ArizonaHikers Portal Index
HomeHome   BoardBoard   AZH GearAZH Gear  FAQFAQ  RulesRules   SearchSearch
MemberlistMembers  ArticlesArticles  CalendarCalendar  GalleryGallery  LinksLinks      RegisterRegister
ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messages   Log inLog in
Singing Stone, a Natural History of the Escalante Canyons by Thomas Fleischner

Printable version
Categories
Tales from the Trail
Hiking
Backpacking
Hiking The Grand Canyon
Wilderness Survival
Gear Reviews
Flora and Fauna
Trail Food and Recipes
Book Reviews
 
 
Author Article
oriole_scott



Joined: 18 Jul 2004
Articles: 1
Comments: 0
Location: the cornfields
 Posted: 1/17/2005, 9:19 pm

I'll be honest: I didn't finish this book. After Fleischner bored me to tears with his exhaustive history of the Taylor Grazing Act, I didn't have the temerity to read the last chapter. But I did read enough to know that I didn't enjoy this book, and I'd suggest you stay away.

The book describes the geological, natural, and human history the Escalante canyons region of southern Utah. If you've been there, then you know this is an amazing place filled with sinuous canyons and otherworldly slickrock formations. The book goes into great detail about certain subjects, leaving out others altogether. For instance, you'll learn all you'd ever want to know about the delineation between the Fremont and Anasazi cultures. But almost nothing is said about the role of flash floods in shaping the canyons. And there's an entire chapter on the history of cattle grazing in the region, with detailed treatments of congressional debates over grazing legislation. The author's point, that grazing is bad, could have been made with 90% fewer words. Fleischner is a good writer, but I think he did a poor job of choosing what to emphasize. There are some interesting sections in the book, but there is a lot that I could have lived without, and I didn't learn very much.

If you are interested in this region, I'd suggest any of Edward Abbey's nonfiction books, which usually include quite a bit of natural history and geology. Beyond the Wall is quite good.
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]

Author Comments
RedRoxx44
Queen of the Walkabout


Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Articles: 35
Comments: 1
 Posted: 1/18/2005, 6:36 pm  Post subject: Singing Stone

I have this book and agree with you, had to read it in sections to be able to finish it.
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]
RedRoxx44
Queen of the Walkabout


Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Articles: 35
Comments: 1
 Posted: 1/18/2005, 6:36 pm  Post subject: Singing Stone

I have this book and agree with you, had to read it in sections to be able to finish it.
Rating: 0.00/5.00 [0]
 

Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 7 Hours

Jump to:  
You cannot post articles in this chapter
You cannot edit your articles in this chapter
You cannot delete your articles in this chapter
You cannot rate articles in this chapter

You cannot post comments in this chapter
You cannot edit your comments in this chapter
You cannot delete your comments in this chapter
You cannot rate comments in this chapter