The River Why
Ratings5
Average rating4.4
The classic novel of fly fishing and spirituality, originally published in 1983. Since its publication in 1983, THE RIVER WHY has become a classic. David James Duncan's sweeping novel is a coming-of-age comedy about love, nature, and the quest for self-discovery, written in a voice as distinct and powerful as any in American letters. Gus Orviston is a young fly fisherman who leaves behind his comically schizoid family to find his own path. Taking refuge in a remote cabin, he sets out in pursuit of the Pacific Northwest's elusive steelhead. But what begins as a physical quarry becomes a spiritual one as his quest for self-knowledge batters him with unforeseeable experiences. Profoundly reflective about our connection to nature and to one another, THE RIVER WHY is also a comedic rollercoaster. Like Gus, the reader emerges utterly changed, stripped bare by the journey Duncan so expertly navigates.
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I feel disappointed. A better Ed might feel something different, but this one is sad that such a beautiful, vivid, promising book kept wandering into religion and a grand Search For Meaning. It was awkward, much like enjoying a rich conversation with a friend who then veers off to talk earnestly about magic pixie dust. Embarrassing.That said, I still found much to love in this book. Yes, it nominally concerns itself with fishing – about which I know and care nothing – but that's really just a vessel for a tale of growth and transformation. Duncan may be hung up on mysticism, but his larger-than-life protagonist can (at times) surpass that to set an example we'd do well to learn from. My rating is unfair: this is not a three-star book. But having just given [b:Empire Falls 187020 Empire Falls Richard Russo http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172536990s/187020.jpg 826474] four stars, and lacking the ability to offer half-stars, I can't justify putting the two on equal terms.
