Mississippi Solo: A River Quest [Paperback]

Eddy L. Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1988

The true account of a young black man's journey in quest of a lifelong dream: to canoe the length of the Mississippi River, from its source in Minnesota down to New Orleans.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

At 30 years old, Eddy Harris leaves his home in St. Louis and sets off into the chilly autumn for Lake Itasca. "I decided to canoe down the Mississippi River and to find out what I was made of," he writes. And Mississippi Solo is his stunning testament. Harris, who has authored Native Stranger, South of Haunted Dreams, and Still Life in Harlem, has been widely acclaimed since the first release of Mississippi Solo in 1988. It is greatly pleasing to see this important and stimulating first work revived.

As the Mississippi grows from its tiny source to a wide and powerful flow, Harris gains confidence as a canoeist, faith in his endeavor, and an understanding of his varying identity as an African American traveling alone from north to south in the United States. His exact and brilliantly revealing prose shows us how each bend in this mighty river turns itself within the paddler, how person and river are entwined--and who is in charge.

With an astute ear for irony, philosophy, and wisdom, as well as truths about the river, Harris takes the reader through locks and lakes on the northern Mississippi to the wild and swift and meandering river south of St. Louis. Songs of joy, troughs of loneliness, terrific storms, birdsong, paranoia, friendly captains, wild dogs, and ghosts of slaves fill his pages. Then we face off with two hunters, two shotguns, and Harris's single pistol... and still the river leads him on to New Orleans. Like the river he travels, Harris cuts through to the core of himself and his country. Triumphant! --Byron Ricks --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Growing up in St. Louis, Harris felt drawn to the Mississippi River and wanted to be part of it. At the age of 30 he decided it was time to challenge the riverand himselfby canoeing its length, Lake Itaska to New Orleans. With very little preparation or conditioning, he set out in the fall in a borrowed canoe. In addition to expected hazards of weather, traffic and navigation, the voyage held another one: Harris, who is black, encountered gun-toting rednecks downstream (he carried a revolver). But most people were friendly and encouraging; Harris learned how to handle the canoe in the wake of tugs and successfully tested himself to the limits of physical and mental endurance. Readers who enjoyed Jonathan Raban's Old Glory will want to read this exuberant account of a geographically similiar solo voyage. Harris is a talented writer; may he continue his adventures.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Nick Lyons Books; 1st edition (October 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558210016
• ISBN-13: 978-1558210011
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,172,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Writing, October 27, 2002

By 

Bruce L. Nelson "'Alone Across Alaska' and '7... (Fairbanks, Alaska USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mississippi Solo: A River Quest (Paperback)

I bought a copy of this book after my own canoe trip down the Mississippi. It was fascinating to compare the experiences of Mr. Harris to my own.

The writing is perceptive, insightful, and entertaining. His observations of the people he met along the river, and himself, come across as very honest. He doesn't portray himself as a hero or an expert, but as the person he really is. His dedication to completing the journey is tenuous, but his appreciation for the lasting value of the experience is sincere.

His perceptions on racial issues were objective and refreshing. Although he had preconceived notions on what he might encounter, (a black man in Nordic northern Minnesota and later in the Deep South) he judged people based on how they treated him, and the vast majority of people treated him with kindness and respect.

His descriptions of the river, towns, weather and scenery are also enjoyable, and the hardships and joys are described with equal eloquence.

I was impressed how such a greenhorn of an outdoorsman would have the boldness to tackle such an adventure. My only disappointment with the book is when he skipped some parts of the river. It was his journey to make, however, and he is honest about any shortcuts he took.

In short, this is a great book. It is worth reading to experience the journey vicariously and for the writing itself. You won't be disappointed.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book!, May 29, 2002

By 

Terry Gold (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mississippi Solo: A River Quest (Paperback)

I found this book at a used bookstore while looking for travel books to read on vacation. What a great book! I'm fascinated by the water and enjoyed the description of his trip down the Mississipi river, but I enjoyed even more seeing how a person who wasn't an outdoorsman or even an experienced boater took on this adventure. His experience with people along the way made me feel at the end that I would enjoy sharing a campfire with him and most of the people he met. Except for the rednecks with guns that is.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Travels with Charlie gets wet., May 21, 1999

By 

Glen "Horn Players Parent" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mississippi Solo: A River Quest (Paperback)

After hearing of Mr. Harris' book on NPR, I thought a travel book down the Mississippi would be fun to read. Mississippi Solo was an enjoyable slice in time and space of a voyage through the heartland of America. Like the song "Proud Mary," Mr. Harris finds that "people on the river are happy to give." His journey lets the reader enjoy the river experience much like Steinbeck shares his adventure in his camper. Mississippi Solo is an enjoyable book for any river rat or river rat want-to-be.