Another Lousy Day in Paradise

by John Gierach Narrated by David Colacci

Overview

Brilliant, witty, perceptive essays about fly-fishing, the natural world, and life in general by the acknowledged master of fishing writers.



"Good fishing and good writing use the same skills," writes John Gierach, "whether you're after a trout or a story, you won't get that far with brute force. You're better off to watch, wait, and remain calm . . . letting it all happen, rather than trying to make it happen." As the wry and perceptive essays in Another Lousy Day in Paradise prove, Gierach knows his writing as well as his fishing.



Paradise, Gierach shows us, is relative; it can be found in the guilty luxury of fishing private waters or when one is soaked to the skin, in a small canoe on a big lake in a storm a hundred miles from anywhere, exhilarated after a day's fishing. There are also pleasures to be found in unexpected places: solitary fishing trips, fishing for less-appreciated fish like carp, or meeting a guide who at first seems like an inarticulate ax murderer but who proves to be a "Zen master among fishing guides." The point is to let things unfold as they will-because after all, says Gierach, "Basically, the world is a big, dumb trout, and you're a fisherman with all the time in the world." As Gierach fans know, this is a description of paradise.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

An affinity between fly-fishing and good writing is evident in these engaging essays. Gierach (Dances with Trout) quips that patience is required for both. He writes about fishing for brook trout in Labrador, Atlantic salmon in Scotland and New Brunswick, grayling in the Northwest Territories. He enters a fly-fishing carp tournament and defends the carp as a sport fish. Gierach gives advice on how to choose a fishing lodge and discusses winter fishing, deer hunting and the rising popularity of fly-fishing. He advocates a clean, healthy, diverse environment in which to go fishing. Upbeat and entertaining. Illustrations not seen by PW. (May)

Kirkus Reviews

The usually reliable Gierach treads tepid waters in this latest collection of fly-fishing pieces.

A Colorado outdoorsman, Gierach (Dances with Trout, 1994) has always included an element of humor in his work, but here he seems more intent on working in wry, curmudgeonly one-liners than he does on telling a good fishing story. A lot of it is strained and obvious: "I guess I have to admit I'm not all that fond of people in general—if nothing else, there are too damned many of them." He's amused by trendy environmentalist nomenclature: antihumanist anarchist primitivist. But he too has a political position: "We should have a clean, healthy, diverse natural environment so I can go fishing." The humor works occasionally, as when he's fishing so close to a house, he can overhear an obscenity-laden domestic dispute. Gierach does hit the mark when he plays it straight. He discusses the merits of guides from the old school, who found a place to fish and left you alone, and the new breed who've learned to be "teacher, coach, chauffeur, valet, tour director and therapist." He offers practical advice on shipping and traveling with expensive, fragile rods, and he does a good piece on fly- fishing Colorado's Blue River in the dead of winter. The most delectable piece describes a repast of "casual confusion" that included sockeye salmon, venison sausage, lightly smoked rainbow trout, and wild mushrooms and raspberries.

Some fine moments, as always; but Gierach should allow humor to arise of its own accord rather forcing it to the surface.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176298468
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	01/25/2022
Edition description:	Unabridged

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