This stunning collection of photographs uncovers the mystery and beauty of a part of the country that for most people is hidden in plain view. Places of Grace reveals both the physical splendor and the natural history of a ten-state region encompassing Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. The Midwest is full of useful, productive lands, a "breadbasket" ideally suited to raising crops and livestock. There is another Midwest, however, marked by lands that historically have resisted human purposes: the dark swamp forests of the far north, Nebraska's arid Sand Hills, the rockbound Flint Hills of Kansas. Such lands as these, although difficult to cultivate, are valuable in terms not calculable in units produced or metric tons shipped. Many have been preserved as national parks or wildlife refuges. All hold secrets for the careful observer: "Above a twisted sandstone gorge, golden autumn leaves drift thickly over the floor of an Indiana hardwood forest, their crunch underfoot releasing crisp, earthy odors. A copper and gold tall grass prairie shimmers under the sun from horizon to horizon. In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the setting sun hovers—red as a bloodorange—just above Lake Superior's cool blue horizon as the laughing cry of a loon rises from behind a screen of balsams. On the vast plains, heat lightning ripples from a central point, netting the sky with white fire. . . . " [from Strutin essay] Open Places of Grace and be guided through forest, wetlands, and prairie into the heart of the undiscovered Midwest. From the prairie grasses of western Nebraska to the boreal forests of Michigan's upper peninsula, this spectacular volume delights the eye and fires the imagination with unexpected images of lands that yet retain the marks of their primeval origins. Presenting a counterpoint of vast expanse and luminous detail, Places of Grace celebrates the rich visual texture and fascinating past of the heartland. Gary Irving's extraordinary photographs and Michal Strutin's elegant prose combine to create a penetrating, vivid, and unforgettable sense of place.

Places of Grace: The Natural Landscapes of the American Midwest

Arts & Photography

Strutin, Michal

Irving, Gary

Individual Artists

University of Illinois Press

Strutin, former editor for Outside and National Parks magazines and others, as well as an author of natural history books, writes a personable account of the flora, fauna, history, and culture of Israel, based on her considerable experience roaming the country by car, bus, foot, and camel. Color photographs, sometimes fuzzy but always revealing, and a valuable list of plant and animal scientific names and Israeli names to supplement the common names used throughout the text. Includes an extensive resource list. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Discovering Natural Israel

History

Middle East

Jonathan David Publishers

* Includes all natural and historical parks, preserves, and recreational areas. * Covers one of the largest and best-organized state park systems in the country. This guidebook to Florida state parks includes information on where to hike, camp, snorkel, scuba dive, boat. and more! Florida is more than Disney World and Busch Gardens, raceways and water shows. Natural Florida is where to be active in outdoor sports, to sail, to bird watch, or to just laze on the beach. This comprehensive guidebook covers the entire Florida State Park system will help you plan an adventure you'll never forget. Whether you're seeking underwater coral reef gardens, stunning orchid blooms, or the playgrounds of panthers, painted buntings, and manatees, you'll find them within the pages of Florida State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide.

Florida State Parks

Americas

MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS+

For six centuries huge prehistoric buildings lay deserted and undisturbed, buried under sand and silt in a remote canyon in northwestern New Mexico. Now uncovered, these four- and five-story "great houses" are an incredible legacy of a populous ancient society that continues to amaze all who visit this national park site.

Chaco a Cultural Legacy

Huey, George H. H.

Western Natl Parks Assoc

Detailed information for 19 Indian reservations in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Listings for national parks, state parks, and museums featuring Plains Indian themes. Includes information on festivals and cultural events.

A Guide to Contemporary Plains Indians

Travel

Europe

Noa, at sixteen, sets out with the twelve tribes of the Exodus, dreaming of a life of freedom and the Promised Land that her father says will be theirs. When religious fanatics kill her father, Noa and her four sisters are in danger of being sold into bondage. Noa vows to win women’s rights of inheritance to protect her sisters and herself. Pleading her case before ever-higher courts, Noa encounters a malicious judge and the dark side of power.   Gaining strength and complexity as she approaches the highest judge, Noa and her pursuit causes turmoil among the tribes: she is a notorious troublemaker, accused of witchery. And she is heroic. Based on a few biblical verses, the turbulence of Noa’s life is set against the sweeping turbulence of the Exodus. In Judging Noa, her quest for justice is a journey that has as much meaning today as it did then.

Judging Noa

Literature & Fiction

United States

Bedazzled Ink Publishing

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Books by Strutin, Michal