Category: Book Review

This weekend we went up to New Glasgow. By chance, late Saturday evening, we watched Doc Martin on PBS Maine. Besides the regular episode, there was a documentary on the final season of the show: number ten.

The show is set in the picturesque Cornish village of Portwenn.

As I watched the documentary it was apparent that the series, on the air for eighteen years, has had a significant impact on tourism in rural Cornwall.

Would it be possible to take this model, and apply it to rural Nova Scotia? We have the geography. We have numerous writers who have set their stories in rural Nova Scotia . Could this form part of the ‘creative rural economy’ (see Edward’s blog post “What do the films Outlander, Titanic and DevCon-4 Have in Common?“)? Or can a model be a continuation of Celes Davar’s ‘Fundy Riches and Valley Traditions’, Experiential Tourism workshop (November 2007).

Another dimension would be to build upon the writing of Ernest Buckler, The Mountain and the Valley, and more recently the work of EBLES ( Ernest Buckler Literary Event Society).

From my bookcase, I pulled down seven volumes of blogs. Volume 1 GoGeomatics, Volume 2 2017 – Volume 7 2022.

In a few weeks, I shall go to Integrity Printing in Bridgetown and request Volume 8 2023. This blog will be #538

This week, I was invited to give a keynote talk at the upcoming Canadian Symposium on Remote Sensing, Halifax, June 2024. I accepted the invitation.

Fifty years of Remote Sensing and GIS at COGS (1974-2024) is my working title.

Initial research has led me to two sources.

1. Making Government Science work for Canada and around the World{ A legacy of excellence at the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) June 2019.
2. Bob Ryerson and Stan Aronoff, 2010, Why ‘where’ matters: understanding and profiting from GPS, GIS and Remote Sensing, Kim Geomatics Corp. (see book review by Jeff Thurston).

Acknowledgements

John Wightman provided the reference to CCRS. Heather stayed up late to watch the Doc Martin documentary. Edward added his contribution to the blog.

Doc Bob

This weekend, we found ourselves in Kentville. I picked up a card giving directions to the new location of Tides Art Gallery between Brad’s Decor and the Half Acre Cafe.

This was an uplifting memoir, describing life in Nova Scotia leading to the Oceanstone Seaside Resort on the South Shore. Part of the pleasure was the scattering of quotations throughout the book; each in a sense being ‘a note in a bottle’.

Given the state of the world, it was refreshing to read a personal journey, with an emphasis on joy, love and beauty.

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Sunday morning, after checking out Cottage Cove on the Bay of Fundy, we arrived at the Clarence Country Christmas Market. We were pleased to bump into a number of old friends and colleagues. Again, I was attracted to a book stand. I picked up a free copy of Trap Street (Issue #1, November 2023). It included a short story, Making Believe by Bob Bent. He is the local author of Spy on Ice and Ida Red.

”Both in my personal world and in my professional life, do I think about small places, often with long histories, that are unique but also recognizably and often painfully entangled in large world phenomena. Some of these places appear similar in Norway, England, Canada, Australia.” G.B.Ween, University of Oslo.

Both of these books by local authors take me away from the relentless news of the times.

Acknowledgements

Heather and I appreciate the sterling efforts by local authors. I was happy to see Trap Street #1.

”In cartography, a trap street is a fictitious entry in the form of a misrepresented street on a map, often outside the area the map nominally covers, for the purpose of ‘trapping’ potential plagiarists of the map”.

References

Daniel Lillford, 2022, Ghost Breezes, Short stories, Illustrations by Jesse Lillford-Brighton, Moose House Publications.

Ron MacInnis, 2014, Note in a Bottle, Balboa Press.

This weekend, I found myself in New Glasgow, without books. I checked the shelves and pulled out:

Lesley Choyce’s (Ed), Nova Scotia: Visions of the Future, Published in 2009, and Scott Milsom’s Voices of Nova Scotia Community: A Written Democracy, Published in 2003.

What has changed in the last twenty years? The Foreword was written by the late Silver Donald Cameron (died in 2020).

Together these books reflect the relationship between community engagement and a shared vision of our common future. It would be valuable to revisit both of these books in 2023 ( 14 years and 20 years respectively). That is, perhaps, more critical for the contributors to Lesley Choyce’s book.

Postscript

Sad day in the Valley yesterday !

I received in the mail, notice from the Bank of Nova Scotia, that they are closing their branches in Bridgetown and Annapolis Royal, effective November 2024. A sign of the times.

Perfect Morning

Heather has been reading Jay Ingram, The End of Memory. A Natural History of Aging and Alzheimer’s. He recommends paying attention to both exercise and diet. I had the following agenda, despite the unsettled weather. We went to Annapolis Royal, via Highway#201, and walked the French Basin Trail. Afterwards we stopped at the Brown Dog Kitchen (at the Library). I wanted to try their takeout curries. We returned home via Highway #1.

On returning home, the wood stove was a bed of hot coals. We could enjoy a late lunch: meat and vegetarian curry, basmati rice and naan.

Acknowledgements

Edward found the time to overcome technical issues arising from his relocation to Florida. Heather shared our idea of a ‘perfect morning’ in rural Nova Scotia.

References

Lesley Choyce (Ed), Nova Scotia: Visions of the Future, Nimbus Publishing, 2009.

Scott Milsom, Voices of Nova Scotia Community: A Written Democracy, Fernwood Publishing, 2003.

Jay Ingram. 2014. The End of Memory. Harper Collins

Today, I stopped at the Bees Knees Bakery in Lawrencetown. I ended up buying apple turnover for dessert and a book by Linda Hegland.

Sandra Barry had mentioned that there was a poetry reading at Bees Knees on Sunday, October 15th by Jan Coulter and Linda Hegland. We were on the road to Peterborough.

The store had several books by Linda Hegland.

Given my interest in ‘place’ and writing. I was intrigued to find that the author is now a resident of Clarence on North Mountain.

In response to my latest blog, Edward Wedler asked questions about the relationship between IoT ( Internet Of Things), AI (Artificial Intelligence) and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Did I see these other technologies interacting with GIS education at COGS?

Perhaps with time, I will be able to offer an informed response. It is certainly a changing technological complex world which will impact COGS and its graduates.

With the changing weather, today, I was able to celebrate by lighting the wood stove.

Postscript

I understand that there will be further literary events at the Bees Knees bakery. That’s good news. I intend to go to my next FunGIS class on Wednesday morning. This blog may be delayed, as Edward is travelling down to Florida.

Acknowledgements

Sandra Barry mentioned the poetry reading at Bees Knees. Edward continues to challenge my understanding of the changing technologies and Geography. Bees Knees offers a range of quality baked goods.

References

Linda Hegland, 2020, Place of the Heart: Life on Fat Hummingbird Farm, Published by Cyberwit.net

Jan Coulter, 2023, Fragments of the Mind, Published by Cyberwit.net

The Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, https://www.India today.in/education-today/news/story/isro-offers-free-certificate-course-in-remote-sensing-and-gis

We are in New Glasgow for Thanksgiving weekend. This is an opportunity to catch up with the Fall magazines. From Saltscapes (October/ November 2023 ), I find In Praise of Books (and the people who sell them). One of the feature stores is Endless Shores Books in Bridgetown and Jennifer Crouse. Last week , Jennifer was recommending to Heather ‘The Last Bookshop in London’ by Madeline Martin.

“The Last Bookshop in London is an irresistible tale which shows the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighbourhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest”, Kim Michele Richardson.

In the same issue of Saltscapes (p.28-33), Written in Rock, Table
Point Newfoundland records a prehistoric moment. This brought back memories of Gros Morne National Park, Western Brook Pond and the Serpentine Tableland.

The second magazine, Canadian Geographic (September/October 2023) is full of interesting articles. Here I will select Opoyastin’s Wolves of the Big Wind ( p.78-85).

”What makes Churchill Wild’s Wolf program unique is the interpretative approach to citizen science, the program pairs traditional field work with indigenous oral history”, p.83.

This reminded Heather of her time spent at Wapusk National Park.

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Since my previous blog post, I have had the time to finish Graham Greene’s A Burnt-Out Case. To fully appreciate the book I had to remind myself about Graham Greene’s life. The simple solution was to use Google. Greene was born in 1904; died in 1991. He was a sub-editor of The Times. In 1926, he had been received into the Roman Catholic church. In 1940 he became literary editor of the Spectator. The next year, he undertook work for the Foreign Office and was sent to Sierra Leone in 1941-43. All of these ‘life experiences’ are captured in A Burnt-Out Case.

I found this short book, deeply moving, as the main character is defined as a ‘burnt-out case’ – a mental leper through whom the disease has run its course.’

I will swap this book with Heather for ‘The Last Bookshop in London’ A novel of World War II.

References

Madeline Martin, 2021, The Last Bookshop in London, Hanover Square Press.
Graham Greene, A Burnt-Out Case, Penguin Books.
Saltscapes, October/November 2023.
Canadian Geographic, September/ October 2023.

Acknowledgements

Jennifer Crouse passed ‘The Last Bookshop in London’ to Heather. John Stewart provided access to both Saltscapes and Canadian Geographic magazines. I found the Graham Greene book in the recycled bin at the Annapolis Royal library. Edward added the artwork and links. Edward and Anne were previous owners of The Inside Story bookstore in Greenwood, NS.

A month ago I attended the Authors’ Market at MareGold in Annapolis Royal. This Saturday (August 12) will be the second Authors’ Market.

It has taken me the full month to read Bob Bent’s Ida Red, in part because I prefer non-fiction. Ida Red is a fictional Love story set in East Clarence. It is a long story, over four hundred pages.. There is a distinct pleasure in recognizing the geography : names of roads, the physical landscape and the sense of community.

Several times, I nearly gave up. Fortunately, I continued to the surprising ending. The last hundred pages would not allow me to stop reading. Congratulations to Bob Bent on crafting this page-turning story ending.

While in Kentville (waiting on car repairs at Honda) I reached the conclusion, and associated food for thought, about living in rural Nova Scotia.

In Kentville, I stopped at Gaspereau Press. I was able to purchase Harry Thurston’s latest poetry book Ultramarine. At the Half Acre Café, there was time to grab the latest Grapevine (August 2023). I noted Wendy Elliott’s column Books by Locals. She reviewed Organizing Nature by two Acadia University academics, Alice Cohen and Andrew Biro, published by University of Toronto Press.

‘The duo used the lens of nature-society to examine how ecosystems have been turned into Resources’. Another trip to the Lawrencetown library is in the offing.

From the Reader, I note startingTuesday, August 15 there will be an Acadian Map exhibit at the O’Dell House Museum in Annapolis Royal hours 9:30 – 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday. Maps from 1686 to 1755.

Acknowledgements

Heather shared my delight in a story set in Clarence( East Appleton)

References

Bob Bent 2023. Ida Red. A Love Story. 442pp. Self-published.

Harry Thurston. 2023. Ultramarine. Gaspereau Press.

Wendy Elliott. Books by Locals. The Grapevine. Arts, Culture, Community. August 2023 No 20.08 p.10.

Last week, I received a copy of Viram Jasani’s book, ‘ Independence to Freedom’. Viram was born in Kenya in 1945. He came to England in 1949. Our paths crossed at Chiswick Grammar School for Boys (Chapter 6). We shared a passion for cricket, as well as an academic interest in Geography.

Between 1956-1963 Viram developed a deepening involvement with Indian classical music.

“For me Indian music grew to be a means of peace and reconciliation both at a personal level and on the global stage; it gave me a true sense of my identity.” p.122.

After completing his undergraduate degree at St Andrew’s University Viram joined the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and became part of the music scene in London, playing the sitar.

After working in the business world, Viram created the Asian Music Circuit (AMC), Europe’s best company promoting traditional music culture – generating huge audiences all around the UK, many iconic productions at major venues .’ From 2000-2012 AMC the charity was at the height of its achievements producing major events throughout the UK and also in Europe’

Subsequently Viram became more deeply involved with traditional Indian culture through several trips to India and the inspiring thinking of ascetics and wandering scholars – the Vedic culture and revelations. The final chapter (18) describes his path to freedom. ‘ He overcame the prejudices he faced from the British arts elite and jealous Indians by embarking on a journey into Vedantic philosophy.

Reading Viram’s life story provided inspiration, starting with our parallel paths at Chiswick Grammar School for Boys. We continue to seek the same freedom, away from ruling elites, huge imbalance of power and wealth in societies across the world, uncertainty in our daily life. p.353.

Acknowledgements.

To Viram, Andrew Ronay and others who have shared these moments in time. To Heather Stewart for her lifelong support.

Reference

Viram Jasani. 2023. Independence to Freedom. Austin Macauley Publishers.

At the Authors Market, I picked up two books : Geoff Butler ‘A Troubadour’s Journey’ and Bob Bent ‘Ida Red’. Heather started with Ida Red. Now, it is my turn. From the back cover, Garry Leeson:

“Bob Bent has taken the torch from Ernest Buckler of “The Mountain and the Valley” fame and created a fresh original glimpse into a disappearing way of life in rural Nova Scotia. The love story takes place in East Appleton. As the author notes, “Except for a few minor changes in Geography, East Appleton is Clarence.”

From Avery Jackson, a speech marking the designation of the Clarence East School as a heritage property, 16 June 2022.

“For communities such as Clarence, people, families and industries come and go, but the one thing that remains are these structures. They are in fact what defines and characterizes a community.”

“From a student of the school from the 1940’s which reads the following.

“Turning right from the Station Road in Clarence, we arrive in a quiet country setting, nestled under tree covered North Mountain.”

“A small orchard remains.

And two houses still stand

Close by on the Appleton Road.”

“Some people must go

Still the blossoms will bloom

On the boughs of the Ida Red trees.” Anonymous.

As you will note Ida Red refers to an apple variety. To date, I have read the first six chapters (50 pages) in this forty chapter Love Story.

At the Authors Market, Bob Bent told us that the setting was Clarence.

We lived in Clarence from 1981-87. We purchased the Buterbaugh house. It lies on the North side between the Elliot’s and the van Roestel ‘s. After the van Roestel’s , you hit the Bent family farm and the Mount Hanley road. To the west, it was the Barteaux and the Shaw farms, at the top of the Fitch road.

Last year, the Buterbaugh house was torn down, and replaced with a new house.

Today (Saturday) I picked up my rural mail at Lunn’s Mill. There was a flier from NSCC Annapolis Valley campus. They were looking for student housing. It listed the programs at the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) in Lawrencetown,

Forest Geomatics and Biometrics Technology

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) – in person and online

Geomatics Engineering Technology

Geospatial Data Analytics – online

GIS – Cartography and Geovisualization- online

GIS technician

IT Programming

Marine Geomatics

Remote Sensing

Survey Technician

The list shows the changes in both in-person and online programs since my day (2011).

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Bob Bent for book. To the NSCC for the campus flier.

References

Bob Bent.2023. Ida Red. Self-published.