The River Why, Twentieth-Anniversary Edition
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- ISBN13: 9781578050840
- Condition: New
- Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Product Description
Since its publication by Sierra Club Books more than two decades ago, The River Why has become a classic, standing with Norman Maclean’s A River Runs Through It as our era’s most widely read fiction about glide-fishing. This captivating and exuberant tale is told by Gus Orviston, an irreverent young glide fisherman and one of the most appealing heroes in contemporary American fiction.
Leaving behind a madcap, fishing-obsessed family tree, Gus decides to strike out on his own, taking refuge in a remote riverbank cabin to pursue his own glide-fishing passion with inexorable zeal. But as a replacement for of finding fishing bliss, Gus becomes increasingly troubled by the degradation of the natural world around him and by the spiritual barrenness of his own life. His desolation drives him on a reluctant quest for self-discovery and meaning—ultimately fruitful beyond his wildest dreams.
Stylistically adept and ambitious in scope, The River Why is a touching and powerful novel by an vital voice in American fiction.
In a new Afterword written for this twentieth-anniversary edition, David James Duncan reflects on the genesis of his book and on the surprising link between fishing and wisdom.
Leaving behind a madcap, fishing-obsessed family tree, Gus decides to strike out on his own, taking refuge in a remote riverbank cabin to pursue his own glide-fishing passion with inexorable zeal. But as a replacement for of finding fishing bliss, Gus becomes increasingly troubled by the degradation of the natural world around him and by the spiritual barrenness of his own life. His desolation drives him on a reluctant quest for self-discovery and meaning—ultimately fruitful beyond his wildest dreams.
Stylistically adept and ambitious in scope, The River Why is a touching and powerful novel by an vital voice in American fiction.
In a new Afterword written for this twentieth-anniversary edition, David James Duncan reflects on the genesis of his book and on the surprising link between fishing and wisdom.
Amazon.com Review
David James Duncan’s first novel has gained an increasingly wide audience over the years–some might even call it a following. This coming-of-age tale of Gus Orviston’s search for the Pacific Northwest’s elusive steelhead, a metaphor for Gus’s internal quest for self-knowledge, appeals to all who cherish a excellent yarn and memorable characters. Uncle Zeke’s colorful rendition of Gus’s conception on the banks of the Deschutes River is itself worth the fee of buy.
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THis book is 1 of the most dull books that I have ever read!!!!!OMG it’s okay if you really like fishing but i still couldn’t figure how anyone could like it
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Even though I despise fishing and have maybe done it once, the first few chapters of this book are humorous and appealing, in particular Bill Bob, Gus’ younger brother. Sorry to say, Bill Bob’s role is tiny to nearly nonexistent as the book goes on and the leader makes him say some pretty idiotic pseudo-philosophical/religious ramblings, such as a long discussion with Gus about how shadows are our guardians.
The book is largely predictable from the beginning until the end and it’s nearly like a bunch of authors get together to provide the same theme. The overall structure of the book is Gus starts to question life, including death, essential meaning, his meaning, and additional philosophy 101 questions. And, of course, Gus ends up finding his meaning in the eyes of some backwoods hippie chick and has a religious experience (if you can call it that) while walking home from a long, incredibly drawn out trip down a river following a fish in his line.
I’m sure many people will see this book as being “deep” or “an appealing discussion of blah blah blah”, but if you’ve even remotely dipped your foot in philosophy this book is hardly enlightening. I pushed through the book simply because I got past the half way point, then promptly threw it in the trash when I was done.
Reader’s Rating: 1 / 5
Duncan does a nice job of wording his thoughts in this book. I was forced to read this for an unwanted fishing class and the fishing thing gets annoying after awhile. If this had less fishing and more soul searching, I might have liked it more. I make an apology to the sick cult that likes this book.
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
It’s obvious that Duncan was momentously influenced by Tom Robbins. He quotes Robbins several times, but more than that, his writing possesses the same strengths and falls victim to the same weaknesses that Robbins’ writing does. There is a remarkable and lyrical prose style here, and a precious sense of humor, but in the end, Duncan’s wit and his clever epigrams push the tale and the philosophy behind the tale into a second place position. Duncan’s explication of his philosophy is delivered in a cute anecdotal manner that makes it sound very pleasant but provides very small substance. The same can be said of the characters, who are amusing (I laughed aloud several times) but have small or no motivation for their development. It is all very pretty and fun, but it is certainly not one for the ages.
Reader’s Rating: 2 / 5
OMG…! Am I 13 or what? Like, what’s all this fishing stuff all about anyway? Could this tale perhaps be one of persons insightful descriptions of a talented young writer’s fantasy? Could it be a tale so well crafted as if to taste it when reading it aloud? I really like the term “upper tenth of a pair of levis”. This writing sold me on DJD for life and now that I am into “My Tale…” and read his “In the Beginning…” tale not fueld with espresso but with Sierra Nevad Stout, sitting on the john, left my consumer encumbered self, realized my place in the universe and wept.
Reader’s Rating: 5 / 5