The Honolulu chapter of the National Writers Association has a manuscript critique 7 p.m. Monday, Manoa Gardens, 2790 Kahaloa Drive. Call Robert at 845-9585.

The Readers Group discusses Elizabeth Engstrom's novel "Lizard Wine," 7 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes & Noble.

The Women's Reading Group tackles Part Two of Jill Ker Conway's memoirs, "True North," 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Borders, Waikele. Part One, "The Road from Coorain," addressed Conway's life in provincial Australia.

Maili Yardley recalls plantation theaters, trolley rides to Waikiki and Matson boat days in "Hawai'i's Glamour Days," 3 p.m. Sunday at Borders, Waikele.

The Hollywood team offers "a hands-on demonstration of the components of a film script." The cost is $50. Call 243-0711, Maui.

The Carolingians lead another workshop 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Big Island Television Studio at Palm Terrace in Kailua-Kona. Costs $80. Call 326-2294, Big Island.

Thomas B. Allen, $18.95, 340 pages, Lyons & Burford

Updated guide to sharks includes famous attacks, attitudes toward sharks in varied times and countries, descriptions of shark species and their relatives and companions, commercial shark fishing, folklore and recipes. Several Hawaii incidents and traditions are featured.

"Japanese Americans: The Formation and Transformations of an Ethnic Group"

Paul R. Spickard, $28.95 cloth, $16.95 paper, 185 pages, Twayne Publishers

Ethnic study of Japanese immigrants traces their and their descendants' efforts to establish themselves within the United States. Spickard, a professor of history at Brigham Young University, focuses on three forces at work with ethnicity - shared interests, shared institutions and shared culture.

"Paradise Family Guides: Maui and Lana'i"

Christie Stilson and Dona Early, $15, 426 pages, Prima Publishing

Updated guide to Maui county combines anecdotes, descriptions of places to see and the editors' "Best Bets" with reviews of hotels and other residences, eateries and activities. General information includes weather descriptions, a calendar of annual events and tips for families with young children, couples planning to wed and the physically impaired.

The food section carries the weight of Early's opinion (she's the dining columnist for the Lahaina News), with some reviews almost a page long.

"Paradise Family Guides: Kaua'i"

Dona Early and Christie Stilson, $14.95, 293 pages, Prima Publishing

Updated guide to the island, as comprehensive in scope as the Maui book.

2. The Goodnight Gecko Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (1)

3. A Is For Aloha Stephanie Feeney and Hella Hamid, University of Hawai'i Press

4. Gecko Hide and Seek Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (4)

5. Aloha Bear and the Meaning of Aloha Dick Adair, Island Heritage (5)

6. The Legend of the Laughing Gecko Bruce Hale, Geckostufs (9)

7. Three Whales Who Won the Heart of the World Suzanne Kita, Island Heritage (8)

8. Sand to Sea Stephanie Feeney and Ann Fielding, University of Hawai'i Press

9. Native Animals of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press (3)

10. Adventures of Aloha Bear and Maui the Whale Mark A. Wagenman, Island Heritage (10)

2. Waikiki Yesteryear Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing

3. Viewbook (series) Douglas Peebles, Hawaiian Resources (2)

4. Hawai'i's Natural Wonders Jan TenBruggencate and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing

5. Kauai Travelogue Curt Sanburn, Jan TenBruggencate and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing

6. Hawai'i's Beautiful Birds H. Douglas Pratt and Jack Jeffrey, Mutual Publishing

7. Scenic Hawaii Series Island Heritage (1)

8. With Sam Choy: Cooking from the Heart Sam Choy, Mutual Publishing

9. Reflections of Kauai edited by Paul Turley, Island Heritage

10. From the Skies of Paradise (series) Glen Grant, Chris Cook, Tom Stevens and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing

2. Hawaiian Mythology Martha Beckwith, University of Hawai'i Press

3. Hawai'i Chronicles Bob Dye, University of Hawai'i Press

4. Legends and Myths of Hawaii David Kalakaua, Mutual Publishing (1)

5. Tales of the Tikongs Epeli Hau'ofa, University of Hawai'i Press

6. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual Publishing (2)

7. Myths and Legends of Hawaii W.D. Westervelt, Mutual Publishing (3)

8. Mark Twain in Hawaii Mark Twain, Mutual Publishing (5)

9. A Hawaiian Reader edited by A. Grove Day and Carl Stroven, Mutual Publishing

10. Stories of Hawaii Jack London, Mutual Publishing (7)

2. Obake Files Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (1)

3. Fornander's Ancient History of the Hawaiian People Abraham Fornander, Mutual Publishing

4. Hawaiian Journey Joseph Mullins, Mutual Publishing (3)

5. Shark Bites: True Tales of Hawai'i Greg Ambrose, Bess Press

6. Hawaii This 'N That LaRue W. Piercy, Mutual Publishing

7. Obake - Ghost Stories in Hawaii Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (4)

8. Hawaiian Names English Names Eileen Root, Press Pacifica (6)

9. Pele - Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes Herb Kane, Kane Press (7)

10. Honolulu Mysteries Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (5)

2. Hawaiian Dictionary (revised) Mary Pukui and Samuel Elbert, University of Hawai'i Press

3. Growing Native Hawaiian Plants Heidi Bornhorst, Bess Press

4. Ghost Fleet: The Sunken Ships of Bikini Atoll James Delgado, University of Hawai'i Press

5. The Food of Paradise: Exploring Hawaii's Culinary Heritage Rachel Laudan, University of Hawai'i Press

6. Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was Scott C.S. Stone, Island Heritage

7. A Hawaiian Florilegium: Botanical Portraits from Paradise Mary Grierson and Peter Green, University of Hawai'i Press

8. Tropical Trees of Hawaii Dorothy & Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage (6)

9. Hawaii's Birds Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaiian Service (5)

10. Handy Hawaiian Dictionary Compiled by Henry P. Judd, Mary Kawena Pukui and John F.G. Stokes, Mutual Publishing (1)

These are best-selling books in Hawaii during the period noted. Figures are courtesy of the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Book-lines distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. A star () denotes a title that has been on the market at least five years or more; a number in parenthesis indicates a title's previous ranking.