Reviews

The River Why by David James Duncan

Only show reviews with written explanations

atekell's review against another edition

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5.0

Beautiful book. This is the kind of book that you would enjoy just as much the sendon time around.

faydrastratton's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book in undergrad and have been touting it as my favorite book ever since. An excerpt was read at my wedding. But I have never until now read it straight through again. (Just chapters here and there) but as of last night I am, and I am falling in love with it all over again. Having read Duncan's non fiction, of which I am not as enthusiastic, in the interim, it actually casts a clearer picture on the spiritual aspects of the book as well. (I had a hunch, but now it all seems clearer.)

The writing still is... full, verbose, a little crazy. You have to dust off your SAT vocabulary and pay attention with the part of your brain that you need to "get" your wittiest friend. But, so amazing.

Also fun to read the story of a spiritually seeking fishing prodigy after recently reading the story of a Jewish painting prodigy (My Name is Asher Lev). Nice correlating themes for my brain to wrap around.

This is the November Book SIG pick for Lifepoint Church. My house Nov 18 4pm to discuss. I'll have snacks.

deannah's review against another edition

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1.0

I recently was reminded of this book on the podcast, "what should I read next." I remembered that it was my sisters *favorite* book. So, I gave it a go. Ugh. I don't mind slow books as long as there is character development or something. This instead reminded me of Les Miserable or similar type novels where there is the main storyline and then pages of exposition about something else entirely not really related to the plot or the characters. In this book, there was a lot of philosophizing: about the meaning of life, about the environment, about fishing and blending them all together. This might be your thing. If so, this is a great book. It is not my thing. I just wanted a good book to listen to. One that moved along and had me invested in characters. This was not that book. It is hard to become invested in characters or a plot when it is broken up with a bunch of philosophical ramblings.

I realized that I wasn't listening to any books, because I just didn't want to listen to *this* book. So, I gave it up. After making it 3/4 of they way through.

gobblebook's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is an utterly delightful book.

I'm not usually a fan of coming-of-age stories, but this one is amazing. It's about Gus, a young man growing up in Oregon whose family is obsessed with fishing. His father is an erudite and sophisticated fly-fisher, and his mother is a ribald and gregarious bait fisher, so that conflict causes a lot of love-hate feelings in the household. Gus is just as obsessed with fishing as his parents, and is an expert fisherman from a very young age. When he graduates from high school, he buys a little cabin near a river so that he can spend all of his time fishing. Over the years, he learns a lot about nature, solitude, community, and love. Ultimately, he learns how to exist peacefully with nature, friends, family, and God, and to understand his place in all of those communities.

At first, I really wasn't sure I was going to enjoy a book about fishing. I'm a vegetarian and have some pretty strong opinions about fishing (or any other form of hunting) for sport. Part of Gus's journey is his growing understanding that fish deserve respect too, and how his fishing fits in with the balance of nature. The book is full of beautiful writing about nature: it reminds me a lot of Brian Doyle's writing in its celebration of the exuberance of nature.

The book also explores some big questions of philosophy and religion, but never becomes preachy or even prescriptive: the questions remain open, and the characters understand that they may come closer to answers, but will always be contemplating the questions.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is amazing - he really brings all of the characters to life.