Canada Books

This book will transcend you to a time and place that makes you feel at peace with nature. Merrick's writing is like poetry in motion. You will wish you could have been there to experience the times when he is at one with the universe. The people and places he is writing about no longer exist, which is the greatest pity of all.

I read some of the previous reviews before getting this and some were positive and some negative...I have to say I was very much pleased with the book, excellent story and tale with local dialogue to add an element of adventure and flair. I just really enjoyed the story and to see the hardships people faced...

A fascinating book! A well written account by a man who traveled extensively in the Canadian North in the 1930s, just as the traditional remoteness that had characterized that world was ending with the introduction of planes and other technologies. Merrick was a keen and sympathetic friend of the North, its history and its Native peoples.

This book is a must have for turtle lovers everywhere. It is a clear and concise reference book for the known species of turtles and tortoises in the U.S. and Canada. The authors are both well known scholars in the field of herpetology. Carl Ernst has written many scientific papers on a variety of chelonian species. His partner, Barbour is also well known throughout the reptile world. Being a professional herpetologist, I feel that this was a perfect addition to my collection of books.

Very much detailed description of each and every turtles and tortoises found in the US and Canada, from anatomy to behavior to breeding. It's a must for any experienced chelonian enthusiast. Although, I would not recommend this book to a novice.

For turtle owners everywhere this is a valuable resource to have on the shelf! Of all of my 'turtle books' this one is by far my favorite. Even for a novice multiple turtle owner (that knows how to read) this book will prove worthy of its purchase price because it goes a beyond the standard "get a uv light" material. It teaches you about the turtle in the wild so that you can be better equipped to build an environment as closely related to their preferred location as possible while also explaining their habits along with detailed descriptions to help you identify the turtle with certainty and understand its history. My only wish is that there were a book just like it for the turtles outside of the United States & Canada. I also would have appreciated every picture in color rather than just a few ;)

This book is a good source to balance the word and image of Islam and Muslim in the western world. Muslim is not only in Arabian peninsula or Gulf contries, in fact Indonesia is the largest muslim population in the world. Many pictures on the book can give the different side of Islam in Southeast asia. They don't speak arabic, they don't have big nose,they are short, skiny etc. I recommend this book for the people who wants to know Muslim in Southeast asia without reading a long history book.

But there is unbalance information in the book I noticed, specially information about Indonesian muslim in the introduction. Steve Raymer seems doesn't have a good source that he can get the information about Indonesian muslim. Might be because they are so many and he tries to put it in the same ammount as Malaysian which is only about 1/6 or 1/8 of Indonesian in comparison. It is best if he can consult or clarify his information with the Indonesian sociologists, historians, or scholars in order to validate the information. One of the examples is on second page, the picture doesn't not macth the note (citation). The picture is showing the people who are suplicating, is not always in arabic, but he says those people are reciting the koran. This is just small example.
I recommend people who have this book to check with the Southeast Asian people to clarify the information.
More than that, good work and well done.

As one who's lived in Southeast Asia off and on for the past seven years, the thing that strikes me about the book by Raymer are the brilliant photos, yes. But the way they are put together gives a human face to Southeast Asia's Muslim peoples. A fair and realistic look at them is refreshing in light of many Western reports that tout them all as gun-toting extremists.

Steve Raymer has done an exceptional job at capturing the humanity of Southeast Asian Muslims through the lenses of the faithful camera. The pictures are breathtakingly beautiful, while the accompanying caption and text serve as an easy-to-read commentary especially for those expecting only an excursion into the subject. His attempt at a sympathetic understanding of a culture that is relatively obscure to the average Westerner is commendable; the journalistic objectivity being a salient feature of the book.

Raymer, in my opinion, succeeded in shattering the perpetuated myth surrounding the perception of Muslims. Not only does he cogently disprove the notion of a monolithic Muslim culture across the Muslim world, but he also demonstrates the existence of diversity with which Islam is practiced in this forgotten region. The cognitive image of either a rich Middle-Easterner or a terrorist brandishing an AK-47 so often associated with Islam must now be relegated to the domain of stereotypes. The book is probably a silent apologist for the peace of Islam.

Caveat emptor for those expecting their stereotypes confirmed and prejudices accomodated; the book is sure to frustrate them.

The maxim that a picture is worth a thousand words had never been truer. The picture is now worth millions of humans.

As a child author Elsie Hulsizer spent her summers sailing in a small sailboat with hr parents, and as an adult she and her husband spent their summers sailing out of Puget Sound and up the straight of Juan de Fuca - also to windward, where they explored the west coast of Vancouver Island over a twenty-year period. VOYAGES TO WINDWARD: SAILING ADVENTURES ON VANCOUVER ISLAND'S WEST COAST charts these journeys and discoveries, using the author's photos to present their journeys in a set of vivid adventures which will appeal to both armchair readers and would-be Vancouver Island sailors. A gorgeous display of color photos throughout makes VOYAGES TO WINDWARD an exciting visual display, spiced with high adventure and not a few practical tips.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

What a wonderful book, the photographs are stunning, the stories of all the places along the west cosast of Vancouver Island are compelling. Elsie Hulsizer's book is a pleasure to read. From her descriptions of this rugged coast to her portraits of the people encounterd along the way, you will enjoy every story and anecdote. I encourage anyone who enjoys adventure, natural beauty, historical perspective or sailing to order this book. Whether for your own pleasure or as a special gift, this is a delightful book.

The book is evocative of the beauty and charm of the remote places of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Interesting local history is complimented by vivid photography and captured the experience of sailing the West Coast. A very enjoyable book.

I like this book, it's an engaging and insightful journey down life's path - the humor in the acknowledgements is sardonic 'quirky', and it made me laugh and smile in a good way - I lived in Toronto in the 70's and there are familiar sites - High Park in the spring, york mills subway in an affluent neighbourhood and the Don Valley Parkway - completed in the 60's as a commuter route along the scenic Don River Valley, now, because of gridlock, infamously nicknamed the 'don valley parking lot' - readable beside companion with a cup of hot cocoa!

Hi there AJT


I got your book Friday when I arrived home after a long week in report card mode
what a tonic for the weekend it was
what a time warp
a trip
what a tingle just saying the title
it all resonates from so long ago
I loved the acknowledgements as much as any entry
thanks for sharing that
I want to be able to do what you did with your writing - give it to friends
that's my goal for this next year

Thanks again
JP

What you write is never dead.

This is a collection of experimental poetic writing and musings, thoughts of a 22 year old student; fictional, using metaphor, closing off one sense to only use another. Realizing that writing is personal, sometimes chaotic, but ultimately can attain some form. Does it describe reality? Not in the hard edged way we think of it. But it stirs the imagination in a sublime yet invigorating way.

The pranksers done numerous pranks, such as stealing the prime ministers underwhere. But now he or she's gone to far. They've solen the president's dog! Somehow it gets into the hands of Stevie Diamond, are vallient detective and her partner Jessie. Jessie is totaly into this 'prankster thing', but Stevie's not to sure about it. Jessie is able to pull Stevie into this crime, and they go through many adventures to get the crimal to go to out of crime.

This book you cannot put down.(I read it for 2 hours!!!!!!) This houmerous mystery is AWESOME GREAT EXCELLENT!!!!!! This book's plot will keep you going for hours! It is like you are solving your very own mystery as you read along!!!! I am still yet to read the other Stevie Diamond mysteries, but if they are like this one, I just can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

The adventures of Stevie and her friend Jesse and the stray dog they adopt and their efforts to discover the identity of the Prankster who is terrorizing Vancouver made me laugh so hard I had to wipe the tears away. The story also kept me guessing.A great choice for kids who want a short and funny read.

...I would highly recommend this book. It is well written, and has many personal illustrations to which almost any reader could relate. It also covers a wide variety of grief/loss issues -- much more than just death. It is a GREAT resource to have in dealing with your own losses of life (big or small) as well as helping others deal with their losses as well. It's a must for anyone who has ever experienced -- or will ever experience -- grief of any kind!

... Then you read this wonderful book. In dealing with loss I would recomend this book to everyone. It's not just someone writing what they think you want to hear, these are real people that have overcome loss and reading this book has truly helped in my healing process and reminds me that God is in control. After reading this book I realize that no matter what trials come my way there is someone who really understands and has been through similar situations and even through my walk with Christ He does have a plan for me.I think that is the best gift anyone can give a person is the assurance that God loves us no matter what and that we are never alone and this book reminds me of that truth.

I recently read When Mourning Comes, and it was an encouragement to me. I could relate to several chapters, including the loss of a parent. A missionary friend lost her husband two months ago, and I shared the book with her. Hopefully, it will be a blessing to many other people as well. I highly recommend it.

Magnificent history of early French- Canada. Costain has a very readable style.

"The White and The Gold" tell the epic story of the French regime in Canada. Beginning with the early explorers, we meet the heroes and villains who charted the northern rivers and lakes, cleared the forests, evangelized the Indians and built the country that grew into Canada. The names from history books come alive on these pages. Jacques Cartier, Etienne Brule, Samuel de Champlain, Jean de Breboeuf, Msgr. Laval, Frontenac and so many others become real people to the reader.

The French settlers' conflict with the Iroquois receives much deserved attention. The conflict with the Iroquois dominated the development and settlement patterns throughout the French era. I always wondered how the Iroquois could give the French so much trouble when the other Indian tribes were allied with the French. In this book Costain gives the answer. The Iroquois were more intelligent and better warriors than the Huron, Erie and other tribes with whom the French allied themselves. The Iroquois not only harassed the French but actually destroyed some of their adversarial tribes, leaving place names as their only legacies.

I was surprised to see how much attention is devoted to the French personalities and events which had an impact on New France. We hear much of Louis XIV, Cardinal Richeleau and other figures who shaped French policy regarding Canada.

I started this book in hopes of learning about my French-Canadian ancestors. If finished it very well satisfied.

Fascinating book, captivating, and easily readable. It tells an accurate, historical story of the colonial French history in North America (New France). From the discovery of St Lawrence seaway to voyages along the Great Lakes, inland rivers of the Northeast,the Mississippi River, and settlements all the way to New Orleans; the French clearly provided lasting profound imprints on North America. The book's last chapter ends with the loss of the French to the English on the Plains of Abraham in Montreal. This battle ended the French and Indian War. New France was renamed Canada. The White and the Gold vividly brings to life this exciting and pivotal historical aspects of North America.

The answer to the question sophisticatedly raised by this little anthology, is given in the essay which opens the collection.The basic reason lies in forming a personal scale of values that help you individualize the real artistic elements in new works. The second one is that reading increases the quality of living in usual and unusual situations, as well. But the quality of school anthologies and their presentations is still an open problem.

What makes a book a clasic? Borges once said in a conference, that the fact that a whole generation lives with the idea of a book makes it a classic, Calvino involve you in that idea..

An inspirational collection from an excellent essayist. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in literature.

This is probably the best organized and informative kayaking/travel book I own. The large area maps are coupled with more detailed local maps to provide enough context and continuity. I am travelling to the Clayoqot area for several days of solo paddling, and this book provided ample helpful information.

A very useful book, and I'll consider the others in the series, now.

One minor quibble is that the book is color coded (which is good), but the matching "breakout" trip descriptions are printed in colors to match the section. Yellow-on-white is nearly impossible to read.

While I haven't yet used this book in the field, I have found it to be really good for planning my upcoming trip. It has lots of the right kind of information to help better anticipate what to expect and how to be prepared. The organization is great as are the illustrations/graphics, and I can say this having written a guidebook of my own (Paddling Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks). I look forward to the east coast edition coming out this summer.

this book is well written and researched and really made me want to change my up coming plan for day trips on the west coastof VI by kayak and instead spend a week doing so..camping along the way -

oh well next trip -

very handy book for planning such an excursion