SCPL Online NonFiction Book Club discussion

Hello, book clubbers!

I hope you enjoyed reading A Number of Things by Jane Urquhart. I certainly learned a lot of interesting new stories from Canada’s history. The book gave me an opportunity to think about my own ideas about Canada and what it means to be a Canadian.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the collection as a whole and how it represents Canada. Urquhart prefaces the book by admitting that she does not “consider [herself] to be in a position to make judgments about what should and shouldn’t be included in a list of things Canadian”. She concedes that “another author would undoubtedly have picked an entirely different set of objects” (XIII). Would you say that this collection offers a strong representation of Canada? As the author says, “Canada is always under revision, and probably will remain a work-in-progress for as long as it exists” (XIV). Has Urquhart managed to capture the essence of our nation, whatever that may be? Would you remove any of the objects from her list, and what would you replace them with? What will you take away from the book, if anything? Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share?

Thank-you for joining us this month! We look forward to discussing August’s book club pick, Juliet’s Answer: One Man’s Search for Love and the Elusive Cure for Heartbreak, by Glenn Dixon.

~ Holly

Hi Holly, Thank you for leading this month’s discussion! This was a perfect book for July and Canada’s 150th. I admit after Canada Day and the protests against celebrating 150 years, considering Canada’s history is a lot longer, I was feeling rather discouraged. I feel like Urquhart struck a balance in this book that acknowledged 150 years since Confederation but also recognized the longer intricate history that this nation has.

I too copied down her comment on page XIV about Canada being “under revision.” I appreciated that she noted how we don’t have an official history and the benefit of this is that it allows for what she calls a “greater-than-average amount of adaptability.” Rather than it being a weakness, this lack of an official stance is an asset and allows us to be flexible when welcoming newcomers and negotiating the very complicated relationship with Aboriginal peoples.

Later she states “This is a magnificent county in which to live, for all kinds of reasons. Yes, there are flaws in the system, inequalities and injustices. But we have the tools to address these problems, and an openness to the idea of attempting to change for the better.” WE HAVE THE TOOLS. I don’t think that can be overemphasized. Yes, it will take work. Yes, it will probably be painful. Yes, mistakes have been made and will likely be made in the future but instead of being ashamed of the past I am hopeful for the future and what it holds.

Urquhart continues with a statement that absolutely reflects my own sentiments. She says “In the end I came to realize how much I love Canada, and how fortunate I am that my ancestors were among the waves of refugees and immigrants who, for several hundred years now, have arrived on its shores. I also came more fully to understand the great debt we settlers – whether multi-generational or brand new – owe to the First Peoples of Canada, whose territories and ways of life were – and continue to be – undeniably altered by our presence.

I can confidently expect that we will rewrite and rewrite this country into the foreseeable future. Undoubtedly, there will be many new and better versions of Canada under construction as time goes by. I for one look forward with optimism to exploring the new terrain and to reading the revisions.” I have said more than once in this discussion that I spent six years formally studying Canada in the academic settting of a university. What I learned, and what Urquhart has eloquently stated here, is that we are a country under revision. A “slow evolution” rather than a “revolution” as one of my professors put it. We are shaped by the viewpoints of our residents and we have the opportunity to make a new and better Canada in the future. This book helps us see a bit of where we come from. In another 150 years there will be 50 new things to talk about and I’m excited about that.

Heidi, thanks for such a thoughtful final response! I love your optimism, and I share it, too. I think we will succeed in passing on those "tools" for building and revising to the next generations of Canadians. Openness to new ideas, to new perspectives, especially those that may vastly differ from ours, will be essential.


~ Holly