Big Western Writer Birthdays
By Tom Chandler on Dec 11, 2006 in Writing
It’s a Big Day for a pair of the West’s Best Writers.
Today is the birthday of Thomas McGuane - my favorite fly fishing (and short story) writer.
His book - The Longest Silence - was an instant fly fishing classic, and should be on the shelf of every fly fisher (if it’s not on yours, be prepared for a caning with an old South Bend 9′ 8wt).
In a Monster Western Writer Coincidence, it’s also the birthday of Jim Harrison, whose Legends of the Fall was his breakthrough book which eventually became a movie.
Said Harrison: “Ever since I was seven … I’d turn for solace to rivers, rain, trees, birds, lakes, animals. If things are terrible beyond conception and I walk for 25 miles in the forest, they tend to go away for a while.”
Happy Birthday from the Underground!
Now an Amazon Affiliate!
You can buy McGuane’s books on Amazon by clicking this link: The Longest Silence: A Life in Fishing
Technorati Tags: thomas mcguane, mcguane, jim harrison, writers
C4CRaine | Dec 11, 2006 | Reply
I can relate to Harris’ statement, I just can’t get to the woods!
Steve | Dec 11, 2006 | Reply
Tom,
If one were to start reading Mcguane where would you suggest starting (3 or 4 books).
Tom Chandler | Dec 11, 2006 | Reply
Steve;
The first book is easy: The Longest Silence is a collection of essays about fishing that spans the sport. The introduction to the book alone is worth the cost of admission.
I’m including a link to it from Amazon in the post above.
After that, you’re really walking into fiction territory, and I don’t know if you were looking for novels.
If you’re into nonfiction with a fishing bent, then Nintey-two in the shade and Nothing but Clear Skies are both excellent.
If you like short stories, McGuane’s latest collection (Gallatin Canyon) is excellent.
Really, McGuane’s a sharp writer, so I like all his stuff. But those are excellent starting points.
opax | Dec 12, 2006 | Reply
Thank you for the tips Tom. I haven’t read anything from McGaune, but he seems like an interesting writer. And also the amazon.com deal is tempting…