Attention Gierach Fans
- This topic has 28 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated Nov 3, 2008 at 11:22 pm by
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Not long ago I ran into John Gierach in a flyshop on the South Platte, a river chronicled in many of Gierach’s stories and books. Nice guy, humble as could be, and later, when I saw him on the river, I noticed that he waded with the aid of a five-foot branch. No high-toned wading staff for JG, even as he approaches geezerhood.
Many years earlier I had interviewed Gierach at his cabin in Lyons on the Saint Vrain River. We sat in the office where he writes, for the purpose of an article I was writing for The Denver Post. Gierach said he remembered me and who am I to argue?
Anyway, this reunion prompted me to pick up the newly issued Trout Bum, 20th anniversary edition. And now I’m recommending it to all of you.
In the newly written introduction, Gierach notes how his life has changed since the publication of Trout Bum, and explains how the book almost got named something else. Imagine that! He describes how a British publisher had sneered at the title as “offensive,” and then exults, “that was a comment I was secretly proud of.” Pure Gierach.
Later on in the introduction, he discusses his early ambition: to be a poet. He even published a book of poetry before turning to fishing prose. His description of his life in his early writing days is beyond priceless.
I sat on my front porch that morning, in the November sunshine and reading that introduction and laughing louder than I should have. Anyway, do yourself a favor and shell out the $29.95 for this book. Or, you can check library availability on the Internet.
As a bonus in the new edition, a few other fishing writers weigh in on Gierach’s contributions. They’re worth reading too. As I’ve said before, I think Gierach has aged very gracefully, and I believe his new books read better than the old. He happens to agree with me on this, but that’s the way writers think.
Gierach is my contemporary, which is to say I, too, am approaching geezerhood. Re-reading Trout
Bum helped remind me of my former self. Maybe it will work for you, too.WBM
Hi Jim, and welcome to the board. According to Amazon.com, Gierach has a new book out in May, titled “Fools Paradise” and co-authored by Glenn Wolf, a guy I don’t know about. It will set you back $24 in hardcover.
I have to agree with everything you say about Gierach. He is one of the few authors that can make me laugh out loud. On the threshold of geezerhood myself I can identify with much of his perspective. I will look for the new book. I wouldn’t mind having a copy myself and maybe one for my son for Xmas.
David King
For those of you who are interested, ananglersbookcase.com has signed copies of the book for $30.00, plus a ton of other interesting new and “used” reads.
Hi Jim, and welcome to the board. According to Amazon.com, Gierach has a new book out in May, titled “Fools Paradise” and co-authored by Glenn Wolf, a guy I don’t know about. It will set you back $24 in hardcover.
Just looked it up on Amazon.
Just looked it up on Amazon. Glenn Wolff is the illustrator.
That solves that mystery. I’ve noticed that Gierach’s pieces in Fly Rod & Reel magazine have been nicely illustrated with water colors for the past year or so. May be the same guy.
Hi,
Doesn’t Bob White do the Gierach illustration for Fly Rod and Reel?
Glenn is the Michigan artist who teamed up with Jerry Dennis at times.
Kat
Hi,
Doesn’t Bob White do the Gierach illustration for Fly Rod and Reel?
Glenn is the Michigan artist who teamed up with Jerry Dennis at times.
Kat
You’re right.
If you can believe it, I have never read anything by Gierach is there any logical order or just jump in.
Mark..
I would start with two:
Trout Bum (the classic)
then
Death, Taxes and Leaky Waders which is an anthology from his earlier books.
With my keen powers of observation the picture almost got past me till I went back to look again. Fishing Bamboo will have to wait, I already ordered the other 2 books and I was planning to add a Bamboo rod to the group this summer for dry’s so that should work out fine.
Hi,
You may have all heard: John Gierach has a new title coming out in May, Fool’s Paradise, with Glen Wolff once again as illustrator.
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