Discovering Oregon: A Book Review

Oregon is richly blessed with natural wonders. It is difficult to compare the raw beauty of the rugged Oregon coastline to the chiseled splendor of Smith Rock in Central Oregon. It is impossible to say whether the beauty of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge exceeds that of the Wallowa Mountains in Northeastern Oregon. Like a proud parent explaining the attributes of each of my children, I sometimes lack the words to express their innate beauty or charm.

Thankfully, Barbara Shangle has published a new book, "Discovering Oregon," which excels where my tongue gets tangled. It is a masterful combination of color plates depicting natural and man-made wonders that make up our state. Forty-eight pages of annotated photographs is accompanied by another 48 pages of descriptive text and a two-page map of Oregon showing each county, county seat, major cities, and highways with each of the photographed locations clearly indicated by a star.

All the major must-sees are included and merely serve to whet your appetite for the real thing. Get this book to give flight to your dreams, then book a trip to our state to see it for yourself. The photos are skillfully enwrapped with seven chapters explaining the history, pioneers, and other assets of Northern Oregon, Oregon's Scenic Coastline, the Willamette Valley, The Applegate Trail and Beyond, Central Oregon: North to South, The Mountains, and Eastern Oregon. Each of these areas truly has a distinctive flavor and the text serve to further your enjoyment.

This book is currently available in both hard ($24.95) and softbound ($14.95) from Amazon.com and would be a wonderful addition to your library.

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