Half a glass

We have two new books here that are half-helpful. By 'half-helpful' I mean that part of the book is probably too region-specific to interest most people here in Ketchikan. BUT: the other half of each book is chock-full of information that would be of great interest to our patrons. The first book is Island Halibut Fisherman: halibut tips and hot spots for the West Coast of BC, by Robert Jones and Larry Stefanyk. By 'West Coast of BC', they really mean Vancouver Island, so the halibut hotspots aren't going to do anyone here any good. But they also offer lots of valuable advice on tackle, bait, lures, fishing tactics, processing your catch, how to pick a likely spot to fish, and what to wear. If you've ever wanted your picture in the paper with a 200-lb halibut, this book might help you achieve that goal. It's especially helpful for anyone who is new to halibut-fishing.
The other book is Carve Your Own Totem Pole by Wayne Hill and James McKee. The authors favor the designs and styles of the Kwakiutl tribe, so as a source of design inspiration this book is a little out of range. The practical advice they give to the beginning carver, however, is very interesting. The cover such topics as sharpening tools, caring for the wood, selecting paints, texturing, and mounting the finished pole. The also break down design elements into individual geometric shapes. They suggest beginning with masks and working your way up to poles, and give lots of other generic pointers. This is a good book for anyone who is considering carving and would like to play around a bit before committing themselves to a class from the Totem Heritage Center (where you will really learn how to carve).