Reviews

The River Why by David James Duncan

Only show reviews with written explanations

agingerg's review against another edition

2.0

I was loving this. Laugh out loud funny and I appreciate that it forced me into reading slowly. But it wandered away from my interests (especially upon meeting Titus) so I put it down.

lisamf's review

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Boring and blokey. Florid!

kellieallen's review against another edition

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5.0

Echoes of Thoreau, Edward Abbey, Annie Dillard, and Mary Oliver join Duncan’s own voice to create a stunningly gorgeous book. This existential quest for life’s meaning is hilarious, lyrical, poignant, lovely.

cjdawn236's review against another edition

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3.0

This was an interesting read. On the surface it's a book about fishing, but it actually digs a lot deeper than that with questions on "Why." The main character is searching for something more through the entire novel. The first half seemed a little slow, but once Gus started to learn, and change, and grow it became a lot more interesting and I didn't want to put it down. The events of this novel predate the Vietnam War (as the draft is just mentioned near the end) but it really felt timeless.

iamnader's review against another edition

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5.0

I’m not sure how I’ve missed this book for the first 41 years of my life, and perhaps it is my recent affection for fishing, or that I’m currently in a very reflective place, but The River Why is now a top 5 all time book for me.

inquiry_from_an_anti_library's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

1.0

Overview:

This is a book about a life devoted to fishing. An expert fisher from an early age. A fishing prodigy. A life devoted to just fishing, has consequences. For Gus has various problems because of this obsession to fish. It acts as an addiction. For everything else becomes sidelined, just to continue to fish.

Along the way, Gus provides contrasts and comparisons about fish and water, with the broader context of philosophy and faith. There is even a personal traumatic realization about what fishing means to the fish, to the river. For the river asks why. Forcing Gus to consider one’s actions. To find internal meaning and responsibility. The power of introspection can cause behavioral change.

Caveats?

The book can be difficult to read, as the topic transitions are poor and quick. Fishing is a central theme of the book. Readers who appreciate fishing will resonate more with the book.