Guam Books

So mucy of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives or the Library of Congress (if unclassified). Insightful!

Excellent and comprehensive review of US policy in Micronesia during a key period in its history. Fascinating insights into the relationships that influenced policy development. Thorough and scholarly research that should be a classic in years to come.

So much of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives and the Library of Congress. That is if the documents were declassified. This book is insightful.

So much of what happened during the political development of Micronesia now come to light as a result of this well researched book. Until now, much of what transpired during the political status negotiations required tedious search in US government archives and the Library of Congress. That is if the documents were declassified. This book is insightful.

I speak as one who has lived in the Northern Mariana Islands for more than thirty years, and who had a role in the events (I was one of those who were interviewed) and who knew and worked with many of the central figures involved in them. Willens and Siemer have written a thoroughly researched and historically accurate work, and one which I enjoyed reading immensely -- as will anyone interested in this corner of the Pacific.

Pat Hickey's debut book "Every Heart and Hand: A Leo High School Story" was an excellent addition to Chicago-themed literature. "The Chorito Hog Leg", his second offering, is a story of two battles: World War Two's Guam Campaign, and Private Tim Cullen's struggle to keep an 1860 Army Colt .45 hog leg revolver from falling into the hands of his Battalion commander. Cullen had promised the dying previous owner that he would return the gun to the man's family in Texas. It's a vow that makes Guam more of a hell for Cullen than expected.

Hickey pulls no punches in his description of Pacific combat operations. The Japanese occupying force in Guam, the Marines who landed on the island, and the stricken inhabitants caught in between are presented to the reader with brutally direct detail. The author's grasp of WWII military lingo is so good that I sometimes wondered if this was some sort of cloaked memoir. But it isn't- Pat Hickey just has an innate ability to absorb his subject and create a truly believable peace of historical fiction.

Mr Hickey has written a splendid novel dealing with Guam, it's inhabitants, the brutal Japanese garrison and the Marines that will land and take the island.
Some very intense combat sequences, plenty of colorful dialog and down right funny one liners from gruff old Marines that will get you grinnin' if you have ever been in the service.
Well worth reading and the sequel is due up later in 2007.
The meaning of the book's title will be revealed as you read as Pat Hickey weaves a compelling web of characters, the tale of the 1860 Colt revolver, its previous owners, the Japanese and the Marines who risk their lives in 1944. Brutal, honest and well-researched.
Check it out.

It is undeniable that Pat Hickey is a South Side of Chicago writer. His recollections from the old Gresham neighborhood read like a side story throughout this captivating tale of days when men were men.

Hickey's penchant for names and facts from Chicago's history during a time of war are also vivid and, to this reader, allow time to reflect on some of the "good times" spent as a youngster growing up in the neighborhood.

The author warns early on in the "About the Author" section (see back inside page) that his style employs the "intrusive narrator" technique.
I believe he carries it out beautifully and to be honest should have used it more freely. It was a refreshing connection with the reader.

I was most impressed by the seemingly meticulous research Hickey put into his work. The decriptions of planes, both Japanese as well as American, naval vessels, armaments, and "vocabulary" were extremely well done.

Without giving the plot line away, if you are a Marine, Navy, or a general WWII buff... If you enjoy the "Grunt" point of view in armed conflict...and if you enjoy the days when a man's word was gospel. This is a book to enjoy.

I am looking forward to the second book of this set.

Martin Tully
USSF Ret.

Riveting portrayal of WWII Pacific combat operations. Excellent character development, based upon interviews with veterans of the invasion of Guam. Ultra realistic combat scenes immerse the reader in the random violence of war. The best novel I have enjoyed since Cold Mountain. Can't wait for Book 2.

My God! You won't find any birds singing in this masterpiece! Rachel Carson has nothing on this guy! The DDT chapter broke my heart!!!

This account of efforts to understand and deal with threatened exotic-caused extinctions on Guam is a gem. The paper back's blurbs focus on Jaffe's "ecological detective thriller." But it's the seamlessness of the book's widely-informed joined elements -- including biographical and political sketches of great pith, accessible population biology, and How Modern Science Works to try to save avian species -- that's most compelling. This deftness in weaving many individually fascinating threads recalled for me Neal Ascherson's astonishing "Black Sea."

The paperback's Index lists only passing references to DDT -- on pages 26, 27 and 72. Because the bad guy is not a chemical, not one of our products. No, he's one of us. And after the paucity and untimeliness of the legislative response to the Guamanian situation had sunk into my consciousness, it was ironic that in the end, an air force base on the island established the 50-acre "environmental reclamation experiment" Jaffe hopes could begin to turn it all around. Like the ending of William Golding's little masterpiece, with the navy warship rescuing the tribe of island-stranded boys from themselves.

The Lonely Planet books on diving are always a good bet on defining a place to dive.

Great photos and explanations of all the dive sites. Also road maps and location details. Very informative book. Small enough to take with you on your trip.

I originally bought this book just for reading material, but when I found out I was going to Guam I broke it out and read it in earnest. I found the guide to be very well written with many color photographs, cave descriptions, topo maps (which helped with general navigation as well as hiking), and many other sections such as diving, hiking and kayaking. After going to Guam and actully using the book as a field guide I was even more impressed with how well the book is laid out, the accuracy of the descriptions and the depth of information. The spiral binding and plasiticized pages make it ideal for use on the trail and it will stand up well to being tossed in a backpack on a regular basis. I highly recommend this book for anybody interested in the geology, history and/or recreation available on Guam!

Field Guide to Caves and Karst of Guam by Danko Taborosi is an excellent contribution to Guam's history. It accounts for the caves and karst of the island, in a way that is academic, scientific and yet a helpful guide for all who want to explore the island's natural features. Outdoor activities should be encouraged but not at the expense of safety, and this book conveys the inherent dangers associated with exploring the Island's dangerous but exciting outdoors; characteristics unique to islands. However, it admonishes the importance of calculating, planning and well thought out approach with emphasis on the significance of special training and numerous precautions when exploring vertical caves, deep dives and naturally developed karst areas. I was amazed with the natural beauty of the Island that Danko's photos reveal, something I've not seen although Guam has been my home since birth, 50 years ago. Through his work I have been introduced to a Guam I had no familiarity with and can now learn to appreciate. His devotion to exploration and work over the year that he gathered the material for his book is a wonderful gift to the Chamorro people. Dångkolo na Si Yu'os Ma'åse (Thank you very much) Danko.

This is a must book for anyone seeking an understanding of POW life as well as a better understanding of events inside Japan during WWII. Edward Hale takes us on a journey from a carefree life in Guam to Japan as a POW for most of WWII. Helen Gordon, Hale's neice, does a good job of editing Hale's memoirs. After reading the book, I had a much better understanding of how war and POW status impacts human behavior. Gordon is to be commended for making Hale's wonderful memoirs available to the world. This is one of the best books about POW's I have read. For this reason, I gave this book 5 stars.

Beaten, starved and constantly terrorized, Hale's story renews your faith in America and its fighting men. Hale's story of his Navy life in Guam just before the war is a prelude to his poignant experience as a POW. As a reader, you will feel the thunder of bombs, the palpable fear as shot and shell destroy your world... and the gut wrenching fear to know your life is at the mercy of murderous Japanese soldiers.

Hale's is a story or bravery and courage that bears retelling until the end of time. Unknown to the men and women of Guam, they were forfeited to the Japanese months before the war by the decisions of Roosevelt and Churchill, intent upon defeating Hitler. Transported to Japan, the men suffered as slaves to the Japanese war efforts and ultimately saved by the dropping of the atom bombs. Hale's story belongs on the shelf of any student of World War II.

This textbook is very well planned out and written. Topics are given in great detail and explanations in the textbook can easily be understood -- an A+ textbook for bilingual and multilingual students like me, truly, this textbook is written with the general students in mind. The textbook covers a great dept on study of Environmental Biology, you'll understand from the book that the author had mastered this study.

Dr. Christopher S. Lobban PhD. was my teacher in the University of Guam almost 11 years ago in our Environmental Biology class (using this book) and I could honestly say that our class was one of the most exciting and educating class I've had. I still remember topics we covered from that book. I personally know how much work and effort he and Dr. Maria Schefter, a master of Linguistics Successful Lab Reports: A Manual for Science Students, had given for the sake of student's learning/education...I was one of their Work Study students while writing this book...

Tropical Pacific Island Environments This textbook gives a Pacific Island perspective on environmental science, describing the principles of the science and the island ecosystems. It is still in print and may be bought from the authors at [...].

Admittedly I am biased about this book, as my grandfather's obituary is in the back of the book! However, I found it to be an interesting read. I plan on keeping this book forever so that my children can hear stories from my grandfather (not the author) that he told me over and over again! The whole book has the feel of a childhood story from a grandparent. If you love WWII books, you will love this one too!

This account of efforts to understand and deal with threatened bird extinctions on Guam is a gem of a book. The paperback's blurbs focused on Jaffe's "ecological detective thriller." But I found most compelling the seamlessness of the book's widely-informed joined elements -- including biographical and political sketches of great pith, accessible population biology, and a good-scientists-versus-stupid-and-finally-thwarted-others story.

The ecological culprit was not some natural substance, and not even one of homo sapiens' products (the book's index lists only three references to DDT). Nor was he us. But he was (and is) one of our fellows -- a little predator incredibly well adapted to feeding on birds' eggs.

After the paucity and untimeliness of the governmental response to the Guamanian situation had sunk into my consciousness, it seemed ironic that the book ends with the United States Air Force establishing a 50-acre "environmental reclamation experiment" on Guam which Jaffe hopes will provide the setting for much more effective research on the culprit. Like The Lord of the Flies ends with her majesty's warship rescuing from themselves the band of island-stranded, warring boys.

I was just browsing for some books on my culture so my girlfriend can understand where I come from when I came across this book. It has so much interesting facts that I felt I didn't even know enough about my culture and my peoples' way of life. It's great