These three stories are excellent and work together to form a great book. "A River Runs through It" is one of my favorite stories of all time, for multiple reasons. The other two works--"Logging and Pimping and 'Your Pal Jim'" and "The Ranger, the Cook, and the Hole in the Sky" are great and bring levity to a superb collection of writing.
"A River Runs through It" is a story of family, love, and the bonds that tie us all together. The tale is the tale of the narrator's life in Montana with his father, mother, brother, and some friends play minor characters. Growing up in Montana myself, I can relate to so much in this piece. Growing up in a less than perfect family I can relate even more. Loving family members who seem to have lost their way and who no matter how hard I may try I cannot seem to help makes the book seem to come from within myself. I think many can relate to the futile nature of love at times.
The story flows with rich and elegant prose not weighed down with anything unnecessary. Maclean writes sparse prose, concise and efficient--yet with astounding depth and concience. His writing is lyrical and poetic. His ability to craft meaning and beauty while masking both within an engrossing story of simplicity is commendable to say the least.
In fact I will soon read this book again I have just realized. Not many books have touched me as deeply and made me feel such universal awe in regards to life.
On a side note, the other two stories are great coming of age excerpts. They have fun with depth. They have some action and humor to go along with the seriousness of growing up and taking hold of life. They also share the common theme of "A River..."--nothing lasts forever. That is the water that haunts the author and so many people who have never found that key to life. If you like bittersweet, read this book!
If not, read this book and you may!
