Canada Books

The book is well researched & documented. It's awsome.
If later excacations by archaeologists and proved beyond reasonable doubt it was a Chinese settlement, the history of the western world should be rewritten.

When I first picked up this book and started to read it, it glued itself to my hands and did not want to let go. Anyway, that's how it felt as I read page after exciting page of this excellent work. This rendition of the author's historical/archaeological research and discovery is of the highest and most exciting caliber. The author's quest was to find who built certain structures on Cape Dauphin on Cape Breton Island. In his effort to find out, in the first half of the book, the author discusses the European discovery and early colonization of North Eastern North America, more specifically, Cape Breton Island and its surroundings. The second half is more concerned with the local Mi'kmaq Indians, including parallels between their culture and that of the Chinese. Chinese history is also briefly covered in this half, as it pertains to the main theme of this book. Included throughout are snippets of the author's personal life as he conducts his painstaking research. When I first read the book's subtitle, I was very skeptical: how could the Chinese have made their way to Eastern North America before the Europeans? After having read the author's arguments and his well-constructed analysis, I am now willing to entertain the possibility that he may indeed be on the right track. The author's writing style is very chatty, friendly and engaging, so much so that, as stated earlier, I could not put the book down. This book would be of great interest to history buffs as well as anyone who loves a good who-done-it story.

Do you have a place you love above all the other places in the world? Do you always think about how it looks like now? Can't you wait for the cherished moment when you can finally get back to the place that you feel is your real home?

Well, Jane of Lantern Hill does. I know perfectly well how she feels and that's why I love this book so much.

Other than that, this is a nice, warm Montgomery-style reading for a windy winter evening.

If you stopped at "Anne" you're missing out. Every girl or woman should read "Jane." She's so loveable and steadfast. You just love to feel sorry for her, and then rejoice when she gets what she deserves. And mean old grandmother...well it's nice to see her get what she deserves too. :)

Pierre Berton, Canada's most accomplished popular historian, has written a practical and lively guidebook for those who aspire to be published and those who are already authors but could use a bit of advice from one who's long-accomplished in the writer's craft.

The opening chapter consists of letters that Berton has received over the years from would-be authors who expound at length on their fantastic book ideas and beg for the secret ingredient to getting published. Mind you, they usually don't like the answer: work hard. Berton goes on to offer practical suggestions about researching your subject, dealing with rejection, and equally important, dealing with success.

As a writer, I appreciated that he also acknowledged the fact that we can be a pretty difficult lot to understand. During the research phase of a given project, we're out there in society, making contacts, interviewing people, and participating in lively discussions with those who share our interest in the subject matter. When it comes time to put it all in manuscript form by a certain deadline, we're in the Bermuda Triangle of our lives. Berton writes:

"It is during this period when the pieces are being fitted together that a writer becomes difficult to live with.... He drives his car erratically, scarcely speaks to his wife, ignores his children. All this anti-social behavior is understandable, because what the writer is doing in those moments is WRITING. She is thinking about people, events, and sources, struggling to put them into some kind of order and perspective. She can no more cut off this flow of thought than she can cut off the flow of her own blood." He adds ruefully, "During these intensive periods, as my friends and family know, I'm not much fun. When the time comes to do the actual typing, I try to cut myself off from the world, refusing invitations, ignoring the television set, and letting others answer the telephone with a curt 'He's busy'." When Berton tried to contact author Farley Mowat for his take on the matter, Mowat's wife "reported that he was writing and had absolutely refused to take telephone calls."

He acknowledges that writer culture is a bit like police culture in that you're in a business that isolates you from the mainstream. Therefore your closest friends tend to be other writers, or those who also find their lives taken over from time to time by huge projects with vicious deadlines. This has been my experience too. It's not a bad thing, although Berton admits that many would-be writers back off from their dream because they fear accusations of selfishness, etc. Look at it this way- needier people are the only ones who will take issue. What you'll be left with are the more stable friends and associates who will cheer your success instead of resent it.

"The Joy of Writing" can be taken as an instruction manual or a witty literary memoir. For me, it was both.

Pierre Berton has written an excellent book about writing non-fiction. I've read the book once already; now I'll study it. It's a book that every non-fiction writer should read over and over.

Teacher, librarian, and award-winning author Anne Dublin presents June Callwood: A Life of Action, a biography for young adults about the remarkable life of June Callwood, one of Canada's greatest journalists and activists. Callwood grew up poor during the Great Depression, in farm communities and small towns of Southern Ontario, yet through compassion, hard work and sheer grit she made a difference in thousands of lives around her. She founded more than 50 activist groups, including Jessie's, a center that gives housing and support for teen parents; Nellie's, a shelter that protects abused women and children from violence; and Casey House, the world's first special-care hospice for people with AIDS. Her journalism career included an interview with a young Elvis Presley, and for a time she even hosted her own television show. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this inspirational tale of an exemplary life, highly recommended for school libraries.

"Each person is like a stone in a pond...Individual actions, good or bad, send out tiny ripples that change the surface of the public pond. People, by choice, can spread warm understanding or cold indifference."--June Callwood

June Callwood, a Canadian journalist and activist, has led a very active life. Having written articles about everything from celebrities to censorship, and over thirty books dealing with topics like Canadian history and the battle against AIDS, Ms. Callwood has definitely kept busy.

JUNE CALLWOOD: A LIFE OF ACTION is a comprehensive biography of the woman who helped establish over fifty different organizations, such as Digger House for homeless youth and Casey House for people with AIDS. She's also a Companion of the Order of Canada, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Canadian citizen, and has a park and street named after her.

Filled with dozens of photographs, a timeline of her life, and selected honors she's received, this is a great book for anyone looking for information specifically on Ms. Callwood, or for those interested in Canadian activists.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

The Canadian government's 1983 decision to allow U.S. cruise missile testing resulted in much criticism - it was anticipated, and thus kept secret for as long as possible. JUST DUMMIES uses recently declassified documents from government to trace the events surrounding the cruise missile program and its effects on Canadian-US relations. Chapters analyze opposition, military strategy, and major issues and are key for any military collection as well as for any holding offering insights into Canadian history and culture.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The northern part of Alberta Province appearantly bares a close resemblance to much of the northern part of the Soviet Union. As a result, the United States requested permission from the Government of Canada to conduct flights tests of unarmed air launched cruise missiles over Canadian territory. Testing began in 1984.

The testing program was kept secret as long as possible, but of course eventually became public knowledge and started a series of protests. Some of them were quite violent as when a truck bomb was set off injuring several people.

In this book Dr. John Clearwater has written a summary of every aspect of the testing. Note that Dr. Clearwater is a former editor-in-chief of 'Arms Control Reporter.' This is a magazing put out by the Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies which is opposed to virtually all weapons development programs.

Let's start with the best stuff first: There are B&W topo maps in the back of the book displaying all 100+ trails on them. The trails are numbered, so they can be located quickly on the maps. The area the maps cover runs from Canmore down to the Southern tip of Kananaskis. There is one large map showing the location and area coverage of each one of the more detailed maps, making for easy orientation. Natural features such as lakes, waterfalls, glaciers, and icefields are pointed out on the maps, as well as viewpoints and the path each trail or route follows.

There are 100+ trails described in this book. For each trail, basic information such as distance and elevation gain is given. Official *and* unofficial trails are listed. The author has done an excellent job of providing a lot of detail for each trail: Where to start and how to get there, directions to follow while you're on the trail, things you will encounter on the trail, a few historical facts here and there, etc. etc.

I cannot recommend this book enough to any person wanting to visit and hike in K-country. It is an excellent resource and provides invaluable information to hikers.

This book is like haivng a local friend who knows all the trails. Great directions to great locations. Make sure you know how to read topo maps.

This book is a must-read for Kandinsky enthusiasts. It's also a must-read for anyone who's confused by some of Kandinsky's unstructured, semi-representational works.

I was one of the latter. I love Kandinsky's early, representational work. His eye for color and balance almost sing in his later structured, geometric works. But, the in-between works baffled me until I studied this book.

I'm delighted with the chapter by Armin Zweite, "Free the Line for the Inner Sound." It explains a tremendous amount in the illustrations and discussion related to Small Pleasures and its forerunner, the glass painting called With Sun.

Once I started comparing their composition and design elements to many of Kandinsky's later works, I realized that he used these same themes over & over again. He was exhausting the form of his expression, rather than constantly looking for new subjects.

When I understood that, far more of Kandinsky's work made sense to me. And, it opened doors for my own artwork.

Although it's important to study Kandinsky's entire body of work, including his oil paintings, this book is a vital resource for anyone interested in Kandinsky's art and philosophies.

The definitive collection! A must for any fan

This is a fabulous and engaging book about the last Canadian soldier to be executed, by Canadians. Andrew Clark weaves a compelling story of tragedy, suffering and humanity and in doing so vividly illuminates the social and military history of Canada in World War Two, warts and all. I hope the CBC or NFB makes dramatizes this story.

Nominated for the 2003 Governor General's Literary Award for Non-fiction.

Book Description
When award-winning journalist Andrew Clark found the file on Harold Joseph Pringle, he uncovered a Canadian tragedy that had lain buried for fifty years. This extraordinary story of the last soldier to be executed by the Canadian military -- likely wrongfully -- gives life to the forgotten casualties of war and brings their honour home at last.

Harold Pringle was underage when the Second World War broke out, eager to leave quiet Flinton, Ontario, to serve by his father’s side. But few who volunteered to fight “the good fight” realized what horror lay ahead; soon Pringle found himself in Italy, fighting on the bloody “Hitler Line,” where two-thirds of his company were killed. Shell-shocked, he embarked on a tragic, final course that culminated in a suspect murder conviction.

His appeal was reviewed by the highest levels of government, right up to prime minister King. But Private Pringle was put to death -- the only soldier the Canadians executed in the whole of the Second World War. His own countrymen carried out the orders, forbidden to go home before completing this last grotesque assignment, even though the war had ended. The Pringle file was closed and stayed that way for fifty years -- until Andrew Clark uncovered it and began a two-year investigation on Pringle’s life in the army.

A Keen Soldier is a true-life military detective story that shows another side of what many consider our proudest military campaign. Andrew Clark examines the fallout of a crisis that disfigured our national conscience and continues to raise questions about the ethics of war. And he does so with eloquence and a deep compassion, not only for his subject but for all wartime soldiers -- even the men who executed Pringle and the officer who gave the order to fire.

From the Back Cover
“...meticulously researched... Instead of a straightforward black-and-white story, Clark offers a personal look at the kid from a small town in Ontario and the relatives and war veterans who were affected by [Pringle’s] troubled life and untimely death.” -- The National Post, 11 November 2002

“[A] powerful debut, written in a vivid but admirably controlled style, which only serves to intensify the passion for the truth, and compassion for the soldiers, that burns through its pages.” -- The Toronto Star, 10 November 2002

“Using personal correspondence, court documents and interviews with many of the principal characters, Clark masterfully tells the story of Pringle’s final days. …He does a wonderful job of putting the tragic story of this young soldier into a more complete historical context.” -- Globe and Mail

“In what may be one of the best biographies of the year, reporter Andrew Clark strips away the darkness around one of the sorriest episodes in Canada’s military history: the execution of a deserter accused of murder under dubious circumstances in the months following the Second World War. It’s a fine detective story, a tribute to the courage of the Canadians who fought in Italy, and a stirring indictment of political betrayal.” -- New Brunswick Reader

Advance Praise for A Keen Soldier:

“With this troubling tale of a Canadian soldier in World War II, Andrew Clark calls into question the ideals that are said to have motivated the Canadian effort in that war -- of justice, decency, open-mindedness, and virtue. The enormously sad and sobering story of Harold Pringle is told here with grim panache and poetic flair.” -- Modris Eksteins, author of Walking since Daybreak and The Rites of Spring

“It’s precisely the slow pace and quiet language in this fascinating account of a bizarre Canadian military execution in Italy fifty-five years ago that so powerfully convey war's awfulness and absurdity.” -- Ernest Hillen, author of The Way of a Boy: A Memoir of Java and Small Mercies: A Boy after War

“Andrew Clark has written a heartbreaking book on the quality of mercy. A Keen Soldier gets to the essence of modern warfare -- to the faceless, pitiless bureaucracies that wage such war and convey utter disregard for the qualities that make us human. The ‘keen soldier’ is the boy whose soul is lost in every war, no matter what his fate.” -- Jack Todd, author of The Taste of Metal

About the Author
Andrew Clark is a respected freelance writer and the recipient of a National Magazine Awards’ Gold Medal. His work has most recently appeared in The New York Times and on CBC Radio. He lives in Toronto and is currently working on a documentary for the National Film Board of Canada.

This book is very well written. It provides factual information, in a very interesting context. It is history made interesting. The book is a valuable resource tool as well as being enjoyable reading. Kudos to the authors of this worthwhile book.

If you are a kid in grade 6 and learning about explorers in school then you should read this book. It has a lot of interesting information about lots of explorers of Canada to help you do a history project. It was pretty interesting to read and has good pictures and maps to help you see what it was like to be an explorer back then. There is a timeline at the back of the book so you can figure out when different explorers were exploring Canada and it tells you stuff that isn't even in your textbook. Tell your teacher about it. by Kevin

This is a short book which brings memories and deeper thoughts to the surface. For anyone who merely wishes something to pass the time during a train journey, sorry, but you're in the wrong place. Rushforth's excellent prose draws the reader through various times into a work which is both dark and enlightening; a memory of times past and, perhaps, a warning of future times.

Since it was first published I have read this book many times, and have purchased at least five copies.

Peter Rushforth died recently, shortly after the publication of Pinkerton's Sister and before the publication of Dead Language, both of which show the skill and literary knowledge of a man who (even at 60) died before his time.

I read this book when it first came out, and have since read it several times. It is an extraordinarily moving story about modern English children who, because of an act of political terrorism by which they are directly affected, are brought to confront the meaning of the Holocaust from the standpoint of children. The novel is written with a somber simplicity and elegance, yet it succeeds in evoking not just the events themselves, but the whole cultural context of modern European history. It contains, for instance, one of the most frightening versions of the Hansel and Gretel story that you are ever likely to read. This book is definitely not recommended for children, but it would be hard to imagine any adult not finding it a wonderful experience.