Down the Road: Journeys Through Small Town British Columbia

by Rosemary Neering

Traveling the roads and highways through the islands, mountains, and plateaus of British Columbia, Rosemary Neering talks to a fascinating cross-section of people in the small towns she visits. In coffee shops, post offices and living rooms, she gathers their stories with the inquisitive ear of the traveler and sets them down with a storyteller's wisdom. When Rosemary Neering talks to former urbanites used to having the world at their door, they feel that life is more complete in places where people don't lock their doors at night and where everyone knows your life better than you do. But in many resource-based communities where the fisheries, forests, and mines are increasingly controlled by large corporations, there is resentment towards urban approaches to rural problems. As she travels, a compelling portrait is formed of a world often hidden to city dwellers.

Genres: Nonfiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Tracee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these snippets of small town British Columbia.
The only real flaw is the map. It doesn’t show all the towns referred to in the book. And it was printed without planning for the binding so some of the map is stuck in between pages and inaccessible to the reader.

[Brian Grouhel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was as most interesting book! The author takes us on a road trip all over British Columbia from Victoria down the Island to Prince Rupert and beyond! Going the full width and breadth of the province she takes us into a myriad of small towns, some of which are just whistle stops, to meet the people who live there and discover what it was that brought them to that point and what it is that keeps them there. Interesting for me is that I've been to a few of these places and hope to go back again!

[Kara Williamson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a small town BC story and I’ve been to most communities the author writes about so enjoyed reimagining these communities. But I didn’t enjoy the surface opinions of every small town. It lacked character development and connection and many of these towns couldn’t be effectively described in passing through visit.

[Ross Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read about small town BC back in the '90's. Many towns I've been to and/or heard of and many I haven't. So enjoyed Rosemary's adventure!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this in an independent book store in Nelson, BC on a trip several years ago. One of my 2013 resolutions is to moved some of my unread purchases to the “Read” shelves. The author makes three extended trips along the back roads of BC visiting small towns and secluded settlements connecting with residents and old-timers. Histories, geography, commerce, cultures and traditions - I especially found the stories from places we’ve visited interesting.

I could have read this book in 1/10th the time if I had been able to proceed without having to plot Neering’s route on my official British Columbia road map, studying the geography and looking for pictures and info about each location on the Internet. Who could resist wanting to know about New Denver, Likely or Horsefly? Truly amazing what one can find even on the remotest of locations.

I found the author’s attitude towards cities and their populace scornful for someone living and working in Victoria. She’s certainly doesn’t skip on scorn for American tourists or those from Ontario.

[Donna Beckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well written book. Rosemary Neering has written a lot on British Columbia and her love for the province shows through in this book. I enjoyed reading about her road trips on the back roads and to the small towns of BC. My husband and I have travelled many of the same roads and seen the same small towns and this made the book even more interesting as it brought back a lot of memories. I feel like heading out again and tracing her steps. The trips were taken in the 1980's but I am sure not much has changed in these small communities.