Customer Reviews

Sportsman's Legacy

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This paperback update of a 1993 edition includes additional photos, personal essays, and memoir-stories of two men who unfortunately no longer walk among us. While the selections actually chronicle the history of four generations, the effort serves mainly as a dual tribute to William G. "Bill" Tapply (1940-2009) and his father, Horace G. "Tap" Tapply (1910-2002). Here we accompany their fishing and hunting "ex-plores;" learn about the process of professional writing; and witness the give-and-take of the father-son relationship. Most of the book was written by Bill Tapply, with new introductions provided by both his son Mike and his wife Vickie.

Each kind of Tapply fan will find something worthwhile here. Outdoors-folk will appreciate the scenes of fly-fishing and grouse hunting, as well as the instructions for tying the "Nearenuf" fly. Dog lovers will devour the Brittany spaniel appearances. Writers may have heard some of Bill's advice elsewhere, but his guidelines are good to revisit. Mystery fans will be pleased with the addition of "The Phil 'n' Bill Show" and the details of the Tapply-Craig collaboration on three Brady Coyne / J.W. Jackson mysteries. Here we "tap" into the familiarity of friendship and of natural New England, with a narrative that's as easy-going as a slow-moving trout stream on a late summer morning. That is, until we reach one of the last essays, which resolves in an unexpected, quite emotional moment. Eventually we all end up writing about our fathers.

I was fortunate enough to chat with Bill Tapply on several occasions, and I am honored to own a signed copy of Bitch Creek: A Novel. I do my best to follow his commanding inscription, "Keep writing!" I wish he were still around to do the same.

Especially poignant since it is among his last publications, this book is recommended for the wide variety of Bill Tapply readers.