Just Getting Started by Todd Babiak - Book Report #206

I am an active member (user?) of the Edmonton Public Library.  Whenever I go down a literary rabbit hole, the library has been there to provide me with books to satisfy my curiosity.

Lately, I've been interested in history: Canadian and local history in particular.

And what could be a better read than the history of the Edmonton Public Library itself?

Babiak did a terrific job of blending local history to that of EPL.

In the early days of Edmonton, we were punching above our weight in the pursuit of a library but since Calgary had built a Carnegie funded branch, Edmonton felt it needed one too.  But, interestingly, the Carnegie group had many strings attached to any money gifted to build a library.  This did not make the "founders" happy so they went it alone to build the Strathcona branch.

This was in the times when Edmonton and Strathcona were two separate towns.  How can Strathcona have one and not Edmonton, the capital city?  Edmonton's own library was rushed into being in a space above a liquor store and meat shop.

You see?  This is actually quite interesting.

I was captivated by the book.  The writing was crisp and never lacked a sense of humour.

It was a terrific read that coloured in part of Edmonton's past for me.  I enjoyed learning about the library that I love so much.

Todd Babiak - http://toddbabiak.com/

Edmonton Public Library - https://www.epl.ca/

Todd Babiak

Edmonton's own Carnegie Library - Demolished in 1968

The Gun by Philip K Dick - Short Story Review

September 1952

A team of scientists are in orbit around an unexplored world.

What they find is devastation.  An atomic war has taken place destroying the entire surface of the planet.

Suddenly they are attacked and shot down.

After safely crash landing, a party is sent to investigate the gun that attacked them.

It was a well crafted story that played on the assumptions most readers bring to a story.

Terrific.

By the way, isn't this one of the greatest things about the written word?  Dick himself died 35 years ago (1982) and the story was published 65 years ago (1952) and here I am, today, enjoying it for the first time.

Cool.

Philip K Dick

Real Food, Fake Food by Larry Olmsted - Book Report #205

I have been on a mission to change my health through food.  I've improved the quality of what I eat and I pay attention to how it is produced.  I've also lost over 20 lbs.

What I found interesting are some of the seemingly innocuous ingredients listed on the packages.  The loose thread for me, was "cellulose powder," found in Kraft parmesan cheese.  Why would a product made of wood be in my cheese?

In Real Food, Fake Food Larry Olmsted uncovers the fakery and shenanigans that happen daily in the food industry.

What I liked about the book is that it wasn't a one-sided affair that leaves the reader in despair.  Instead, after exposing the fakery he gives us the tools to find the better quality foods but he does not stop there.  Being a foodie himself he then describes the sublime experience of finding the products in their traditional and whole forms.

I can't wait to experience real extra virgin olive oil and to taste Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy.  Instead of making me feel that there is no hope left and I should just give up, Olmstead has whispered in my ear about treasures to be found around the world and in my own city, if I just make the effort to seek it out.

I only wish other exposés would be so balanced.  It's one thing to expose the truth but it serves the world better to offer solutions and to show alternatives.  Olmstead has done this in a way that just makes me feel better informed.  One negative impact the book has had is to make me so skeptical of labels that I often don't know what to believe.

In any case this is a terrific book and I highly recommend it.

The official website to the book - http://www.realfoodfakefood.com/index.html

Larry Olmsted

Beyond Lies the Wub by Philip K Dick - Short Story Review

July 1952

Here's an interesting story, Philip K Dick's first published work, was about a ship's captain who is obsessed with eating an animal that one of his crew has brought on board.

But the creature is intelligent and would rather talk the matter over.

That's about all I can say without revealing too much.

It certainly provided me with a smile at the end.

From The Variable Man and Other Stories collection edited by Gregg Rickman.

Philip K Dick

Where I Belong by Alan Doyle - Book Report #204

I was given this book as a gift.

It was an interesting choice since I am not a huge fan of Great Big Sea, I like them but, you know, I'm not mad about them.  I think Gill was tapping into my recent love of all things Canada and so - Alan Doyle.

What struck me was how quickly I was captured by his childhood, the love of his home, his parents and his understanding of where he lived.  The simple joys of boyhood were everywhere and I laughed out loud quite a few times.

I probably stopped my wife a dozen times to read a passage from the book.  This is a very good sign that the man can write.

I knew nothing about Alan Doyle and now I have tickets to see him in March.

It was a terrific read and I am so glad to have had the experience.

Alan Doyle

Sailing Alone Around the World by Captain Joshua Slocum - Book Report #203

I really did not know what to expect from this century-old story.

Sometimes I go on binges at the library, exploring titles and adding them to my "for later" list, I've got over 700 on it.

I decided to go back to the first entry, in audio books, to see what was there.

What a lovely story!  Captain Slocum was a terrific writer with a knack for wit and observation.  I was taken first by the audacity of the trip - around the world in a sailboat, alone!  I was also very taken by the generosity of the community of sailors, folks of power at port, the helpfulness he found along the way and his undying optimism.

I was completely taken in by this story.  His trip around Cape Horn was one of the most thrilling of adventures, and that was only a part of the journey in total.  But Cape Horn stands out in this trip.

I highly recommend this book.

Since I enjoyed it as an audiobook I will be seeking out a paper copy to add to my shelves.

If you enjoy travel or books of adventure, this is a must read.

Captain J Slocum onboard the Spray

Canadians by Roy MacGregor - Book Report #202

This is not an easy book to describe, it is part Canadian history, part sociology and part personal reflection.

The thrust of the book is to try and define the elusive Canadian Identity.  We are trying to find a way to identify ourselves without using the pat answer of; "Well, we are not American."

This was a perfect book to read in this 150th year of Canadian Confederation.  Although we are still struggling to include our First Nations in meaningful and respectful ways, it is still well worth taking the time to look back and try to make sense of this country.

This became a touchstone book for me personally.  It awoke a desire to learn more about my country.  I feel that I've been a rather lousy Canadian by not taking the time to learn about our history.

From MacGregor's work I was lead to many authors and events, both recent and in the distant past that I wish to learn about.

In the intervening eight years since the book was published and with the massive effort of the Canada 150 department I think we've been able to at least find images that spark an answer to the question: "What is a Canadian?"

I've already purchased his more recent book Canoe Country which is another exploration of Canada this time through the history of the canoe and the great rivers of our country.  I am looking forward to settling back into this one.  I am sure it will lead me to other discoveries.

Roy MacGregor - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_MacGregor

Roy MacGregor