Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1998. [Vol. 5.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 25)
Book reviews - Judit Ágnes Kádár: Virginia L. Sauvé and Monique Sauvé: Gateway to Canada
JUDIT ÁGNES KÁDÁR VIRGINIA L. SAUVÉ AND MONIQUE SAUVÉ: GATEWAY TO CANADA (Toronto, Oxford University Press, 1997. 280 pp.) The study of Canadian culture either as foreign learners or as newcomers in Canada is a different enterprise than that of other culturally and historically well-established nations. The outsider must put his/her finger on the pulse of a culture, one which is actually not one but the blend of many cultures under constant change and interconnection; which is full of uncertainties about major questions of self-definition and identity; which seems a bit uncertain about the interpretation of its past but seems proud of the colorful diversity that characterises its present culture; and one which has become one of the largest well-developed countries on earth. The study of Canadian culture can be rooted only in a perspective, which provides less the image of a unified culture based on the similarities of people, places and events but rather that introduces their colorful multiplicity as well as the possible questions and tension that mark many fields of life nowadays, just like in the past. Virginia and Monique Sauvé attempt to present a book that gives many answers to the question of what it means to be Canadian besides challenging the readers to "explore the country from sea to sea" and "have fun" doing so. This approach creates a real Gateway to Canada. The presentation of the book itself is very attractive, so one might start to fear content does not fit the form so nicely —as it often turns out elsewhere. However, what we get here is not only the beautiful illustrations and high quality printing. The very first glance will recognize the careful planning behind the preparation of the layout where the most important guiding point for the authors must have 129
