Adopted this book and many others on the weekend from a very kind person via craigslist. Thank you. Included is a $25 ticket to the 10th annual Galiano Wine Festival, sponsored by the Galiano Health Care Society. The event takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (finger food available after 2 p.m.) on Saturday, August 17, 2002. All you need is a DeLorean DMC-12 and you're good to go.

From the back of the book:

When Roughing It in the Bush was published in 1852, it created an international sensation for Moodie's firm determination to puncture the illusions European land agents were circulating about life in Canada. This frank and fascinating chronicle details her harsh - and humorous - experiences in homesteading with her family in the woods of Upper Canada.

Part documentary, part psychological parable, Roughing It in the Bush is, above all, an honest account of how one woman coped not only in a new world, but, more importantly, with herself.

I'll be giving this to - or possibly hiding this for - ifyouknew during the evening of Tuesday, August 17, 2010. I just hope she doesn't check my recent releases while we're en route.

Well, I have to say that jblueafterglow is both very thoughtful, and full of surprises! First, he came all the way to Calgary to surprise another BCer (starbytes) on her arrival into Canada from Malaysia. Then they all came to my house for dinner, and he surprised me by surreptitiously leaving behind not one, but THREE books from my wishlist. (Two of which appear suspiciously brand-new.) Thanks very much, Rob! It was fun meeting you and your lovely family. I'm excited about reading these books, and I'll try to release them somewhere interesting when I'm finished.

I really wanted to like this book, and I stuck it out through 300+ pages, but it just wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it would be a tale of the privations and hardships of early Canadian settlers, and it sort of was. But the author was more privileged than most settlers, and in the first half of the book at least, her biggest hardship seemed to be when one of her servants quit! I also lost patience for the frequent inclusion of her insipid peotry throughout the text.

I was planning to bring this to my Mom, who lives in the backwoods of Ontario and loves 'pioneer' stories, but I'm sure she would be as bored of this one as I was. So, I'm not sure yet where I'll release it.

To be released in the book basket in the donor refreshment area of the plasma/plateletpheresis clinic, 3rd floor, around 1pm.