Douglas Coupland defined Generation X and in Souvenir of Canada he looked at Canada and created a book that resonated deeply with me and is simultaneously nostalgic and honest. What is fascinating is how Coupland can distill things down to images and words that can be significant and powerful for Canadians, but for no one else. Words such as Terry, a picture of the trunk of a car, the shape of a beer bottle, or the Trans Canada Highway are some of the loose ties that bind Canadians together. I’m curious to see if the book helps non-Canadians to understand Canada and I’ve sent it to people in other countries, but I’m not sure if it helps or not. All I do know is that it brings back memories of my childhood and helps highlight some of the ephemeral things that Canadians share.