"Québec: A Photographic Road Trip Through Canada's Beautiful Province" by Mathieu Dupuis
Review by Ana Alves, Senior Library Assistant at Grand River Stanley Park Library
Looking to get away and explore more of the beautiful country we call home but don’t have a lot of time or budget? Let me introduce you to the province of Québec through this coffee-table-worthy National Geographic publication by award-winning photographer, Mathieu Dupuis.
In 270 pages of beautiful photos, this book covers five main areas of Québec, including its waterways, historical and metropolitan cities, lush, rolling countryside, breath-taking mountains, forests and arctic regions. Each chapter is filled with high-quality photos with just enough description to not distract from the eye-catching scenes pictured. You will flip through earnest portraits of the people who call Québec home, interesting architecture and great shots of the wildlife found in nature. Explore more well-known areas like Old Montréal decorated for the holidays, the ski hills of Mont Tremblant and the Magdalene Islands or discover new places like the striking northern landscapes of Rouyn-Noranda, Nunavik and the land of the Cree First Nation of Eeyou Istchee.
Part of the beauty of this book is that you can start reading on any page, flipping backwards and forwards, pausing to observe the striking photos and information that catches your eye the most. Eloquent quotes are peppered throughout the book from the likes of local artists, naturalists, mayors, singer-songwriters and Inuit guides. Revisiting the pages at different times, you may catch details previously missed. There is just so much to take in.
Another great feature of the book are the travel guides at the end of each section, which provide sample itineraries for one to three day trips to each region. Dupuis also includes a few short travel diaries that give a glimpse at the highs and lows of his work and travels as a photographer in what can be both harsh and awe-inspiring environments.
A delight for the eyes, pair this captivating book with Julian Armstrong’s cookbook, Made in Quebec: A culinary journey, and you will immerse yourself in Canada’s French heartland...right from the comfort of your own home.