Lines on the Water: A Review

It hasn’t been deliberate, but I haven’t stepped foot on New Brunswick soil for about 15 years now, since I moved to Arizona. In March of this year, I finally went home. Not via airliner, but rather – the pages of a book. I’d like to thank Michal Rubin of Skyhorse Publishing for sending me a copy of this book to review. David Adams Richards’ Lines on the Water tells of a boy’s yearning to fish, and the transformation of that education into the grown man’s connection to the rivers that he loves.

Richards has an amazing knack for on one hand, making each and every word seem like it has been meticulously chosen to be a part of a brilliant literary tapestry. On the other hand, those same words form the easy and simple conversations that are New Brunswick; that are the Miramichi. Whether or not you have ever cast a line, you will come away with an appreciation for the majestic Atlantic salmon and the lore associated with their pursuit. You can smell the mud and the ferns as you slog along the riverbank. I could taste the Old Time Woodsman flydope and hear the chatter in the camp. I too have fished the Renous, and the Little Southwest, and the main branch as well. Certainly not as much as Richards but enough to have some extra appreciation for what he has created.

For as artful as this is, it is simple as well. With stories and conversation as easygoing as if they were told while drifting in a canoe, or leaned up against the tailgate of a half-ton somewhere. No matter your lot in life – fisherman, literary aficionado, or city dude stuck in an airport – you will enjoy this book and come away feeling better to have read it. You might identify with the characters, the local culture, the peace and wild that is the forest, the struggle of a species, the transformation of societal values or even the technical aspects of landing a prized fish. Mark my words though – it will read easy, you’ll connect in some way and I bet it will take you somewhere that you miss.

If you are a fly fisherman, this is a must-have for your shelf. If you are everybody else,I still have to recommend it.

The Desert Rat

I have been a freelance outdoor writer since High School (a long time). I have two successful blogs - Desert Rat which focuses on hunting and fishing in Arizona, the southwest and beyond. If you like smoking, barbecue and other fun cooking stuff, visit the Dry Rubbed Rat. On both sites you'll find cool product reviews, interviews, industry news and more. My "other" job is in Facilities Management. I was born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada; I lived in northern Maine for about 6 years before moving to Arizona 15 years ago. I live in Queen Creek with my wife, daughter and dogs.