And Then We Went Fishing [Paperback]

Dirk Benedict (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

From the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy comes a dramatic, autobiographical tale--two stories deftly woven into an engrossing narrative--in which a child's birth triggers memories of the author's father's death . A memorable recounting of Benedict's own rites of passage.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Life and death are the themes of this intriguing book by Benedict, author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy (Avery, 1991). Benedict's father was shot by his brother years earlier. Now, Benedict's wife is giving birth at home. Complications arise with the birth, resulting in Benedict's reliving his father's life and death in between his wife's contractions. As things become more complicated, he takes his wife on a desperate race to the hospital for the final episode in the ordeal, which results in a strapping son named after his father. The intertwining of what happened in the past with the events of the present makes for an excellent story. The humor, drama, and frustration that Benedict experiences results in a moving book for all levels of readers. For most public libraries.
- H. Robert Malinowsky, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Avery (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895295598
• ISBN-13: 978-0895295590
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 4.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most thought provoking book I have read..., January 29, 2000

By 

"[e-mail]" - See all my reviews

This review is from: And Then We Went Fishing (Paperback)

I just finished this absolutely mesmerizing tale (or really two tales in one) and have come back to order kamikaze cowboy. Not everyone could open up his or her lives like this, but this is a life worth sharing. It is so refreshing and exhilarating to see such a fine actor have such other admirable qualities and the ability to articulate them to the world. I spent my afternoon curled up with this book, and read it cover to cover in one sitting. After all the books I've been required to read by higher education, by the so-called best writers, they all pale in comparison to And Then We Went Fishing: A Story of Fatherhood, Fate and Forgiveness. I recommend this book to everyone and anyone!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A SHARING OF EXPERIENCE, August 20, 2005

By 

Furry vore (right here and now) - See all my reviews

This review is from: And Then We Went Fishing (Paperback)

This second book by Dirk Benedict touches on some deeply personal experiences of his life that he shares with the reader. It interchanges between the tale of his father's death and his first child's birth, each unique experiences.
He and his wife had elected to have a homebirth way before they became fashoinable, and the endless parade of misfit Midwives makes for humorous reading.
the personal tradgedy of his father's murder, and the state of the family during that time give depth to the pages.
As well as he touches on subtle aspects of his life that may haunt him later, such as his head injuries that kept him out of the Army and his suggestion Natural birth should be required by law for at least two children per family. (Do we really want the government making this personal decision for us? How could anyone make such a suggestion!)
One point of note is chapter 9. A rant against birth-control and a disticntly male-sided view of free love and yuppies, (These views only are valid with one generation and don't seem to apply to us younger then baby boomers) which is typical of his style but totally seems out of place with the rest of the book.
A deeply moving recounting of past experiences with an ironic climax.
But a suggestion to a would-be-buyer: Get it off of Amazon. It's much cheaper. [...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Dirk Benedict., May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: And Then We Went Fishing (Paperback)

This book came my way as a gift from a friend. I'd read 'Kamikaze Cowboy' several times over the years and was interested in this new chapter. The intermingling of past and present events was remarkably effective. Once again, the book hit a personal note for me. The feelings I had about my own father's death were paralleled in the story of the death of Benedict's father, and I experienced a little of the release he felt at the birth of his son. Life goes on, and we only have the power to choose the ultimate direction of our own. Thanks, Dirk.