PACK ICE Frances Itani Ottawa, Oberon Press, 1989. 128pp, paper, ISBN 0-88750-775-1 (cloth) $25.95, 0-88750-777-8 (paper) $12.95 Adult Reviewed by Alma Webster. Volume 18 Number 2 1990 March The eight stories in this collection are ail set in Prince Edward Island; each shows the personal, inner thoughts of ordinary people who live and work there. The title comes from the title of the final story, in which a writer who came to the Island hoping to find inspiration is returning to the mainland on the ferry, which is pushing through pack ice. Suddenly she has the feeling of being "caught between," that all living was "being between - between lovers, between stories, between friends." That theme is apparent in all of the stories. The author states that for as long as she can remember she has spent part of each year on Prince Edward Island. Six of the stories have been previously pub­lished in literary periodicals and several have been broadcast on CBC's "Anthol­ogy" Two strengths of these stories are the descriptions - short, but so effective for the setting - and the portrayal of the thoughts and concerns of the main characters. The writing is very competent and will capture the interest of the serious adult reader. Alma Webster, Edmonton, Alta.