Customer Reviews

Inventing Montana: Dispatches from the Madison Valley

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my first read of Ted Leeson- since I've visited the Madison valley each year for the past ten years to fly fish the Madison and spend time in that beautiful country- I couldnt wait to get my hands on this book. A book about a month long fishing trip to the Madison? If you fly fish for trout, and love Western rivers, it doesnt get any better.

Either I had the wrong expectations or Leeson is misrepresented here. I was expecting something along the lines of Gierach or Lyons- where the rivers, the trout, and the fishing are the constant theme, and everything else is woven into the context of the story. I was looking to feel like I was on the trip with him.

Unfortunately, you feel less like you are on a fishing trip, and more like you are trapped at a dinner party listening to a long-winded uncle painfully recount the tales of his month-long trip. Leeson's wordy dissertations on things like cooking, the town of Ennis, the ranch where they stay, and other subjects left me wondering when he was going to get back on track- all those subjects are noteworthy to the story, no doubt- but as Leeson went on and on, I couldn't help but wondering, when are we going to get back to the Madison?

The book does get a little better as it goes along- the last half of the book is more dedicated to the fishing and relates these asides to it, but I was still disappointed. Leeson leaves you wanting more about how the fishing was-also, he doesnt disclose his companions names- he calls them the Writer, the Mechanic, the Bodhi, etc.. It's hard to develop an attachment to these people if you don't even know their names.

If you are a serious fly fishing enthusiast who is looking for something to make you feel like you've been fishing, this won't do it. Maybe I've been spoiled by John Gierach, but that man writes a story about fishing a river in a way that makes you feel like you're right there casting with him. In this case, I've been to the very places Leeson is writing about, but it still made me feel- are we fishing here, or am I listening to you musing about whatever subject came to mind?

Great book - not even close to being just about fishing. NOT a how to. Great thoughts and writing about life and fishing and Montana. I could only read it in small pieces - due to it's thought provoking nature. Like a fine single malt it is meant to be savored and could be an acquired taste.

Inventing Montana solidifies Ted Leeson's position as fly fishing's chief philosopher. Here Leeson tackles how and why Montana has become our sport's Valhalla, while at the same time painting a vivid picture of the area's geographic, geological, and cultural features. Leeson keeps us grounded in visceral descriptions of fishing, fishing friends, and fishing camp, descriptions that put me right there with him. And as someone who has never fished Montana, I still found it totally engaging--it's about fly fishing and fly fisherman more than anything else. This is definitely Leeson's funniest book...I laughed out-loud many times. Sure to be read for as long as people fish flies.

With The Habits of Rivers and Jerusalem Creek to his credit, Ted Leeson now assumes the top of the heap of sporting writing with his latest work. I would rank his work up there with McGuane, Traver, Lyons, Barich and Haig-Brown in terms of depth and sophistication of writing. 5 stars.

Ted Leeson writes with descriptive phrases that at times you feel like you are in Montana. Other times you are longing to be there as a part of the group. I highly recommend this book. It is one of his best. Also a must read is Jerusalem Creek - Fly Fishing through Driftless Country.