April 28th - Book Twenty-Two: Girls

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

I finally finished another book. It's been two weeks but it's because I'm reading three books at the same time, plus I'm trying to learn the Math 11 curriculum so I don't look like an idiot when I teach it every weekend. I'm staying one step ahead of them and it's working...I think. Girls is a book by Nic Kelman, an MIT and Brown University grad. I bought the book in England because of a positive blurb I read about it written by James Frey. It was somewhat a thoughtful commentary of what men think about when someone of the opposite sex walks by but the style is weird and the story is broken up into complicated bits and pieces that don't neccessarily fit together. This book has received a lot of praise from critics all over the world but to me it's not really that great a book. But what do I know? 2.5/5. (214 pages. Total for the year: 5696 pages)

April 14th - Book Twenty-One: Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

So, I've broken the 20 book level which means I'm more than 40% through the goal of 50 in 52. Koren Zailckas wrote this memoir of herself growing up as a lush. The book, which kicks around some - but thankfully not too much - statistical data about youth drinking is able to limit most of the seemingly requisite preaching found in similar books that drive to tell people how they should live their lives. Her story provides interesting reading for anyone that wants stripped-down insight into what college drinking in the United States looks like. She is able to convey the negatives of binge drinking without doing anything by telling her weird, drunken stories. I bought this book for $5.99 at Book Warehouse on Broadway. Rating: 3.5/5. (343 pages. Total for the year: 5482 pages)

I'm not in Kuwait. (Though it's pretty damn hot here, too.)

It seems like there are many out there that still believe that I'm in Kuwait. Though, I was suppose to leave on the 19th for this lovely middle eastern country, I didn't go. The school didn't send me the promised plane ticket. And my hiring agency - though truly surprised and seemingly helpful - aren't really concerned with it. Apparently, the school had some second thoughts about hiring me for the remainder of the school year considering there were only 90-odd days left. As well, the school was sold just days after they agreed to hire me, which the agency thinks, played a part in them reneging on this teaching placement. I would have loved to have gone to Kuwait but, well, it's not happening this time around. Instead, I'm just sitting around waiting for ITN to get something short-notice for me so I can teach somewhere in this world for the remainder of the 2007 Academic year. Following is a transcript of my emails with the school.

March 9 - "Edmond Jay [VH]" to alnaki
I am preparing to come to Kuwait and will look into flights for next week or the following week. I would like to speak to you or a representative from the school before I come. If possible, could you please ring me at my home phone number between 2000 and 2400hrs Pacific Standard Time tomorrow? I have a few more questions that I would like to discuss before completely committing to this position. My number at home is 604-###-#### I look forward to speaking to you.

March 10 - alnaki to me
dear mr jay,
with reference to your telecon had with mr al-naki. pls note that mr al-naki is out of kuwait and will be back on 15th march' 2007. answer to all your queries will be given on 15th march' 2007.

thanks
ms manju
secretary

No one from the school called me.!!!

March 11 - I called Mr al-naki and made arrangements to come on the 19th. He promised to get me the plane ticket and some information about the science department by the 15th.

March 16 - "Edmond Jay [VH]" to alnaki
Hello. Still waiting for some information on the biology department and my eminent flight to Kuwait that I believe is being organised on your end.

March 19 - "Edmond Jay [VH]" to alnaki
I am still waiting for news about working with KIES. I was agreed upon in my last phone conversation with you, I was expecting some information on the science department to be emailed to me as soon as possible and to travel to Kuwait, through organization via the school, on March 19 but that date has already passed. Can you please update me on what is happening?

March 20 - alnaki to me
dear mr edmond,
thank you for your e-mail.
time was just passing in corresponding and now the academic year is ending and after 2 months the school will close. pls let us know your availability for next academic year staring from 1st september' 2007.
regards,
mohammed al-naki

March 20 - "Edmond Jay [VH]" to Sally (ITN)
Sally, upon speaking with the head of KIES on the 12th, I had made arrangements with him to fly me out on March 19th. He said the school would get everything done for me for the 15th. I've been emailing him constantly over the last week to get everything done because of the imminent arrival of the 19th but he hadn't responded to any of my correspondences until today. And in this response, I'm very disappointed to read that the school has rescinded their offer. I quit my hospital job and my math position at a private school on the understanding that I was going to teach for the remainder of the year and now Mr. Al-Naki has told me they don't want me. As you can imagine, I'm very unhappy with this turn of events. They seemed open to me accepting the posting and told me to get ready for travel on the 19th. This included me giving notice of my hospital job to my current employees and my teaching position to the math department at Formosa School. But, for some reason or another, Mr. Al-Naki no longer want me for the remainder of this year. Now, I don't have a job here in Vancouver nor a job in Kuwait and I am surely going to lose out financially because of this. As my representation, there must be something that you can do. As I've stated, on my telephone conversation with KIES they assured me of my employment with the school and told me to prepare to leave Vancouver for Kuwait for March 19th. Now, on the 20th they have reneged on this offer. I anxiously await your assistance in this matter.

March 21 - "Edmond Jay [VH]" to alnaki
Mr. Al-Naki, I am disappointed to hear that you are rescinding the offer you provided to me for immediate employment with your school. As we spoke on the telephone on March 12th, it seemed that everything was okay and I had the impression of you guaranteeing me work. Because of this conversation and the mutual agreement between us for me to leave on March 19th, I have been preparing over the last week to travel and begin work in Kuwait. This preparation included me quiting my two jobs here in Vancouver. Now, with you and your school reneging on your offer, you have left me without employment in Vancouver for the current time being. I must say again how disappointed I am with your decision not to provide me the Biology opening at your school for the remainder of the year. Not only was I looking forward to the opportunity of working in the amazing country of Kuwait but now, based on the information you gave me on the 12th you are also leaving me in
a very difficult financial situation in Vancouver.
Please note that I have forwarded your last email correspondence to ITN stating my disappointment with how your school has dealt with the situation. I must say that without employment beginning immediately I cannot see how I could agree to be available to your school for any future employment opportunities.
If you or KIES would like to talk further of this situation and possibly how it may be remedied, please email at this address or phone me 778-###-####.
Respectfully,

March 26 -alnaki to me
dear mr jay,
we had all the correspondence. the delay was from your end. in one of our e-mail we had also mentioned that "pls let us know when you want us to book and from which airport" but we never received response from your end.
regards,
mohammed al-naki

March 26 - I sent Mr. Al-Naki a lenghty email - maybe a 500 words - about the agreement. It's too long to paste here but the gist of it was my anger in them not telling me earlier that they were opting out of the agreement.

I never heard from Mr Al-naki after this last correspondence.

March 28 - Sally Barrett to me
Hi Ed
Quick update for you. The plot thickens.....Just had a call from one of our associates who has picked some information this morning on the international grapevine. It turns out that the one and only Mr Al-naki has just sold the school and bailed out of the education business entirely! Apparently it happened just over a week ago, which certainly ties in with them reneging on your job offer and our not being able to get hold of him. I will now try and get hold of someone at the school to see if I can find out who has bought it and who the new management are.
Cheers fro now
Sally
Sally Barrett BEd(Hons)
International Consultant
INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS NETWORK

Correspondences from ITN are, as always, few and far between. This was the last email from them on this matter so it doesn't seem that anything was really done for me on their behalf.

April 3 - Sally Barrett to me
Hi Ed
Just had a note from v good school in Jordan in need of someone to teach maths and some KS3 science next term. It is a temp post with a poss of becoming perm for Sept. I have, of course, sent thru your details to Ken, the director, and hope to hear back form him later today. Will keep you posted.
This is the basic info Ken sent thru. You can check out the school at: http://www.ics-amman.edu.jo/
For expatriate staff, the ICS offers one free return economy flight for the duration of this temporary contract, thereafter one free annual economy flight per year. This would be for ALL accompanying members of the immediate family. There is free schooling for all children. ICS provides an accommodation allowance of 5,500 JDs per year which is enough for a basic three bedroomed flat. We pay a utilities allowance of 700 JD per year. We do not cover telephone bills. The school is responsible for all maintenance, other than wilful damage. For this temporary contract, all payments are pro rata.
The salary will be in the region of US$3,300 per month, depending on qualifications and experience.
Currently, we have 350 pupils aged 3-16. We are moving into A levels and Nursery from September 2008.
Cheers
Sally
Sally Barrett BEd(Hons)
International Consultant
INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS NETWORK

It's now the 11th and I really don't know what' happening with my teaching situation.

Ed

April 9th - Book Twenty: Not Wanted On The Voyage.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Everyone in Canada knows Timothy Findley. If you don’t – and he’s not that guy that sits next to Don Cherry during Coaches Corner – then you’re not truly Canadian. Mr. Findlay is probably one of the five big Canadian writers and of those five, which includes Margaret Atwood, Robertson Davies, W.P. Kinsella, Alice Monroe, and Mordecai Richler, he is definitely my favorite. I’ve read many of his books and this one is without any doubt my favorite. And to re-read it during Easter long weekend, well it’s just an indication of what I really think about organized religion. I think I’ll make it an annual tradition from now on. The premise is pretty ingenious: It’s an imaginative retelling of what might have happened on Noah’s Ark. I know there are other books out there that ‘fictionalize’ stories from the Bible, such as A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters by Julian Barnes, but this is the best example, in my mind. It’s a funny, thoughtful and surprising story that provides an amazing view into the wonderful writing abilities of Mr. Findley. There are numerous turns and twists in his story as he makes fun of both religion and science within the 350-odd pages of this book. If you ever wanted to know what happened to the mythical Unicorn or why demons are evil, then this is the book that gives you as good an answer as any. Go read this book. Rating: 5/5. (352 pages. Total for the year: 5139 pages)

April 6th - Book Nineteen: The Tetherballs of Bougainville.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

I purchased this book from Book Warehouse a couple of years ago but couldn’t find the time to give it a go until now. It’s an amazing satiric story written in a way that would make Jonathan Ames blush. Written by the funny Mark Leyner there were numerous amazing passages that made me laugh out loud and even more passages that almost made me pee myself as I giggled like a 6 year-old watching some ‘evil’ character get nutted (once again) in a slanderous cartoon rendition of a classical favorite by the Walt Disney Corporation. (Mind you, I use this analogy as high praise for Mr. Leyner’s book because I (a) consider voided urinal volume during fits of laughter as an honest measure of how funny a book is and (b) I actually think it’s funny when someone gets roasted in the nuts.) The book’s plot is actually very thin but really, if you’re reading this book for content then you’re also probably watching “Coronation Street” for its sociological study on Northern English life. The book is broken into two parts. The first part describes how a thirteen year old deals with the lethal injection execution of his father for shoplifting a hand-blender. The second part is written as a screenplay by the same thirteen-year-old as he describes how the story of the execution of his father would play out on the silver screen. Lock yourself in a room with this book, a bar of butter (unsalted), and a wooden spatula and don’t come out until you finish reading. Believe me, the time will pass so quickly, when you finish only 2/3 of the butter will have been used and you’ll only have a handful of splinters from the spatula. (Don’t worry, Narv. I’ll lend you the book. You’ll have to get your own butter and spatula, though.) Rating: 5/5. (240 pages. Total for the year: 4787 pages)

April 1st - Book Eighteen: Clay’s Way.

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Written by 21-year-old Blair Mastbaum about a 15 year old skater boy that is in love with an 18 year old surfer dude. Very abstract but somewhat believable. The story jumps around a lot and plays into a lot of different things that make the story seem disjointed but I think it’s just in the vein of how a 15-year guy might actually think when going through all of the trails of falling in love with another guy. It’s not the greatest book out there and it might not be worth your time to search it out but if you find it out there for, let’s say $4.99 – like I did at Hager Books on 41st Avenue – then maybe pick it up for a quick read. Otherwise, maybe just try out your own ‘alternative’ side and experience this story for yourself first hand. Rating: 3/5. (246 pages. Total for the year: 4547 pages)

By the way, did you know that Vancouverites purchase more books per capita than any other city in North America? If this is actually true, it leaves me wondering why half of my friends are illiterate. (And some of these are teachers.)

March 26th - Book Seventeen: Lord of the Flies-lof

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

I didn’t get a chance to read William Golding’s famous first novel in high school. I guess Mr. Secrest – or who ever my grade 8 English teacher was back then – chose Charlotte’s Web or The Outsiders instead. This book is not an easy read. It’s easy enough to get through the plot of this book but I can just imagine all the difficult and inquisitive questions that an English teacher could come up with about this book. One question, for example: The conch in this novel obviously plays the part of symbolizing how delicate and fleeting true power is for people in competition for ruling control. However, what is Mr. Golding trying to symbolize with the pink granite that “thrust up uncompromisingly through forest and terrace and sand and lagoon to make a raised jetty four feet high”? Think of all the delicate answers you might get from the boys in the class. Obviously, the book is an amazing study of power and development (or de-development) of civilization with the absence of authority and the defying of rules but still it seems like a book that I’ve read before. Can anyone say William Butler’s “The Butterfly Revolution”? It’s a good book and I enjoyed the ideas it produces and the thinking it provoked. However, if I was 13 – or however old you are when you read this in school – the writing style would have bored me to death. Based during the Second World War and written in English from that time period, I can totally understand how students that have to read this book think it’s boring. I stole my copy from school. Rating: 4/5. (225 pages. Total for the year: 4301 pages)

March 21st - Book Sixteen: The Ball.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book, which I think I purchased from Black Bond Books a couple of years ago is about Mark McGwire's 70th homerun baseball. Obviously, it's only a ball - with an actual worth of $5, considering materials and workmanship - but the preceived value, because of connection to baseball history, was almost a million times greater. The book, by Dan Paisner, follows what happens to the young man that sprawls out and smothers this ball after it bangs into the box suite he and his office buddies where sharing at the last Cardinals game of the year. The story isn't really that exciting nor is it very interesting but I always finish books I start. The only cliffhanger in all of this was trying to determine who had actually purchased the ball for $3.005 Million. And whether or not he feels like an idiot paying out $3.005 Million for a ball that quickly depreciated back to $5 after Barry Bonds smashed the 70 homerun mark a couple of years later. Without mention of the troubles McGwire has had in the recent past with allegations of steroid use during this amazing feat, obviously there are no chapters set aside to question the legitimacy of his feat. It's a book. I read it. Rating: 2.5/5. (206pages. Total for the year: 4186 pages)

Going to Kuwait

So, I've finally accepted my next overseas position and it's in Kuwait. I'm leaving next Tuesday to teach Biology at an English curriculum school in Kuwait City for the remainder of this year and possibly for the duration of next year. I don't know a whole lot about Kuwait City except that it's got a lot of sand. Plus, it has a Virgin Megastore. Well, I'm sure I'll have a lot more to say about Kuwait once I get there in a few days. These are pictures of a gummy bear carpet. Yum.

March 11th - Book Fifteen: Devil in the Details.

A book by Jennifer Traig. Jews and OCD. Who knew? I purchased this book for $5.99 from Chapters in Richmond. I bought it because of Dave Eggers. She writes for McSweeney sometimes and I guess that's how she wrangled Dave Eggers into writing a dust cover comment for her book. Good book, though. Highly enjoyable and I highly recommend it. 4/5 stars. Go get it. (246pages. Total for the year: 3980 pages)

Next year's Canucks jerseys?

These are the proposed designs of next year's Vancouver Canucks Jerseys that I found on the Canucks.com website. I think they look great but, well, what's up with Johnny Canuck? I think it's a great idea for them to go back to the original "rink and stick" C jersey.

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

March 3rd - Book Fourteen: The Third Brother

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Nick McDonell wrote a book called Twelve three or four years ago and it was one of my favorite books for that particular year. He was written up as being the next big American author having published Twelve at the age of only 17. Though Twelve was flawed with a weird and unfinished writing style, the story was good and the characters true. The Third Brother is his second, very much anticipated book. I bought it not because I liked his first book - I find that liking one book of an author doesn't necessarily mean you'll like his/her other books - but because it was a starred review for Kirkus; I usually like books suggested by Kirkus. This book reads very, very easily and it's because he writes like he's still in high school. Maybe it was planned, as the protagonist is supposed to be a first or second year university student - and we all know how poorly they write - but I don't think so. Really, it must be at a grade eight or nine reading level, which doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad book but it does make it a bad book if the plot is poor as well and, well, this book also has a bad plot. I know that writing a follow up book to such a well received first book must be difficult but Mr. McDonell's second attempt is disappointing. Try again, Nick. Or maybe not. I give it 1.5/5. (288pages. Total for the year: 3734 pages)

March 1st - Book Thirteen: Into Thin Air

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Jon Krakauer's book "Into Thin Air" is a very well known and very well read book about the 1998 Everest climbing year, which at the time was the deadliest year for Everest climbers. It reads very easily and the story is very well written. It's interesting and informative, giving insight into what extreme altitude mountaineering actually entails. Obviously, it's much more than climbing a couple of hundred metres of slight incline as the handicap of low oxygen and ice creates a nasty and unforgiving situation. The only thing that I question is the detail that Mr. Krakauer puts into describing the events. He often comments on the decrease in lucidity with increased altitude but writes of the events as if there wasn't even a slight imparement of his cognitive ability. I bought this book at Value Village on Victoria Drive for $2.99 and I recommend the book to anyone. I give it 3.5/5. The other book in the picture is Woodstock and Snoopy painting Easter Eggs. I read that book with my niece Emma. A very good read as well. Even though it's a book and I read it, I'm not including it as one of my 50 books. (416 pages. Total for the year: 3446 pages)

February 23rd - Book Twelve: Fat Girl

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book, by Judith Moore, is my book number 12 and it was an okay book, I guess. Ms. Moore wrote this book as a memoir of her being overweight. It's very touching at times but not the type of story that I normally read. I bought it at bookwarehouse for $5.99 because the dust cover contains a review by David Sedaris. It's insightful but sometimes over the top. I know that I'll probably never get to the situation where I'll be any more than empathetic to an overweight people's burden but the story seems a little too self pitying. My inability to relate left me less able to relate. Very well written, though, and the pages fly by. I'd give it a 2.5/5. (196 pages. Total for the year: 3030 pages)

February 17th - Book Eleven: Checkpoint

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is a book by Nicholson Baker. I bought it at Pulpfiction on Main Street at the corner of Broadway for $9. (It's a first edition.) He wrote some very good books like Vox, The Fermata, and The Mezzanine all which have a strong "cultish" following. Checkpoint may seem a lot different than the books that he's written in the past but I think that there is a very subtle similarity. When I read The Fermata, The Mezzanine, and Vox the first thing that came to mind was Mr. Baker was telling us a story about things that he wants to do. His personality comes through his characters. I think Checkpoint is doing the same thing. This book is based on a conversation between two friends on the possibility of assassinating George W. Bush. The character Jay feels a need to kill Bush to stop all the nonsensical murders that he's causing in the countries the United States at at war with. I think the book strongly suggests Baker's political leanings. An interesting read if you want a quick abridged history of what GWB has done to create the situation that he has put the US in. However, be warned that it is a politically charged, strongly left leaning book. I give it 2.5/5 and I recommend it to those that like Michael Moore. For those that would rather read David Hardy (He wrote the book "Michael Moore is a big fat stupid white man" this'll just raise your blood pressure. (128 pages. Total for the year: 2834 pages)

Lui

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

The next coming of Kirk McLean but with a little bit more personality, there are millions in this town that are betting on this guy to take the Canucks to the promiseland that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. He's been amazing, almost super-human in his actions and this is getting many people around the water cooler talking. Here are some Luongo-isms;
- Luongo doesn't sleep... he waits.
- Some wear Superman pajamas.... Kipper wears Luongo pajamas.
- Luongo lost his virginity before his dad did.
- On the 7th day God rested... Luongo took over.
- Luongo can shoot a plane down by holding up his stick and yelling "BANG!"
- Luongo is Luke Skywalkers real father.
- Luongo is the reason why waldo is hiding.
- Luongo counted to infinity. twice.
- Luongo's glove hand is the only one that can beat a Royal Flush.
- When the boogyman goes to sleep everynight... he checks his closet for Luongo.
- Icey-hot is not strong enough for Luongo. After each game he rubs his muscles with liquid MAGMA
- The bible was originaly named "Luongo and Friends"
- Luongo was what Willis was talkin about.
- When God said "let there be light" Luongo said "Say please."
- In a fight between Bieksa and Iginla you know who the winner would be? Luongo.
- In the words of Julius Caesar: "Veni, Vidi, Vici, Luongo". Translation: "I came, I saw, i was shut out by Luongo".
- Mr. T "Pities the fool" Luongo pities Mr. T.
- Chuck Norris is revered for his roundhouse kicks. It was once said that Chuck Norris performed a roundhouse kick so powerful; it's caused the Earth to reverse it rotation. Time stopped altogether when Luongo made a basic kick save.

Go, Canucks, go.

February 13th - Book Ten: The Cutting Room

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Louise Welsh won a lot of praise and a even more accollades for this book. Her first, it was applauded by British newspaper The Guardian as the year's best crime fiction when it debuted. It's on this praise that I bought the book. Based on a homosexual male auctioneer (that should have warned me off right there) it follows the plot of the main trying to figure out if some pictures he gets his paws on of an apparent snuff are real or fake. Why did I mention that the protagonist was gay? It shouldn't matter, you say? Well, Ms. Welsh doesn't let us forget the sexual orientation of the Auctioneer. The story is somewhat schizophrenic, jumping from his (numerous) sexual conquests and/or sexual desires, stereotypical private investigator reactions - car chases, drinking problems, little white lies to gain an advantage in the search, etc, etc, etc. - and less than informatiive meanderings that have nothing to do with the plot. Really, having a tough guy homosexual auctioneer with so much sensitivity seemed wrong. He's portrays more as a strong woman, which Ms. Welsh should have had as a lead instead. I don't read a lot of detective/crime/whodunits so maybe this is how they all play out but this novel doesn't rate very high for me. Actually, it was work just to finish the last 100 pages. The only thing I really know after reading this book is that Gin and Tonic is considered a woman's drink and I won't be reading another detective novel in the remaining 46 or so weeks. I bought it at the Bookware House on 4th. I may release it as a bookcrossing book close to there, too. Out of 5, it's a 1. (294 pages. Total for the year: 2706 pages)

February 8th - Book Nine: Bloodletting and miraculous cures

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book is a very good read. I bought it because it won the Giller and I' m not disappointed at all over the purcahse. (I bought it from Bookware House on Broadway at 20% off. It's on sale at the Chapters.ca website for much better than that.) Similar in style to "Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy, another book by a Chinese Canadian, the chapters are narratives from different characters linked to a same story. The writing is very strong and elegant. Sometimes, it was too nicely written...I'm not so well read that I could get into the glamorous writing easily all the time. The story of the discovery of this literary star is as good as the book. Apparently, he found himself on the same boat cruise as Margaret Atwood and he asked her to read it. She obliged and it was off to the races. Good book, buy it now!!!! 5/5 stars. (368 pages. Total for the year: 2412 pages)

February 2nd - Book Eight: Bongwater

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Originally uploaded by
cherubichomer.

I just finished Michael Hornburg's book Bongwater, which I picked up at Camelot Books at West 10th Avenue in Vancouver for $7. Set in Portland,the book is an interesting story about a 20 something slacker guy during the early to late 90s. It reads very easily and the opening chapters of the book really drew me in. The story's plot builds chapter after chapter and then the book just ends. No, there isn't a catastrophic event that satisfies the abrupt ending. Instead, the book just ends. Very disappointing. Possibly, Mr. Hornburg had to meet a deadline. 3/5 stars. I may set this book free via bookcrossings. If you don't know what book crossings is, check it out at www.bookcrossings.com. (208pages. Total for the year: 2044 pages)

January 29th - Book Seven: The Game

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden's famous book about one week in his last year with the Montreal Canadiens. Mr. Dryden, now a famous Canadian politician, certainly has a way with words. Bob Clarke, the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Flyers and Dryden's teammate on many National team events during the seventies, once said of Mr. Dryden, "If you asked him the time, he'd build you a watch. You didn't dare ask him a question because you'd have to stand there and listen to him spout off for half an hour." Yeah, his writing is pretty much the same. However, his writing is interesting and intelligent. It gives great insight into the meaning of hockey to Canadians. I suggest that every Canadian, hockey and no-hockey fans alike, read this book. Actually, I think it should be a future recommened "Canada Reads" book. I give it a 5/5. (248pages. Total for the year: 1836 pages)