The book "Dictionary of Canadian French" is a very useful book for people who deal with French speakers from Quebec. It has very thorough sections on the vocabulary of Quebec. These are divided into sections e.g. around the house, at the hardware, business. There is a very large section titled miscellaneous that encompasses a large number of items that cannot be fitted into the other sections. These sections are followed by a section dealing with differences in the pronunciation of Quebec French from Standard French and a section dealing with the differences in the spoken grammar of Quebec French from Standard French. It also has sections on Acadian French vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. The Quebecois vocabulary item is listed, followed by standard French equivalents, if any, or an explanation in French, and then English equivalents, if any, or an explanation in English. The section on Acadian French follows the same layout. The "Dictionary" includes many colourful metaphors, a section on swearing in Quebec, and a section on body parts both polite and vulgar. You will find many items not found in standard French-English dictionaries because many of the entries are not single words but are phrases. This book, however, would not suffice as a stand alone French-English dictionary and should be used in conjunction with a good one. There is a small section on differences between Quebec and Standard French pronunciation and grammar. The section on pronunciation is adequate. The section on grammar is quite sparse. There is an index at the back of French Canadian words, but indices of Standard French and English, also, would have been helpful. In my career, I deal with Quebecois on a regular basis and have found this book useful in my interactions in French with them. I have not had interactions with Acadians or Cajuns and so am not able to offer any opinion on the usefulness of the sections that deal with the French spoken in Acadie and Acadiana.

This book came in handy for me during the research for DRESSED TO KILL. Another topic not touched in print, Clive has compiled a readable, yet solidly researched and referenced, guide to this at time complex subject. Colour poster a nice touch; perhaps a full blown colour section would be more in order, though the number of variants probably precludes doing that in an affordable format. Good reference on the subject as well as background to the history behind the badges, not just a simple catalogue listing.

Evocative imagery transforms the simplest topics: canola fields, coins, chinese take-out. Compositions about Keats and Hazlitt, snooker and snowy owls. In the midst of the overall good-quality poety, there's an occasional perfect line. I really liked it.

Despite the subtitle, this is not a typical folklorist collection of myths. Cameron modifies these stories and imbues them with her literary style and philosophy of life. She ably merges contemporary themes with the traditional tales of the Pacific coastal Indian of Canada - which is another refreshing aspect of this book, as most published Native American myths and legends focus on Plains and Southwest nations. The result of Cameron's masterful storytelling is a set of alluring, eerie and sometimes humorous stories. Particularly interesting is "The Bearded Woman," something of a feminist fable. Also fascinating is the central story "Dzelarhons," which is an epic spanning many generations and several different yet somehow related women named Dzelarhons. Among other things, this story serves as something of an allegory for history and human relations in general.

This is a well researched and illustrated book. A very worthy study of Canadian and other Commonwealth aircrew insignia. The author obviously has a wide experience in researching and collecting in the subject and the coverage of particularly Canadian insignia is excellent. As an Australian, I found the treatment of Australian aircrew badges is very good as he consulted appropriate Australian museum authorities. The only criticisms I have are minor. In dealing with naval aircrew insignia, the author gives the impression of not understanding the rather complex British wartime treatment of 'temporary' naval personnel - they were enrolled in the Naval Volunteer Reserve, with different rank lacing on uniforms to regular officers e.g. 'wavy' stripes as opposed to straight stripes on the uniform sleeve. As almost all Commwealth navy aircrew were temporaries, they wore the wavy stripes. Although illustrations of these appear in the book, this explanation is not given. The other, more humorous (hardly a criticism) is the illustration of first world war Royal Naval Air Service Flight Lieutenant E. Stoneman on page 45, in his uniform, together with a lady who looks very much like his mother (or a close relative as facial features are similar). She, of course is dressed in female attire of the time. Our ever exact author specifically identifies the Lieutenant as the person standing on the left of the photograph! As I said, very minor criticisms. A very good book on the subject

I found this book to be what I think to be a first rate primary resource. It includes a copy of a ledger kept at the post (relating what post employees were issued what items and for what amount of credit)as well as a journal of the beginning portion of the canoe trip to the rendez-vous at Grand Portage. There is some discussion of what traders were trading with which tribes, who was arriving and departing the post for whatever reason, and evaluations of some of the local tribal cheifs, as well as a brief glossary of aboriginal terms used for some of the trade goods. As a primary resource that sheds light on the day-to-day occurences at the post, and later, on the trail to Grand Portage. I consider this book to be invaluable to those doing research, or to anyone who is curious to know about the daily routine at an outpost and doesn't want generalizations. The book goes into specifics, and that is one of the reasons why I liked it.

Stephen Leacock is one of my favorite humorists - perhaps somewhat obscure these days, but as sharp and as witty as ever. Think of him as a precursor to Garison Keillor and you can't go too far wrong. This book is slender, too slender for my tastes, and I do not regard it as a feast, more like a selection of hors d'oeuvres. The introduction by Robertson Davies is not, as one might expect, a fawning admiration of Leacock, but serves him up, warts and all, on a platter. Positive but with qualifications.

The selections are very good, though I can think of some pieces I would have preferred, it must have been a very difficult task to limit the Leacock to just these fifteen. And they are gems, each one. I thought I might quote a little here and there, but found myself unable to stop - all the review would be selections from the selections. Do yourself a favour and buy a copy if you like Leacock. Davies' introduction is worth the price alone, and the selections are a bonus, and you may then read all of the pieces I would have included in their entirety.

If you don't know of Stephen Leacock, run, do not walk, to the 1-click button and give it a click. You'll be glad you did!

Pretty good book. Gives a rather matter-of-fact account of MacKenzie's life. Not alot of detail or passion in either of his 2 great voyages. Interesting in all the other people brought into the story. Now I want to read about Peter Pond, MacKenzies' predecessor. Short and a quick read.

This collection contains many ground-breaking essays that look at some of the new trends and writers in Canadian literature. There are ten essays and fifteen book reviews which analyze works of Rohinton Mistry, Dionne Brand, Austin Clarke, M G Vassanji, Shyam Selvadurai, Josef Skvorecki and others. I was quite excited to see such a great number of thoughtful contemplations concerning these new voices in one collection! Kudos to the editor and writers.

Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry is author Avis Harley's first book of poetry for children. Actually, it's a book of poetry for children that adults will also love. This colorfully illustrated book takes young and old alike on an alphabetical journey of the many different types of poetry. The whimsical nature of the poems will appeal to children, but the various kinds of poetry will pique adult interest as well. As an educator, I know that many teachers (including myself) are often intimidated by the teaching of poetry. This simple, clever work contains a glossary of poetic terms to accompany the examples of the different types of poetry that will help to ease anyone's "poetry phobia." It also is an excellent companion to X.I. Kennedy's lovely Knock At A Star. Fly With Poetry will take you soaring into the magical world of verse.