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Erratic North: A Vietnam Draft Resister's Life in the Canadian Bush
In geology an erratic is a "boulder or rock formation transported some distance from its original source, as by a glacier." In award-winning novelist Mark Frutkin's case, his movement from his native Cleveland. Ohio, was instigated by his wish to protest and resist the U.S. military draft during the Vietnam War, and his destination was Canada.
An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 American Vietnam War draft resisters sought sanctuary in Canada. Many of these men stayed, became Canadian citizens, and have made significant contributions to the country, including writers such as William Gibson, George Fetherling, Keith Maillard, and Jay Scott; musicians Jesse Winchester and Jim Byrnes; children's performer Eric Nagler; and radio personality Andy Barrie.
Although this first nonfiction work by Mark Frutkin looks back at the circumstances and culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s that prompted the author to relocate to Canada, Erratic Northis about many other things. It's also a lyrical meditation about "returning to nature" in the bush country of Quebec and an account of the crucible that forged one writer. Tying everything together, though, is the overarching theme of the book: a contemplation of humanity's embrace of war and violence and the countervailing impulse to resist that embrace, specifically as seen in the experience of Frutkin himself; his grandfather Simon, who escaped Tsarist Russia and its military in the 1890s; and Louis Drouin, the Quebec farmer Frutkin bought his original farm from and who resisted conscription in World War II.
An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 American Vietnam War draft resisters sought sanctuary in Canada. Many of these men stayed, became Canadian citizens, and have made significant contributions to the country, including writers such as William Gibson, George Fetherling, Keith Maillard, and Jay Scott; musicians Jesse Winchester and Jim Byrnes; children's performer Eric Nagler; and radio personality Andy Barrie.
Although this first nonfiction work by Mark Frutkin looks back at the circumstances and culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s that prompted the author to relocate to Canada, Erratic Northis about many other things. It's also a lyrical meditation about "returning to nature" in the bush country of Quebec and an account of the crucible that forged one writer. Tying everything together, though, is the overarching theme of the book: a contemplation of humanity's embrace of war and violence and the countervailing impulse to resist that embrace, specifically as seen in the experience of Frutkin himself; his grandfather Simon, who escaped Tsarist Russia and its military in the 1890s; and Louis Drouin, the Quebec farmer Frutkin bought his original farm from and who resisted conscription in World War II.
- GenresCanada
238 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 21, 2013
I would actually give this book 3.5 if I could do 1/2 stars.
I really liked the bits about his life on the farm.
I also liked/enjoyed the information on draft resisters, including the stories of his grandfather (Simon Frutkin who fled Belarus in 1896 to escape the Czar's draft) and his neighbour (Louis Drouin who sold Mark the farm in Quebec and resisted the draft in WW2). But I admit that I .... slipped over some of those bits rather.... browsingly... in order to jump ahead to more stories about life on the farm.
Living up here in Northern Ontario, I found myself mostly interested in how he survived the winters and celebrated the coming of Spring.
I might find the other bits just as captivating if I wasn't snowed in right now.
It's worth a read, for sure for anyone with an interest in living in the bush, the back to the land movement of the 70s or those who resist going to war.
go easy
I really liked the bits about his life on the farm.
I also liked/enjoyed the information on draft resisters, including the stories of his grandfather (Simon Frutkin who fled Belarus in 1896 to escape the Czar's draft) and his neighbour (Louis Drouin who sold Mark the farm in Quebec and resisted the draft in WW2). But I admit that I .... slipped over some of those bits rather.... browsingly... in order to jump ahead to more stories about life on the farm.
Living up here in Northern Ontario, I found myself mostly interested in how he survived the winters and celebrated the coming of Spring.
I might find the other bits just as captivating if I wasn't snowed in right now.
It's worth a read, for sure for anyone with an interest in living in the bush, the back to the land movement of the 70s or those who resist going to war.
go easy
August 8, 2010
This is not a straightforward account of why the author choose to evade the draft and go to Canada; rather it is interesting weaving of stories exploring connections of Fruthkin's own decision and one his grandfather made decades before. There's also the same compare/contrast with his gruff farming neighbor in rural Quebec.
The "back to land" movement is analyzed throughout, along with the sociological aspects of being a new resident in a multicultural rural area.
The "back to land" movement is analyzed throughout, along with the sociological aspects of being a new resident in a multicultural rural area.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews