pigeons, or don't want to hear a story from an animal's point of view, if you are an intelligent person, read this book! Payne's vocabulary continues to astound, and he is the master of unexpected plot twists.He'll have you seeing things from a bird's eye view in no time.Even if these birds weren't convinced that they were human, I have a feeling they'd still think they were pretty hip, continuing to trash talk, sleep around, smoke and drink.They're living the life some people dream about! ... ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1958 and now available for the first time in paperback, this classic of modern military history tells the exciting true story of the fall of St. L", the first major objective of the invading American armies in Normandy in June of 1944. Although St. L" was intended to be taken within days of the landing, stubborn German resistance postponed the town's fall until July 18. The author describes the bloody action that took place in the thirty days in between as he led his battalion dubbed "The Indestructible Clay Pigeons" through the daunting combat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

On the road to St. Lo with an infantry battlion.
A light Colonel writes this book in the third person.That makes it quite interesting. Having been there shortly after his story takes place, I find it hard to believe they were still stringing wires for communication.We were using high power 399's for division and army headquarters.
The book was good enough that I passed it on to several friends who are history buffs.

Hedgerows and Fallshirmjagers
The book deals only with the time frame from when Col. Johns (then Major) inherits the 1st of the 115th until they capture St. Lo.During this time period, we get to see how hedgerow combat was (from the battalion commanders perspective), how German Fallshirmjagers fought, and the pressures higher command applies to their combat organizations.While Col. Johns was a battalion commander, this book does give a feel for front line combat, but no where near as directly as books such as Currah! or The Forgotten Soldier.

Col. Johns tells the story of how the 1st of the 115th (his unit) led the way to St Lo.In his telling, Col. Johns uses the third person familiar to describe the events his unit experienced rather than a first person account.This is very refreshing because story takes on more of a story tellers point of view rather than that of a person telling us how great they were.

This book is a very good re-telling of Col. Johns experiences in Normandy.If there's a weakness to this book, it's the fact that Col. Johns focuses his telling on the capture of St. Lo rather than his total exerience with the 1st of the 115th.Because of this, I found the book slightly lacking because I really wanted to know what happened to the unit later in the war and also to Col. Johns!

I'll recommend this book to those who've read Beyond the Beachhead, have an interest in the Normandy Campaign, or how a battalion commander operated during WWII.Overall, I'll rate this book 4.5 stars (out of a 5 possible).The reason I can't give this one 5 is because I preferred Company Commander by Charles McDonald for telling the struggles of command in combat at the lower levels.Since Amazon doesn't give half stars, I'll give the nod to 5 stars since Col. Johns' book is a compelling read.

A straightforward, yet very engaging, telling of events
I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It not only held, but increased, my interest as I progressed through the story. "The Major" is a very credible author, and I had no trouble picturing what he described in my mind's eye. My understanding of how American soldiers in WW II fought the campaign in Normandy is now greatly enhanced. Good show!

The Clay Pigeons of St. Lo
This is the best single book on American infantry fighting in World War II that I have read.Then Major Glover Johns recounts his personal participation in one of the toughest fights our GIs faced; the struggle through the hedgerows from the D-Day beaches to St. Lo.More importantly, Johns' book demonstrates the critical importance battlefield communications played in achieving victory.As a Battalion Commander in the 29th Infantry Division, Johns' ability to manage his units was directly related to how fast phone lines could be restrung after each mortar attack or how successful his radio operators were in linking to artillery support units.Despite his relative remoteness from the foxholes, you feel every attack and suffer every loss as if you were shoulder to shoulder with the heroes who defeated Hitler's vaunted 2nd Parachute Division.

This isn't rehashed third-hand research, this is war as it was fought by one of our best combat commanders.Read it.

A Unique World War II Memoir
This memoir is unlike any other memoir of World War II that I have ever read. Johns relates the stress, the worry, the fear, the exhaustion, the humor and the camaraderie with the ease of a seasoned storyteller. For the unseasoned reader, Johns's device of telling his story in the third person will take some getting use to, but that's done after only a few pages. More telling was Johns' own reasons for using third person, "people who fight wars up close to the enemy are not the same while they are fighting as they were before and after...His (Johns) life during that time always seemed that of another person." After that, "Clay Pigeons" is a fast read. Sadly, Bantam books never reprinted this now forgotten classic. Let's hope someone will do such a service and bring this book back. It demands a reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Two great books
These are 2 books that I have wanted since I was a young boy raising pigeons but my family could not afford them.
I now have my own family raised and now have a few pairs of beaufiful show pigeons.
I recently purchased "The Pigeon as well as The Encyclopedia of Pigeon Breeds by
Wendell M. Levi" Both books are the best there is on pigeons. They cover every thing you need to know about raising and caring for them.
I only wish I had them when I was a boy. I could have used the help.
L.J.H.
Spanish Fork, Utah

Great book, fast shipping!
This wonderful book arrived exactly as promised (quickly and in perfect condition) and made a great birthday gift for a friend who owns quite a few pigeons. Thank you for the fantastic service!

Good Starter and Advanced Learning book
Good Starter and Advanced Learning book.Author describes the basics of pigeon genetics for the beginner and helps the breeder through learning with examples.Can also help the more advanced breeder to get the rare color/pattern figured out.

The Pigeon Bible!
If you have pigeons - you MUST HAVE THIS BOOK.It is the only resource you need when figuring out diseases or illnesses.SO HELPFUL.Mine is kind of old, but the info is timeless.Get any edition you can find and you won't be disappointed!

Great addition to Encyclopedia of Pigeon Breeds
If ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PIGEON BREEDS could be topped, it would be only by THE PIGEON and only Wendell Levi could have had enough knowledge and love of such a topic as pigeons.

Whatever your interest in pigeons, hobbyist, researcher or commercial production, you will find this a treasure trove to be valued more than most any book in your possession.

Enjoy this book, then order ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PIGEON BREEDS and MAKING PIGEONS PAY - I got all three at Amazon and am grateful to Wendell Levi and his heirs, as well as Amazon, for making such terrific books available in the 21st Century. ... Read more