What happens in a remote Manitoba reserve when the welfare checks don't arrive? Playwright Ian Ross uses this incident to take a clear-eyed yet compassionate and humourous look at aboriginal life in late 20th century Canada. This play was a major success at the 2001 Edinburg Fringe Festival. Ross has an uncanny knack for writing clever lines that make you burst out laughing a half-second before you see the tragedy in the situation. He won the Governor-General's award for the best play published in Canada for this script.

Like most Americans, I had never heard of Farley Mowat until I made the association of the Disney film "Never Cry Wolf" with his name on a book spine one day. I loved the movie, so I figured I might as well try out the book.

I adored Never Cry Wolf, but you often hear that a writer has one good book in him (or her), and after that it is all downhill. Furthermore, I looked in the library catalog and Mowat had dozens of titles! I had no idea which ones to try, they had odd titles! So I picked up this reader, to get an idea which of the titles I might want to pick out.

After reading this collection, I decided I wanted to read them all. Mowat is simply the best Canadian writer, and one of the top of this century, in my humble opinion. I have now read five of his books, and my collection continues to grow. Even the books that are represented as children's books (like The Dog Who Wouldn't Be) are a joy to adults as well.

Mowat has the keen eye of observation that Mark Twain had, but without the viciousness of the satire... he is much more coy and subtle in his musings on families and nature. Many of his works involve the Arctic north, Saskatchewan, the high seas, and animals; but I have yet to find a poorly written chapter in any of his works.

If you want some proof that Mowat is worth buying, pick up this Reader and see for yourself. I read a few small portions to my writers club as samples of excellent writing, and they loved it. It reads smoothly, like a storyteller would speak, like a Garrison Keilor tale.

He is a controversial figure, is my understanding. Purportedly, he is not allowed to visit the United States, because in one book he claimed to shoot his rifle at overflying US warplanes. Who knows if this is true; Mowat admits to a bit of freedom in embellishing a tale; which is only right, since it is more fun that way. Don't worry about these details, just read some of it and enjoy it.

I have not read this undoubtedly excellent book, but at least one of the shrubs in it is a serious invasive weed in the Northeast and Upper Midwest of the US. This plant is Lonicera tatarica. Other Loniceras--esp. L. japonica--are among the worst forest weeds in the southeast, and they are monopolizing habitat and killing native plants. There are so many wonderful horticultural plants available that is should not be necessary to plant ones that escape, invade, and degrade. Do not plant exotic honeysuckles such as L. tatarica that have a tendency to escape.

Mark Skinner, Ph.D.

This cookbook has great recipes and the author really knows about what's involved with being a firfighter. He celebrates their contributions without being gushy. HOWEVER, the quality of this cookbook is pretty [bad] I have a first edition the author printed with cool full color pictures, and a way better cover and the paper and printing quality is by far superior. So while my dog-eared edition needs to be replaced, I'm going to wait until the new edition comes out. Check out ISBN 0963808915. It's the same book but better.

I tracked down this book from reading a local review of it, and I'm so glad I did. The full page black and white photos are indescribably evocative and made me wonder what the subjects were thinking, how they coped with the harsh and often isolating demands of early BC interior communities.

The foreword by Paul Yee, and Faith Mossang's textual additons provide excellent details on the photographer - his times and his life. This book is an elegant and moving insight into people who helped build the province. A must-read!

A very complete review with a great deal of detail to some of the smaller more obscure units of WWI.Both beginning collectors and advanced collectors can benefit from it.

Another tour de force collection from one of Canada's pre-eminent (and Governor General's Award-winning) poets.

Jim Unger is an artistic-comic genius. He knows exactly how to position his figures on paper to receive the best laughs. My dad died recently and having his Herman book is very very special. Even in sadness, there is laughter thanks to Jim.

This is a gripping compilation of wonderfully diverse stories which look at our dark side. If you haven't yet felt the delightful tingle of New Gothic, this is a great introductory read. The choices are choice: varied literary styles, imaginative plots, fresh writing. It was a book I HAD to put down -- each tale called so much to question that I had to stop and think: to ruminate for a day or two before starting the next story. But, in as much as I had to let it go occasionally, I was also utterly compelled to pick it back up. Do not think of witches or angels here, but rather the tenor and mood of Poe -- all in a modern context. Delicious!

From a Coastal Kitchen is a 'must own' for the cook who enjoys feeding his or her guests truly spectacular meals. Every recipe in the book turns out well. There are no obscure or bizarre ingredients and the instructions are simple to follow. In addition, this book is well-written and is full of charming anecdotes about the author's clients, friends, neighbours and relatives. Reading it will make you want to visit the coastal regions of 'beautiful British Columbia', Canada's westernmost province. I can't believe this book is out of print!