Columbia Reviews

I've read and re-read "Marine Life" so many times I can no longer count. It is an excellent body of work, seamlessly woven together. The prose is outstanding in its' stunning simplicity. Linda Svendsen is an extremely talented writer and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

Rarely are words so elegantly crafted by modernist writers. Unlike the original reviewer, I do not feel this novel is about desperation or the futility of marriage. It touches me on level more realistic than hopeless. More hopeful than hopeless. And I do not connote desperation with realism. Melancholy, yes. To be sure. Bittersweet, yes. Touching and insightful-with every sentence. I wish this author would write more. I treasure her words & reverently admire her artisanship. Most excellent!

I certainly qualify as a layperson when it comes to this subject, but Yates has created a book which is wonderfully informative and easy to use. The descriptions and drawings of each of the species included in this book help in identification, but what I found most interesting was all the wonderful information about the animals themselves. I liked it so well I bought one for my mom, too!

After taking a community college course on Life in the Intertidal Zone, and acquiring in the process a copy of Kozloff's book on the subject, I felt marginally equipped to take my elementary students to local beaches to identify invertebrates. A partner acquainted me with this book by Yates, and I've found it to be an excellent source of line drawings for students to use as they classify or sort invertebrates either on site, or in the classroom. It is especially valuable for its notes on each animal, since they are succinct, clear, and comprehensive for their brevity. I heartily recommnend this book for anyone who loves to prowl the tidelands of the sound to observe the variety of wildlife found here. Teachers, take note, this one is worth purchasing and sharing with your students!

Schodt has accomplished two things with one book. He has told the tale of a fascinating individual and his adventures in the Orient and elsewhere. And he has also brought to life a unique period in North American history that few of us learn about in school. Although the exploits of McDonald alone make for a great story, what interested me most was the vast historical and geographic tableau the author ambitiously depicts -- one that sprawls over decades and continents and is populated by such colorful characters as John McLoughlin, the virtual emperor of the Pacific Northwest, and James Dickson, the self-styled general of the "Indian Liberating Army," to name just two. The book's portrayal of the Metis culture of the U.S. and Canada in the early 19th century is a compelling story in itself. Coupled with McDonald's remarkable adventures in a Japan that was on the cusp of opening to the West, this makes for a gripping epic. Schodt has done a thorough and eloquent job of bringing it to life. "Native American in the Land of the Shogun" should entertain any history buff as well as satisfy the most discriminating scholar.

Frederik L. Schodt is an interpreter and translator whose specialty is writing and understanding Japanese culture and Japanese-U.S. relations. In Native American In The Land Of The Shogun: Ranald MacDonald And The Opening Of Japan, Schodt ably presents the fascinating and true account of a half-Chinook, half-Scot adventurer who braved feudal Japan in 1848, when it was still closed to the outside world, and helped establish a legacy of knowledge that would pave the way to Japan's involvement in modern times. It was Ranald MacDonald's study of the Japanese language, and his teaching of English to interpreters of a nation, which helped Japan when the Japanese government had to negotiate with foreign visitors such as Commodore Perry and his fleet of "Black Ships" which arrived in 1853. An amazing, trailblazing account of one man's achievements and the intercultural communications he fostered, Native American In The Land Of The Shogun is an enthusiastically recommended addition to 19th Century Japanese History reference collections and reading lists.

This book fast-paced, well-written, and peopled with interesting characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read for folks who love mysteries, and this one is all the more satisfying because it takes on an important social issue: animal abuse. In addition to having crafted her story skilfully, the author handles language beautifully -- the book is full of delightful turns of phrase and striking imagery-- not what you'd expect in a quick reading mystery novel. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

In this Lambda Award winning first of the Caitlin Reece series, the wisecracking Victoria, British Columbia PI is called on to investigate the death of an operative placed in an illegal research lab by an animal advocacy group named Ninth Life. Feminist Bookstore News said of this book when it appeared in 1988: "A very accomplished first novel, distinguished by an elegant flair for description and an ovbious love of the language. This is a stunning first effort." I have to agree. This novel is head and shoulders above so many of the "women's mysteries" on the market -- it has a terrific heroine, great writing, and an important issue -- animal rights. Her secondary characters are terrific, too: her cats Repo and Jeoffrey, her Vietnamese friend Gray Ng, her mysterious computer hacker friend Francis the Ferrett, and her protege Lester. The Victoria locales are true-to-life: read all the books in her series

I recently got given this book, and I can see myself making most of the recipes in it as the first 3 have all been so successful. Great variety of recipes, good layout and directions, and the added bonus of a list of great Northwest Restaurant to try out when you don't fancy cooking!

Simple, elegant recipes that make a stunning meal. The herb baked salmon, asparagus linguine, and black mussel linguine were absolutely wonderful. Each dish had clear instructions and only required a few good ingredients.

As an information junkie, I'm always turning to the Internet for fast and up-to-date information for my garden design business. This book has replaced my computer for first-glance information. Debra provides significant editorial value in this reference, which I find dog-eared and well-used in a few short weeks. A must-have for any gardener in the Northwest, and a brilliant gift for a gardener new to the area.

It's a Northwest garden enthusiast's dream come true! Stephanie Feeney has outdone herself and compiled information in this edition I will refer to again and again. The list of nurserys to visit is complete with directions, business hours, the types of plants they sell and what they specialize in, e-mail addresses, and any other helpful information that may be of interest. I especially appreciate the geographic locator in the very back that breaks down locations by region that makes planning a garden outing a breeze. I even found a few nurseries in my small town that I didn't know existed. Other chapters include organizations that help gardeners, clubs, foundations, societies and volunteer opportunities, education, gardening with children and young people, internet gardening, publications, professional services, gardens to visit, shows and exhibits, and the list goes on. And it's all written in a friendly personal manner.

This is the best PNW plant and animal identification book on the market (and I have lot of such i.d. books). Lots of really good color pictures and detailed b/w's. Informative text on life history/cycles. Good index and well-organized. Great for helping children get going on school projects (the Latin names are there, but the text is plain English, flows well, and provides information that interests ordinary persons of all ages who enjoy the out-of-doors). Would make a nice gift for someone new to the area or otherwise interested in the topic.

I fell in love with wild plants at the tender age of 11 when I went to camp with my 5th grade class. We did plant identification and I became intrigued by all the wonderful plants in the NW. WHen I got home I poured through my mom's copy of this book. I had been seeing it on our coffee table since I was like a tot! I fell in love with plants. This book has beautiful color pics of all kinds of wonderful plants and animals. It's awesome!

The "plants of....." series is the best most comprehensive botanical reference materials for the Northwest and southern BC as well as the interior, I highly reccomend these books to anyone who has interest in the indigenous species of these areas. As a proffessional Forester I have foujnd myself constantly referring to these books to identify, shrubs, herbs and trees, as well as mosses and lichens. And if your memory is as bad as mine this book will become a mainstay and welcome addition to your reference collection.

This is the best guide to native (and nonnative) plants growing in the Pacific Northwest that I have found. Photographs are excellent and are accompanied by detailed descriptions of leaves, flowers and fruits and a location map showing the range of each plant. The book is over 500 pages with two plants described on each page. It is very comprehensive.

A chilling page-turner... to think of the strength that Abby had at that age, remarkable and unbeleivable!
I grew up in that area, and was 4 at the time. This unthinkable act put a fear into the community for many years. It was a topic throughout my school years, reminding of the dangers that exist, even with people that you know and sometimes trust.
Very well written... a must-read!
Abby's strength, even today to face Hay in court, is really quite inspiring!! I can't even begin to fathom what Abby was put through...

This book was a reminder of the reason why we don't feel safe to take our eyes off our children for one second.

I was three years old when this happened and lived in the neighboring city, Coquitlam. I can still remember how scared everyone was when we all started elementary school a couple of years later.

The author has done a great job of keeping the reader hooked on the book throughout Abby's horrifying ordeal.

Abby was indeed a brave and courageous child that overcame great obstacles while in confinement and after she was discovered.

I read this book in 1964. Shortly after, I mislaid it (gave it on loan) and never saw it again. However, it has stuck in my mind with startling clarity because of the mastery of the author both as a writer and as a fly angler. It is a collection of lucid essays about Roderick Haig-Brown as a boy and a young man learning the art of fly fishing from wonderfully drawn tutors . This is a book that a father would give to his son or an uncle to his nephew. One of the really great angling books of all time.

Haig-Brown is the master of writing about the sport of fly fishing. Through this work you experience the man, the sport and the land. Though written years ago, it is timeless. His love of the rivers, lakes and their surroundings is shared and felt by anyone who goes afield today with the long rod.