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Novelist McGuane (Nothing but Blue Skies, etc.) celebrates everything about angling in this collection of 33 essays, which is certain to entertain fellow enthusiasts and fans of his writing. Any notion that fishing is humdrum is dispelled when McGuane describes eloquently his lifelong love affair with the sport, from the joys of tying flies and testing different rods, to sharing ghost stories and observational gems with fellow anglers, to absorbing quietly life's mysteries. He puts into historical and literary context the classic fishing writings of Izaak Walton and Roderick Haig-Brown. Throughout, McGuane's awe at nature's splendor shines in his prose. Releasing a trout after catching it becomes a moment of reverence: "Suddenly the fish was there, its spotted back breaking the surface, then up showering streamers of silver from the mesh of the net.... I stood in the river for a long while, holding him into the current and feeling the increasing strength in a kicking tail I could barely encompass with my grip. To the north, the Aurora Austral raised a curtain of fire in the cold sky. My trout kicked free and continued his journey to the Andes." Such moments emphasize McGuane's call for preserving the world's rivers from overdevelopment. Whether he's fishing for trout in a beaver pond in Michigan, salmon in Iceland or tarpon in Key West, McGuane casts not only his fishing line, but also his magic at turning a precise phrase and evoking a delightful image. (Nov.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business InformationRead full review
Got it as a gift seven years ago and read it cover to cover. It got me started on what will be a lifetime in Fly Fishing and an obsession in collecting vintage and antique fly fishing equipment. Worth reading since the author is a great writer and sportsman who is able to transport you to the time and place he describes most effectively. He writes about all types of fly fishing running the gamut from stalking old country trout in the fabled streams of Ireland to fishing Montana for trout and stalking the denizens of the flats like Permit and Tarpon down in the Keys. Really enjoyable.
The book is ok. I'm not real excited about his writing style but it is good reading.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great book even if you don’t like to fish. Similar but much less heavy handed compared to Hemingway.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
A great read. Thought provoking,enlightening,entertaining, As much about life and people and culture as it is about the joy of fishing.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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