26 Books that Changed My Life: #15 A River Runs Through It

O: Overwhelming Power of Nature

I thought I would spend the month of April delving into the literature that has made me the person I am today.

1] In this list you will find some of my favorite books, but you will also find books that I appreciate and books that I would recommend although they may not be my favorite. These are books that changed my way of thinking or my way of looking the world. These are books that helped solidify the core of who I am.

2] These books are in order of the theme that I came away with not alphabetical by title or author.

About this book:
Norman Maclean's memories about growing up in Montana revolve around mighty trout rivers and the four-count rhythm of fly fishing. It is the one activity where his family can bridge troubled relationships, where brother can connect with brother and father with son. And in the end, it is the river that makes them realize that life continues and all things are related. The strong reading of Ivan Doig, Montana native and author of This House of Sky, adds much flavor to this tender, often very funny, and beautiful story about love and loss. A tale not to be missed and to be revisited frequently.


Publication Date:  first published in 1976

Why this book:
I read this book at first because I loved the movie and I wanted to see how it had been translated from words. My second reason for reading this book occurred because I was curious about a man who had  a story that had waited years to be developed. I found it fascinating that wasn't published until Maclean  was about 74 years old. Finally, I love this book because its language is so mesmerizing. After reading it I wanted to go fly-fishing in Montana...and, I hate fishing.

We all have that one symbol that defines our family and we use it as the backbone for our interpretations of life:

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.I am haunted by waters."

There are a couple of other books that filled my heart and head with visions of nature; All the Pretty Horses made me want to aimlessly wander on my horse through Mexico and Into the Wild made me want to aimlessly wander through the Alaskan wilderness. I suggest reading all three. I'm still on the surface of understanding the beauty, passion and riches that nature can bring. And, it's at times when I am overwhelmed by the delicious Ozark mountains that I am thankful that Norman Maclean wrote about his early life in Montana.