Gordon Turner has written a worthy tribute to Canadian Pacific's flagship RMS Empress of Britain of 1931. This splendid looking vessel was the first large liner built for both crossing and cruising and the author has done an excellent job of telling the ship's story from inception to construction and then a year to year account of her world-girding cruises and Atlantic crossings (from Quebec to Southampton) and her glamourous passengers. The book is extremely attractive with superb photographs, many never published before. The illustrations of the ship's magnificent public rooms are of special interest. Fascinating appendices give all of the ship's technical details. The saddest part of the book, of course, is the complete account of her tragic loss during the early days of the Second World War when she was bombed by the Luftwaffe. Empress of Britain was the largest Allied merchantman sunk the war. The likes of her will never be seen again and Mr. Turner is to be congratulated for telling her story with such affection and attention.

This book is about a girl who struggles to find love in her abusive marriage. She travels west by way of the Panama Canal because her husband will not stop beating her. She meets a man and falls in love but struggles through because she is already married. The man she meats leads her to Christ and when they finally get to California she has to tell him about her husband. Then of all things her husband has traveled on an wagon train and has beaten her there. Will she conquer over this new obsticle the Lord has put in her life?

In this insightful survey of ethnicity in world politics the editors and contributors convincingly document the power of ethnicity in the post- cold war era. Ethnic groups as mobilizing forces between states, among states and societies, and within states across the globe highlight the book's theme of ethnic entanglements.Chapters by Stack, James, Copeland, and Croacher are especially well done.

Ann Kondo Corum, is a librarian who decided kids had a tough time researching the various ethnic foods of Hawaii. What did the early Hawaiian eat? What cultures influenced what is now known as modern Hawaiian cooking?

Fascinating, and easily devoured tidbits on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portugeuse, Samoan, Filipino and other eating habits, taboos and cultural heritage that make up the delicious melange that represent ethnic foods of Hawaii.

The recipes are simple, and representative of each group's classic dishes. Find your favorites from among kahlua pork, chicken long rice, haupia, malassadas, Portuguese Bean Soup, adobo, Kal Bi Ribs, Kim Chee, and more.

An amazing little book that is sure to be the beginning of adventures in cooking foods like those found in the drive-ins, the coffee shops and the places locals like to eat. The author's chatty and laid back style help to decrease the intimidation factor and demystify plenty of delicious ingredients and culture so germane to each group's cuisine.

With this book, art historian Bernard Smith established the model for all future considerations of the reception of the South Pacific by Europeans, as manifested in artistic impressions and interpretations of the early explorers and settlers of the region. In a way, you could say that Smith's ideas establish the discourse of 'postcolonialism' long before such a word was used. Essential reading for anyone interested in Pacific studies.

This is a nautical chart atlas of the pacific northwest onto which is printed historical events and the places where they occured. It is great for anyone traveling the waters, or for anyone who is fascinated with the area or loves sailing.

My wife and I used this as one of our navigation atlas' on a 5 month sail up the inland waterway to Alaska and refered to it daily. There is something fascinating about knowing who has been there before.

I would highly recommend this, and its companion edition on Alaska, to anyone who is planning to travel in the area, even if on a cruise ship.

I'll save you some trouble: those that don't like the taste of clams, oysters, crab, or shrimp might as well click on something else. This book will be a waste of their time. They can go to the fridge and pull out some Cheez Whiz® or little, canned sausages made of assorted "meat products." Enjoy.

Those who love shellfish, though, will love the "Evergreen Pacific Shellfish Guide," authored by J.D. Wade. Wade helps shellfish harvesters work their way through maps, messy regulations, and many methods of harvest.

Want to know how to shuck an oyster or clean a crab? Here's where you can find out. Wade also includes a few recipes, which I can't vouch for. Most of them look to be safe, but hey, no guarantees. Anything that contains "orange zest," for instance, you eat at your own risk.

Wade even tells how to prepare a sea cucumber for the pot. I didn't notice any recipes, though, that included the critter. That's probably a good thing.

The book's strongest point, perhaps, is the use of clear maps showing harvest areas. One set of maps, for instance, illustrates year-round recreational crab fisheries in four colors, depicting zones where only a recreational harvest is allowed, and those that also serve as Limited Commercial Zones (along with dates), or Tribal Exclusive Zones (where only tribes can fish commercially, but others can fish recreationally).

Most of the illustrations, charts and tables included in the book are well constructed. I especially liked inclusion of sewer outlets in the final group of beach maps.

One item that confused me, though, was the "Where The Clams Are" table on page 16. Razor clams are shown in the "medium to high tide zone," at a depth of about six to ten inches. Earlier, Wade states that razor clams "are always found below Mean Low Low Water, which means you can only harvest them during 'minus' low tides." I had trouble reconciling the statement with the table.

I guess that information isn't critical, anyway. During one of the too rare openings, the eager clam digger only has to get to a proper beach (shown on page nine) and follow the crowds of people. The trouble will be digging the clams, and Wade certainly gives good instructions about that.

Other good tips include how to "purge" mussels and clams of sand, how deep to place a pot while fishing for spot prawns, and when oysters are best to eat.

If readers are looking for eloquent prose, they might be disappointed. Readers will have to wrestle with phrases like "abundant numbers of crabs," or three sentences in a row starting with the word "this." But maybe this is only a problem for me.

The "Shellfish Guide" comes with a spiral binding, making it convenient to take on an outing. Get hold of a copy while you can - they're disappearing like geoducks.

Exploring Alaska's Birds: Alaska Geographic, Volume 28, Number 1 is filled from cover to cover with gorgeous color photography of Alaska's wild birds, ranging from ospreys to three-toed woodpeckers. Packed with insightful articles on these colorful and diverse feathered friends, their migration patterns and navigation systems, adaptations to Alaskan winters, as well as their relationships to people, Exploring Alaska's Birds is a remarkable and highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library ornithological reference collections.

An excellent all purpose guide to the Oregon wilderness. Contains detailed maps with landmarks and trials. Covers history, geology, climate, plants & wildlife, hiking, climbing, and other sports.

California and Oregon coasts are homes to much hidden beauties and treasures. The Point Reyes National Seashore is just one of the hidden pearls. "Exploring Point Reyes" is by far the most updated, complete, and enthusiastic guide to the seclusive peninsula about 25 miles northwest of San Francisco. Many Point Reyes guide books I found at the bookstore are outdated though they contribute an abundance of information.

"Exploring Point Reyes" refreshes the minds of those who dream of Point Reyes. The guide come with photos of Drakse Estero, Tomales Bay, the Point Reyes Lighthouse standing 330 steps down the valley on the tip of the peninsula, and more. The impact of Point Reyes is most dramatic at the meeting of land and sea. The guide has captured such beauty with the photos.

"Exploring Point Reyes" also provides information and cautionary advice about beaches within the national seashore. The book gives to direction to good protected beach for wading, picnicking, or just lying in the sun. The coverage on the Point Reyes Lighthouse is excellent. One of the greatest location for whale-watching is the lighthouse observation platform from December to April.

"Exploring Point Reyes" also satisfies the desires of adventurous hikers with info on less-known hiking trails. Trail maps are abundant in the book. The coverage on trails is divided into three types of terrain that distinguishes the trail systems of Point Reyes. Whether you're planning a camping trip, a hike-a-thon, or just a one-day photography session at Point Reyes, this book will allow you to see and experience the beauty of the Point Reyes peninsula. Avid hikers should not miss the book.