CHINA: SHOCKWAVES. Rotstein, Nancy-Gay. Toronto. McClelland & Stewart, 1987. 77pp, cloth, $10.95, ISBN 0-77 ID-7749-l. CIP Adult Reviewed by Elinor Kelly Volume 16 Number 1 1988 January Nancy-Gay Rotstein was one of those lucky writers who received a special literary visa to China that allowed her unrestricted travel in the People's Republic. This book of poems is the result of those travels, the distillation of her experiences. A list of some of the titles of the poems gives a feeling of her adventures: "Visit to Thirteenth Middle School," "Ming Tombs." "East is Red Steamer," "View from Catching Cloud Pavilion." She observes the regimented school children, peasant farmer, pontificating foreign professor, frustrated ambassador and tyrannous block captain. Everywhere there is the press of bodies, the stench, the bicycles, and the butchered animals amongst the ancient tombs o& sculptured rocks. This book was printed and bound in the U.S.A. and is attractive to look at in the oriental manner, with textured paper and impressions of bamboo leaves. Rotstein has previously published two oilier books of verse, Through the eyes of a woman (Griffin House. 1975) and Taking off (Longman Canada, 1979.) She has had an interesting career beginning with a degree in history and being called' to the bar in 1987. She is a member of the Board of the Canada Council, serve, on the Public Lending Right Commission and on the National Library Advisory Board. This is a book of poems written in China but not in any sense a travel book as a quick glance at the publicity might suggest. Recommended for poetry collections. Elinor Kelly, Port Hope, Ont.