Category: Book Review

My first approach was through Andrew Hannam at the COGS library. No luck! My second was to check again at the Halifax Public Library under Community Development. Again, no luck! However, I did find two titles of interest, “City Making in Paradise: Nine decisions that saved Vancouver’s Livability” by Mike Harcourt, and “Hollow City: the Siege of San Francisco and the Crisis of American Urbanism” by Rebecca Solnit.

The reference to Paradise had instant appeal; the writing of Solnit is always a find.

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This morning, we walked along the boardwalk to Historic Properties, and across the ped-way to Scotia Square. We skirted Citadel Hill, before enjoying the late morning sunshine, sitting on a park bench in the Halifax Public Gardens. Afterward, we joined Frank Fox for lunch at Le Bistro by Liz on South Park. Our return trip was all downhill, behind the Library, and Province House, returning home to Lower Water Street.

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Earlier this morning, I received a link from my brother, Peter’s blog www.petermaher.ca (see entry January 24, 2023)

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Acknowledgments

Heather Stewart, Frank Fox, Peter Maher, and Andrew Hannam for the connections. Edward for adding the graphics.

References

Mike Harcourt, et al, 2007, City Making in Paradise, Douglas and McIntyre.
Rebecca Solnit, 2000, Hollow City, Verso London.
Sanjay Gupta, 2021, Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age, Simon and Schuster.

We have to decide where we will find our ‘home place’.

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At the Carrefour Atlantique Emporium, Privateers Wharf, I chanced upon Gwendolyn Davies, “Studies in Maritime Literary History, 1760-1930“.

On request, I was able to read the book in the library. Of particular interest was the final chapter, the ‘Home Place’ in Modern Maritime Literature. Davies references David Adams Richards, George Elliott Clarke, Harry Bruce, Alistair MacLeod and Douglas Lochhead,

”0ne may want to argue that ‘place’ is a central image in any country’s literature. …..But the emergence of the image in Maritime literature in the 1920’s, it would seem, has its genesis in the social, economic and cultural realities on the east coast that distinguish it from similar images in other areas of Canada”, p193

Of particular interest was the theme of the economy and the landscape. The impact of different industries on the rural economy (e.g. Britex in Bridgetown or Stanfields in Windsor). As we move forward, what are the new employment opportunities. Does the lack of health services impact the movement into the rural areas? Or is that impact, largely on the elders.

What would be informative, would be a second volume, Studies in Maritime Literary History 1930 – 2030 It would address the changes in society, in terms of its economic and social geography, as reflected in current literature and poetry. One example, would be Sandra Barry on Elizabeth Bishop. Or, the role of the Gaspereau Press in supporting local authors and poets.

Another dimension would be the role of educational institutions in our understanding of landscape, mapping and planning our economic geography — all within the context of government, politics and sustainable development.

References

Gwendolyn Davies, 1991, Studies in Maritime Literary History, 1760-1930, Acadiensis Press

Sandra Barry, Peter Sanger, Gwendolyn Davies, 2001, Divisions of the Heart: Elizabeth Bishop and the Art of Memory and Place, Gaspereau Press.

Effective November 14th, Heather and I have lived together at Bishop’s Landing on the Halifax waterfront. This means learning a new geography.

The starting point is walking from Pier 21 to Historic Properties along the boardwalk. In Historic Properties, Carrefour Atlantic offers an excellent selection of Atlantic Canada literature. I picked up three books to tide me over my convalescence.

Michael Pacey’s Wild Apples: A dialogue with Thoreau.

Gary Saunders’ Earthkeeping: Love notes for tough times.

Both were reviewed by Erica Butler in the current issue of Atlantic Books Today, No. 96. Under the title, Literary Human and Nature. How our stories help us understand our Place on Earth, p.8-15.

The third book is Daniel Paul’s, We are Not the Savages. This is taking much longer to read and digest.

I was reading Michael Pacey‘s poems based on quotations from Thoreau’s Journal, when Frank, an old friend from the Valley dropped off a gift, The Pocket Richard Jefferies. Passages chosen from the nature writing of Jefferies by AH Hyatt published in 1906. Jefferies’s writing is set in the British landscape. Thoreau’s writing is set in the New England landscape. Afterward, I was keen to see what Gary Saunders had to offer about the Nova Scotia landscape. Saunders lives around Old Barns, outside of Truro.

Given our forced migration into the city of Halifax, I was intrigued to read the following passage:

“The Old House: Honeymoon and after, p.193-197.

”Yet this old house is full of memories. And it has taught me plenty. To sell it now would feel like betrayal”

‘Assuming other rural householders might feel the same way I proposed a householder series to Rural Delivery editor, Dirk van Loon, himself a farmhouse dweller.”

”Make it seasonal and you’re on,” said he.

Clearly, we cannot afford to rent a furnished waterfront condo in Halifax every year. but perhaps we can find a small town, with shops within walking distance, and with good access to health services. That is the challenge ahead of us.

Certainly, other friends and colleagues have found this solution. BTW, I have upgraded my old Samsung for an iPhone. This makes me compatible with my iPad, and Patrick and Laurel for technical advice.

POSTSCRIPT

I noted too that my last blog for GoGeomatics, in November 2020, addressed the same issue “A Sense of Place“. Perhaps Jon Murphy would add this blog to the next edition of the online magazine.

References

Michael Pacey, 2022, Wild Apples. A dialogue with Thoreau, Nimbus Publishing

Gary Saunders, 2022, Earthkeeping: Love Notes for Tough Times, Goose Lane Editions

Daniel Paul, 2022, We are Not the Savages, Fernwood Publishing

Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2022, The Serviceberry: An Economy of Abundance.

A .H. Hyatt, 1906, The Pocket Richard Jefferies.

After PEI, I read two books about Anne of Green Gables and LM Montgomery.

From a geographic perspective, this includes the extent of the Acadian forest, the different soils and geology, plus the nature of coastal wetlands and shorelines.

The second book is a collection of essays by LM Montgomery on her career as a writer.

The title The Alpine Path comes from a verse that had been her inspiration during the long years when success as a writer seemed remote, and only dogged determination kept her on “The Alpine Path; so hard, so steep, that leads to heights sublime.”

It was nearly ten years after the publication of Anne of Green Gables. This will be my next read.

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Today, I stopped at Beaver Creek Vineyard and met the new owner, Brenon MacNeil.

This Labour Day weekend, they are re-opening the cafe. It will be wonderful to have this resource, just five houses east of us, on Highway #201.

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Finally, it is “stop the glyphosate spraying season“.

Two years, after the initial encampment, there are again plans to spray the parcels on South Mountain. The Extinction Rebellion group are marshalling their resources. From the provincial map, it seems there are even more parcels designated for spraying. Again, citizens and communities must voice their concerns.

The province, regardless of the party in power, continues to see the landscape as a collection of resources for exploitation. This does not bode well, as we attempt to respond to climate change.

Acknowledgements

Nina Newington provided the link to the map of parcels scheduled for glyphosate spraying. Edward added other links and graphics. Heather shares the Green Gables reading.

References

Catherine Reid, 2018, The Landscape of Anne of Green Gables, Timber Press.
LM Montgomery, 2005, The Alpine Path, Nimbus Publishing.
Beaver Creek Vineyard
Shanni Bale, Glyphosate Spraying in Mainland Mi’kma’ki, 2022.
Pesticides Applications Approvals, Nova Scotia Government, Environment and Climate Change.

The reason that I picked out Mourning Cloak is simple, these beautiful butterflies visit our flower garden. It proved to be an excellent choice. Each short story leads the reader back to the history and geography of the region.

I checked online, and asked a few friends but, to date, the author and his publishing company remain a mystery.

On Sunday, I stopped at the Upper Clements picnic park, sat at a table, and enjoyed reading the last two stories, Gallery St. George and Radio Silence.

Other books by Wyman are Six Friends and Crossing Thames.

Postscript

From page 30:

“In 1989, Ray Oldenburg published a book called ”The Great Good Place: cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, bars, hair salons, and other hangouts at the heart of a community”. He was concerned with a growing ’problem of place’ – a loss of public spaces and increased isolation. The antidote, he suggested, are ”third places” – those public places where people gather informally, outside of home and work, where everyone is on common ground and conversation is key. In rural communities, these are typically community halls and churches. Throughout the Maritimes, there is a growing resurgence of ’third places’. “

The challenge, as noted by Heather, is access to transportation in these rural areas.

Acknowledgements

Sunday, Heather joined her Shambala Group in Annapolis Royal. I had the chance to finish reading Mourning Cloak. Edward added the graphics.

References

Peter B. Wyman, 2022, Nymphalis Antiopa (Mourning Cloak), Cardigan, Little and Crow Publishing.

Other short story collections by Wyman: Iceland, Six Friends and Crossing Thames. All self-published by Cardigan, Little and Crow Publishing, Annapolis Royal.

Edible Maritimes, 2022, No.3, The Artisan Issue.