Canada Books

This was a GREAT book. It tells us why Esther Short Park was named so (got some interesting stuff about Esther!), as well as the naming of some of our better known streets (Fourth Plain and Mill Plain... I always wondered about those). Also contains a lot of history on Officers' Row and the fort, and its inhabitants. I knew nothing about Mother Joseph before reading this book, and now I know how she influenced the building of Vancouver. Of particular interest to me, the book gives a lot of the little reasons why Portland ended up growing so much bigger than Vancouver, even though Vancouver is older.

This book has a few tidbits about people in Vancouver that remind me how very much that they weren't just names in a history book. When the law declared that the St. James Church belonged to the Army and not to the Catholic Church (the book didn't give the year, but with searching online, found out this was in the 1890s), a young Army officer went to the church to help the priest move out, and I laughed out loud when I read how the angry priest reacted to the officer's offer of help. I also liked the bit about the practical joke a pilot made at the dedication festival for Pearson Field in 1925.

My husband and I only noticed one thing that could have been a glaring typo. It was in reference to a photo (on page 25) telling us where Pearson Field would later be.... however, the book said the photo was taken in the 1970s. We're guessing it had been actually taken in the 1870s, as Pearson Field was dedicated in 1925 and it has never changed locations. If it had been taken in the 1970s, we would have seen Pearson Field in the photo.

Like the other reviewer said, I wish there were more in this book. However, what is there is nicely laid out. Each section begins with a page of history in text, followed by pages of photos with descriptive captions.

The Fort Vancouver library system has this book, by the way. ^_^

As almost a life long resident of Vancouver, having moved here in 1965 this is "Home". I remember when this town was so much smaller and still see a lot of the remnants of its history. Only complaint is I wish it were twice as large in volume/content and just double the price. I've ordered the volumes on Camas and Washougal, and wait eagerly as I'm currently living in Camas in a home built in 1908 by owners of the paper mill of that period. I only hope the rest of the series is half the quality of this book.

Believe it or not, in the early 1980s, medical hypnosis experts claimed only 25 percent of smokers could be cured through hypnosis. (Of course, cigarette companies said smoking was good for you, too!) Dr. Larry proved them wrong -- in his own family practice, two-thirds of his patients quit smoking after a single hypnosis session.

With Dr. Larry's Quit Smoking program, you will:
* Break the psychological addiction to smoking;
* Develop an alternative comfort behavior that replaces smoking;

* Be ready to let go of the smoking habit.

Dr. Larry Deutsch, a practicing family physician and hypnotherapist, has over 30 years of hands-on experience. He's already helped thousands of people lose weight, quit smoking or achieve other health goals via medical hypnotherapy. With his motivating and entertaining style he combines sound medical advice, psychology and self-hypnosis techniques to empower you to find the subconscious strength and will power necessary to succeed. "Remember: Smoking is also a biological addiction! You can achieve a higher chance of success by combining some medical counseling to deal with physical symptoms of withdrawal. Fortunately, hypnosis and self-hypnosis boost your response to counseling, making your cravings much easier to combat."

Dr. Larry's Quit Smoking Program was largely responsible for my ending a 30 year addiction to cigatettes.

I acquired the CD when I was thinking of quiting and after I listened to it once I decided to quit and have not had a puff since.

The first few days were difficult but by listening to the CD two or three times a day for the first week I was able to resist the urge to smoke.

I can recommend the Quit Smoking Program because I am sure that it made the difference it made the difference between this successful attempt at quitting and previous failed attempts.

This is such an awesome book. It's beautifully designed and set out. The pictures are colourful and fun and the information is astounding! I've read a lot of books on this subject and I found that despite the size of this book (small), there was information in it that I had never come across before. If you were born in the year of the Dragon, or if you know someone who was, this book is a must-have, without a doubt. I love it!

This is a beautiful little book. The illustrations and pictures are gorgeous. A real little gem and a perfect gift for anyone, but especially for those interested in the mystical and spiritual side of life.

This is an original and well-wrritten fantasy story about a boy who lives in our world, but must go back to his own world to fight the Usurper. It's the first in a series of novels, but it's also a self-contained book (so you don't have to read all the books to make sense of the story). It moves from one world to another in fine fashion and features a powerful and moving ending.   I highly recommend it. Karleen Bradford is well known for her historical novels of the Crusades, this is her first foray into fantasy fiction.

The novel Dragonfire written by Karleen Bradford is one of my favourite books! Bradford describes her characters in a way that makes them seem so real. In this novel fantasy was combined with adventure, and even though I never thought of fantasy as something I would enjoy, this book was way more than I expected! The mythical characters and conflicts became real to me and I couldn't put the book down. Dahl faces many problems, as he grows up learning that he is really the King of Taun, a kingdom that has been over taken by the evil Usurper. As Dahl tries to save his kingdom he discovers the true meaning of friendship,and realizes that the future of his people depends on him. The ending of this novel surprised me in a pleasant way and I couldn't wait to read the sequel. Over all this was a great book of good winning over evil. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Summer vacation with a ghost-story telling Grandpa is always filled with thrills and chills. But this year in Gimli, Manitoba, twins Michael and Angela and their cousin, Sarah, find the summer nights and sights prove more frightening than ever. Not long after Grandpa tells a spooky myth about an Icelandic ghost called a Draugr, the trio encounters something ghastly in the woods. Can ghosts really come back from the dead to cure their unrest? Sarah, Michael and Angela don't want to wait around to find out. And, just as the pieces to the mystery start to fit, Grandpa tries to send them back home to the United States. Before they leave Gimli, however, a dog turns dead and Grandpa suddenly disappears. Determined to get to the bottom of the strange happenings, Angie leads the others on a wild goose chase--that may just turn into a ghost chase. "You do have the Grettir's blood." I didn't know exactly what she was talk about, but I nodded as if I understood. Althea looked at me up and down..."Perhaps I've underestimated you. All of you. Maybe it would have been better if I told you the truth from the beginning." She paused for another second. "Alright," she said. "I'll tell you everything I know, and you can deal with the nightmares and the possibilities--it's a deal. But first each of you must give me your version of what happened. And don't leave out the smallest detail." Again we spoke about seeing the little boy in the forest and about how he had disappeared... Draugr is a wonderful book for young teens of either sex---a quick, but engaging read, with compelling chapter openings and cliffhanging endings. Arthur Slade has woven just enough fright into the story to keep the reader sitting on the edge of their chair, yet anxiously turning the pages. With Slade's newest book, The Loki Wolf, soon to be released by Orca, readers won't have long to wait for their next "shivers."

Lynne Remick, Reviewer

As an elementary teacher I found this book to be a great motivator for my Grade Six students. I found the content to be very enticing for this age level without the "gore" that is present in other books of this genre. Slade does an excellent job of filling all chapters with suspense and encouraging the reader to forge on into the story. An excellent classroom resource to excite readers and a wonderful read.

"Dreams Have No Expiry Date" is an excellent guide for creating and living out personal dreams for women of all ages. It is written from the heart and speaks to the heart. This book would make a great gift for the vibrant, vivacious, life-loving women in your life. I'm planning on buying a copy for my mom!

The authors ask mid-life women a difficult philosophical question: What are you doing with the rest of your life? But they don't leave us dangling. They provide thoughtful advice based on research and practical exercises that allow us to make sound decisions. Baby boomers are lucky to have Gottlieb and Rosenswig to lead us onward and upward!

I found this book to be absolutely wonderful. As well as giving an insight and background to the goings on around the time of the Irish potato famine, it also transported me to a village I only had a picture of in my head. Through reading the book, I felt I was in the village and personally knew the charachters. I often cried and rejoiced with them. It was so sad to leave them when I had finished the book, but it wasn't long till I went back and read it again. Elaine Crowley has a fantastic gift of making you feel a part of her book.

Anyone who has any interest at all in the potato famine,or Ireland should read this book. It tells the story of Katie and Jamsie, and allows the reader to understand the pain and suffering of this time.

With incredibly detailed, hand drawn sketches of each anchorage, the Dreamspeaker's Guide is helpful and beautiful. Unlike other guides I've seen, this guide details each harbor/anchorage with what to look for and what to look out for. It gives you the confidence of having talked to someone who has been there, and yet allows you to enjoy the excitement of your first visit. The artwork of Lawrence Yeadon-Jones is outstanding making this as pleasureable to look at as it is informative. I strongly recommend this book for anyone cruising the Gulf Islands or dreaming of doing so.

After cruising and teaching for 10 years in this area, the arrival of this terrific cruising guide is welcome. Great graphic presentation of harbor diagrams, and every possible anchorage.

Add a "Cruising Guide to Puget Sound" for the US San Juan Islands and Puget Sound, and a BBA Chart Kit, and you are set!

If you hunt waterfowl you need an ID book. This is my goto guide.

I have utilized this guide since early 80's from Michigan to Texas with many stops in between. It is the best pocket size guide I have found for identifying ducks and other waterfowl. I would never go on a duck/goose hunt without it! This is well worth its nominal cost and you can make points with fellow duck hunters (friends and family) by giving them one. They will find it most useful and practical. What a better way to start the new year!

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is a hefty seven hundred page epic. However, I found the book spellbinding and finished reading it in less than three weeks time. I would especially recommend DUNANT'S DREAM to those interested in human rights or history. Caroline Morehead is a gifted writer who balances objectivity with revealing glimpses at the men and women who have made the International Committee of the Red Cross the premier human rights and relief agency in the world. I came away from Morehead's book with a clearer understanding of the complex circumstances involving humanitarianism during times of conflict and turmoil. I am sorry that this very worthwhile book is now out of print. However, I am glad that is available in libraries and through "out of print" dealers.

I am named after my aunt, a Red Cross nurse who was an Army nurse in World War II. I am also a nurse (and also a Red Cross nursing volunteer, although I have never worked full time for the organization), and a former officer in the Navy Nurse Corps. My speciality is international health; my work has taken me to some of the poorest and least developed places in the world. I have seen first-hand the work of the Red Cross in war zones and after natural disasters. I currently work in a human rights organization. I recently visited the ICRC Headquarters in Geneva, along with its spectacular museum.

All this is to say that I bring more than an casual perspective to this book--and it dazzled me. Despite its incredible length, it felt too short. Ms. Moorehead writes lucidly, compassionately, and well. Her research is scholarly, her documentation is meticulous, her compassion and her critical abilities are always evident. She rightfully praises the individual courage of the Red Cross founders and leaders (not only Dunant, the Swiss banker, but the other significant figures in Red Cross history, including the American nurse, Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross and pioneered its role in natural disasters).

But the book is not just an encomium to the good deeds of idealists. Moorehead is frank in her appraisals of the weaknesses and foibles of both the people and the organization itself. She examines the evolving role of the Red Cross, which began as an adjunct to the gentlemanly wars of the 19th century, grew to a worldwide relief agency in the unimaginable horrors of the 20th century and, most recently, has had to become a competitor for the world's glory in humantarian activities.

Most importantly, she examines the historical record and the ethical dilemnas of an organization which was founded on the Swiss principles of neutrality and quiet diplomacy and was then faced with atrocities in its own back yard: she provides a very careful appraisal of the role of the Red Cross during the WWII Holocaust. It is clear that the Red Cross as an organization provided too little aid to the victims of Nazis, gave it too late and perhaps gave it for the wrong reasons--publicity rather than compassion. (A horrendous, but little known, fact is that the physician who was appointed head of the German Red Cross by Hitler was behind the savage medical experimentation done in the camps. He committed suicide before he could be tried as a war criminal).

Nonetheless, Moorehead is unstinting in her admiration for those individual Red Cross delegates whose independent actions were able to save thousands of Jews and others. There were Red Cross delegates who raced along lines of Jews being forcibly marched to their deportation and death, desperately throwing them food and attempting to rescue anyone they could by bribing, cajoling or fooling the guards.

Moorehead depicts the failures and the multitudinous successes of the Red Cross, and includes enough individual tales and humor to make her account extraordinarily readable. Despite its failings in some arenas, I remain an overall admirer of the Red Cross itself, and I am an unabashed admirer of this book. "Dunant's Dream" can be read for its comprehensive and engrossing history, but readers interested in the larger diplomatic and ethical issues of international aid will find it invaluable. Absolutely recommended.