; ; Publishers’ are ata distinct | disad--:

HAVE YOU read any good books lately? If you have, the
chances are that many of the people you know have read the

same titles.

This is hardly surprising con-
sidering the fact that salected
authors and their works are mar-
keted in much the same way as
breakfast cereals and mouthwash.

As a result the books we

BOOKS e

automatically tend to borrow or
buy are often those with ‘name
brand’ appeal: the latest plunge in-
to the macabre with Stephen King;
another sortie into Canadian his-
tory guided by Pierre Berton; or
perhaps a romp through yet
another global conspiracy a la
Ludlum. —

/ Unfortunately the attention
given to such popular, mass mar-
ket offerings is at the expense of
lesser-known authors and the pro-

- ducts of smaller publishing houses.
The smaller houses frequently br-

- ing out books of note, but they ”

lack:the commercial clout of major

: publishing: concerns..." .
Operating with advertising

_ budgets that seem anorexic in

~¢ comparison with those ofthe in-

_o distry’ giants,’ regional or local :

- Vantage in the competition for. the ,
, reading public's interest. ;

This is not to say that everything yy,

Continental
- Cuisine |

printed by such publishers is wor-
thy of note (an observation that
applies equally to large companies)
but, as the following examples il-
iustrate, here are some interesting
if unsung books out there.

Houschold Hints (Hancock House:
$9.95) is a funny and useful guide
to some of the most bizarre
household remedies imaginable.

This humorous (but practical)
book is the product of CKNW
Radio's King of Houschold Hints,
Terry Moore.

If ‘bizarre’ seems like an odd
way to describe some of Moore’s

hy Mike Steele

Hastings and Main — Stories
From An Inner City Neighbour-
hood (New Star Books; $9.95),
edited by Jo-Ann Canning-Dew,
presents an entirely different
perspective of Vancouver's gritty
Downtown Eastside. Hastings and
Main is actually a compilation of
oral histories from 20 longtime res-
idents of an areca that might be
charitably described as seedy at its
best.

If your impression matches mine
you are probably wondering just
how interesting such a book can
be, but the fact is that these per-
sonal stories are compelling in-

’ sights into the lives of people

whose courage, humanity.and
almost incomprehensible deter-
mination to survive will alter for-
ever the reader’s view of Van-

% couver’s Skid Road.

- And'now a look at the lighter

. side: Toothpaste & Pesnut Butter

— A How-To Collection Of.

cures for the spills and stains that

plague all of us at one time or

another, the following excerpt

should be ample justification

(remember — this occurred ‘on

air’ on Moore's radio show):
“Go ahead line five."'

“Help me, please. My daugh-
ter has a great wad of bubble
gum stuck in her hair.’’

“Have you tried peanut but-
ter?” E asked.

There was silence at the end
of the line. I could imagine her
silently mouthing the words,

“He's nuts."* :
It may sound unorthodox, but

suffice it to say that this Moore
hint really docs work. The entire
book is written in this jocular vein
as Moore wades through stains,
spilis, blots and blotches, dispens-
ing humour and solution in equal
parts.

Join us
for
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23 - Friday, January 29, 1988 - North Shore News

kk ek aK Kk

Week of Jan. 31-Feh. 6, 1988

ARIES (March 21-April 20):
Your private life has now

tas become the talk of the of-

fice. Try to stay in control.

oe 20): Home and home-related
matters are emphasized this

week, Sec to it that you have an alter-

nate plan in mind.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20):

Take care that you do not

speak out of turn, This
means that it would be inadvisable
to say the first thing that you think
of.

TAURUS (April 21-May

CANCER (Sune 21-Suly 22):

The subject of money, as
-— + 4 well as personal possessions,
permeate your actions and reactions
this week.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
| There are those who may op-
pose you in the days ahead.
If so, keep your original plan at

hand.

rq Confidential matters are all-
important at this point. You

must stay in charge if you want to

make the progress you desire.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):

salmon Oscar Dinners

Baked
Sauce

i LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct, 22): It
Pad appears that friends and

close ties are everywhere.
You find that you may even have to
hide. Do it, if necessar

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov.

! 22): Your position is on the
line. Therefore, you must

now decide what really matters to
you — and what does not. Then, act
on it,
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23

G6) -Dec. 21): People and places,
u—— near and at a distance, seem
to come together suddenly. That’s
why you must be aware of where you

stand,

ae 19): The joint bank account
is highlighted. Whatever

funds you share with someone else

are now likely to be under

discussion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.

18): Take a step back,

thereby allowing yourself to

look at alliances and agreements. A

new perspective is what you're after
now.

leat) PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

tired It seems that your presence

is demanded in more than

one place at the same time. Pace
yourself, since each will be i important

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

114. 5

for only.

Lasagna with Meat 12. 65

both include your choice of soup or salad, and gatlic bread

We've added some.
warmth to this winter!

Take ‘off winter's chill with a hot cappuccino,

espresso or coffee

from our new machine:

The finest Murchie's blends will warm your, 7

tastebuds.

Come and enjoy Winter Lunch or ‘Dinner at
The Teahouse at Ferguson | Point.

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cappuccino

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OPEN!.7 DAYS LUNCH & DINNER

669-3281