Meanwhile, Back in Nokomis: Tales from Canada and Elsewhere by Will Ferguson is a witty, reflective, and distinctly Canadian collection of essays that blends travel writing, memoir, cultural commentary, and humour. Ferguson began this book as a way to compile essays that went unused in his career as a travel writer and then filled in the gaps with essays he wrote just for this collection.
Meanwhile, Back in Nokomis is divided into five parts, which helps give it more structure. Rather than following a single narrative arc, the collection moves through places, encounters, and ideas: rural prairie towns, Montreal neighbourhoods, Sable Island, New Zealand mud pools, whisky, Canadian identity, the oddities of life on the road.
The essays vary in depth and impact—some are light and funny anecdotes, others are deeply moving. The looser structure means the book can occasionally feel uneven, especially if read straight through. I really enjoyed reading one or two essays at a time, rather than trying to tackle all of it at once. It’s like a charcuterie board: full of flavour and variety, you can grab whatever pieces look best and come back for more later.
Some of the funniest passages come when Ferguson tackles supposedly “important” national questions with complete seriousness. He debates Canada’s most representative condiment, considers possible candidates for the national bird, and reflects on why some Canadians are instinctively suspicious of self-promotion. These observations may sound lightweight, but Ferguson uses humour to uncover larger truths about the national character. Like all good satirists, he understands that small details often reveal more than grand political speeches ever could.
A recurring theme is Ferguson’s sentimentality-free affection for Canada. He celebrates the country’s eccentricities while also poking fun at its contradictions and insecurities. That balance keeps the book from becoming either cynical or overly patriotic.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is Ferguson’s tone. He writes with the timing of a stand-up comic but the curiosity of a seasoned journalist. Even when discussing mundane experiences, he finds unexpected emotional resonance or absurdity. Ferguson has this ability to turn cultural misunderstandings and awkward situations into genuinely insightful observations. This is most prominent in his travel essays, but it comes up in every section.
That said, the collection is not without weaker moments. As with many essay compilations, some pieces land harder than others. A few essays feel slight, more like magazine filler than fully developed reflections.
Also, Ferguson occasionally leans too heavily on the rambling conversational style, allowing anecdotes to drift longer than necessary before arriving at their point.
Still, those criticisms are relatively minor when weighed against the book’s considerable pleasures. Ferguson writes with clarity and accessibility, avoiding the inflated prose that can bog down literary essay collections. He never sounds like he is trying to impress the reader. Instead, he sounds like someone genuinely delighted by the weirdness of the world, and he’s eager to share the joke.
Ultimately, Meanwhile, Back in Nokomis: Tales from Canada and Elsewhere is a funny, warm and highly readable collection that feels perfectly suited to readers who enjoy intelligent humour without the heavy lifting often demanded by more serious non-fiction.
And this is a book best enjoyed slowly; its essays lend themselves to reading one or two at a time. I’ll often read one when I’m between classes or on the bus. It might not be your thing if you’re looking for a novel to read cover-to-cover in one sitting, but it’s perfect if you want something both funny and thought provoking that you can explore over time.