Rich_007

BEAUTY TIPS FROM MOOSE JAW: TRAVELS IN SEARCH OF CANADA

Will Ferguson, Canongate Books. ISBN: 1841956317

"If you've ever been on holiday to Canada, you'll probably have noticed the gobsmacking scenery and fun way of life, but failed to get to grips of the nuances of the cultural fabric. This book does just that in a hilarious, observant, personable journey from one chilly coast to the next, where the writer tries to fathom just what Canada is.

With a remarkable ability to examine the weird quirks and cultural absurdities of his motherland through the eyes of a bemused excited and sometimes cynical tourist, he brings humour and real life to his search. He is initially eluded by this real Canada, but as a reader you feel you are working it out together, as he dashes from tow to town, seeing old mates and collecting ideas from locals.

Like a jovial tour guide he escorts the reader on a polar bear sighting trip and explores the towns set up by freed slaves who escaped from America to what they called 'cold heaven'.

The huge impact of doughnuts on Candian culture and the appreciation for odd dishes such as seal-flipper pie, are explored so you feel you know the place as a local, even if the locals don't get it themselves".

Sounds like interesting background/startup reading for anyone at stage #1 of the research process. Beats a Lonely Planet guidebook anyway.

If anyone has read this, thoughts, views, input please. Thanx.

Rich.

hot wasabi peas

I've not read this book but I've read others by him. My favourite being 'Why I Hate Canadians'. His books are generally well observed, light, humourous reading that unfortunately too many Canadians substitute for a more indepth understanding of their country but that's just me being stuck-up .

Platty

"How To Be A Canadian" by the same author is quite good too. He reminds me of Bill Bryson.