Peculiar Lessons: How Nature and the Material World Shaped a Prairie Childhood

by Lois Braun

Part memoir, part social history, this collection of ten essays explores the various physical and natural elements that form the backdrop to Braun’s memories of growing up on a farm in southern Manitoba in the mid-20th century. From blackboard chalk to curling rocks in the chapter on stone, from mirages to straight-line winds in the essay on light and air, she reflects on her interactions with the elements as a child and how her responses influenced her evolution into adulthood. Braun includes intriguing tidbits about the science and history behind each element as it pertains to life in her unique location on our planet. The book highlights the value and beauty of the simple components of our surroundings that we take for granted growing up, exposes their true complexity, and reveals how the fascination with a “simple” thing can become a lifelong pursuit that sustains our artistic and spiritual needs.

224 pages, Paperback

Published May 29, 2020

Reviews

[Jerry Dykman]

Peculiar Lessons
By Lois Braun
This latest book reconfirms the writer’s talents as a thorough describer of life in south central Manitoba during her growing up in the 1950s and 60s. It is organized into chapters of weather and climate, terrain, geology, trees, plants, insects, birds and mammals. These all shaped the character of a young girl growing up on a farm and attending a one room school, withinin a loving family. The farm remained solvent, a singular achievement in a market economy.
Lois had plenty to do, with space to explore with her siblings. Those decades were not a protective existence. They did not have to be. The only hazards were perhaps a deep slough or well. Everyone knew and trusted everyone else. Lois’ inquisitiveness, her love of all textures and colours, in stones, woods, paper, fabric, metal and paint is woven in meticulous detail, supplemented and supported by scientific/academic excerpts, down to the very chemical formulas.
Her family was fortunate to have a father who liked to take them on long motor trips to California and other parts of the USA, ensuring a wide outlook and comparative viewpoint. Many of the lessons derived from a deep wish to discover, and place in context the history of place, soil, what once grew there, roamed over it, now supplanted by ditches and roads, shelterbelts and piles of fieldstones.
The latter parts of the book deal with the grid pattern of the Dominion Land Survey, the wonders of the Eaton’s Catalogue, floor paintings, and the myriad of plastic toys and utensils.
The reader takes in the familiar look and feel of a period rec room, complete with ping pong table, record player, and refreshment counter, used to entertain family and guests during a long winter.
The author has rendered a well articulated account of a happy childhood, reminiscent of the energetic sophistication of a Trixie Beldon or Nancy Drew, yet the spirited innocence of Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
For a detailed immersion into the prairie part of Manitoba in post war peace time, look no further. We are given that world in deep engagement.
Review by Jerry Dykman

[Armin Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To see the world in a grain of sand” is an apt description of the nine essays in Lois Braun’s Peculiar Lessons: How Nature and the Material World shaped a Prairie Childhood. The essays are an intriguing blend of memoir, childhood nostalgia, and explorations of nature, technology, and social history. “Light and Air” begins with an examination of the mirage, first recounting the author’s experience of the marvel as a child, then exploring the science of the mirage, how light and air conspire to create the optical illusion, referencing historical mirages. Seemlessly, Braun moves the essay into a perusal of air itself, it’s colours, it’s force, it’s effect on lives on the prairie. To add to this already fascinating look at light and air, she brings in the perspective of a photographer who shares how he studies light and air to determine the conditions that help him take his best photographs. Each of the essays uses a similar structure, integrating family history with scientific and artistic ways of seeing, creating a mural of prairie life in the ‘50s and ‘60s that is personal and universal.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this galley, it was an interesting read.
I had expected a nostalgic story of growing up rural. I got that and more. The preface was interesting and pulled me into my memories which I loved. However the facinating part was the scientific and sociological follow up. It was an interesting transformation. I also appreciated that the piece was written in first person, made it more real somehow.
On first reading, I thought the quotes and references were a little lengthy, but then I found myself more intrigued with that part of the essay. The amount of research done was amazing. I particularly found the excerpts from the local artists worthy of a re read.
The observations of the drive in the country to observe weather, animals plants etc, I have always called rural therapy. Well done.
The chapter, Rock Of Ages was great and very personal for me. The only thing missing in the curling segment was the sound of the corn brooms whacking the ice.
Excellent Atwood quote in the chapter Where The Willows Lean Right In. It set the tone.
In the chapter, Tracing Glades, I was transported back but I kept thinking, “ How are young people going to relate to this? Previously I had thought this would be an excellent classroom resource and with the war on plastics going on, perhaps this could be used in schools.
I really appreciated the Come To Order chapter. Before Google maps and blue tooth your oral explanations of direction was based on the grid.
I really enjoyed this read and I have already recommended it to several family and friends. Congratulations Lois.

[Don Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peculiar lessons
Review by Don and Barb Wiebe

The book features a variety of themes based on the author's recollections of vivid childhood memories and keen observations. Through these childhood stories, she illustrates how these experiences have influenced her present world view. As the book is written in the first person, it is remarkable how there is a sense of authenticity to the author's voice throughout this work.
Having grown up in southern Manitoba, it is easy to relate to her childhood experiences. But what makes this work so compelling are the intricately woven references to historical, literary, scientific, sociological, political, and or philosophical insights that are triggered by her childhood experiences.
Certainly, the selected literary and philosophical quotes set the tone of the book.
Her childhood recollections of her experiences transcends to local artists artisans, advocates and activists who also share the development of their insights and passions.
In particular, we enjoyed reading about the experience of draining puddles after a heavy rain. This prompts a reflection on field drainage to municipal drains (often a local election issue) to a discourse on the Buffalo Creek Rehabilitation project. This chapter concludes with an actual interview with the project researcher.
The ability to integrate her childhood experiences with current perspectives, observations and insights is remarkable. This is an insightful book. The personal and community references help us to understand and appreciate how the various themes provide a context to our present reality.
We highly recommend reading this book.

[Eleanor Chornoboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Peculiar Lessons. In the true sense of the word, I think the book is brilliant. It sparkles with poetry, stories from the heart, wise observations and complete honesty without judgment. I found the stories took me from the micro to the macro to the personal and back to the micro again with complete ease. I loved how Braun imbedded the work and words of local artists, treated the reader to careful research into the text effortlessly and told her own stories as if we might have been sharing memories over a cup of coffee.
This is the most intelligent and loving book I have read in a long time.