Canada Books

I travel a lot in my car, so audio books are a must for me. I picked this one up at the library - and it was hard for me to turn my car off when I got to where I was going!

As you read in the summary, the book is about a 19-year-old who is trying to find out who his real parents are. He was found left by the side of the road when he was three, with only a photograph and a cryptic letter.

His hunt takes him to Toronto, where he and his new girlfriend do some detective work...and when they seem to have it all figured out, the author throws in another twist.

There is another side story in the book that takes place around the life of another teenager, but this scene is set many years beforehand.

Once the two stories meet up, everything falls into place.

This is a must-read for anyone who likes thrillers!

Nineteen years old Walker Devereaux leaves his adopted home in Big River for Toronto, but not with the youthful vigor of living in the big city; Walker is obsessed to learn about his past starting with why his mom Lennie abandoned him on an isolated road when he was three. He has a clue from someone who apparently knew his mom; a letter that was written to Lennie from her school friend Kim that includes a picture of two girls that Walker assumes one is his mom.

In Toronto Walker obtains work driving a cab on a graveyard shift and a friend he deeply likes is wheelchair-bound dispatcher Krista Papadopoulos. Her brilliance enables Walker to follow clues that take him initially to the exclusive upper crust Forest Hill neighborhood and eventually to Jamaica. However, someone wants Walker and Krista to stop or else; perhaps that unknown culprit is the seemingly deranged Bobby Nuremborski who Walker must confront if he is to close in on the truth about what happened to his mother.

MIDNIGHT CAB is a solid suspense thriller starring two delightful lead protagonists whose banter lightens a dark tale. The prime story line is Walker's quest, but a subplot involving how crazy Bobby is will chill the audience who know that the two men will collide, but doubt whether the hero will survive. Interestingly in spite of wonderfully placed false leads and red herring missteps, fans know the altercation is coming so the suspense is somewhat muted when it does. Still James W. Nichols writes an intriguing entertaining thriller that will keep readers attention throughout.

Harriet Klausner

Really good! Different for any mystery recently read. Quirky, engaging characterizations with and original plot.
Can't wait for the next one!

The title of this mystery/thriller is a bit misleading, probably because it was based on a popular radio drama of the same name. Certainly, the main character, Walter Devereaux drives a cab, but that's not the focus of the story.

MIDNIGHT CAB is set in Toronto, Canada, and it starts with a three-year-old boy clinging to a wire fence at the side of a country road. This is Walter Devereaux; he's found and placed in a number of foster homes before he goes to live with the Devereauxs in Big River, Canada. They're an ideal family and he loves them dearly, but he feels he must go to Toronto to find his real parents. He has a letter and a picture of two little girls that he hopes will help him in his quest.

Walter has trouble finding a job but ultimately he finds work at the A.P. Cabs owned by Alphonso Piatelli, who tries to hire him off the books. His night dispatcher, Krista Papadopoulos, soon puts an end to that and a romance ensues. Oh, yeah, Krista just happens to be in a wheel chair.

A parallel story has to do with Bobby Nuremborski, a young boy who hungers for the attention of his father. Bobby will remind you of the killer in LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR. He's gay but he won't admit it; his father would never tolerate a homosexual son. Eventually the two stories intersect leading to some gripping action.

The setting of the story shifts from Toronto to Jamaica, and that's when the novel loses some of its credibility. Like Tony Hillerman, when he moves the story off the Navajo reservation, the author, James W. Nichol, needs to focus on what he knows best. The Canada sequences are believable and compelling, Jamaica not so much.

Despite these quibbles I enjoyed MIDNIGHT CAB immensely and would like to see a sequel. Krista and Walter are likeable characters and the cab company is an ideal setting for a mystery series.

Having spent a lot of time looking for information on imaginative & fun (and sometimes luxury) travel with kids, I can tell you that this is a really unique book. It is comprehensive, carefully researched and well written with loads of practical tips. Some 'travel with kids' books might as well just be bland advertising copy, this one really provides good editorial content, with positive and critical comments. It is a pleasure to read and we will use it for a long time. Fodor's should publish more of these for other parts of the US/world.

I loved this book and would recommend it to any family wanting to travel in the northeastern United States. The writers offer tips and reviews on places of interest, resorts, and campgrounds in a wide range of prices. In fact, we have visited some of those places and found a brand new vacation prospect in Lake George which we will be trying out this summer! Definitely one of the most informative travel books on the market today -- entertaining even if you do not go to these places.

Very useful book for locals and visitors. We liked the way it gave us recommended age groups and prices. We can now plan ahead places to visit within and on the way to our next holiday area. We have also used it for planning field trips from the school into San Francisco. Easy to use and enjoyable to read.

I've been searching for a book like this for several years and haven't found one that fit the bill until now! I had a great time reading it - so well written - and got more useful information than I'll ever be able to use in one lifetime! Thanks so much to the writers and publishers!

I donated this book to my mom's day care and the children really loved repeating especially the chomps. The children also enjoyed the color changing. They always have fun with Munsch books.

Another winner from Robert Munsch!

The book features the usual dose of Munsch's sound effects and repetition, two traits that make it an engaging story for young readers. We read this story again and again to our 2-year-old. He just can't get enough.

My one criticism of the book is that Munsch's drawings of the Asian Canadian characters isn't that flattering. Being Asian American, I think I'm probably more sensitive to this though... :)

I have my own daycare and this is one of the children's favorite stories to read. They love to participate with our reading activities and this book gives them just that opportunity. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is a fun story about a young boy who's appetite is endless. This is one of my favorite Robert Munsch stories that we own.

Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko are a winning team in childrens' books, and this is another one of their terrific partnerships. Munsch's well-paced tales coupled with Martchenko's vivid and funny artwork encourage preschoolers and young grade schoolers to reread their books many times over.

This book features a very hungry little boy, his exasperated mom, and a pie-eating contest. My kids howled with laughter at how much Samuel tried to eat for breakfast. The pictures of Samuel out-chowing the three big men are terrific, and the look on his face when he returns home is even better.

An outlandish tale in the tradition of Paul Bunyan for preschoolers, complete with a Babe-sized stomach ache, this is a rippin' good yarn. Stick in two thumbs, pull out two plums, and point them up, way up, for More Pies!

This book is mostly about Hetty and they take a trip to a place called Chilkoot pass they cause an avalanche and they have to try to dig the person out of all the snow.The main thing that happens in the book is that mostly everybody loses something they really care about one morning Hetty wakes up and she has lost her locket. Hetty has a diary where she keeps track of all the things that are stolen and what happens to the person.At the end of the book well close they find the person who has to tell them why he or she stole the stuff they also find the bag of stolen stuff.Then also at the end Alma Hettys best friend gets married to Uncle Donall.But at the end they all leave very happily.I would recommend this book to anybody who loves to solve mysterys and enjoys a happy book and to anybody in third/fourth and fifth.

In 1897, when Hetty and her friend Alma are 12 years old, prospectors come down from Alaska Territory to San Francisco shouting, "Gold!" The prospectors tell everyone the nuggets are so big they're the size of potatoes. After that, it seems like half the country heads north to the Yukon to find some of those golden potatoes for themselves. Hetty, her father, Alma, her mother, and Hetty's Uncle Donall join the crowd heading north to the gold fields.

The trip north is gruesome. When their steamer first arrives at Dyea, the sailors dump people's belongings into a scow headed for the shore about a mile away. Some of their possessions land in the water instead of in the boat, but the sailors don't seem to care. Some of the passengers have to turn around and head home again because all their possessions are lost at sea. Horses, goats, dogs, and other animals have to swim for their lives in the icy waters.

To reach gold country, which stretched ahead of them for 500 miles, everybody has to move part of their things forward, leave somebody there to guard them, and then go back for more. Trip after trip after trip. It's only September, but up by the Arctic Circle winter comes early and it's bitter cold. Some people discover that they packed too much and have to leave trunks and other belongings alongside the trail. Other people decide to pay haulers to cart their things for them, only to have the haulers take the money and run.

Then Hetty discovers her locket missing. It has her only picture of her dead mother in it. Hetty laid it beside her bed in the tent at night, and the next morning it's gone. Someone else misses a knife. Alma's mother loses half her money. Who is the thief? Is there more than one? Can Hetty find him? Or is it a woman?

But thieves aren't the only problem everybody faces. They also have to fight diseases like typhoid and avalanches in the mountains. People have to be strong to survive in the Yukon territory. Will Hetty's family and friends make it? What will Hetty learn on her trip to the top of the world?

--- (...)

Mystery at Chilkoot Pass is one of the best children's chapter books I have read to-date. I was helping my 9 year old sister with her book report and she and I both thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. It is witty, fun, adventurous, and a page-turner. This book is thorough, yet it doesn't wear you down with boring details. I would recommend this book not only to any third/fourth/fifth grader, but any adult who enjoys a good, fun mystery.

MYSTERY AT CHILKOOT PASS is the 17th book in the "History Mystery" series. It is autumn, 1897, and twelve-year-old Hetty, her friend Alma, their parents, and Hetty's Uncle Donall have left their homes in San Francisco to seek gold in the Klondike gold rush. They must get themselves and three tons of supplies and equipment up and over Chilkoot Pass before winter sets in. Thousands of other goldhunters are making the same trek. The story follows their struggle from the time they leave their ship near the coastal town of Dyea until they ascend the Pass. Along the way, large amounts of cash and small personal items of little value disappear. Hetty suspects her uncle might be a thief. Thieves are dealt with harshly in this frontier environment. Hetty proves to be a person of strength and resolution. She works hard and does what she has to in the face of hardship and death.

MYSTERY AT CHILKOOT PASS is a worthy addition to the "History Mystery" series. It will make you appreciate the hardships people were prepared to endure in the pursuit of fortune. It may also make you wonder what could have possessed people to leave their homes and put themselves through such hardships on the slim chance that they might find enough gold to make themselves rich. A nice introduction to an interesting bit of history.

If you need ANY information about ANY player on the NHL, whether active or retired (or even a rookie), it's ALL in there.
672 pages filled with all the statistics you need about your favorite players.
This year, the book includes facts like "who played where in 2004-05" and "Who's playing where in 2005-06" (with all the changes that took place during the summer). Plus information about thye 2006 Olympics AND the New Rules.
For the price, you get more than your money's worth.
but just don't take my word for it, but it, read it, use it.
It's also a nice cover with Lemieux (now retired, unfortunately, again) and Crosby, the next one.
Highly recommended!
:)

This annual volume is especially nicein that it includes small photos of active players as well as number of retirees. It is also a good source to learn which of the old timers have passed away. Another feature I like is the all time records by player, and to see where the current veterans are positioned in these ranks. This issue also shows where all the active players played during the 2003-04 strike season. This book contains everything you can think of about the current hockey teams as well as the history from the early beginnings.

The greatest all-time stat book that the NHL has. A great encyclopedia on the players of the game. Every player and rookie listed along with their picture, and every year of stats they produced throughout their career. Every team and player record as well. This book has been printed yearly for over 20 years. A must have, if you like to update your rosters in EA Sports computer game NHL 2006, look no farther. This book also has a retired index of every player that ever stepped on the ice as well. THis book is 25 bucks, but you will find yourself using it a great deal throughout the entire 2005-2006 season. I promise. Let's Go Rangers!!!!!

Dan Diamond and his staff have again done an outstanding job of preparing a preview guide that ranks among the best in any pro sport. For the hockey fan, this isn't an optional purchase, but one you must have.

The statistical information for active players and prospects is unrivaled in any print resource. And while much of this information can now be found online (at the Internet Hockey Database, a great resource), there's nothing like having this handy reference on your desk or coffee table to grab up during a game, or while you're having a conversation about a player.

I've bought this book for years, and I still love going over the lists of all-time leaders, or looking at a list of guys who scored 50 goals in a season and reminiscing about those times. For hockey trivia addicts, this book is like a great fix, with list after list, and recaps from every season preceeding 2005.

There are a couple of items I'd love to see added to this annual, but it's hard to quibble about so great a resource. This should find a home on the desk or coffee table of every NHL fan out there

Not All Of Us Were Brave is the autobiographical account of Stanley Scislowski's World War II experiences with The Perth Regiment.

Unlike most other personal accounts I've read in the past, Stan jumps into the action fairly quickly, devoting only 60 pages to training in England and then straight to Italy. The book closes at the end of the war, forgoing a detailed follow-up on Stan and his fellow Perths in their post-war lives. That's not to say however that we don't see the personal side of Stan. On the contrary, he spaends a great deal of time laying out the his impressions and experiences as well as the characters he's in daily contact with.

Refreshingly, Stan doesn't pull any punches when giving his impressions his brothers in arms, or even the Corps Commander! If he didn't get along with someone, he says so, giving his reasons and citing examples where possible. That's not to say he trash talks his mates, but he's not afraid to point out where he and another disagree on something. Even more surprisingly, Stan is startlingly candid about his own inadequacies. He doesn't shy away from his mistakes and regrets, even detailing occasions when he felt like a coward or a malingerer (though he was neither). Likewise, he brushes aside feats of endurance and heroism as simply "not giving up while the guy ahead was still going."

He's similarly unflinching in his description of the horrors of war. There are no euphemisms here, the blood, gore, pain and death of his experiences are laid out for all to see. There's a truly personal feeling to his account that is sometimes missed by wartime autobiographers. When he waves hello to a fellow soldier he hasn't seen in a while only to watch him ripped apart by a teller mine three seconds later, or when he's a stretcher bearer as 14 of his comrades are blown up by a well placed artillery shell, the gut-wrenching despair is almost palpable.

In addition to the big things, Mr. Scislowski also details the "little things" that make the experience so rich. From innovative ways to improve your comfort to the boredom of being locked in a sangar all day, you feel the small highs and lows as well as the big ones. Stan is also candid about his escapades as an amateur looter, and again makes no excuses for delving into a "taboo" subject. These were different times.

This book is a "worms eye view" of the war, so don't expect to come away with a full picture of how the 5th Armoured Division operated in Italy. It's obvious he's done his research though, as there is a considerable amount of context given for each operation. Other accounts I've read have the author travelling simply from one unnamed hamlet or empty field to another, but Stan takes great pains to detail each portion of his journey up the "boot" providing perspective that makes it easy to follow and relevant.

Overall, it may not be as "action packed" as some accounts, but it's a good read for an honest take on the Italian campaign.

Stan's book was a refreshing, straightforward presentation of his feelings,emotions, actions and experiences in the Italian Campaign. It is probably the most honest book that I've read. It has been well circulated amongst my friends. The response has been incredulous!

When you read this first person account of what was like as a member of the Perth Regiment in WW2, you really get a sense of what the ordinary man was subjected to. This is not a book full of strategy and what the Commanders or Generals of the Armies in Italy had to say about the conflicts of the Italian campaign, it is the man on the ground, what he saw. And how Stan and his friends reacted to all the situations of war. Good times and bad.

A great reading book with a nice introduction by G. Watt. I reccomend it to anyone who is interested in history or first hand accounts of war. A must read for any Canadian.

Great account of one man and his Canadian unit's experience during the Italian campaign in WWII. The author is very candid about his feelings, fears and humorous thoughts... Well written and easy to read with alot of old Canadian slang which makes it quite enjoyable. His storytelling ability puts you right onto the battlefield and you can really feel the serious effects of battle and death.... Any one that served in Italy or has relatives that served may want to read this... The Author has an extensive collection of personal recollections of serious as well as humorous times.. He could not have picked a more perfect title for his book.... If you are tired of reading about all headline heros of WWII, try this one, he brings you into the trenches with the real heros...

I was impressed with a pace that Jason Burke established in reporting his decade or more of travel through Southwest Asia (Pakistan/Afghanistan) and Middle East. His optimism and hope stays alive throughout his various first hand encounters with horrific events. His book provides a very different viewpoint compared to the ones that I was able to follow through the USA based newspapers and magazines reports for the two post 9/11 wars (USA/Aghan War or USA/Iraq War II). He does not pretend to be a scholar and is certainly not biased in his analysis. I would recommend this book for folks who want to get a better insight of the Islamic World and all the precieved and real dangers surrounding it.

I read Jason Burke's Al-Qaeda: Casting a Shadow of Terror, and found it the most factual book on the events surrounding 9/11. So, I had high expectations and was hopeful for further updates from his previous 2004 publication. As other reviewers have noted, this book is a travelogue and personal memoir of Mr.Burke's travels around the world, rather then an analysis of the Middle East.

Admittedly, I'm impressed with what has kept Mr.Burke busy the last 2 decades. But, there was nothing ground breaking or amazing here. The entire book comes off a bit flat, and shallow. If you're looking for a fun(relatively speaking), walk through the Middle East since 1990, then this book may entertain you. I was looking for more info on the "War on Terror", and didn't find much in here.

A much better travelogue through Afghanistan (albeit, without the political analysis), is Jason Elliot's An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan.

ON THE ROAD TO KANDAHAR: TRAVELS THROUGH CONFLICT IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD could have been featured in our Travel Shelf section - but it's so much more, and shouldn't be limited to a leisure travel-reading audience alone. Jason Burke spent a decade among Muslim people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Thailand and other areas: his guide explores their culture and concerns, blending first-person experiences and encounters with interviews with a wide range of people, from Taliban officials and a former torturer for Husseun's intelligence service to a suicide bomber and an American sniper in Iraq. It's these varied encounters from different cultures in the area which offer eye-opening insights and cultural revelations not to be missed. Any collection serious about Middle East issues needs ON THE ROAD TO KANDAHAR.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is an excellent and informative book that's also a joy to read. Burke reports for Britain's "Observer" and he spent a decade covering stories in places such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Algeria, and Turkey. He often found himself in the middle of complex acts of violence, and this book is part travel memoir and part intellectual memoir as he struggles to understand what it all means.

I look for a few specific things in a good piece of travel writing. First, it needs to be well written, and Burke crafts strong, clear, concise, fast-flowing writing. He writes like a journalist, which means he trades flowery metaphors for sharp, direct statements. His descriptions of characters and places capture both the details and the mood, which ends up being vital to the points he wants to make. I also want a writer with insight. The author certainly needs to show insight into the cultures he encounters, but if self-exploration is also a goal, he or she also needs to show personal insight. Without insight I'd rather read a Lonely Planet guidebook. I liked Burke's approach. He is honest about his knowledge of other cultures, and he admits what he thinks while also staying aware of his lack of understanding. He describes violent acts and acknowledges that the deeper conflicts often prove to be too old and twisted for him to fully grasp. As for personal insight, Burke goes looking for that only in order to understand the conflicts he experiences. He might explore his own reactions under enemy fire, but it's only to better understand the nature of violence. This isn't a work of "spiritual travel" or a man's search for meaning, but it recognizes that any questions about the nature of violence require an understanding of your own nature. Finally, I have to like the author. Reading a travel book is like sharing a journey, and Burke seems like a cool guy--impressed with his travels without becoming arrogant, tough without going macho on the reader, and knowledgeable without needing to be an expert. He never once annoyed me, which is a bit of a rarity in travel writing (and in real travel).

As for the ideas in "On the Road to Kandahar," I think it's fair to say that Burke ends up with more questions than answers. More accurately, he ends up with the same deep questions and only some preliminary answers, but he also learns how complex and troubling the original questions were. He wants to understand what motivates violence in the parts of the Islamic world he has visited, and what the end result of it all will be. The travel writing helps collect information for the first question. He talks to would-be suicide bombers, Kurdish resistance fighters, and Taliban sympathizers--many of them unlikable and unsavory characters--and tries to get at their motivations. He tries to piece it all together into a coherent understanding. He brings up the stress of change, and how the clash with modernity causes conflict in previously peaceful cultures. He discusses al-Qaeda's philosophies and how satellite television and the internet have allowed these philosophies to modify the grievances of local cultures. He explores how cultures react after they accept violence as an answer, and after they see the results of that violence on other cultures and on their own culture. He realizes that 99% of the world simply wants to get by and live life--to raise children and enjoy friendships and have enough to eat and drink each day.

And, finally, he sort-of comes to an optimistic conclusion--that cultures end up turning against violence. He sees much of the conflict in the Islamic world as a short-term answer (even if "short-term" means one hundred years), a trial attempt to solve problems with suicide bombers and violent revolution, and sees it all fading away once the cultures turn against it. I say "sort-of" because Burke is far from convinced, especially after experiencing the closeness of the London bombings. In the end, it's the best answer he has right now. And, in the end, it's this combination of intellectual honesty and optimism--and its telling in an exciting and engaging way--that helps make this such an outstanding book.

Oonga Boonga is a great example of a positive sibling relationship. My sister and Mom picked this up at the library for my nephews.

This is a great book for a parent to read to an older sibling, because it helps to foster a positive relationship between siblings. Baby Louise is crying and no one is able to calm her down until her older brother Daniel whispers "Oonga Boonga" to her. Then, she just has the biggest toothless grin.

When Daniel goes outside to play, she starts crying again. Even though the parents and grandparents are saying Oonga Boonga to her, nothing seems to stop her crying. Daniel arrives back on the scene and whispers a new phrase and Louise stops crying.

Oonga Boonga has colorful illustrations that are wonderfully drawn. The writing is simple and direct so that a child can easily understand what is going on. I would recommend this book to parents who have more than one child to show the positive healthy aspects of having a sibling.

This book is simply great.

Baby Louis is quite a crier. Nothing her mom, dad, and grandparents do helps. Then Daniel comes home from school and whispers the magic words into her ear. She immediately stops crying and begins to smile. Everyone is relieved, until Daniel goes out to play and the crying starts again. Find out what Daniel does this time to stop his little sister from crying.

Being the "David" to whom this book is dedicated to, and being the basis of the story, I must say I am biased. BUT! This is my favorite of my mom's books by far! It is a great story and a worthwhile read for anyone to read to their children or grandchildren. I would definetly recommend it!

My 2 year old adores this book. The nonsense words that Daniel uses to quiet his crying baby sister delight my own little girl. That special relationship between siblings is expressed here with a simple text and colorful drawings. The balance between them is perfect for the younger reader.

This book, along with its Oregon-Washington Second Volume, is a MUST-read for anyone planning their own trip along all or part of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trail guide provides a wealth of information such as mileage, water-stops, trail conditions, tips, maps, and even locations (including addresses!) of post-offices and other along-the trail stop-overs for re-supply. PCT hikers often carry this book with them in their packs and reference it often. More weight-conscious thru-hikers will cut or tear the book apart into sections (it's conveniently divided into a long series of trail sections between stop-overs) and ship the abbreviated guides back to themselves at towns along the journey.

Combining years of research and tens of thousands of miles of first-hand trail experience, the authors have done an outstanding job in allowing future backpackers access to the information they need to plan their own epic adventures. The book usually comes with an pamphlet included to keep you posted on any updates and changes to the trail since the book's latest release (which I believe there have been six such releases since its initial publication in '73).

I'm planning my own thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, and after much of my own extensive research through countless other books and guides, I still come back to this one for the information I need to plan my own greatest adventure to date. Be sure the check the Oregon & Washington volume of the guide as well, written by the same authors in the exact same format.

I have used this book since 1980 to hike all or part of the PCT. It can make or break your trip. The most important info is where to find water. Some souces are difficult to find, but this book will lead you to it. The amount of info,maps, water, landmarks, milage,trail conditions, suppy points, etc., make this book a must on any hike along the PCT. If you don't have it with you, you're a lost soul.

I enjoy all of the Schaffer books because they are accurate, fun to read and reliable. This book has little chapters on the PCT, and the descriptions of each part of the trail are a total delight. So often these hiking books neglect to tell you how to reach the trailhead and oftentimes they don't provide detailed instructions (I mean this for section or day hikers of the PCT). Schaffer never makes this mistake. You will not need a separate map to locate any of the sections of the trail, his maps and written instructions are first-rate. In fact, there is even a nifty fold-out map sewn into the rear pocket so you can tote it along on any of your journeys. Equally interesting is that this book doesn't merely give elevation gains, difficulty ratings and desriptions of the trail conditions. These are vital to know, but Schaffer also includes little bits of information of what kinds of wild flowers you will encounter, birds, wildlife and other little nuggets neglected in other guides.

The book is supposed to be mainly for thru-hikers of the PCT, but there are many trails here that can be used for day hikes. These trips will be in the 10-16 mile range and any strong hiker can easily do these hikes in one day. If you do choose to go the entire PCT, Schaffer describes water sources, camping sites and addresses whether bears or marmots might be a problem for you. Most importantly, he tells you where to find water and whether the water source is reliable throughout the whole year.

I can't recommend this guide highly enough. Even if you're an armchair hiker, you'll derive many hours of vicarious joy from this guide.

I bought this book & another book, kept this one and returned the other. I haven't seen a better guide to the PCT.

This is a gem of a book. The author does a wonderful job narrating an adventure story while providing valuable information about the geological and ecological background of this ever evolving part of Alaska. It made for an entertaining and informative read. Having had the pleasure to explore this part of the country by kayak myself, I enjoyed how this book's descriptions of the ocean and landscape captured the experience of exploring the Inside Passage.

I agree wholeheartedly with the other reviewers about this book! I loved the adventure story of kayaking through rough water and harsh weather for two months. The author really brings to life the forest, glaciers, mountains and wildlife of the Inside Passage. The information about the nature and history of the area separates this from a mere adventure story. It's really the story of the coast told through a gripping adventure. And the many sidebars that contain tips for sea kayakers are a great plus. I highly recommend this book!

This is a terrific book. The author does an impressive job of weaving together not only his personal story of his kayaking to Alaska, but also accounts of Vancouver's voyage, the explorations of John Muir, and a lot of natural history regarding the region. It's quite well-written and makes for a book that is very readable and often even riveting.

Wow. What a great read. This is a top-notch adventure story that inspired me like few others. The author and his companion really took on the challenges of the northwest coast and came back with a story of high seas, wildlife and terrible weather. The descriptions were so good I actually felt WET after some of the passages. But it is more than an adventure story. The author weaves in fascinating information about the nature and culture of the Inside Passage, providing an informative look at this fascinating place. I've been to the Inside Passage on three different trips and always learn something new. I think Passage to Alaska would be a great companion for anyone traveling the area or simply wishing to learn about one of the wildest places remaining in North America. And it's a great adventure story, too!