Duncan, David James. The river why.

DUNCAN, David James. The river why. Read by Dick Hill. 13 cds. 15.5 hrs. Blackstone Audiobooks. 1983/2006. 0-7861-6883-5. $99.00.Vinyl; plot notes. SA *

Gus Orviston's parents have nothing but fishing on their brains. Gus caught his first fish at the age of four and now, in his 20s, he has bought a cabin on the Oregon coast so he can fish 24/7. After living in a cabin with no electricity and fishing 16 hours a day for a month, Gus gets drunk and begins to ask the big questions, like WHY am I killing all these innocent fish. He begins to notice pollution and ecological depredation of the forests. Gus comes to see that his fishing is the same as loggers clear-cutting timber. Duncan's novel is humorous, romantic, philosophical, quirky, introspective, literate, and occasionally obscene. Narrator Hill gives the novel a exceptional full-voiced presentation. Dad is a pompous Brit, Mom sounds like Mammy Yokum, and brother Bill Bob has a precocious kid lisp. Eccentric characters abound, like Great Grandmother Celestial Darling Carper, who likes bourbon and so is looped and happy much of the time. Gus's neighbors include hippies, a pack of wild children, and a singing mouse. Hill's narration makes the novel, told by Gus, sound like a radio play. Janet Julian, English Teacher (retired), Grafton, MA

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.