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Lakeland: Journeys into the Soul of Canada
Lakes define not only Canada's landscape but the national imagination. Blending writing on nature, travel, and science, award-winning journalist Allan Casey systematically explores how the country's history and culture originates at the lakeshore. Lakeland describes a series of interconnected journeys by the author, punctuated by the seasons and the personalities he meets along the way including aboriginal fishery managers, fruit growers, boat captains, cottagers, and scientists. Together they form an evocative portrait of these beloved bodies of water and what they mean, from sapphire tarns above the Rocky Mountain tree line to the ponds of western Newfoundland.
360 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 30, 2013
It may not be the quickest paced book, but it weaves a beautiful story that forces you to reconsider how you view Canada. Casey's journeys take him across the country, rediscovering the nation that he calls home. Indeed, he finds that what holds the country together the most profoundly is its essence as 'Lakeland.'
If you're interested in what Canada is and where it might be heading, I'd suggest that Lakeland is well worth a quick read.
If you're interested in what Canada is and where it might be heading, I'd suggest that Lakeland is well worth a quick read.
April 30, 2020
A random book I picked up for 2 bucks at the Symphony Book Sale (which I am basically crying about not being able to go to this spring). Didn't realize it had won a GG award! I really enjoyed it, and savoured it as a bedtime book for a few months.
I did not realize that lakes are such a uniquely Canadian thing! I guess I just assumed lakes are everywhere all over the world in such quantities as we have here, but that is not the case, and we are lucky to live in Lakeland!
Allan Casey lives in Saskatoon so there was a disproportionate amount of Saskatchewan content, which I appreciated because he wrote about areas I'm familiar with (Emma Lake, PA National Park/Waskesiu, and Lake Athabasca). He specifically chose not to focus on the Great Lakes because they are covered so much already and spent his time traveling the country visiting lesser known lakes. Overall it was just very interesting and well-written. Sometimes he got a bit overly political, and I didn't always quite catch what he was getting at with some of the political musings, but it didn't bother me too much overall. And at the end of the day I agree with his thesis that it's unfortunate that a lot of Lakeland is being overdeveloped with large recreational properties, which appears to be at the expense of nature.
Like reading Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw a few years ago, this cross-country travelogue gave me a bit of wanderlust and inspired me to check out a few new lakes for myself this summer (I started reading in January). Alas, it is likely not to happen in 2020. I look forward to exploring more of Lakeland when it's safe to do so - I need to get myself to Waterton one of these years.
I did not realize that lakes are such a uniquely Canadian thing! I guess I just assumed lakes are everywhere all over the world in such quantities as we have here, but that is not the case, and we are lucky to live in Lakeland!
Allan Casey lives in Saskatoon so there was a disproportionate amount of Saskatchewan content, which I appreciated because he wrote about areas I'm familiar with (Emma Lake, PA National Park/Waskesiu, and Lake Athabasca). He specifically chose not to focus on the Great Lakes because they are covered so much already and spent his time traveling the country visiting lesser known lakes. Overall it was just very interesting and well-written. Sometimes he got a bit overly political, and I didn't always quite catch what he was getting at with some of the political musings, but it didn't bother me too much overall. And at the end of the day I agree with his thesis that it's unfortunate that a lot of Lakeland is being overdeveloped with large recreational properties, which appears to be at the expense of nature.
Like reading Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw a few years ago, this cross-country travelogue gave me a bit of wanderlust and inspired me to check out a few new lakes for myself this summer (I started reading in January). Alas, it is likely not to happen in 2020. I look forward to exploring more of Lakeland when it's safe to do so - I need to get myself to Waterton one of these years.
June 30, 2021
"Canadian lakes cast a spell." In LAKELAND, Allan Casey takes the reader on a journey to rediscover the soul of Canada. He explores the paradox of wilderness access—both hope and threat—through the eyes of the people who make cottage life possible. A thought-provoking and evocative read by a writer whose passion and enthusiasm for freshwater lakes is apparent in every word.
May 3, 2012
One Book One Community for 2012 for Waterloo Region. Canadian non-fiction. It was a nice detailed story that touched on one man's journey through several provinces and his outings on Canadian lakes; a topic not covered in many books if any at all. It has major Canadian appeal and his knowledge and insight was delightful throughout the entire book. However it was not my type of read, it was boring and needed some humour to keep the reader enthused. If you like detailed settings this book is for you, if you want a book that gets to the point, don't bother.
September 10, 2013
A fun travel read, great information and reflections on water issues, and great stories from interesting people. This author really has a knack for meeting and understanding "locals", and for finding interesting places to go, like driving on an ice highway over Lake Athabasca in winter! At times the writing was cheesy, a bit forced, or over simplified some politics. But I still think it's a worthwhile read for all Canadians, especially while lounging in your chair by a lake!
June 29, 2012
Valuable material on the journey to finding one's Inner Canadian, yeah. I especially enjoyed the Quebec episode and the insights into 'les autres' . Determined to get hold of some Grey Owl books too - what an priceless scammer!
June 17, 2013
Great read - As a Canadian living next to water - this book gives you so much food for thought. The future of lakes and the changing Canadian landscape.
August 24, 2019
This book is now ten years old.
It is a personal quest to know some of Canada’s lakes, chosen from about 8 different provinces.
It doesn’t feel dated, but it must be, because change for the worse is it’s overwhelming sentiment.
Casey’s love of his subject is what grabs the reader, and there is as much social history as there is science in his discoveries. You will be fascinated by some of the people who work our waters, and come to love the lakes.
To some readers it is a slow book. The only tsunami and storm is that of overdevelopment and loss of species. Best to read one section a day and you will always discover beauty, not boredom.
If you like a lake, any lake, from small Puslinch to huge Superior, you will love this love song of s book. Casey went to French traditional Quebec, as far north as Great Slave Lake and as east asNewfoundland’s Gros Morne, making the lakes and their people a part of your life.
What you learn to love you learn to take care of. What you understand you protect and maybe even fix. Casey is a good writer. No blaming, no nagging, just appreciating of what respect the beauty of our lakes need in a crowded urban world.
It is a personal quest to know some of Canada’s lakes, chosen from about 8 different provinces.
It doesn’t feel dated, but it must be, because change for the worse is it’s overwhelming sentiment.
Casey’s love of his subject is what grabs the reader, and there is as much social history as there is science in his discoveries. You will be fascinated by some of the people who work our waters, and come to love the lakes.
To some readers it is a slow book. The only tsunami and storm is that of overdevelopment and loss of species. Best to read one section a day and you will always discover beauty, not boredom.
If you like a lake, any lake, from small Puslinch to huge Superior, you will love this love song of s book. Casey went to French traditional Quebec, as far north as Great Slave Lake and as east asNewfoundland’s Gros Morne, making the lakes and their people a part of your life.
What you learn to love you learn to take care of. What you understand you protect and maybe even fix. Casey is a good writer. No blaming, no nagging, just appreciating of what respect the beauty of our lakes need in a crowded urban world.
March 3, 2020
A journey across Canada while visiting the beautiful lakes scattered from shore to shore. Part memoir, part travel guide and very much a reminder to preserve our important and beautiful waters.
The only tiny wish was that a map had been included to show us where these sites were in this country.
"Allan Casey is a freelance journalist with a special interest in wilderness and adventure travel. His writing has won numerous Western Magazine Awards and several National Magazine Award nominations. His writing and photography have appeared in many major Canadian magazines, including Canadian Geographic. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan." amazon.com
The only tiny wish was that a map had been included to show us where these sites were in this country.
"Allan Casey is a freelance journalist with a special interest in wilderness and adventure travel. His writing has won numerous Western Magazine Awards and several National Magazine Award nominations. His writing and photography have appeared in many major Canadian magazines, including Canadian Geographic. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan." amazon.com
June 16, 2018
This was a beautiful book showcasing a selection of lakes across our beautiful country. It was about the lakes, but it was about the people and the environment around them and how we are all connected. I wish this book had some pictures in it of the lakes, but other than that this book was amazing. It makes me want to travel more through Canada.
April 5, 2020
If you plan on travelling across Canada, you couldn't do better than seeing it through its lakes.
May 6, 2024
Excellent writing! But the book gets four stars because it lacks maps.
February 6, 2017
Displays a profound appreciation for Canada's 3 million lakes, and touches on ecological problems that can result from unchecked development. The author travels across the country to meet with people who enjoy lakes, who rely on lakes for their livelihood, who live on lakes and who travel to visit them, painting an intimate portrait of each experience with the many people who offered their time to share how lake life is important to them. This book embeds the cultural importance of lakes in Canada. The book describes lakes as an affordable and accessible form of recreation for all Canadians, but doesn't consider people who don't have access to a car and can't drive to a remote area to reach a lake. Very enjoyable book that combines storytelling with science and explores important issues that our lakes and the communities that surround them are facing.
July 17, 2013
Did you know that:
*Canada has more than three million lakes?
*60% of world's lakes are found in Canada?
Informative, yet romantic, Lakeland paddles through the meaning of lakes in Canada, to Canadians. It's not surprising that this book won the GG. Beautiful images such as "the wavering green minnows moving into the shade under a boat dock like suspended jade pieces" (2), help evoke the lake as "nature's most beautiful landscape feature" (10). Yes, that's from Thoreau.
The book journeys throughout Canada and contemplates the environmental damage that we are doing to our lakelands. For me, the book really shines when Allan Casey focuses on the personal and his experiences on Emma Lake.
A suitable read for intelligent cottage reading.
*Canada has more than three million lakes?
*60% of world's lakes are found in Canada?
Informative, yet romantic, Lakeland paddles through the meaning of lakes in Canada, to Canadians. It's not surprising that this book won the GG. Beautiful images such as "the wavering green minnows moving into the shade under a boat dock like suspended jade pieces" (2), help evoke the lake as "nature's most beautiful landscape feature" (10). Yes, that's from Thoreau.
The book journeys throughout Canada and contemplates the environmental damage that we are doing to our lakelands. For me, the book really shines when Allan Casey focuses on the personal and his experiences on Emma Lake.
A suitable read for intelligent cottage reading.
October 22, 2014
Everyone will take something different away from this book. I feel that the true essence oft his book could have been better demonstrated through a video documentary or blog; however that is another issue. The Author is both laid back and relate able, which has allowed me to get through parts of this book which were a bit sobering. Often his recounts of his experiences while on his journeys are hardly exciting at all, I'm afraid.
Not a bad addition to my Canadian literature shelf. It will at the very least, make you feel proud to be a Canadian in such Lake infested lands; or inspire exploration if abroad.
Not a bad addition to my Canadian literature shelf. It will at the very least, make you feel proud to be a Canadian in such Lake infested lands; or inspire exploration if abroad.
August 18, 2016
Excellent! This book of some of Canada's lakes was well written with good research into the history and people he met on his quests to explore these lakes. Allan also gave a good account of the politics involved in lakeshore development and its environmental impact. He gave vivid and wonderful descriptions of the beauty encountered along the way and the social memory that many people have on growing up in a fun filled watery summer playground and the conflict many people have about the conservation of these beautiful areas and the overpopulation and development that today are decimating fish stocks while our technology causes severe degradation of habitats.lovely book
January 26, 2017
A good companion piece to Canoe Country: The Making of Canada, as it explores Canadian sociology vis-a-vis our tie to our waterways. Casey's stories are observant and poignant, and seemingly strung together with ease, flowing like water. Loved it!
July 21, 2012
A great little book on the magic and history of selected Canadian Lakes. He starts at Emma Lake and moves on to Ajawaan which are both dear to me. He makes a great environmental point while sharing stories about people and events on the water. And he is from Saskatoon so he must be right.
May 1, 2015
Canada has 60 % of the world’s lakes. Here are revealing portraits of 11 of them, along with the author’s entertaining adventures in discovering them.
May 5, 2014
Liked the Canadian perspective; there's a lot to think about here. While the info is good, I just didn't find this a gripping read. The style was a little too flowery for me.
October 10, 2014
Amazing writing... "Canada's lakes - the soul of Canada". Lovely descriptive prose with a gentle reminder of our environmental responsibility
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews