A&E - Book Review

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At first blush, Jack Poulin's tales about his adventures while canoeing and camping throughout Ontario's wilderness are a good read.

However, it's his urgent, underlying message about the disappearing wilderness that make this book a worthy, compelling read.

"A Castle in the Bush - Wit and Wisdom of a Modern Day Voyageur" is the Kincardine man's first book.

It offers details about a dozen canoeing and camping trips he has taken over the years with friends and family. It also offers some sound advice about how to plan such a trip, how to set up a proper campsite, how to paddle a canoe, how to rebuild a canoe, and much more.

In the introduction, Poulin states: "I hope this little book will help you to imagine yourself in the bow of my little green canoe, paddling on a wilderness river or sitting beside a thundering waterfall, just watching the roaring white water and feeling its power. If you find yourself daydreaming of having your own castle in the bush, I have succeeded."

The castle in the bush refers to his tent which he carries along with him as he canoes from place to place.

I'm not an avid camper nor would I gladly hop into a canoe and paddle down a river.

But Poulin's adventures are engaging. Written the way he talks, with a smooth, relaxing flavour, it's easy to envision the parks, rivers and waterfalls that he is describing.

The descriptions are captivating, sometimes offering a bit too much information, as in the story about removing a fishhook from a man's cheek while on a trip paddling through Algonquin Park.

The prose isn't perfect but it is real. You can see what Poulin sees, feel, hear and smell what he does. And even taste those delicious pancakes at breakfast. He is not in a hurry to tell you what happened. He wants you to see each flower, each animal, each moment, and picture yourself in the canoe with him.

And just as you're lazily drifting along in that canoe, he throws in his opinion about how important it is to maintain this wilderness for future generations. How everyone should pack up his own canoe and spend five days camping and canoeing through these wilderness areas before they are all gone.

"I weep at the thought that it will all be just a memory soon," he writes. "Why must we reduce this entire planet to landfill? There is no viable argument for this. Society doesn't need the few trees that are left here. ... "I am reminded of a quote, 'We do not inherit the earth from our parents, but borrow it from our children.' How much more can we borrow? Go to the wilderness. Go and just be there. It is so peaceful, rich and beautiful, you won't want to leave. Go, before it's gone."

With equal parts of descriptive narrative, adventure story and editorial comment, Poulin weaves each tale full of excitement, surprise and sorrow.

There are humorous incidents along the way, particularly when he goes on a solo canoe trip. There is always plenty to learn. And Poulin adds lots of marvellous history about the Native people and Voyageurs who travelled these rivers, lakes and streams many years ago.

While there are many good photos in the book, which are intriguing, they would better serve the reader if they were in colour. And a map of each trip, indicating the location, would be helpful.

Also, it would be nice to have some context in which to place each canoe trip. For example, how many journeys did Poulin have under his belt before he attempted the solo trip? How many did he spend with just his brother, Pat, with just his family, with his friend, John Farrell? How many trips in total?

Actually, if you'd like to know the answers to those questions and more about the book, Poulin will be at a book-signing this Saturday, Feb. 4, 1-3 p.m., at Fincher's in downtown Kincardine.

Feel free to ask him and I'm sure he'll have an answer.

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Thursday, February 02, 2012