Canada Books

This book is one of my favorite birding books. I am reticent to call it a field guide because it is so much more than that. Incredible amounts of information on all the sparrows. Great range maps AND descriptions of migration and vagrancy (can I hope to see this bird in my area?), and all the other natural history and behavior information you'd expect. Beautiful plates showing ALL the different plumages, primary and basic, male, female and juvenal. And it's not just a wealth of information, it's a beautiful book, well written and a delight to own.

Sparrows. Yippee. But if you want to learn them, this is the book.

Lots of detail, as you'd expect, but very clearly presented. Terrific illustrations and range maps. And what I like, but some will hate, is the fairly detailed treatment of every field-identifiable subspecies. Some of these subspecies will become full species some day, if present trends continue, and you'll be way ahead of the game if you've already been working on telling them apart. Plus it's fun; just try to keep an open mind.

For most Americans, Guy Fawkes is known to us more from that movie "V for Vendetta" then for anything else. Guy Fawkes Day on 5 November is weird sort of a holiday as any when people of Britain lit a bonfire and roast an effigy of this fellow over it. When I was staying in a small town of Franley, England, I was surprised to learned that Fawkes family still exists and control much of the land around. So I read this book and discovered it to be somewhat of a page-turner.

This book is about the plot to blow up both Houses of Parliament and King James I. Roman Catholics of Britain was getting desperate over increasingly restrictive measures taken by King and Parliament so a group of them decided to take matter in their own hands. Guy Fawkes was the leader of that plot and he had both religious and political motivations to do so. The book proves to be clearly written and highly informative on why, how and who was involved in this plot. This was supposed to take place on 5 November 1605 but the plotters were betrayed and although they came close, it was not good enough. The entire historical episode read like a detective story. It also had major importance in its aftermath as well for the Catholics of Britain who found themselves even more restricted. The author, Antonia Fraser who have already written several superb books on British history, scored again with this book.

I found the book to be informative and easy to understand the complex and slightly weird story behind this plot that easily could have been one of the greatest terrorist attacks in history. The author's style of writing is appealing to most casual and veteran readers of history. Book come highly recommended to anyone interested in this historical incident and its cultural significant.

I believed this is the new title and edition of Faith and Treason that was published back in 1996.

As the old saying goes Remember, Remember the Fifth of November, Gunpowder, Treason and Plot. In the present day come November 5th we all look forward to a firework display and a bonfire on which to burn the effigy of someone called Guy Fawkes while enjoying a roast potato, some of mum's parkin and cinder toffee. But who is the man called Guy Fawkes and what did he do that was so bad that we have to burn him every `Bonfire Night.'

Guy Fawkes was born in the city of York, less than 20 miles from where I live. He has always been attributed with the leadership of a group of men who plotted to blow up the Houses of parliament on November 5th 1605. Their motives were both political and religious. Even today many such similar deeds are carried out or attempted in the name of one religion or another. A damning indication that man very rarely learns from his mistakes.

Antonia Fraser is an accomplished and much read historical author with many awards for her writing skills and she has the consummate skill to be able to make the book read like a modern day detective novel, yet in no way prejudicing the factual historical content of the events that led up to the plot being foiled literally at the last moment.

I really enjoyed the book. Biography and work are handled in a well-balanced way, and the evolution of Klimt's art is linked to his life. The book has several articles, but the sense of unity is kept. The reproductions have good quality (the standard one in these types of books), and it is easy to understand for amateurs. I think it is a recommendable book if you like symbolism and modernism, and also if you would like to have a portrait of Vienna at the beginning of the 20th century.

Frank Whitford's biography is a more comprehensive examination of the social/cultural perspective. Other books examine Klimt's portraits of women and Klimt's landscapes in greater sophistication. The dust jacket, a tension-infused portrait of his friend and muse, "told" me this is a fair and balanced examination of his works and of his views of art. It is. Beware: some material is not be appropriate for young children -- and offensive to conservative relatives.

Our whole family loved this book and it's sequel Hamish X and Hollow Mountain. Both books are hilarious and my husband and I loved the books I think even more than the kids. If you wish to discover first if Sean Cullen's brand of humour is your type of thing then I suggest doing a UTube search for him and his Food of Your Choice bits. If you laugh buy these books!

The mysterious Hamish X is the scourge of the Orphan Disposal Agency--Agents Candy and Sweet can't seem to find a facility that can hold him. After arriving at the Windcity Orphanage, where the children are forced to earn their keep making stinky blue cheese, Hamish is soon planning his escape along with new friends Parveen and Mimi. But his plans are put on hold when the factory is suddenly attacked by a fierce gang of pirates, led by the dreaded Cheesebeard of Snow Monkey Island. In order to save the other orphans, Hamish, Mimi, and Parveen must embark upon an epic adventure across the Arctic and take on the cheese-obsessed pirates by themselves.

Compiled and organized by sports buff Peter J. Fournier, The Handbook Of Mascots And Nicknames is a straightforward reference listing nicknames and mascots of senior colleges, universities, junior colleges, and community colleges of the United States and Canada. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order for quick lookup in this fascinating reference which will prove invaluable for dedicated college and university sports fans everywhere!

I have just looked through a unique book written by Peter J. Fournier. "The Handbook of Mascots & Nicknames" is very comprehensive and thorough in the research that went into it. Shown are the mascots and/or nicknames of over 1,500 U.S. senior colleges and universities, 740 U.S. junior and community colleges, and over 115 Canadian institutions. Dick Vitale, the noted ESPN announcer and personality, liked this book so much he endorsed it: "If you love sports like I do, you will enjoy Pete's Handbook of Mascots & Nicknames. It is awesome, baby!" I think that any sports fan or trivia buff, old or young, male or female should have this book in their library. The book is a wonderful birthday present or a great stocking stuffer for the holidays. I can't wait for the update that will include all of the Puerto Rican colleges and universities.

This is the quintessential book for rose growing in northern climates. The book offers excellent recommendations for selecting roses that are both winter hardy as well as disease tolerant for the coldest regions of the US. The first edition of "Hardy Roses" became my bible for rose selection thirteen years ago, and as a resident of Zone 3 northern Wisconsin I can vouch for the advice that it provides, both for rose selection as well as a healthy and common sense approach to rose care. The new edition expands the number of recommended varieties and is a book to reread frequently and keep forever. Don't loan it out or you may never see it again!

The solid cultural information, beautiful photographs, and evocative descriptions made Hardy Roses: An Organic Guide to Growing Frost-and Disease-Resistant Varieties (c. 1991) my favorite rose book.

Now this classic is available in a revised edition, now called Hardy Roses: A Practical Guide to Varieties and Techniques (2001). Though the sub-title has changed, the updated and expanded chapters on propagating and nurturing roses and dealing with insects and diseases remain solidly in the organic camp.

34 new roses have been added to the heart of the book which includes descriptions and photographs of roses which have done well in the author's Canadian nursery.

There are also two other features. There is an updated list of 200 varieties of hardy roses and also an appendix listing nurseries, rose organizations and source books (no Internet addresses, alas!)

This book complements Jerry Olson's Growing Roses in Cold Climates. I like having both.

Should a rose fancier who already has the first edition buy the second? There is nothing wrong with the first edition (it is less expensive and still available) but for me, I wanted those 34 new roses! I'm glad I went ahead with this purchase.

One issue that I grapple with frequently is the difference between "art" and "illustration". In the world of fine art illustrators are generally looked on as an inferior breed by the critics. In his introduction to "Hardyware" David A. Hardy expresses his reproof at modern art's derision of anything beautiful or representational.

This got me thinking. If SF art is "mere illustration" as an art critic would say, what about all those historical paintings of heaven and hell, the last judgement and armageddon? Critics seem to love those.

But I digress. SF art does have its place, and it plays an important role. The main body of "Hardyware" gives us a glimpse of the possibilties that await us in the future. If things turn out properly and we don't destroy ourselves, our descendents will become great builders with the potential to conquer the stars. Most of the artwork in this collection is done in gouache and acrylic, although more recently the artist has turned to digital media.

We see visions of the past as well as the future. One of my favourite pieces is a scene from "The War of the Worlds". I remember seeing that image on a cover jacket when I was 12, although I didn't know who the artist was back then. The image of a dinosaur looking up at a descending asteroid is hauntingly grim.

I often think SF artists are underrated. Though they are often proved wrong, their visions provide a valuable contribution to the development of our civilization, giving inspiration to those who have the ability to make fantasy a reality.

This super book contains well over a hundred examples of the work of perhaps our best living space artist, along with a fascinating text full of insights into his thinking and his modus operandi.

When you go on vacation what kind of hotel do you look for? A five star ediface that has twenty-four hour entertainment, heated pool and room service to die for? Or do you look for that quaint out of the way inn where you can relax the day away? Or do you prefere a bed and breakfast, where you can feel like you are part of the neighborhood for a few days? Or do you look for that room with an ocean view? All of those kinds of hotels are okay, but if you really want something different, why not check out a haunted hotel.

Would you like to meet nursemaid Annie who haunts the Kendall Manor in Alabama? Or would you rather meet the ghost of Thomas Rowe who haunts the Don Cesar resort in St. Petersburg, Florida? Or perhaps you'd like to get to know the night watchman at Kennebunk Inn in Maine. Oh, did I forget to mention that the watchman is dead?

Yes, you too can visit a haunted hotel, maybe see a ghost, and you'd want to see a friendly ghost, so stay away from the Overlook Hotel. Anyway, if you want to meet a ghost in a haunted hotel, this is the book for you. Very well written too. A delight to read.

Review by Vesta Irene

This book will help you decide where to (and not to) stay when you go on trips. The stories were well told, and enjoyable.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends HAYLEY WICKENHEISER BORN TO PLAY for whenever you hear someone say "girls can't play ice hockey"!

From her first skates in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan to banging around with her brother & his friends on the ice rink in their back yard. From being the only girl on the Tom Thumb Team to winning the gold medal as a member of the all-girls Blackfoot Cougar Bantams to again being the only girl on the AA Northwest Bruins boys' team. To being picked for Team Canada for the 1998 Winter Olympics, & onwards.

So, suit up & get out on the ice with Canadian Hayley Wickenheiser, & see what determination, skill & grace can do flying in the face of a longtime male-dominated sport.

I bought this book for my eleven year old granddaughter after watching an interview of Haley on TV. My granddaughter loved it and was inspired to keep playing hockey. Young kids should have more books like this which challanges them to do their best.

This novel is sweet and captivating. The story is well written with prose that is almost lyrical. The portrayal of the fictional Guanagaspar gives a vivid and well researched picture of Trinidad in the early twentieth century. This is truly West Indian literature at its best.

I can't believe there are no reviews for this novel. This was a moving story and was very well crafted. The story keeps you and holds you. I'm looking forward to reading more from this outstanding author. Check it out. You will like this novel.

Reviewed by
Dawnny
Mahogany Media Review
Albany, N.Y.