4 out of 4 stars
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The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is the heartwarming story of five women from varied backgrounds finding friendship through the sport of fly fishing. Sophia, a single and independent woman yearning, yet fearing, for the solid romantic connection her life is lacking finds peace and companionship through her passion for fishing. Veronica, the spirited half of a successful power couple, a self-styled city girl, finds both empowerment and motivation through the art of fishing. Amanda, the overworked mother of two young children and full-time teacher, finds the recharge her life needs through fishing, a respite from her worries over her military husband on deployment. Rose, an older woman on the verge of her golden years, a lifetime lover of fly fishing finds the new connections her life needs through passing on the art to her companions. Melody, young, bold, and talented yet troubled by the question of what to do with her life, finds a new means to explore her inner-self through friendship and fly fishing after making a dramatic entrance into the other ladies' lives.
Cummins weaves a beautiful tale of companionship, full of both humor and heartbreak. Her characters are detailed and each has a past that the author has fleshed out in a believable manner. She incorporates so many aspects into each persona that any reader can find something to relate to in these women. The witty exchanges between the characters paint the picture of their bond. The dialogue is, for the most part, handled well but there are some instances of stiff phrasing such as "What's the extent of your injuries" and "where Melody indicated her car is". There is also an overuse of the word 'says' in some dialogues. For example,
The novel is written in first person but from five different voices. This was somewhat confusing especially at the beginning of the book. These five voices also were very similar at times, adding to the confusion."Voila! An Elk Hair Caddis fly,' Amanda says as she holds it up proudly.
"Nice," Melody says.
"Here, you can have this one," Amanda says, handing the fly to Melody.
The subject of fly fishing is the common thread binding these women and the author does an amazing job of introducing the sport to the reader. The author's own obvious love of fly fishing shines through in the details. The sport is discussed with passion and many different aspects are touched upon in the novel. Everything from the expense of the gear needed to the precise art of fly tying is presented to the reader. The author informs one of how the fish behave, why fly fishing works, how to handle a fish, the differences in catch-and-release vs. sustenance fishing, the methods of casting, the parts of the tackle and much more. The nature settings are vividly described, again with passion, as only an outdoorsman/woman can. The many humorous scenes and practical, funny little things people 'forget' to include in their camping and hiking stories are not skimped on in this novel. They are sure to get chuckles if not outright laughter.
Overall, The Reel Sisters was a lovely read and I give it a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. The author's sometimes stiff dialogue and slightly confusing writing style are, I feel, quite forgivable in a first-time author. Her writing has a nice tone and some very lyrical and memorable phrases like this wonderful quote:
I would recommend this book to any reader who would enjoy a tale of relatable life experiences and also to both those familiar and unfamiliar with fly fishing. There is a fount of knowledge on the sport to be had in this touching story of friendship."Like the river transforms the land, the bond of friendship can transform your life. Trusting the currents, navigating the terrain, and figuring out how to read the water are all skills that take patience, time, and love."
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The Reel Sisters
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