This book was my introduction to the works of Peter B. Kyne, a writer from the 1920s and '30s who was not too highly respected by critics. The critics be hanged. This is a charming book peopled with characters that reached into my soul and stirred inner feelings that had been lying dormat. It is a romance. It is humor. It is a moralistic tale. Two people at the depths of the depression struggle through, aided by their outstanding code of ethics and a generous benefactor. The book is filled with improbable coincidences, but the story is told so charmingly, it doesn't matter. If you like well written dialogue, interesting situations, and feel-good endings, this is the book for you. I can't wait to read more of Kyne's efforts.

ever failed to complete a task or project? did you have a good excuse? i am sure that you did... first, for yourself. then for others. when you are ready to stop making excuses and start achieving results, buy this book. if i could only have ten books on my bookcase, this would be one of them!

This is a heartwarming story of an admirable young man's commitment to his and his father's shared ideals-the family's redwood timberland and his mother's memory-and the wonderful relationship he has with his father. A star-crossed romance, adventure, and the struggle against a ruthless business rival (the guardian of his sweetheart) add excitement. Reminiscent of stories by Willa Cather and John Steinbeck.

Written in in 1918, this is the story of one man's struggle to hold onto his inheritance--the 'valley of the giants' (the redwoods), and win the affection of the girl he loves, while remaining true to his ideals. I enjoyed this book because of its references to, and descriptions of, the awe-inspiring California redwoods.

Son of Scottish tough guy sawmill baron goes off to college in the East, incidentally doubling Dad's money by investing in forestland and paying for college with the profits (thus handing Dad back all the college money upon graduation), then coming back to try to measure up to Dad.

Son does it, along the way filling the redemption theme of the book by falling in love with the woman of bad repute who lives at the edge of proper sawmill society with her illegitimate child.

Contains fistfights and other Northwest bygone era male behaviors, and includes vivid descriptions of father blowing off a cannon each morning to start the day (lives on a cliff, so it's cool).

By the end of the book, Son is Dad's boy, and everybody better just accept the wife he has chosen. Wife experiences this act of grace and adoption with gratefulness, and turns her own brand of toughness and love into supporting Son.

Good themes, basic story, blow off the cannon, take over the dynasty.

Then put the book down and return to your own comparatively miserable data-entry existence, buoyed by this outdated but invigorating book.

Read it for personal/family reasons. Peter B. Kyne (of San Francisco, I believe) was my grandfather's commanding officer in World War I in Europe. My grandmother read his books and named my mother for the "heroine" in this book, Kay (my mother's middle name). Kay then became my name and my neice's middle name. Book is probably very typical of the day (1920s) but describes brutal (disparaging and discriminatory) treatment of Asians in early twentieth century California.