Hawaii Books

This book is a gem. Intended as a guide for individuals seeking to conduct research in Japan in the social sciences or cultural studies, DOING FIELDWORK IN JAPAN not only accomplishes that goal beautifully but also serves as an invaluable and entertaining introduction to the rules of Japanese society that will be of interest to a wide range of readers. Here is a chance to learn about the customs that govern social interaction in Japan from bright, articulate, and, yes, even humorous scholars for whom mastering and implementing these rules was absolutely essential to the accomplishment of major research projects that earned them positions as respected commentators on Japan.

I purchased this book in preparation to a visit to China and in particular these caves next year. I already had some information about them but the information in this book is complete in all aspects and all details. After the visit I certainly will have to reread it so as to be able to fully enjoy it and understand the importance of this complex monument.

It is a very interesting book, but probably only for those who really have a particular interest in this type of monuments and I fear not for a general visitor to China.

Gorgeous book giving a glimpse into the beauty created by (incredibly) a most tragic and materialistic woman. I hope in the not-too-distant future I will be able to visit Shangri-La.

A wonderful bio of olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku...really made the story of this Hawaiian legend come to life! Well-written and with beautiful paintings.

The Dwarf is a wonderful little book. Real and metaphorical dwarfs vie for recognition in a society bent on modernization at any cost. Fans of dwarfs (Terror of Tiny Town, Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen, The Tin Drum... Etc.) will be pleased by this new addition to the canon. Fans of modern Korean historical "fiction "(The Sandglass, Eyes of Dawn) will find this a satisfying, if depressing read.

Ann Corum's "Easy Cooking:The Island Way" is a great cookbook, easy to read, with fun-to-try recipes and a generous dollop of common sense for beginning cooks. The Hawaiian-themed dishes are unusual, tasty, and quick. Yes, there are some Spam recipes (Corum has written Spam cookbooks too, since it is a mainstay of the Islands) so if you are prejudiced against the canned pork product, just skip those.

I first purchased this book on the Big Island in the summer of 1985. When my oldest daughter got her first apartment at college, I let her take it since it's a wonderful source of advice for kids new to the kitchen. Somehow it got lost over the intervening years so I was as pleased as Hawaiian punch to find it in Amazon z-shops, even though it's out of print.

Corum is a librarian in Hawaii who has published several other cookbooks. "Easy Cooking:The Island Way" is a good way to try out some of her recipes and to enjoy her easy Island style. Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (1/07)

Every question you've ever had about cruising and quite a few you've never known how to ask will be answered if you take the time to read this marvelously comprehensive guide to cruising the Caribbean, Hawaii, New England, Alaska and Europe. Corey Sandler's "Econoguide® Cruises" is a wonderfully informative guide to choosing, booking and enjoying the perfect cruise vacation.

The book starts with tips on "How to Choose a Cruise" (including extremely valuable information on how to get the best possible rate), "How Big is BIG?" (great tips on whether bigger is better and when is a new ship better than an old classics), "Where in the World Do You Want to Go?" (with practical tips on ports of call and ports of embarkation and more), "How to Buy a Cruise" (choice of travel agent, need for insurance, best way to pay for cruise) and "Your Home on the Water" (how to choose the cabin).

The following sections deal with the life on board - including very detailed descriptions of possible expenses on board and how to best deal with them, safety at sea, dining on the high seas (including my all-time favorite cruise advice on a sensible dining strategy - Don't be afraid to skip a meal. Missing an occasional breakfast or lunch won't kill you.), getting to the port on time (very, very important - you definitely do not want to wave good-bye to your ship leaving without you!) and the "Before You Set Sail" section (valuable advice on what to pack, tips on paperwork and passports, medical needs and personal supplies, cameras, arriving at the pier, boarding, immigration and customs information and lifeboat drills).

This practical part is followed by wonderfully entertaining and informative cruise diaries from 13 different cruises. While amusing reading in themselves, they also offer additional insights into the life on board of different ships. They should also make you want to experience each and every one of those voyages.

The last part of the book deals with cruise line ratings, ownership, description of different cruise lines, several ships and even the history of cruising. And to make your next cruise even better, the author included a glossary, so you won't act like a total landlubber and stagger around looking for starboard without the slightest idea what that might be.

Engaging, informative and truly practical, "Econoguide® Cruises" is an ideal companion for anybody wanting to learn more about cruising and eager to choose the most suitable cruise as well as get the best deal possible booking it and enjoying the activities both on board and in the ports of call. The author's down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach will definitely make your next cruise experience a much better one.

This is the most comprehensive introductory text on Southeast Asian History that I have come across in many years. Despite there being several survey books such as Mary Somers Heidhues' Southeast Asia - A Concise History an in-depth examination of the political and/or economic history of the Southeast Asia is much appreciated as a pedagogical tool. Owen's compilation is different from most because of its comprehensive and balanced approach. It is my opinion that the collection does well in capturing the essence of the region's multiple dimensions. From colonialism to globalization this book guides you through the complexity of the region that we begin to get by reading Heidhues' `A Concise History.' Along the same lines, editors and writers comprehend how hard it is to amalgamate the scholarly energies of eight authors of different generational situations and yet come up with a consistent and accessible book - a book on the histories of ten nation-states that have complex and interrelated narratives. The writers, in particular - Owen, should be applauded for accomplishing this Herculean task in less than four years after commencement. The book itself is the metaphor of the "unity in diversity" that is Southeast Asia. The writers are self reflective of the ever-changing dynamics not just of Southeast Asia but the ever-changing perspective of the region as well and this volume is "a fresh look at modern Southeast Asian History", deliberately as a "shorter more accessible text for the twenty-first century" (p. iv). The book is arranged into 37 chapters in five parts. The editor's aim is to map out the "processes of historical transformation" as well as to reveal the "chronological narratives of events" unfolding across time and space (p. xi). Despite its omissions and errata it is still arguably one of the most comprehensive works of its kind.

Miguel Llora

Not very long ago, the big island of Hawaii was synonymous with sugar cane. Those days are gone. Corn syrup has replaced sugar, and tourism has replaced everything else on the islands.

Emily's father is a doctor working a year at a North Kohala sugar plantation. The magic starts early. On their flight from the mainland, they meet a real princess. Soon, Emily and her annoying younger brother are part of Hawaii. They make friends, Hawaiian, Japanese and haole, and they learn about the life and culture of their new home. The Hawaiian countryside offers much for a child in the way of adventure.

Gee, I wish I had grown up there.

Then her family joins a researcher in exploring a cave. There is more powerful magic there, and as a consequence Emily must take action. Can she do what she must?

The plot is familiar, but the tale is well told. Both adults and children can get a great sense of Hawaii when it was all sugar fields in the middle of the ocean.

This study of medieval Chinese monks is solid and well written. The author has gone through all the basic sources and divided medieval monastic life into three main categories: asceticism, thaumaturgy, and scholarship. He probes each of these in detail, revealing complexities and contradictions in monastic identity. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in medieval Chinese Buddhism.