Calling the Maritimes Home: Origins, Attitudes, Quirks, and Curiosities. 2nd ed.

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Anyone from “away” who is thinking of moving to or spending some
serious time in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island
would benefit from this pre-trip orientation. It’s not a tour guide
and not a Chamber of Commerce promotional piece. Rather, it’s a quick
review of past and present accomplishments, unique features, and
boasting points for the three provinces.

The book starts with a jumbled, confusing attempt to summarize the
history of the area. This is followed by a much more successful crash
course in Maritime geography, industry, transportation, communications,
food, sports, and culture. There are brief notes on coal and gold mines,
lighthouses, oyster and fox farms, fish processing, pulp and paper
mills, and famous writers and musicians. Famous women, well-known
entrepreneurs, movie and film successes, festivals, and artists each
receive a short note. There’s considerable emphasis on Maritime
“firsts,” discoveries, and inventions.

The book is an assembly of short snippets—some only a sentence or
two—patched together into a crazy-quilt mosaic. This makes for
interesting browsing but, because there is no index, renders it useless
as a reference. The style is moderately successful at being upbeat. The
layout is disruptive, amplifying the disjointed nature of the text.
Although there are weaknesses, the core strength of the book—an
overview of various aspects of life in the three Atlantic
provinces—makes it useful for visitors or new residents.