Meyer and O'Riordan do an outstanding job of engaging their subjects in this fascinating look at the minds behind some of Canada's best writers. Now, more than 13 years after the release of this volume, the interviews are still fresh -- especially with many of the authors who are since deceased. This book is a valuable record of the ideas of such great writers as Elizabeth Smart, Shelia Watson, Eli Mandel, Gwendolyn MacEwen and Milton Acorn. It also features a rare and poignant interview with Canadian troubador, Leonard Cohen, at the moment in his career when he was reinventing himself as a spiritual spokesman for "the world to come." We recommend this book for any students, readers or enthusiasts who want to learn more about the world of Canadian literature. See also Meyer and O'Riordan's second volume of interviews, "Lives and Works" (Black Moss Press, 1991) for further engaging conversations with Margaret Atwood, Bronwen Wallace, Patrick Lane, Lorna Crozier, D.G. Jones, Adele Wiseman, Neil Bissoondath, Joy Kogawa and others.

This book is a wonderfully engaging and humorous account of Doris Ewart's life. Her stories are both funny and sad. Doris clearly led a full and interesting life. I look forward to a second book.

I discovered this book while surfing the web looking for impormation on this paricular artist-J.E.H. MacDonald. It was highly recomended by a librarian at my schools library, so when I saw it I bought it. I must give my congrats to the author! I recomend it for people of any age, and interest. The price at amazon book is the best price I have found so far

-Kristeen Alberta, University of Cambridge

A great book about a great artist, in a great series of "Phaidon" dedicated to contemporary art. Not easy to read, but worth it. The debate about Jeff Wall's art (in which wall himself is an importent participent) encompasses many fundamental questions and notions regarding new art history, post-modernism and society at the end of this century. A must for contemporary art lovers.

"Jelly Belly" is a book of modern nursery rhymes, along with some very wonderful illustrations. The rhymes generally have a great read-aloud rhythm, and are variously funny, tender, surprising. My daughter loves them and so do I. She's 2 now, and I'm sure this book would have appealed to her much earlier, and will continue to appeal for years.

This book is a beautifully packaged collection of poetry on Jerusalem written by many of Canada's greatest poets including A.M. Klein, Irving Layton, Miriam Waddington, Leonard Cohen and many others. The voices are varied and original, evoking the magic of the holy city in richly-textured, deftly crafted poetry which spans the century. It is of particular interest to anyone wanting to explore the myriad political, spiritual and cultural tensions embodied by Jerusalem.

It is truly fortunate that Donald Frasers daughter brought in this diary to be published. Mr. Fraser journal is the definitive look at the Canadian soldiers plight in the first world war. Fraser was a college graduate though continuously turned down commision, preffering to remain a common ranker throughout his journey. He has a keen eye for detail compounded with his lively sense of humor which is proliferated throughout his story. The book is really broken down into four sections. The first was his initial stint in the treches as a rifleman in the 31st Calgary (Alberta) Battalion CEF. The second deals with his time spent in the quartermaster stores, thirdly his move back as a rifleman during the bloody battle of the Somme. Then it concludes his last year in the war in the 6th Brigade Machine Gun section.

Mr. Fraser talks quite candidly about the scenes he witnessed, as well as his dislike for those in charge. He often witnessed officers leaving the serious work to the men and hiding well behind the lines. His reasons for never accepting promotion are largely based on the fact of the high casualty rate in that department.

The most stirring part of his narrative is the description of September 15, 1916 when he and his company went "over the top"
His battalion suffered over 240 casualties in just a couple of hours. When the fighting was over his battalion would lose just over 660 men.

Passchendaele would see the end of Fraser's military career. On the way up to the line he was shelled. The in front of him and behind him both being killed. He wrote major additions to his journal in the hospital in 1918 and finished it in the 1940's.
He would continue to suffer both mentally and physically from the war the rest of his life. He showed his diary to only close friends and fellow veterans until his death in 1946 at 64 years old. this was first published in 1985.

The journal is exemplary in every aspect. Mr. Fraser speaks for an entire generation of Canadians who would walk the battlefields in the mud and death of World War 1. The editor R.H. Roy does a good job providing biographical details on Frasers life, however his additions to the diary itself are sometimes vague and out of place. He takes to much credit upon himself for the work. Noted by the fact that Donald Frasers name does not appear on the work. Rather Roy's. However it is an excellant account of trench warfare from a continually fading war.

I searched for a book to send my niece who is currently living in England: something Canadian, something inspiring, and above all, something interesting. I found all three in The Journeys of Remarkable Women. Harding's free-flowing style made reading effortless as these plucky pioneers sprang into three dimensions, page by page. I found the details of the lives and travels of these women fascinating as their adventures in the new world unfolded.

Not having visited the Kananaskis Valley since a child, I felt I needed some up-to-date information on the area. Ward Cameron's book on the subject fills the bill, describing subjects as history of the area, wildlife, backcountry camping, hiking, mountain-biking and cross-country skiing. He divides Kananaskis Country into areas which he then describes in full detail, with both text, full colour maps and stunning photographs, most of which he took himself.

I enjoyed the book immensely and would recommend it to anyone who plans a visit to southern Alberta's Kananaskis Country.

Visit 12th annual Lowell Celebrates Jack..always first weekend in Oct...JK's hometown..many notable authors & multi-media coverage.....all Beat!