About BC Books Online
BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Description
When Julie Angus visits her relatives in Syria, where they continue a centuries-old tradition of making olive oil, she understands that the olive is at the very core of who they are. Her curiosity piqued, she begins to wonder about the origins and history of this fruit that has meant so much to them. Angus, her husband, and their ten-month-old son embark on a Mediterranean voyage to retrace the route of the Phoenicians and discover who ate the first olive and learned to make oil from it, why it became such an influential commodity for many of the greatest civilizations, and how it expanded from its earliest roots in the Middle East. As they sail the dazzling waters of the Mediterranean, Angus and her husband collect samples from ancient trees, testing them to determine where the first olive tree originated. They also feast on inky black tapenades in Cassis, nibble on codfish and chickpeas creamed in olive oil in Sardinia, witness the harvesting of olives in Greece, and visit perhaps the oldest olive tree in the world, on Crete.
Contributor Notes
The first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland, Julie Angus has also cycled across continents, rowed thousands of kilometers of coastlines and rivers, and organized an expedition that sailed the ancient Phoenician trading routes. She was named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year along with her husband, Colin Angus.
Editorial Review
"Guaranteed to move readers from casual consumers of olive products to enthusiastic aficionados ...as informative as it is infectious. ...This fascinating, well-written book blends travel with culture, history, geography, archeology, economics, politics, and medicinal and plant science, and provides important consumer information."Publishers Weekly
"A fascinating journey from Spain to the Palestinian West Bank. The book is an engaging mix of history, food travelog, and botany lesson. ...There is much to enjoy here, especially for foodies and armchair historians"Library Journal
"If anyone is qualified to wring travail and adventure out of these unreasonably glamorous locales, it is Julie Angus. ...it is a pleasure to try to keep up with this book; like its author, it covers an enormous amount of territory."Wall Street Journal, review by Christopher Bakken, author of Honey, Olives, Octopus: Adventures at the Greek Table
"A well-researched paean to the magical olive. This entertaining saga covers it all." Mark Pendergrast, author, Uncommon Grounds: The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World
Praise for Rowboat in a Hurricane:
National Outdoor Book Awards 2009 Honorable Mention, Outdoor Literature Category
"The most adventurous story among this year's NOBA winners is Rowboat in a Hurricane" National Outdoor Book Awards
"This one will keep you on the edge of your seat, It's truly a book that you won't be able to put down." National Outdoor Book Awards Chairman Ron Watters
" Angus writes with such good humour and honesty and you can’t help but admire her candour." OutPost Magazine
