The Next Valley Over : An Angler's Progress

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Gaines has written my diary.
Review: After reading the first page I knew that this was the book I was looking for. Mr. Gaines has described the time my son and I spend fishing as if he was on shore watching. He puts into words those moments on the stream that often fade without becoming complete thoughts. My experiences and dreams are contained in this diary that Mr. Gaines has so kindly written for me and perhaps you. I have ordered a second copy for my son. It's a book that will be read repeatedly.

Rating:
Summary: Get over yourself, Chuck!
Review: Although there are a few chapters where I felt otherwise, for the most part, I kept getting the same sense reading this book, as you would if talking to someone who likes to listen to themself. After a while, you're crying "enough already!" If you like to read Gierach or Middleton or someone of that style, then I'd go in another direction than this title. Mr. Gaines seems a little too caught up in himself in this book. When he gets away from the narcissism, the book is not too bad, but those points seem to few for me.

Rating:
Summary: Get over yourself, Chuck!
Review: Although there are a few chapters where I felt otherwise, for the most part, I kept getting the same sense reading this book, as you would if talking to someone who likes to listen to themself. After a while, you're crying "enough already!" If you like to read Gierach or Middleton or someone of that style, then I'd go in another direction than this title. Mr. Gaines seems a little too caught up in himself in this book. When he gets away from the narcissism, the book is not too bad, but those points seem to few for me.

Rating:
Summary: Pedestrian and Humorless
Review: At best, fly fishing is a delerious obsession, at worst, a celebration of consumerism and elitist values. It has inspired a first-rate literature. Unfortunately, Gaine's book isn't part of it. Condescending portraits of fishing guides? The world's best ($750/day) fly fishing lodge? Gaines tries to hold out his pedestrian observations on the up-scale fly-fisher's lifestyle as some sort of unique and noble sensibility. He fails. Humour and any real insight into fishing are notably absent. Give this one a miss.

Rating:
Summary: Pedestrian and Humorless
Review: At best, fly fishing is a delerious obsession, at worst, a celebration of consumerism and elitist values. It has inspired a first-rate literature. Unfortunately, Gaine's book isn't part of it. Condescending portraits of fishing guides? The world's best ($750/day) fly fishing lodge? Gaines tries to hold out his pedestrian observations on the up-scale fly-fisher's lifestyle as some sort of unique and noble sensibility. He fails. Humour and any real insight into fishing are notably absent. Give this one a miss.

Rating:
Summary: I would love to follow these footsteps
Review: Charles Gaines takes the reader on some unbelievable adventures in this book of fishing trips. The trips and places Gaines has been fortunate enough to fish are places that most of us can only dream about. I was a little surprised in his description of partying his way as a "younger" guy but we've all been there in one way or another. This read got me making lists of all the places I want to visi, fish, and explore. I'll be checking off my progress.

Rating:
Summary: Something Unique
Review: When you grow tired or bored with the same ole 'cookie cutter' fishing books, pick up this piece of writing. For those of you who have fished, are fishing, and will die fishing, here is something worth spending your down time with. Not a 'how to' but better defined as a 'because why,' without all the new age rhetoric. I recognized several of these characters from my own pilgrimage through the fishing world. Good job, Charles Gaines. I hope you're too busy fishing to read this review...