Under the Tonto Rim by Zane Grey (1926)

Classic Gray; of the female lead character type. 

As with all grey novels you get some excellent lessons in backwood living. 

In this case we are introduced to Bee Hunting for the purpose of gleaning Honey. 

I'm now keenly aware of Gray's need to tell us how gender roles work. 

Interesting that these hillbillies are uneducated and need to be brought to intelligence by those from the city. At the same time his TOTAL disdain for the city is ever present. 

The country bumpkin gets schooled on many things including how to treat a woman. He is also the dominant male and the most virtuous. 

The restorative powers of being in the wilderness is pervasive. 

Like in The Virginian our Alpha male plays a joke that is little funny and sadly malicious. In a world where the least mistake could result in death, these people were flippant with others peril. 

The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe (1997)

 Amazing, hard to put down, not for falling to sleep by. 

I think if you are 40 and younger it may be a waste of time, the more of this you have lived thru the better. 

On track... we are in for a doosey of a time in just the next couple of years!

 They have predicted the downfall of democracy in America and suggested that Fascism is indeed a real possibility. 

Many observations made by the pair are spot on, can't emphasize enough that the past 50 years are in lockstep with this theory. 

The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea by J F Cooper (1824)

 I love Cooper but... this is a bit tiresome; it has I think an unlikely plot line. 

His earliest works are not what they soon became just a few years later!

It does however have many well made characters.

like many Cooper writings it is a slow start and a dashing finish. 

Class is as always an important part of Cooper's works and class distinction in America is no different than anywhere else.