Souvenir of Canada 2

By Douglas Coupland

Book Overview

Douglas Coupland gets Canada, and he has set out to re-invent his country with his particular brand of insight, humour and visual acuity. Heartfelt homage to Terry Fox. Nanaimo bars for the soul. Unforgettable railway images revealing the country's historic central nervous system. Startling photography from Chris Gergley, Ed Burtynsky, Geoffrey James, Roberta Bondar and many more. And a fetching double-headed Canada goose which will forever change the way you look at hunting decoys. Souvenir of Canada created a sensation when it was published July 1st, 2001. A stubby dominated the country's best-seller lists for months, and made the front pages of every major Canadian newspaper. Souvenir of Canada 2 picks up where its predecessor left off. As with the best jazz, the riffs are fresh, never quite predictable, and full of delicious rhythm and subtle humour. This book is packed full of powerfully resonant images, and unexpected juxtapositions that reveal a new Canada, one at home in a new century. No lighthouses, grain elevators or teepees here. Only a country as experimental and unexpected as Canada could inspire a book as eclectic and wonderful as this one.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1553650433
• ISBN13: 9781553650430
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Yes, there is Canadian cool. . .

What a delight! Since leaving the Buffalo area last year I've been getting my Canada fixes vicariously, and this book did the trick nicely this month. Familiar, yet alien, alien, yet familiar. The idea of the "Canada House" is brilliant (and a brilliant piece of environmental art, to boot). Pick this one up if for no other reason than it's a cool coffeetable book that will confuse your less travelled friends. . .

Coupland never lets you down

Quirky but real. As a Canadian from the same era I can totally relate to what he describes. A really great book to give to Americans to explain who we Canadian really are.

A hilarious, pointed set of true observations

So, what constitutes 'Canadian culture' and elements of Canada? From notorious plastics which take twice as long to decompose to a special kind of screw and driver used only in Canada, there's a host of oddities uniquely Canadian which Douglas Coupland here sets out to capture visually and in text description. A hilarious, pointed set of true observations, all backed with color photos.

Clearly Canadian (and better than the first!)

This SECOND collection of imagery and musings from Famous Canadian Writer Douglas Coupland didn't always strike a chord with me. I'm from a different part of the country, with different history and experiences, of course. Yet enough was oddly, eerily familiar to convince me that there are few young writers better qualified to comment on the State of Our Nation than Coupland. Not as enjoyable as his fiction, but something fun to tide us fans over while we wait! I enjoyed this quirky collection, particularly Coupland's Canadian House installation art, more than the first. The images seemed fresher and his intelligent commentary was just as enjoyable. Keep 'em coming!