20 — Wednesday, December 23, 1992 — North Shore News

Santa’s got ab

rand new book bag

Hardcore holiday fare from fireside readings to Sabine’s Notebook

_ a HRISTMAS IS cam-'
ing and what better
gift than a book —

especially a Canadian one?

H yours is one of the rare fami-
lies which enjoys holiday readings,
consider gathering around the yule
logs with The Fitzhenry and
Whiteside Fireside Book of Cana-
dian Christmas (edited by Patrick
Crean, Fitzhenry and Whiteside,
$24.95 cloth). ;

This quaint collection of histori-
cal and literary writings includes -
selections from Susannie Moodie,-
L.M. Monigornery, Stephen .
Leacock, Morley Callaghan and
turn-of-the-century newspapers
and magazines. :

You might take the advice of an
1898 article and substitute a ladder
for your usual Christmas tree and
festoon it with strings of popcorn.

Or turn the lights low for a -
Christmas ghost yarn in which a
ghost reveals the location of hid-
den treasure in a gargoyle.

Most of the selections in the
Fireside Boox run just a few pages.

For your curmudgeon friend
who grumbles about com-
memorative armbands and shud-
ders at the suggestion of gender-
neutral words, consider a gift that
bashes everything that is politically
correct: Not Politically Correct by
Ric Dolphin, illustrations by CAM
(Stewart House, $9.99 paper).

Subtitled “‘A Field Guide to
Surviving the PC Reign of Terror,”
this cheeky book spares nobody.

According to the author, the
spiritually correct celebrate
Christmas ‘‘not for its connection
to a patriarchal belief system, but
because of its pagan resonance
and ties to the Wicca festival of
winter soltice.’*

And a “caring profession” in-
PC-speak is translated as “any
occupation taken by a PCer. Its
politically incorrect equivalent is.
“the victim sciences.”

if you don’t see yourself or your
attitudes spoofed somewhere in
this book you’re not an em-
powered hu-person being.

For curious kids who just can’t
get cnough of animal facts, 1
would recommend Why Seals
Blow Their Noses, Canadian
Wildlife in Fact and Fiction, by
Diane Swanson, illustrations by ~
North Shore artist Douglas
Penhale (Whitecap Books, $10.95
Paper). _ ,

This bh «tifully written and il-
lustri - . 20k contains amazing
facts _..C. wildlife from bears
and beavers to eagles and ravens.

The straightforward text makes
animal facts interesting and un-
derstandable. Did you know that
bears go “snorkelling” to catch
fish? Or that ravens like to play
“pass the pebble?”

The book takes a lighthearted

A Timeiess Christmas Gift
The perfect place to buy ycur
Christmas gifts — select from our
estate jewellery, antiques &
collectibles sure to please that special
somesne. Why pay more elsewhere,
shop at “The Lions’ Mark”, where
there is a gift for everyone.

“If it's from The Lion's Mark, it will be

@ Merry Christmas!"

: Mon-Sat 10-6 pm & by appointment
A 1730 Marine Dr., W.Van. 926-7710

scientific approach, and in-
terspersed with the factual text are
short animal stories from around
the world.

British Columbia, an illustrated
history, by Geoffrey Molyneux
(Polestar Book Publishers, $14.95
paper), chronicles the settling of
this province from 10,000 years
ago to the present.

Probably not a book for hard-
core history buffs (who read those
weighty, pictureless tomes), but
certainly recommended for those
who wani a highly readable over-
view of B.C. history.

Author Molyneux highlights the
life of the coastal native people,

famous tor hokding an edge

CAPILANO MALL

PACIFIC CENTRE

988-0303
LANSDOWNE PARK MALL = 270-3035
687-7199

: ” He completes each chapter with
a semi-fictional narrative (based on
fact) on the way of fife or an im-
portant event in that era.

You've probably already heard
of North Shore author Nick Ban-
tock’s second installment of the
Griffin and Sabine saga, Sabine‘s
Notebook (Chronicle Books,
$21.95 cloth).

| attribute the popularity of this
book not to its literary content but
to its beauty and novelty.

In this book, Griffin and Sabine
continue their heartfelt cor-
respondence, with Sabine new in
England and Griffin travelling
through Europe, North Africa and

Barbara Black
BOOK REVIEW

B.C.’s union with Canada, the
Depression era, Japa-
nese-Canadian internment and the
Bennett Socred empire.

Carpets

fouse of

The Management and Staff
at House of Knives
and their suppliers would
like to thank you for your
patronage in 1992.

We look forward to serving
you in the years fo come with
the best possible service,
‘selection and value.

COQUITLAMCENTRE 464-4742
LOUGHEED MALL * 420-7153
PARK ROYAL NORTH = 922-8801

GUILDFORD MALL
OAKRIDGE CENTRE
WE.LOWBROOK MALL = 533-4130

Asia.

The reader gathers hints of their
relationship and thoughts from
their letters and postcards, il-
tustrated by Bantock.

Some are reproduced on the
page, complete with postmarks,
while others have to be lifted out
of envelopes marked ‘‘personal.””

Bantock’s masterful, exotic il-
lusteations create an air of mystery
and myth. .

And | think he’s really hit on
something else: the fascination
that comes with reading other
people’s mail.

This is for the visual person on
your list,

581-1146
266-1155