Rating: 
Summary: Conversational Fishing Novel
Review: Although technically a novel, as it portrays a conversation that did not really happen, John Hersey's Blues feels more like non-fiction because it is one of the most educational books I have read in recent years. I came away from it with a new appreciation for the fisherman--and the fish. Composed almost entirely of a conversation between two characters referred to only as Fisherman and Stranger, Blues is a portrait of a fisherman passing his knowledge and love of the catching and eating of the bluefish. Hersey's prose is easily conversational and full of information. Scattered throughout are poems from the likes of John Donne and Robert Penn Warren further illustrating the current topic. Reading its bound-and-printed form, Blues is a bit stilted. I greatly preferred the Recorded Books reading by Norman Dietz, whose craggy voice perfectly suits the seasoned angler, and, when raising it an octave, portrays the excitement of the stranger during his learning experience. I found myself wanting to go fishing--and wanting to have fish for dinner--while reading about the different methods of how to cook fish in order to get out the ideal flavor--using varying degrees of simple items like butter and mayonnaise. I never thought I would like a book about fish--and I put off reading this for months--but John Hersey's Blues has once again proven that surprises lurk around every corner, if you're willing to keep an open mind and try new things. I may even seek out Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler--the fishing classic--after reading this.
Rating:
Summary: If you fish, you'll love this book
Review: Another title for this book could be "Zen and the Art of Blue Fish Fishing." Thoroughly enjoyable and is an easy read. A must for all people who fish.
Rating:
Summary: If you fish, you'll love this book
Review: Another title for this book could be "Zen and the Art of Blue Fish Fishing." Thoroughly enjoyable and is an easy read. A must for all people who fish.
Rating:
Summary: If you fish, you'll love this book
Review: Another title for this book could be "Zen and the Art of Blue Fish Fishing." Thoroughly enjoyable and is an easy read. A must for all people who fish.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Concept. Poor Execution
Review: As a fisherman and someone who lives near the setting of this book, I loved the subject and the concept (I particularly liked the recipes at the end of each chapter). But I found it very difficult to read because the voice of the Fisherman was too pedantic and preachy. The Fisherman came off as a bag of wind rather than someone to be admired. Eventhough I didn't expect the dialogue between the Fisherman and the Stranger to be a natural everyday conversation, it exceeded even my expectations in how awkward it all sounded.
Rating: 
Summary: A Perfect Book For A Nantucket Island Vacation
Review: I found this book on the shelf of a vacation rental in Nantucket and found it to be perfect for the mood and locale. Having the book take place during the same period of summer took me easily into the story. Hersey has a subtle appreciation of the art and life of fishing. If you're into fishing or eating seafood or boating or Martha's Vineyard, you will enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Book For A Nantucket Island Vacation
Review: I found this book on the shelf of a vacation rental in Nantucket and found it to be perfect for the mood and locale. Having the book take place during the same period of summer took me easily into the story. Hersey has a subtle appreciation of the art and life of fishing. If you're into fishing or eating seafood or boating or Martha's Vineyard, you will enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Slow reading for a nonfisherperson
Review: I think that you have to be a fisherperson to enjoy this book. Hersey has written one of the best books I've ever read and one of the more boring ones. This was the boring one and HIROSHIMA was one of the best.
Rating:
Summary: excellent book that nobody will read
Review: If you've ever caught a bluefish in The Race, this book will appeal to you. You can smell the bunkers and you feel the power of the fish. You also get a lesson on mankind's uncaring attitudes toward anything but our own selfish desires. He's a little long-winded sometimes, but still a good read.
Rating:
Summary: A celebration of life and nature
Review: John Hersey's book is a treasure. It is conceived as a series of conversations between an accomplished fisherman and a stranger, who, in the beginning at least, is predisposed to dislike fishing as a brutal pastime. But Hersey, page by page, chapter by chapter, lures the stranger (and the reader) into the deep mysteries of the sea and the complex world of ocean life that so many of us take for granted. The detail about the habits of fish, particularly the bluefish, is fascinating, but this is also a celebration of life and the way that man and sea are inter-dependent. Without being sentimental, Hersey teaches us what it is to love oceans, fresh air, and even the brutal cycles of life. If that is not enough, the book is sprinkled with anecdotes, poetry and recipes. A book that cannot but help you appreciate our oceans and John Hersey's skills as a writer.
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