Superior: The Haunted Shore

by Bruce Litteljohn (Photographs), Wayland Drew (Text)

SUPERIOR: THE HAUNTED SHORE is a plea for the integrity of the wilderness, for the authors consider the wild places to be the birthright of the generations who will travel this route after them.

Genres: Travel

176 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1983

Reviews

[Judy Sheluk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at Canadian history with respect to Lake Superior, with some stunning photography. I actually have the coffee table book edition (not listed on Goodreads) so I’m not sure what the paperback would be like. There was a definite agenda, though, on the part of the author, to bring to light polluters etc. While I applaud his intent, the book is called The Haunted Shore and there should have been more in the historical/haunted vein. Still, a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Northern Ontario/Lake Superior.

[Kryptonian Fletch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have given the book's writing a three-star rating. While it has its moments of interest, it lacks coherence. The author jumps between topics, discussing a fort from the 1700s on the USA side of the lake in one paragraph, then abruptly shifts to Pie Island or modern-day Thunder Bay city, and then abruptly talks about explorers from the 1600s on the other side of the lake. This lack of organization makes it challenging to follow the narrative smoothly.

However, my main disappointment lies with the photography aspect of the book. As a book centered on Lake Superior, I expected captivating images that truly captured the essence of the region. Sadly, half of the book is filled with full-page photos that fail to impress. The photographer's choices of subjects are questionable, as they include close-ups of rocks, anonymous beaches, shots overlooking water with minimal scenery, and landscapes of trees. These pictures lack any distinct connection to Lake Superior and could have been taken anywhere in Canada with a lake and some trees. It is disheartening that the photographer had the opportunity to explore the visually unique and wonderful environment around Lake Superior, yet their collection of photos appears bland, uninspired, and locationally ambiguous. I would have expected more professionalism and creativity from someone who spent days, if not weeks, photographing around such a remarkable location.

[Irish Gal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because I love Lake Superior and am finally going to visit Sault Ste. Marie, MI soon. Flipping through the book, it looked like it had a little history. Turns out almost all of the book, including the photos, is only about the Canadian side of the lake, so it's missing a lot of interesting places and stories. A few of the photos were creative.