Before We Lost the Lake: A Natural and Human History of Sumas

Before We Lost the Lake: A Natural and Human History of Sumas by Chad Reimer

Sumas lake was a variable lack in southern British Columbia. It would grow and shrink with the season. It had a large fishery and the wetlands provided for lush vegetation and wildlife. The Semá:th had lived in this area for many years and lived of the fish and waterfowl as well as plants. The lake also had less-desirable residence, such as strong mosquitos at times of the year. Eventually white farmers moved into the region. The lake was seen as a detriment to farming and hard to categorize as water or land. There were many plans to drain the lake. However, these were primarily set to be privately funded and they kept falling through. The railroad seemed the most likely to do it, but they couldn't justify the expense. Eventually it did fall on the government. The lake was drained and area could be farmed. This lead to ecological harm as well as put areas downstream at great risk for flooding. The Semá:th were also harmed. However, it did open a great deal of farmland and enabled both pasturing of animals as well as crops such as berries. Was it worth it? The book paints a great picture of the history of the region and provides a fairly objective look at the positive and negative aspects of the drainage project.

Buffalo Flats

Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt

Rebecca Leavitt had traveled with her family to join other co-religionists in what is now Alberta. They generally get along with those that are not of their faith, though there are there are plenty of conflicts. Rebecca wants to have land of her own. However, as a woman she cannot claim it like men can. (She finds it ironic that the land officer is a subject of the Queen.) 

The characters experience many of the challenges of life in the northern frontier. There are diseases and medical problems. The weather brings about plenty of challenges of its own, from the cold to the flash foods that can destroy areas. They also experience the life of a religious community, complete with religious experiences as well as struggles to overcome human foibles that contradict their believes.

The religious community is a patriarchal society, but it is Rebecca's mom that wields the most influence. She is a nurse midwife who attends to all the childbirths as well as most ailments. When they discover that a neighbor is beating his wife, she "goes on strike" until the men go to "take care of things". It is an example of the influence that one can have even when ostensibly in a position of weakness.

Notes from The Century Before: A Journal from British Columbia

Notes from the Century Before explores some of the more remote areas of British Columbia. It starts in Telegraph Springs. There towns were built up for the telegraph stations - only to see the need for telegraphs go away. Outwardly, he is exploring some of the land. However, he spends most of his time focused on the people there. They are not "hillbillies", but people that deal with the struggles of isolation in different ways. The Indians also have their experience colored by their history. He also brings his history and longings to the forefront as he uses his experiences with these people to explore his past failings.

Cat's Eye

This tedious book dealt with the childhood reminiscences of Elaine, a popular, controversial Canadian artist. She traces back her experiences growing during World War II and going to school in Toronto. Her big concern seemed to be the relationship with Cordelia, a friend who used to tease the narrator, but later had struggles of her own.

The novel occasionally bounces from the past to present, but seems to have an odd "remembering" structure. The earlier parts of life seem to be in much greater detail, while the later parts of life whiz by quickly. The narration is fairly easy to follow, and has fairly vivid pictures of post-war Toronto. Cordelia plays the role of Citizen Kane's "rosebud", representing the lost youth that is difficult to reclaim.

Elaine has had challenges in her life, never quite fitting in with groups, yet not forcing herself to be a victim, or altering her beliefs to conform to groups at any end of the spectrum. Alas, the book is slow moving, and not very engaging. The characters change, but don't seem to grow. This is not a book I would recommend.