Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw: Travels in Search of Canada

Right, so Will Ferguson's apparently a columnist of some kind who writes occasional books about Canada. This one is a series of trips across the country from west to east. The best parts are where he talks about his childhood and various regions' folk histories. The worst parts are when he invokes any kind of poetry (he is a self-described failed poet) or humor.

He manages to be self-deprecating and pretentious at the same time, and I suspect it's all part of his "everyman" persona, but it grates, oh does it grate. Also, the last two chapters feel pasted on, and the attempt to say something compelling about how awesome Canada and Canadians are feels forced and artificial. I really wish his editor had demanded another revision, even if by show more ghost writer.

But like I said, the areas he knows from having lived in, rather than the areas where he's merely a tourist, are really good. Also, the polar bear chapter is entirely fun...possibly because I dig polar bears, but also because he nearly gets himself killed.

Which...see, I really dislike schadenfreude, but there's a whole Homer Simpson "Heh, what a dumbass" attitude to his self-projection that makes me laugh AT his mistakes rather than with them. Which makes me wonder if this is the Canadian national sense of inadequacy talking, or if it's just the author's particular issues showing. show less

A very entertaining series of vignettes taking the reader from BC to Nfld hitting some of the non-conventional locations across the country. My feeling is that this book is funnier than [b:This is Happy|17455541|Happy, Happy, Happy|Phil Robertson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362252767s/17455541.jpg|24346221] and I actually laughed out right a couple of times, and once I was still laughing a few paragraphs later. Ferguson has a great way of including some history in a non-dry way and also sharing comic self-deprecating stories of himself and his family. It makes a person want to venture through the country, if only he would be the tour guide!

http://pixxiefishbooks.blogspot.com/2...

I've mentioned this before (twice, actually): Will Ferguson is a funny, funny man. And with the intriguing title of this book, which I'd picked up in Canada before leaving for Japan but had made myself wait many months before allowing myself to read it, I was expecting more belly laughs.

And boy, did it deliver! Ferguson spent a few years traveling back and forth, here and there, across Canada, and the result is a series of short stories about strange happenings while on the road. He peppers these humourous stories with a good dose of history - not enough to choke those who always fell asleep during Canadian history class in high school, and just obscure enough to keep those Canadian history show more keeners (myself included) listening and curious. He goes everywhere: Victoria, B.C., for a poetry slam; Churchill, Man., looking for polar bears; Saguenay-Lac St. Jean, Que., to find a lost kingdom; and even St. Thomas, Ont., just outside London, in search of 'Canada'. It's always interesting, often funny, and never pedantic. This is the kind of literature I wish we'd read more of in my Canadian literature classes. For starters, I don't think he mentions the name 'Susanna Moodie' even once (though I think he does talk a bit about Catherine Parr Trail) - kudos all around right there. show less

As someone currently obsessed with Canada (don't ask), this book was pretty darn perfect. Ferguson explores some of the country's most eccentric spots, sprinkling his journeys with just the right amount of historical information and personal narrative. I love the idea of Canada as a Land of the Lost--a shipwrecked nation--and Ferguson captures that exquisitely, that combination of melancholy and hope. You're not helping to cure my obsession here, man.

Each chapter in this book focused on a different part of Canada. It told about the history of the place, as well as illustrating personal experiences Ferguson had in each of these places throughout his life. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes, others brought the biggest smile to my face. It was exciting to be able to say “Hey, I’ve been there!” about a place or two, but I think the best thing about this book is that it’s added to my list of places that I want to visit at some point in my life. (Dude, I so want to go polar bear watching!)

Have I ever mentioned that I have like the hugest literary crush on Will Ferguson? Because I totally do. Totally. And I have half of the stuff in his books underlined because they make me show more giggle to no end. I mean, really. With writing like his, how could I not sit there and giggle madly? Especially when there are passages like this:

More polar bears live in Canada than in the rest of the world combined, which raises the question, Why the hell did we choose the beaver as our national emblem? We could have had Nanuk of the North, Lord of the Arctic, as our symbol. Instead we get stuck with Squirrelly McTeeth. Sheesh.

That’s the thing about good Canadian writers and comedians and the like. The sense of humour. It’s dry, snuggly and there’s always something so indistinctly Canadian about it (even if you can’t put your finger exactly on what is so Canadian). show less

So few Canadians travel through the country. I loved reading about Ferguson's destination, and definitely got the itch to buy a van and drive across the provinces! And who- I ask you Canadians- WHO among us have not wished to dip our hands in Hudson's Bay? Well Ferguson does it, and documents the results so the rest of us can live vicariously through him. Not to mention that his reflection on his relationship with his brother speaks volumes, and his family history is sadly funny.

An interesting mix of travelogue, history, humour and personal/family memoir. I enjoyed the glimpses of different parts of Canada and the theory about Canada being a nation of outposts. A lot of the book rang true to me and I was fascinated to learn more about the Underground Railroad in particular.