Spindrift: A Canadian Book of the Sea, edited by Michael and Anita Hadley, is an anthology about the Canadian seas. The stories and poems highlight, through the different authors’ personal experiences, the history of the Canadian seas and their effects on people’s lives.
Both the stories and poetry are very descriptive and evocative; they create visuals that draw the reader in.
There are many adventure stories that are full of action, and the writing is nicely detailed, so the reader can really see and become involved in the story.
Because Spindrift is about one specific topic, a few of the stories are similar and can make the reader feel as if they have read the same one already; however, there is a variety of stories, and each one has a different concept.
Most of the stories are uplifting and give a positive feeling. There are a few sad ones, but they give a good flux in emotion so the book isn’t monotonous.
The poetry is interlaced amongst the stories and breaks them up nicely with the different style of writing; they give a calmer feeling.
There’s also a chapter on the wars that occurred on Canadian waters, along with many stories told by and about First Nations and Inuit people on their experiences with the ocean—such as how they used to hunt—which illuminate Canadian history and the heritage of the First Nations and the Inuit.
The Hadleys’ objective for this book was to honour Canada’s 150th by capturing part of our country’s national identity, which they certainly have done in a captivating way.
Spindrift is a good book for anyone who would like to know more about Canadian history and heritage, or for anyone who has an interest in the sea. This book is informative while still telling interesting tales of personal experiences.