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Title: The River Why, Twentieth-Anniversary Edition by David James Duncan ISBN: 1-57805-084-7 Publisher: Sierra Club Books Pub. Date: 05 August, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.82 (74 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Soul Fuel
Comment: This was the best fiction I've read in a long time. Basically, this is a story about a young man named Gus Orviston who strikes out on his own to pursue his love of fly fishing on a river somewhere along the Oregon coast. He believed at first that the amount of time he spent fishing was directly proportional to his state of happiness. Ironically, after he moved away from home and into a small riverside cabin to dedicate his life to fishing, he became depressed. After some soul searching he realized that there is more to life and happiness than the simple pleasure of fishing. There on the river he contemplates religion, philosophy, purpose, and love. Despite the serious nature of the subject, Duncan kept the tone light with an abundant mix of humor. I cracked up through the beginning of the book with the introduction of Gus's eccentric family. I loved the quirky neighbors, and the encounter with "the fishing Dutchman". In many ways the humor reminded me of my grandfather who always had a funny story to tell. I suspect the reason for my grandfather's humor was because in my youth, I was a lot like "Glum Gus". And, I suspect Duncan uses humor just as my grandfather did to remind us that no matter how serious life may seem, love can lift us up. I've always felt that this is done through humor which is the light of happiness which is the product of love.
These days you can read a lot of books on the subject of fishing. Many of them deal with an "obsession". But, I agree with Duncan's comments that his life is not based on an "obsession". It's based on a "love" of fly fishing that took years to develop. Duncan's love of the sport is just as evident in this book as Norman Maclean's famous story, "A River Runs Through It". The only difference being that Norman Maclean's story revolved solely around Christianity. This book takes a more universal approach. Zen, Native American spirituality, Christianity and a handful of other religions and philosophies are explored to help young Gus Orviston find happiness and love in his life. Despite the difference I found them to be near equals in combining spirituality and fly fishing.
Finally, I just want to say thanks to Sierra Club Books and David James Duncan. There's nothing better than reading a warm book about life, love and fly fishing to get me through the long cold winter.
Rating: 5
Summary: Why not?
Comment: I chose to read The River Why because I loved The Brothers K and hoped his first novel had been as well written and memorable. I was not disappointed. The River Why follows Gus Orviston, the recently graduated son of a famous fly-fisherman, who is a fishing prodigy and wants nothing more than to fish every waking hour of his day. In order to persue his passion he moves to an isolated riverside cabin in Oregon with his fishing pole Rodney and the hopes of fishing 14 hours a day, making flies and other fishing related activities 6 hours, and sleeping the remaining six. He assumes that following this plan will lead to "optimum happiness," but quickly realizes it isn't fulfilling. He wants to interact with other people, enjoy his surrounds apart for more than its fishing potential, and falls in love. It is an excellent coming of age/finding a personal religion story.
Besides the main story line, however, the book is excellent for several other reasons. The first is that it has a great supporting cast. Bill Bob, Gus's younger brother, in particular is one of the best child character in any novel I've read, and the rest of his family and neighbors are also developed well. They have great personalities, quirks, and are both insightful and humorous. Duncan also does a tremendous job bringing the environment to life. His descriptions bring the rivers and hills to life and allow the reader to imagine the beauty of the area. It is also a very funny book, so it flies by and is very enjoyable to read.
The River Why isn't a perfect book. Duncan's politics seeped in a little too much in a few instances, which would have been fine except Gus lives in an isolated world with problems to worry about other than the government and it just seems out of place when the Vietnam draft and war come up. The conclusion of the book is also disappointing after Gus marries--there are just too many unnecessary changes in his life. Thateing said, however, these small complaints don't hurt the book's overall impact and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in fishing, the environment, the Northwest, philosophy, or simply great writing. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and all readers will come away with something new.
Rating: 5
Summary: Life changing, life affirming, and funny
Comment: In some ways The River Why is too complicated to summarize, and any shorthand version of it does the book no justice. The San Francisco Chronicle poll of the best novels of the 20th Century west put The River Why at number 35. That's in the company of The Angle of Repose and The Grapes of Wrath. While it does not much resemble those classics, TRW certainly belongs in their company. Since first reading it 20 years ago, TRW has made me laugh and cry and think. We even used some of the text in our wedding vows. What more could you want from a book?
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Title: The Brothers K by David James Duncan ISBN: 055337849X Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 June, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: My Story as Told by Water: Confessions, Druidic Rants, Reflections, Bird-Watchings, Fish-Stalkings, Visions, Songs and Prayers Refracting Light, from Living Rivers, in the Age of the Industrial Dark by David James Duncan ISBN: 1578050839 Publisher: Sierra Club Books Pub. Date: 05 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: River Teeth by David James Duncan ISBN: 0553378279 Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 01 June, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman MacLean, Annie Proulx ISBN: 0226500667 Publisher: University of Chicago Press (Trd) Pub. Date: June, 2003 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Citizens Dissent: Security, Morality, and Leadership in an Age of Terror (New Patriotism Series, Vol. 3) by Wendell Berry, David James Duncan ISBN: 0913098620 Publisher: Orion Society Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $8.00 |
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