Marc

Truly, Adam Shoalts is one of the great Explorers. Had he been born a few hundred years ago, we'd be reading about his discoveries in history books. His solo canoe trip across Canada's arctic is an incredible feat! Every night when I was reading this book, I felt a mix of awe, incredulousness at his stupidity (hubris?), inspiration, envy (to head out on my own adventure) and especially stress and fear that he'd get mauled by a grizzly, trampled by a muskox, drowned when his canoe traversed rapids, or any of the dozens of things that could happen in the wild.

This book was entertaining and Adam has a sense of humour (mostly self-deprecating) and his quips about who in their right mind would do whatever crazy things he is actively doing were great! His canoe trip was “stupid” in the sense that WHO in their right mind would ever spend MONTHS alone, in the arctic, on a canoe, going upriver (the MACKENZIE no less). But if anyone could pull this off, clearly it was Adam; he was prepared and his mindset is absolutely what this kind of adventure needed. Every time he waxed poetic about some interesting rock formation, or a wolf family saying hello from the riverbank, or the colours of the tundra, made me want to head out on one of my little bicycle-camping adventures (which could never compare to what he has accomplished, and I don't think I have even a 1/100th of his courage or determination).

Truly, truly inspiring. Adam, when you ask: “[...] I wondered if I'd set the bar too low, and if my adventures would seem merely dull to everyone else.”

The answer is: a resounding NO!

This has GOT to be the MOST
Hilarious
Funny
Dog- and cat-waking
LLOL (Literally Laughing Out Loud, not some of your run-o'-the mill lolling here)
Inapropes (it's a word! Ref: Happy Endings TV SHOW)
Did I say hilarious? Yes. Yes I did. But I made you look twice didn't I? That's right. You're a chump. Also, you should read this book.

You don't even need to know ANY of these myths and legends. Because basically, they've been “improved” by modern sensibilities and a shit-ton of swearing and explosions (but toned-down on the sex because, let's face it, the previous civilizations didn't have a puritan way of thinking).

Anywho, all that to say I've never laughed so much reading a book and I will definitely be gifting this to anybody I know that reads. (Spoiler-Alert re:XMas gifts guys!)

I'll start by saying that I really liked this book. It gives a good view of what life in the late 1800's was like for people in the colonies. Sir John A. is an interesting man, but what I found the most interesting were the interactions between Anglos and Canadiens, not much has changed in the last 200 years! Provinces still want to control more of their destinies without strong federal intervention.

The thing that got everybody on the same side is their Anti-Americanism and the British intent to let us fend for ourselves (against the Americans). Especially during the American Revolutionary War Period (ending when Confederacy starts).

What made me remove that fourth star in my rating is the overall feeling that Gwyn is very (too much?) pro-MacDonald. There are lots of assumptions about feelings and intents and causes, and sometimes that distracts from the actual story being told. Maybe it's just me, and I'd like something more scientific with less assuming some things as fact without much more information.

Overall; a very good read for any Canadian(en) and the second part, post-confederation, will likely be as interesting.

The first 50 pages are important. Don't skim through them, pay attention to names and descriptions. After that you'll be fine.

It took me a while to get into the story, but that's only because I didn't follow my own advice (see top of review). The characters were interesting and flawed and nice and innocent and real. There's no super revelation at the end, no snapshot finish, just life. Which made me bump it up a star.
Overall a very good read. For anybody who has a family that has their quirks (or, you know, everybody).

I struggled with this book. It is well written, just not what I enjoy as a book. They are characters for characters' sake. (the bully. The fat nerd. The slutty popular girl. The invisible kid. And apart from Howard, the adults are caricatures).

But then the ending. It redeems the whole to the point where I might recommend this book to other people now.

It took me weeks to read the first 80% and two nights to finish it. It is spectacular and beautiful.

What I'm taking out of it is: all our stories are part of one greater story.

And finally, what's next to read are the poets mentioned in the book. (especially Graves, but also Éluard).