Letters To The Valley: A Harvest Of Memories

by David Mas Masumoto, Douglas Hansen (Illustrator)

Sparked by an editor’s comment that "creating a good column is like writing a letter to a friend," Mas Masumoto began a column––in the form of letters to friends, to his father, his daughter, and others––that has become a regular feature in the "Fresno Bee." Heyday Books is delighted to present the collected letters here, with their original watercolor illustrations by Doug Hansen. Masumoto grows organic peaches and grapes on his family farm in California’s Central Valley. Celebrated by chefs and farmers, a proponent of the Slow Food movement, he touches on the themes that have won him a loyal readership––taking the time to savor precious moments and people; the value of honest work; and the importance of protecting a changing landscape and disappearing way of life––Masumoto offers what few other writers can in this day and a truly personal touch.

Genres: Nonfiction

134 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2004

About the author

David "Mas" Masumoto is an organic peach and grape farmer and author of Epitaph for a Peach (1995), which offers a glimpse of life on a family farm in Central California, Letters to the Valley, A Harvest of Memories (2004), Four Seasons in Five Senses, Things Worth Savoring (2003), and Harvest Son, Planting Roots in American Soil (1998). His organic farming techniques have been employed by farmers across the nation.

Masumoto earned his B.A. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in community development 1982 from the University of California, Davis. He is the winner of the UC Davis “Award of Distinction” from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 2003. He was a founding member of California Association of Family Farmers. He has served on the California Tree Fruit Agreement research board and has been a member of the Raisin Advisory Committee research board.

Masumoto and his wife have two children. They reside in an 90 year old farmhouse surrounded by their vineyards and orchards just outside of Del Rey, California which is 20 miles south of Fresno.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

Mood: Slice of Life Memory

Thoughts: This is a time capsule of a book. It was published 3 years after I graduated high school and would have been right on the cusp of the big organic/farm to table/foodies/farmer's markets movements and I can't help but wonder what Masumoto's like looked like after those movements and how he must be feeling now. It is a striking reminder that California is not just the Bay Area and Los Angeles and that farming is the other big business of California that is rarely ever mentioned. The watercolor illustrations are absolutely lovely to go with the essays are absolutely lovely.

Read if you like: The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka, On Gold Mountain: The One-Hundred-Year Odyssey of My Chinese-American Family by Lisa See, The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature by J. Drew Lanham, World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments by Aimee Nezhukumatathil,

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these letters written by David Masumoto. As a third generation Japanese American who grew up on a farm in Idaho, there are many connections to what he has covered in his letters. An enjoyable read.

[Lanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing for me. These letters would be great if they were from my dad, but I wanted more farming wisdom. It just wasn't what I expected.

[Hunan Rostomyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Wise, honest, insightful book. Will have to re-read for inspiration again, many times. And my god, the illustrations are so beautiful

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually steer clear of books that look like gift books, however I have been a fan of David Mas Masumoto since I read his first book, Epitaph for a Peach(One of my very favorite books). This slim volume is a collection of pieces he wrote for the Fresno Bee newspaper. While the pieces are sweet and thoughtful, they do not compare to his earlier works. If you have a connection to California, farms or food you will certainly appreciate Masumoto's clear and lovely observations.

[Cheryl Doran-girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of the best books I've ever read!! Masumoto is a master essayist and his poetic letters to family, friends and his community are gems. I carried this book with me for three months allowing myself only a few pages at a time because I didn't want it to end. When it did I went back and highlighted wonderful phrases and thoughts.

[Peggii · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Mas Masumoto, really enjoy his writing style.