32 - Wednesday, December 21, 1988 - North Shore News Some literary gift suggestions CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN AS PROMISED, this week is BOOKS NOW’s Christmas Countdown — the sequel. Jolly of” St. Nick, ever the ac- commodating and progressive elf, has, with a twinkling eye for mar- keting strategies, brought readers yet another sleigh-load of literary gift suggestions. At the top of the sack is what must surely be the second-most beautiful art book published in this province in recent years: Solstice — The Art of Roy Vickers. Why the qualification? Because Solstice is the general market edition of the artist's $3,000 limited edition released in a pressrun of only 1,000 copies. Ata ‘mere’ $60 a copy, this hardcover, gorgeous coffee table work is hardly an inexpensive gift item but what a book: each page is a stunning testimony to the boundless talent of an extraor- dinary B.C. artist as well as a graphic roadmap of Vickers’ evolution of technique. As a native Indian painter and sculptor, Vickers has carved an interna- tional reputation with his forays into a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles that will leave the uninitiated breathless, reverent — and yearning for more. In a darker corner of Santa’s bag of books we find lurking two titles dealing with the seamier side of life: criminal enterprise. Ladies’ Night (Seal Press; 238 pp.; $8.95 in paperback) is an in- teresting first novel by Vancouver writer, Elisabeth Bowers. Ladies’ Night is a good, smut-coated romp through the Lower Mainland’s seedy world of kiddie-porn, dope addiction, prostitution and murder — but with a remarkable dif- ference. The central character is not the run-of-the-mill, jaded, whisky-guzzling private eye endemic to the detective mystery genre but a single mother-of-one, Meg Lacey. Bowers’ sleuth is a realistic and sympathetic character struggling to raise daughter Katy while pursuing a not-so-lucrative, non-traditional occupation of shamus-for-hire. Her case? An apparently straight- forward, missing person job that quickly drags her into a dope- and-hooker ring victimizing street kids. From the North Shore resi- dence of a video equipment businessman to the grim backstreets of Vancouver's play- for-pay scene, Ladies’ Night is a pretty fair read with the potential for providing mystery buffs with a new detective hero (excuse me — heroine) to shadow. Donald Goddard’s Undercover — The Secret Lives of a Federal Agent (Times Books/Random House; 338 pp.; $27.50 in hard- coves) is one of several new books dealing with the real-life efforts of law enforcement agencies in their continuing war on crime. Undercover details the exploits of the near-legendary Michael Levine, a black-belt karate expert and Drug E~“nrcement Agent who, during his 23-year career to date, has chalked-up more busts than any other agent alive: an astoun- ding 3,000 criminals have been brought to trial thanks to Levine’s street-smarts, mastery of disguise and sheer guts. Undercover takes the reader behind the scenes for a gritty look at the dangerous world of the un- dercover cop and the high-stakes dealings of the druglords and their organizations. Undercover is true-life criminal drama that is fascinating to read but smells suspiciously like a set-up: it may be a benevolent form of entrap~ ment but readers should not be surprised if Goddard and his publisher plan a follow-up opera- tion for this work. Meanwhiie, back on the home- front (assuming of course that you’re not a narc or a Columbian MIKE STEELE book reviewer drug cartel member), here’s a book that might make life a bit vasier for older readers or seniors you might know: Eighty-Eight Easy-To-Make Aids For Older People. Eighty-Eight... (179 pp.; $12.95 in paperback) is a timely and thoughtful book of simple house- hold aids that require relatively lit- tle skill to make but are intended to make living less of a struggle for the elderly. These projects, clearly explained with accompanying i!- lustrations, range from slip-proof heart of Fine East African Indian Cuisine FRESH, EXCITING FOOD WARM, INVITING ELEGANCE FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL EXOTIC MENU, TWO SEATINGS, Le DANCING AND LOTS OF FUNI oa 1344 Lonsdale hw North Vancouver cho Bee ra de Pi Ty fe BEY on peecceeccneennne Gm. -------- NATURAL 1 No Waxes, ' Grease or — CHOCOLATE! — $2.00 Off Any purchase of $12.00 of more Plus a FREE small ee | gift box with purchase r pe OFFICE AND BUSINESS land ORDERS WE DELIVER 103 East 2nd Street North Van | 983-2110 cutting boards and back rests to drawer pulls, bath seats and book rests. The basic idea is to provide seniors with inexpensive aids that make coping with diminishing physical skills just a bit less ar- duous. (One amusing note here: publishing staff at Vancouver's Hartley & Marks had more than a few anxious moments devising a title that combined ‘aids’ and the elderly without inadvertently of- fending anyone...) And speaking of the lighter side, the last book suggested by St. Nick is 1988 Portfolio — The Year in Canadian Caricature (Eden Press; 192 pp.; $14.95), a hilarious col- lection of the best of Canadian po- litical cartooning from, not surpris- ingly, over 40 of the country’s best cartoonists, including Aislin, Nor- tis, Raeside and Wicks. Biting, satirical and just plain fun, this has to be the perfect stocking-stuffer for the issues- aware Canadian. As proof, | offer the fact that I personally overheard Santa ho-ho-hoing when he drop- ped this one off. The Staff at Saigon Restaurant would like te wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Still taking reservations for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Free fried banana dessert with every 2 entrees purchased over the holidays. Reservations , 984-2775 ; ~ tN f= @ ys -_--_ M7 .—' CHOOSE AN APPETIZER, SOUP OR SALAD, AN ENTREE, AND A DESSERT HOT APPETIZERS ENTREES Scallops wrapped in bacon 8 oz. New York Steak Escargot in mushroom caps and mushroonis Filet Mignon with Goose Liver Paté SOUP Clam Chowder Baked Onion Soup Salmon Wellington Sole Oscar SALADS Garlic Prawns Caesar Salad Butter Lettuce and Radiechio DESSERTS Choose from a selection of specialty cakes and guodies. Roast Prime Rib with Yorkshire Pudding COMPLIMENTARY CHAMPAGNE & PARTY FAYOURS ONLY $28.00 ferson RESERVATIONS REQUIRED the ‘ CO wot gale ) wore