Virtual Clearcut: Or, the Way Things Are in My Hometown

I just finished reading Virtual Clearcut by Brian Fawcett, who grew up in Prince George, BC but left as a young man in the early seventies to embark upon a "thoughtful life" in Vancouver and Toronto. That in itself is interesting; Fawcett feels that the rough and tumble, freewheeling and predominately working-class character of the North did not provide the requisite environment to be the philosopher he wanted to be. As they say, perception is reality.Virtual Clearcut, written over a dozen years, was originally intended to be an indictment of Northern BC's rapacious logging practices as well as an exposé on the evils of globalization. What the book is really about, however, is a thoughtful, middle-aged man moving through the life cycle, re-evaluating what home, lost youth, and community means. Although Fawcett at first seems ambivalent towards Prince George, it ultimately becomes clear that he actually loves the place and has felt a nagging sense of loss ever since he left.Brian Fawcett is an exceptional writer. His style is deeply reflective, slightly edgy, and dense with human insight. From one page to the next, I was surprised and enchanted by his verbal virtuosity. Overall, I would recommend the book as much for Fawcett's remarkable prose as for his ability to draw meaning from such seemingly prosaic subject matter.