Review by diana lowery -- The Reel Sisters

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Reel Sisters" by Michelle Cummings.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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When you fall asleep reading in bed at midnight, but wake up at 3:00 AM so you can read some more, you know the book is a winner. The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is the "real" deal. I was first drawn to this book by the fact that my maiden name is Cummings, by the fact that I had tried fly-fishing before, and by the fact that I am a fan of A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean. I found other connections as I read: a teacher (I was one), the Arkansas River in Colorado (I did a white water raft trip there), and the appendix has a link to Fly Fishing Retreats for women recovering from breast cancer (I am a survivor). Another connection I like is the frequent scenes where drinking red wine is involved. What's not to love?

The blurb on the book describes four women who discover a body while fly-fishing. My anticipation increased as I read. I kept wondering when the four women would find the naked girl in the river. The writer methodically introduces all the female characters. Each chapter is narrated in the first person by a different woman. Cummings uses direct and indirect characterization to unveil the unique individuals who form a friendship through fly-fishing. It isn't until the reader is familiar with the four women that the fifth character is discovered floundering in the rapids. Each character's life is changed, and Cummings shows how the change relates to learning to become a fly fisher. This quote by the main character Rose summarizes that philosophy: "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." By the end of the book, each of the women has acquired those skills both in the sport and in life.

Another aspect that I enjoyed was the use of quotes at the beginning of some chapters. Starting with Henry David Thoreau and ending with a tidbit from the L.L. Bean Ultimate Book of Fly Fishing, these passages give an air of authenticity to the fictional story.

The one minor criticism concerns the abundance of dialogue. There was one text conversation that covered more than three Kindle pages of one or two-word quotes with no narration. Also, I sometimes had trouble deciding who was speaking.

This book deserves 4 out of 4 stars. Despite the tedious dialogue, The Reel Sisters is a quick, wonderful read full of adventure and emotions. I did not notice any grammatical errors which increased my reading enjoyment. This would be a perfect choice for a book club and should appeal to both men and women.

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The Reel Sisters
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Juliet+1]

Thanks for a great review! You helped me understand and appreciate this book more than when I first read it.

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks for that compliment. It was a bit hard to keep up with the characters and settings some of the time.

[Nerea]

The book is a real deal. I enjoyed the bond of love the women had for each other. The most scary part for me is where a body was discovered in the river. I'm glad you enjoyed reading the book.

[Adina Lutinger]

Seems like a spectacular book. I'm really curious to read it now. Thanks for the great review!

[Diana Lowery]

Seems like a spectacular book. I'm really curious to read it now. Thanks for the great review!

It will keep you entertained - a great lay on the beach and read book.

[Diana Lowery]

Seems like a spectacular book. I'm really curious to read it now. Thanks for the great review!

Thanks for commenting. I hope you like it.

[Diana Lowery]

The book is a real deal. I enjoyed the bond of love the women had for each other. The most scary part for me is where a body was discovered in the river. I'm glad you enjoyed reading the book.

I enjoy books where the characters form a tight bond, and this one did. Thanks for commenting.

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks for a great review! You helped me understand and appreciate this book more than when I first read it.

Thanks for that compliment. It was a bit hard to keep up with the characters and settings some of the time.

[Sanju Lali]

I have read this book and enjoyed it, hope you too enjoyed. Thanks for your honest review that shares your perspective about this book. This book is really a example to show the value of bond of sisterhood.

[Rayasaurus]

I’m glad you liked this one so much! Waking up in the middle of the night so you can read more is definitely an indication that you love the book. I definitely have to pick this book up; I’ve read a lot of really good review. Thank you for the review!

[Diana Lowery]

I’m glad you liked this one so much! Waking up in the middle of the night so you can read more is definitely an indication that you love the book. I definitely have to pick this book up; I’ve read a lot of really good review. Thank you for the review!

Thank you for your comment. I waited a long time before selecting this book, but I am happy that I finally chose it.

[Diana Lowery]

I have read this book and enjoyed it, hope you too enjoyed. Thanks for your honest review that shares your perspective about this book. This book is really a example to show the value of bond of sisterhood.

Thank you for commenting.

[Magnify3]

Great review! I like your writing style. It is indeed a good book. I'm glad the Kindle version was better than the one I had.

[Julius_]

The relationship between the girls was fantastic! Thanks for the review.