My Favorite Books of 2023

A fascinating journey into remote Siberia to find fish owls; notable for the wilderness and cultural aspects.

I love to read. I also have stopped finishing as many books. If I don't like a book, I stop reading. There are more books out there than I have time to read, so why waste time with something I don't like? I may have stopped reading/listening to more books than I've gotten through this year.

I love getting book recommendations so that I can hone on in the "good ones." I figure it's only fair if I share my favorites to help pay back those who have helped me. 

Without further ado, here are my 2023 faves.

I learned a lot about the hearing impaired community from this one.

Lots of great ideas that go beyond giving money to giving time, compliments, and more.

Very fun sci-fi, listened to with Desert Boy.

This one made me so sad, but I'm glad the story is coming to light. 

An interesting trip to the jungles of Belize and the culture and politics of a little known country.

This is a long listen, but was interesting seeing how Russia changed over time.

Some insights into the National Park Service and what it's like to work there.

John Scalzi in a very different type of sci-fi novel. Desert Boy and I found this delightful.

Fictional history of Hedy Lamarr. I'd like to know more about her and also want to check out more books by this author.

A little long in some parts, but interesting journey of a coming of age story in Appalachia.

The kids and I have enjoyed listening to this one. Such a different life than we live (thank goodness!)

For those who like EMS and national parks, this is a great combo.

Tips to keep you moving at any age. I'll be incorporating some of their recommendations into my daily habits.

And my favorite book of the year:

This one takes me back to my political science roots. It also helps make so much sense of where we have conflicts in the world and why some economies work better than others. 

What are your favorites?

Here are some of my past:  2021 books, 2022 books

Starting the New Year with the Diary of a Nevada Ranch Girl

I had an email from a blog reader about the Nevada primrose, and during correspondence, found out the writer had written several books. I bought a copy of 1957: The Diary of a Nevada Ranch Girl and was quickly immersed.

Jeanne Sharp (Howerton) was nine years old when she started her diary on January 1, 1957. She had gotten the diary as a Christmas present and watched as her father wrote in his diary every night. Inspired, she wrote every day about her life on a rural ranch about 60 miles from Ely, Nevada in Railroad Valley. She wrote about her chores, hobbies (raising parakeets was one), going to school (in a one-room school house where her mother taught), games she and her sisters played, her father's travels for Nevada Farm Bureau, visitors, and holidays. She also mentioned the atomic testing that was taking place on the other side of the mountain range from them on the Nevada Test Site.

Decades later, she went back to that diary and decided to publish it, with explanations of what she took for granted then.

The book is a fascinating look at rural life during the 1950s. In some ways it was what I expected, but in others it surprised me. It's a quick and fun read.

When I finished it, I gave it to Desert Girl (yesterday, on the seventh day of Christmas). She read a little and decided she wanted to start her own diary. She made her first entry today, on January 1. Here's hoping she keeps it up and in a few decades can go back to it and be reminded of how she lived as a Nevada Ranch Girl.

Limited copies are available from Amazon. I'm hoping more are out there, this book is great!

And here's an article about Jeanne's mother in the Las Vegas Review Journal.  She lived to age 98 1/2 (Ely Times obituary).

Announcing The Great Basin for Kids Book

Here it is! The all-new, fantastic book you want in your hands as soon as possible: The Great Basin for Kids! It's 40 pages of full-color, full-fun goodness.

How did this book come about?
I published my book Great Basin National Park: A Guide to the Park and Surrounding Area in 2012, and was asked, "What's next?"

I had several projects underway, but a couple conversations led me to develop a book about the entire Great Basin for kids. I thought it would take a weekend to write. Why, I'm not sure, because two years later, it is finally ready!

I approached many agents and publishers about this book, but the consistent feedback I got back was, "Great idea, but there's no market."

That was a little frustrating, but also eye-opening. Even though the Great Basin extends from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Wasatch Mountains and includes parts of six states (Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming), many of the people who live in it don't know it. So even though this book says it's for kids, it's really for anyone who wants to learn more about the Great Basin.

What's in the book?
Learn about some of the cool features of the Great Basin, like volcanic features and huge lakes. Find out what kind of creatures live in various habitats of the Great Basin, from sagebrush to mountain forests. Discover some of the people who live in the Great Basin, such as Native Americans and cowboys. And finally, check out the amazing night skies above the Great Basin.

Along with some information and a fun fact about each of the 18 topics in the book, there is also a kid-friendly activity. These can help you learn about the Great Basin, but more importantly, they are a lot of fun!

Also, there's a map that shows places to visit related to the topic. In the example below, you can find some caves open for the public to visit, scattered all over the Great Basin.

I'm hoping the book will help people learn more about the Great Basin and maybe even surprise them a little. I was surprised by some of the things I learned while researching the book! I can't wait to go explore more!

I also want to shout out to my brother, Matthew Schenk, who illustrated the book as well as did the design and layout. He's the one who has made it such an appealing package. He is a professional graphic designer with an impressive portfolio.

Where can I get it?
Currently the book is available from CreateSpace, Amazon, the Border Inn, and should be available soon from Western National Park Association bookstores in Great Basin National Park, as well as some outlets in Ely, Nevada and Delta, Utah.

I'd love your feedback on the book, and reviews on Amazon are greatly appreciated.

Kindle and Nook Editions of My Book

I was browsing the Internet and was delighted to find that the Kindle Edition of my book, Great Basin National Park: A Guide to the Park and Surrounding Area is now available! Also, the Nook Version is also available! Just in time for Christmas (hint, hint).

If you prefer print versions, it's available from the Western National Parks Association bookstore at Great Basin National Park, the Border Inn at Baker and Economy Drug in Ely.

To buy it online, try IndieBound, Utah State University Press, Barnes and Noble,  Books-a-Million, or Amazon.

Thanks for your support!

Knowledge in the Wild

This is Desert Boy's masterpiece. He wants to have it published. Now it's published on this blog, complete with translations.

 "Nolij in the Wild" 

(Knowledge in the Wild)

 "Streems owees go bowne hil" 

(Streams always go down hill.)

 "I no that bees liv in a house that is cald a hive." 

(I know that bees live in a house that is called a hive.)

 "I no that cactis have spicse and flowrs."

(I know that cactus have spikes and flowers.)

 "I know the water sikol."

(I know the water cycle.)

"I know to not to go into abndin minse."

(I know to not to go into abandoned mines.)

It is a cool book. He still writes his books starting on what we would call the back cover and going in reverse order. Maybe someday he will excel at Hebrew, Arabic, or Farsi!

Book Signings

You're invited...to a book signing!

Saturday, August 25, 11 am - 12 pm at the Western National Parks Association Bookstore in the Great Basin Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada

and

Tuesday, September 18, 6 pm - 8 pm at the White Pine County Library in Ely, Nevada

 

This is a new experience for me, and I'm not quite sure what to think. But it will be fun, and you should come if you're around. I'll write whatever you want me to write in your book. I'll even write that you're awesome. Because if you're reading this blog, you are awesome!

It's Here!

My book Great Basin National Park: A Guide to the Park and the Surrounding Area is now in area bookstores!

The Western National Parks Association bookstores at the Great Basin and Lehman Caves Visitor Centers has it on the shelves. It's so cool to see the hard copy on display.

The book is also available from USU Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books a Million.

I posted earlier about how this book came about. If you didn't see that and are interested in the backstory, click here.

Advance Copy

 I received a special package today, from Utah State University Press. I waited till my husband got home so he could join me in opening it (and take some photos for me!). This is something I've waited years and years to receive.

 The package was a little tricky to open! Fortunately my husband had his knife handy.

 It's a book! But not just any book...

 It's my book! Welcome Great Basin National Park: A Guide to the Park and Surrounding Area!

 This was the first time I've seen it all put together. I've reviewed and edited so many versions of the manuscript, but this is the first time to flip through the pages in book form (6" x 9"), feel the heft (it weighs over three pounds!), and see the entire layout. The color photos look awesome!

 I can't remember the exact number of photos, but it's over one hundred.

We still have to wait a few weeks for the rest of the copies to arrive. They're literally on a slow boat from China, then a fast train to Chicago (to the University of Chicago Press Distribution Center), and then on trucks to various places that order them. You can see more about the book at the Utah State University Press website, my author page, or by clicking on the link to the right.

I have to admit it all feels a little overwhelming, sort of like giving birth. Thank goodness giving birth doesn't take as long as publishing a book!