Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1220 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-14
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
"A brilliant satire, leavened by genuine passion for its protagonist and his sport" -- REBECCA SEAL OBSERVER "A delight ... Paul Torday's sparkling debut uses spoof parliamentary papers to tell a splendidly dotty tale" -- SALLY COUSINS SUNDAY TELEGRAPH "Utterly charming and extremely funny" IRISH TIMES

Sort of like a lesser Monty Python episode, this debut novel features British bureaucrats and biz types who collaborate with a starry-eyed sheikh to spur peace and profits by introducing salmon fishing in the Mideast desert.Middle-aged milquetoast Dr. Alfred Jones shudders at "the irrational, the unpredictable, and the unknown." He's a perfect patsy, then, for Torday to play with. The author embroils the star flunky of the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence in one seriously whacky scheme. E-mailing his dour, domineering spouse, Mary, about the project, Fred initially dismisses it as "scientifically nonsensical." Political pressure, however, prompts his meeting with Sheikh Muhammad, who argues that the Arab-Israeli and Yemeni internecine conflicts just might evaporate if all warring parties embraced gentlemanly fishing. The beguiling billionaire wheedles Fred into submission; even more effectively, so does Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, dishy publicist for Fitzharris & Price, the posh consultants the Sheikh hired to strong-arm Parliament into realizing his impossible dream. Frosty financier Mary belittles Fred by reminding him that her salary's twice his and constantly exacerbating his abandonment issues. Plus, her charms recall those of a Dickensian schoolmarm. Can't blame Fred, then, for falling for Harriet, who might as well be a Bond Girl, and, even while romancing a cute upper-crust captain on tour in Iraq, not above leading Fred on. In short order, things get dizzyingly farcical, as al-Qaeda involvement is suspected, as the notoriously contentious English press assails the Prime Minister and as Fred loses his bearings and his heart. By the end, a House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee is threatening to bring down a government, and nasty fates have befallen Sheik and Captain.A giggle-inducing fish story. (Kirkus Reviews)

Review
"A brilliant satire, leavened by genuine passion for its protagonist and his sport" (REBECCA SEAL OBSERVER )

"A delight ... Paul Torday's sparkling debut uses spoof parliamentary papers to tell a splendidly dotty tale" (SALLY COUSINS SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )

"Utterly charming and extremely funny" (IRISH TIMES )

REBECCA SEAL, OBSERVER
"A brilliant satire, leavened by genuine passion for its protagonist and his sport"

Customer Reviews

I loved this book - please write some more
The style in which this story is presented is very interesting - using diaries, interviews, emails and letters. It intrigues me and I found that the continual change of pace and point of view dragged me more and more into the story.
The use of Dr Jones' diary takes the reader into the head of the scientist and develops him as the main character. There is also the very factual reporting of the events around him using reports and newspaper cuttings in which the political undertones are always very apparent.
The writing throughout is very straightforward and I found it very enjoyable to read. The start of the "interrogations" brought in a darkness to the novel and an intrigue which from then onwards built towards the completely unexpected ending.

What a pleasant surprise!
I'd seen this book in the shops and hadn't taken too much notice of it as the title rather put me off. I'm not particularly interested in fishing (well - not at all, really) and the Yemen sounded rather distant and obscure. However, a friend recommended it to me and lent me his copy. I put it on my pile of "books to read" (which is rapidly approaching the ceiling) where it remained for a while. I'd finished reading my last book and grabbed this one off the pile before rushing off to work one morning and how glad I am that I did! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's witty, unusual, interesting, informative and has a clever and unexpected ending. I found the style of writing interesting, being a mixture of emails, reports, narrative, and correspondence, despite which it was not in the least bit confusing. Also, the rather terse (on one side, at least) correspondence between our hero (if that's what we can call him) and his wife brought a smile to my face as it possibly reflected some married couples' relationships all too well! I now know quite a bit about salmon, their habitat and their breeding habits that I didn't before reading this, which information was imparted totally painlessly and didn't detract from the plot. I'm so pleased that my friend persuaded me to read this book and I shall certainly recommend it to others. It was very different from anything I've read before. Do give it go!

Delightful Yarn
A satirical, humorous fishy tale, flavoured with the double-speak of the British civil service, politicans, an empty marriage, the different faces of love, faith, hope, and incompetent Yemini Jihadis. Much to his dismay, Fisheries Scientist Dr. Alfred Jones is ordered to do the impossible, which is to populate the Wadi Aleyne in the highlands of the Yemen with wild salmon. His wife Mary, a successfull international banker, with a mind like a Microsoft Excell spread sheet, is certain the project will fail. Fred also thinks it's a hair brained scheme, until meeting Ms Harriet Chetwode-Talbot. Harriet is the go-between for elderly, wise, Yemeni Sheikh Muhammad, a mystical salmon fisherman with an Estate in the highlands of Scotland. The salmon project, becomes the most defining period of his life for scientific humanist Fred. Who records his deepest longings, along with the projects progress, in his diary.

I would have given this delightful novel five stars, had it not been for the combined use of interviews,newspaper reports, and Hansard. That approach could be somewhat irksome. Praise to the author for an otherwise, rattling good yarn. I would recommend the book to friends.