Scan barcode
katie_king's review against another edition
5.0
My father loved this book, after reading it, I did too. We didn't bond much over books, but this one, and anything by Richard Brautigan, were things that we could share.
esquetee's review
4.0
Mark read aloud over 2 months while I stitched on quilts and other projects. This was DPL’s first Novel Idea selection over 15 years ago. Not at all what I expected and I am grateful for that.
embre's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sophiaj's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
msjenne's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to know what I would have thought of this book if I'd read it now for the first time, but it's so imprinted into my brain from being reread a million times that there's no way to be objective about it.
Still, I think it is objectively a great novel. Even if it is about a guy finding himself. Spiritually. Outdoors. So not my thing. Except that it's so funny and human and weird and not too earnest and also way too earnest and made me laugh out loud and also almost start crying in a cafe.
That I of all people would love a book "'bout fifh an' fifhin'". Who knew?
Still, I think it is objectively a great novel. Even if it is about a guy finding himself. Spiritually. Outdoors. So not my thing. Except that it's so funny and human and weird and not too earnest and also way too earnest and made me laugh out loud and also almost start crying in a cafe.
That I of all people would love a book "'bout fifh an' fifhin'". Who knew?
hannasbooked's review against another edition
2.0
Ugh. I solely picked this up because the film is making its rounds at Film Fests and stars one bright shining light...Zach Gilford. But this book was so cumbersome. I mean, I can't remember the last time it took me to read anything this long!
Still will see the movie though, as I imagine it doesn't follow the book at all, and even if it does, at least it will be over in 2 hours.
Still will see the movie though, as I imagine it doesn't follow the book at all, and even if it does, at least it will be over in 2 hours.
asilrenrut's review against another edition
1.0
Unlike The Brothers K, this book did not cut it for me. Good writing, yes, but maybe I'm just not as hip to fly fishing as I am to baseball. So I didn't mind when an ex-boyfriend slipped away with this one. (Though I'm still lamenting lending out my Brothers, now gone forever, with all of its strategically-placed dogears . . .)
lindseyo's review against another edition
4.0
I was initially planning to read The Brothers K after seeing so many gushing reviews, but when I kept seeing the word lyrical come up in descriptions of his writing (and the knowledge that the book was 600+ pages) I decided to start with The River Why instead, largely because it's half the size. That turned out to be an excellent choice; I fell hard for his sense of humor but the writing was undeniably dense. With that said, I think I loved it. I plan on tackling The Brothers K eventually, but I'll need a breather first.