[ MAUKA-MAKAI ]
New releases from Hawaii authors, reviewed by Burl Burlingame: Isle Pages
BOOKSHELF
Top Sellers And New ReleasesFrom Fishponds to Warships: Pearl Harbor, A Complete Illustrated History,
by Allan Seiden (Mutual $23.95 and $16.95)Complete? Really? That's a tall order. What this is, though, is a handsomely produced, keepsake overview of America's best-known naval base. The text by writer-photographer Seiden is adequate, and in the tourist-sidebar mode. There are dozens of images here that place Pearl Harbor not just in a geographic and historical context, but also in social and pop culture. For a really complete, but visually dull history, read the Landauers' "Pearl" -- this book is for browsing. The graphics leave no PhotoShop trick unused, and it's busy without being cluttered. The book shows some signs of being rushed -- imagine that! -- in the poor reproduction of paintings and "jaggy" low-resolution images.
Pearl Harbor in the Movies,
by Ed Rampell and Luis I. Reyes (Mutual, $23.95 and $16.95)Despite also appearing rushed, overly busy and padded (do we really need more than one picture of FDR motoring around Hawaii?) this is one of the few Pearl Harbor books that's actually a lot of fun to go through, and it's well-produced.
Rampell and Luis have an encyclopedic knowledge of Pacific-related films and it shows in the sheer amount of detail. There are gaps (where's 1934's "Hell Below"?) and omissions (that's veteran newsman Charlie Stubblefield standing next to Jason Robards in the "Tora! Tora! Tora!" still). It also includes movies influenced by the events of Dec. 7, 1941, and movies in which there's a dramatic mention of the attack (where's John Garfield's "Pride of the Marines"?) Since our collective memory is shaped more by pop culture than actual historical events, this book will trigger memories in most readers, and incite others to argue with the authors. That's the fun part.
Pearl Harbor, America's Darkest Day,
by Susan Wels (Time-Life, $34.95)There are going to be casualties in any battle, and right now the battle for survival is among all the books attempting to cash in on the "Pearl Harbor" movie. In the case of this book, despite the list price, I picked one up at Costco for less than $20. At any other time, this would be a welcome addition to the shelf. Wels sums things up clearly, and Time-Life's standard-issue layout chops make it an attractive package. There are excellent forwards by Sen. Daniel Inouye and military historian John Keegan, plus real artifacts scattered among the photographs and illustrations, which gives the work verisimilitude.
BOOKSHELF
Hawaii Books And EventsSend items at least two weeks in advance of publication to 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813. Or fax 529-4750. Read All About It
STORYTELLING
>> Barnes & Noble: 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 7 p.m. Fridays; and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Call 737-3323.>> Borders Waikele: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. Call 676-6699.
>> Borders Ward Centre, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Call 591-8995.
>> Hawaii State Library: 10:30-11 a.m. Saturdays. Call 586-3621.
>> Pearl City Public Library: 10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday. For toddlers and preschoolers. Call 453-6566.
>> "Preschool Pals": Stories, rhymes, finger plays, puzzles and more for ages 2-5, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Mililani Public Library. Call 627-7470 five to seven days in advance for a hearing interpreter. And, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, Kaimuki Public Library. Call 733-8422.
AUTHOR SIGNINGS
"Footloose the Mongoose & His Wonderful Ohana": By Elaine Masters and Jeff Pagay, noon June 23, Borders Waikele, 676-6699. And on noon, June 30, Borders Ward Centre, 591-8995."Francis Haar: A Lifetime of Images": Edited by Tom Haar, 5-7 p.m. May 24, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii Gallery, 945-7663.
"Red Sun": By Richard Ziegler and Patrick Patterson, 2 p.m. tomorrow, Barnes and Noble, Kahala Mall, 737-3323.
CONTINUING
AAUW Multicultural Book Group: Discussion of books and literature on women's issues, 6:30-8 p.m. fourth Monday of month, 537-4702.African American Literary Book Group: Group discussion on African literature, 6:30-8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of month, 1132 Bishop St., Suite 1404, Call to confirm attendance and book title, 528-5037.
Crafts and Stories: 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Barnes and Noble, 737-3323.
International Women's Writing Guild: Bring your muse, pen and notebook, 7 p.m. first and third Wednesdays, Borders Waikele, 676-7820.
Online Fun: Barnes and Noble author chat group at http://www.barnesandnoble.com or on America Online (keyword: bn). Call Elke Villa or e-mail her at evilla@bn.com, (212) 414-6157.
Romance Writers of America, Aloha Chapter: Call Sally Sorenson at 739-7722 for information.
Science and Fantasy Fiction Reading Group: Meets 7 p.m. last Thursday of month, Borders Ward Centre, 591-8995.
Shakespeare on Sunday: Reading of 'Henry IV, part II,' 7 p.m. today.
Writers Support Group: Meets 3 p.m. first Friday of month, Borders Waikele, 676 6699.
Hawaii Best-Sellers
Compiled by Nancy ArcaynaCHILDREN'S
1. "Limu -- The Blue Turtle," Kimo Armitage, Island Heritage
2. "Hawaiian Flowers Cut-out Paper Dolls," Yuko Green, Island Heritage (1)
3. "Humu, The Little Fish Who Wished Away His Colors," Kimberly Jackson, Island Heritage (3)
4. "Keiki Hula Sticker Paper Doll Book," Yuko Green, Island Heritage (4)
5. "Hide and Seek in Hawaii," Jane Hopkis & Ian Gillespie, Mutual Publishing (6)
6. "Golden Children of Hawaii Cut-Out Dolls," Yuko Green, Island Heritage (5)
7. "Baby Honu Saves the Day," Tammy Yee, Island Heritage (7)
8. "Hide and Seek in Hawaii 2," Jane Hopkins & Ian Gillespie, Mutual
9. "Baby Honu's Incredible Journey," Tammy Yee, Island Heritage (10)
10. "Fishes of Hawaii," Susan & Thomas Kelly, Bess Press (9)
GIFT AND TRAVEL
1. "Sam Choy Sampler," Sam Choy, Mutual
2. "Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, 3rd Edition," Andrew Doughty, Harriet Friedman, Wizard Publications (6)
3. "Pidgin To Da Max," Douglas Simonson, Bess Press (1)
4. "Hawaii's Best Mochi Recipes," Jean Watanabe Hee, Mutual (2)
5. "Maui's Hana Highway," Angela Kepler, Mutual (4)
6. "Hawaii Big Island Revealed," 2nd Edition, Andrew Doughty, Harriet Freidman, Wizard Publications
7. "Reflections of Kauai," Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi, Island Heritage (7)
8. "Maui," Douglas Peebles and Jan TenBruggencate, Mutual (3)
9. "Hawaii's Natural Wonders,"Douglas Peebles, Mutual
10. "Hawaiian Style Cooking," Rhonda Lizama, Kahaunani Kauai
HAWAIIANA
1. "Hawaiian Journey," Joseph Mullins, Mutual (3)
2. "Maui Remembers," Bren Bailey, Gail Bartholomew, Mutual (6)
3. "New Pocket Hawaiian Dictionary," Mary Kawena Pukui et al., UH Press (1)
4. "Hawaii Land of Volcanoes,"Jan TenBruggencate, Mutual (4)
5. "Hawaii's Best Spooky Tales 4," Rick Carroll, Bess Press
6. "Hawaii's Best Spooky Tales: True Local Spine-Tinglers," Rick Carroll, Bess Press
7. "Hawaii's Best Spooky Tales 2: More True Local Spine-Tinglers," Rick Carroll, Bess Press
8. "Hawaiian Names, English Names," Eileen Root, Press Pacifica (5)
9. "Driving & Discovering Oahu," Richard Sullivan, Island Heritage
10. "A Concise History of the Hawaiian Islands," Phil Barnes, Petrogylph Press
LITERATURE
1. "Pearl Harbor: The Way It Was," Scott Stone, Island Heritage (2)
2. "Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands," Gavan Daws, UH Press (5)
3. "Mark Twain In Hawaii," Mark Twain, Mutual (4)
4. "Legends & Myths Of Hawaii," David Kalakaua, Mutual (3)
5. "Hawaii's Story," Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual (1)
6. "Myths and Legends of Hawaii," W. D. Westervelt, Mutual (6)
7. "Hawaiian Reader," A. Grove Day (editor), Mutual
8. "Hawaiian Historical Legends," W. D. Westervelt, Mutual
9. "Hawaiian Legends of Ghosts," W. D. Westervelt, Mutual
10. "Betrayal of Liliuokalani," Helena Allen, Mutual (9)
REFERENCE
1. "Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Birds," H. Douglas Pratt, Mutual (1)
2. "Hawaiian Lei Making Step-by-Step Guide," Laurie Shimizu Ide, Mutual
3. "Pocket Guide To Hawaii's Flowers," Leland Miyano, Mutual (2)
4. "Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Trees and Shrubs," H. Douglas Pratt, Mutual (3)
5. "Poakalani Hawaiian Quilt Cushion Patterns Vol. I ," Poakalani and John Serrao, Mutual (8)
6. "How to Play the Hawaiian Ukulele," UH Lab School, Mutual (5)
7. "Hawaii's Fishes," John Hoover, Mutual (7)
8. "Things Hawaiian -- A Pocket Guide To the Hawaiian Language," Albert Schutz, Island Heritage (4)
9. "Pocket Guide to Hawaii's Underwater Paradise," John Hoover, Mutual (6)
10. "Handy Hawaiian Dictionary," John F. G. Stokes, Mary Kawena Pukui, Henry P. Judd, Mutual (10)
These lists of last month's best-selling books is based on figures from the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Bookline distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. Numbers in parentheses indicate a title's previous ranking.
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