The RIver Why

[Tillamook Born]

Hey,
I was just wondering if any of you had read the book "The River Why"? I am about 2/3 of the way done with it and it is a fantastic book. Just thought that you would all like a heads up about a great book to read if you have the time.

TB

[BrokeItOff]

I really liked the book, and the ending is great. The philosophy thing is ok but what I took away from it was that "it is the journey not the destination".

I also am much more open to all fisher people and how they fish. I am now very aware of not being "holier than thou" when fishing.

Might have to start rereading it tonight.

[greenbuttskunk]

great book. Also read all of John Gierach's books, they are so terrific and full of wit and flyfishing wisdom, as well as the bonds we make while fishing. Also a good read, "flyfishing through the midlife crisis"
GBS

[Gus Orviston]

nope never heard of it :tongue: does it have pictures?
Gus

[Riverkeeper]

Funny, just this morning I was thinking about doing a re-read in the near future. In my mind, there is no finer fishing/outdoor novel. [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img] Eddy [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]

Also check out Riverteeth and My Story As Told By Water , also by Duncan. Different, but terrific.

So, are you a Ma or an H2O?

['ZZZZzzzzzz']

I have read the book and it is one of my favorites.

I think that it will appear under the Christmas trees of some of my Ifish friends for sure!

Z's-

[lost_sailor]

Great book, I may read it again someday soon.

I wouldn't expect "Gus Orviston" to have read it .

"The Brothers K" is good too, more about baseball, but some fishing, Vietnam, and stuff. Just like "The River Why" it starts out pretty normal and just gets more bizarre very very gradually.

[crabbait]

The Brothers K is one of my favorite books. Set in Camas/Washougal. Really good read. I wish Duncan would write another novel sized book.

The River Why and River Teeth are both excellent as well.

[Tillamook Born]

Hey Riverkeeper,

I think that I have a little bit of a wierd response to the idea behind being "Ma or H2O". I would say that when fishing for trout, or other fish that are not hatchery stocked that I would be an H20, but when fishing for hatchery salmon, or hatchery steelhead, I think that I would fit under the catagory of Ma. Just my .02 cents.
TB

[Riverkeeper]

I recently read (well skimmed) an interesting essay on the internet about this book. The author makes some interesting points about H2O vs Ma. H20 practices 100% catch an release, under the simple premise that there will be more fish to catch that way. In a way this reduces him to a continual pursuit of the "next" fish, and he is unable to experience a spiritual connection with any particular one. Similarly, Ma bonks everything until there ain't no more biters in the hole. She thereby reduces the fishing experience to providing a pile of dead fish, also missing the opportunity to appreciate the fish and the fact that it has made a sacrifice.

By being a combination of the two, Gus is able to be selective and have a sort of conservation ethic, but is also comes to understand the sacrifice that a fish is making to him by letting him catch and eat it. Thus fishing becomes an act in which he is just a player, and he is able to more clearly see that the fish, the river, Rodney, and himself are all equal parts, which neither of his parents are able to do, but...keep reading.

Sorry, my liberal arts education rears it's ugly head [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

[ 11-05-2003, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: Riverkeeper ]

[Riverkeeper]

Maybe I should change it to my rarely-cracked-a-book-at-a-college-that-was-70%-women education.

Probably more accurate anyway.

[EZ Limits]

I really liked it. I spent some time trying to visualize "Eddy" sitting on the tree limb fishing.

[Silver Hilton]

I snicker just thinking about the book. "brain boogering malapropism" comes to mind.

[lost_sailor]

Originally posted by BrokeItOff:

You used the word "liberal" in your post now everyone will get this nice book discussion confused with politics.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Plus, you must move to Cuba.



I can't believe I couldn't find any Patrick O'Brian fans here - I think a lot of you guys would love his books.

[Steelie28]

Great book. I think Duncan is from the Portland area originally. There are a couple of references in the book that sound and, in my mind's eye, look like:

1. Falls on the N. Fork Siletz (if I remember correctly, this is where he meets his girlfriend)
2. The fish he finds in the city creek has got to be Johnson Creek.

Anyone else agree?

Steelie28

[Riverkeeper]

Check out My Story as Told by Water, which is biographical. Duncan grew up in outer southeast Portland and Gresham, and learned to fish in Fairview creek. The creek in the story is sort of a combination of Fairview, Johnson, and Fanno (where I learned to fish). I think he now lives in Montana [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img]

By the way- Dave, if you're a member of this board, I've got an open seat for you. Send me a PM

[Straydog]

River Why is superb reading as are his other two.

I have also read a few of his essays.

An excellent writer and friend of Salmon and Salmon Fishers!

[lost_sailor]

Originally posted by Steelie28:

2. The fish he finds in the city creek has got to be Johnson Creek.

Anyone else agree?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">That's exactly what I thought.

[Fishalot]

I came across a well used copy last year and once I started reading it I could not put it down. It is a great read and I am glad I came across it.


Fishalot

[Thumper]

I believe that his imagery of the ant riding down the current on a leaf if perhaps the funniest passage I have ever read.

[BrokeItOff]

Riverkeeper, you blew it! :grin:

You used the word "liberal" in your post now everyone will get this nice book discussion confused with politics.


As for the book, it did make me think about my reasons for fishing and how I interact with the environment while I fish. It seems that I do more fishing now and less catching and more enjoying.

I hope my kids will learn this too.

[Thumper]

I have given away dozens of these as gifts. Though he is a staunch liberal, Duncan is an outstanding writer. He also writes for Gray's Sporting Journal.

[fishgirl]

Don't you just have to love Bill Bob? And all the "neighborhood" kids? And Alfred?

Great book. One of my all-time favorites.

[Beaver1]

I am reading The River Why for the first time right now (well not RIGHT now, because I am on the computer, but..) and find it a great read!

[MightyMo]

What a great book, excellent story with NW roots! It takes us to that place when we are stuck in our non fishing commitments.

[Silver Hilton]

I liked it when Hemingway and Arjuna were discussing the time when Hemingway got whipped and Arjuna got lectured on the bad yang associated with starting fires, and they agreed that Arjuna got the much worse deal. My kids could understand that section...