Details from Audible:
The Smiling Land
All Around the Circle in My Newfoundland and Labrador
By
Narrated by
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
From one of Canada’s most beloved and celebrated Newfoundlanders comes a rollicking insider’s guide to the province, told as only Alan Doyle can tell it.
Few Canadian musicians are as synonymous with their home province as Alan Doyle is to his—and even fewer once worked as tour guides. In The Smiling Land, Alan reprises his tour-guiding role to welcome the rest of Canada to his home and take readers on an adventure: a freewheeling road trip through Newfoundland, its history, and its culture. From Fogo Island to the Southwest Coast, Labrador to Ferryland, and everywhere in between, Alan’s Newfoundland awaits you.
There are visits to windswept coastlines and towering crags, ancient Viking and Basque fishing settlements, and more lighthouses than you can shake a foghorn at. More recent settlements are also part of the itinerary, from burgeoning arts venues and communities to more humble but no less world-class locales, such as Foley’s Shed, a jaunty live-music pub that—as its name suggests—happens to be in some guy named Foley’s shed. Alan provides savvy insider tips for visitors to St. John’s, like how to score fish and chips and a free ride by hopping into the delivery person’s car as they drive your food to your desired destination. Or, for the aspiring rum smuggler visiting the Burin Peninsula, how to sneak bottles from the French territory of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to the shores of Newfoundland. There are dolphin sightings, cliffside hikes among flocks of ocean-plunging puffins, and a pilgrimage to the home of the (late) great auk. And what tour of Newfoundland could be complete without a short history of what can best be described as “icebergs that look like things,” an illustrious history that includes an exact replica of the Virgin Mary that once washed into St. John’s harbour, and the more recent—and far less holy—”Dickie Berg,” which made international headlines for looking like . . . well, not the Virgin Mary.
Wildly entertaining, informative, and brimming with Alan’s classic brand of storytelling and romping good fun, The Smiling Land is a celebration of Newfoundland—both its storied past and its ever-vibrant present.
Initial Thoughts:
I’ve listened to all of Alan Doyle’s books; they’re excellent, and when I discovered this, I made sure to add it to my list. It worked out really well, as I finished listening to this on Canada Day, and Alan made me feel proud to not only be Canadian, but to realize how special my home is, Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). I also, for anyone who follows my blog knows, love it when an author reads their own book, so I found it on Audible and dug in.
Main Points:
I have always loved my home, but I think like a lot of people, you struggle with that love, whether it’s weather, economic downturns, or crooked politicians; NL can be a hard place to live. As Alan says, we are unique because while we have a lot of bad days here (he says weatherwise, but I think he meant more), it just makes you smile and appreciate the good ones even more. It’s a good point, and he is right that you just can’t waste a sunny day here sitting inside, not for long anyway; who knows when the next one will come? I’m digressing though; this is something I really love (and happen to be in the editing stages myself), something close to an old-fashioned travel book where Alan tells you all these wonderful places to go around the province. It’s a great mix of him recounting memories from the past, along with funny, happy ones about going to other places for the first time with his wife and teenage son.
My province is full of interesting and unusual things to see; hell, even the place names are very odd: Joe Batt’s Arm, Spread Eagle and Dildo, just to name a few, and Alan brings all this to light in his wonderful and often humorous way. It’s not only a book to encourage people to come see this unique place, but also a book to remind everyone who lives here to get out and appreciate what we have in our own backyard. I also loved moments, and a whole chapter, where we get to see little bits of his writing process. I found it very relatable when he thought the book was done but realized he had to add a chapter about what was in walking distance of their house in downtown, which he called “My Backyard”. He’s the kind of person that’s so nice to be around, someone positive who is excited and hopeful; we need more Alan Doyle’s in the world, now more than ever.
Final Thoughts:
If Alan ever reads this, thanks for doing all your books; I think you’re an excellent writer and do all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians proud. I loved this book, and my only issue here was that it’s a little on the short side; I really wanted at least 2-3 more. He hints at a sequel, and I’d love to have another travel book by Alan. He worked as a tour guide both in a museum and aboard a tourist ship, and it really shows. I think Alan Doyle is now the province’s most well-known tour guide, and he doesn’t hold back with some spicy stuff, like how many people in Fortune Bay love to smuggle booze from St. Pierre. I have heard that’s a tremendous amount of fun to get one over on the government. This book will help you appreciate what we have to offer if you live in NL, and it will make you want to visit us if you’re a CFA (come from away). Either way, do yourself a favour and listen to this excellent book; I give it 9 out of 10. Alan has a great speaking voice, and his excitement, fun and joy come out so easily when he talks about loving our province; plus, it was nice to have his family included. It’s a short listen and is good for ages 13+.