Books
 

----- Original Message -----
From: "Opus"
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.fishing.fly
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 10:06 PM
Subject: Ping Jeff Miller


I sent a reply to your email, but it bounced back, so here it comes via
ROFF.

************************************************** ******************************************
I just got in from class, but I will see what I can find out tomorrow a
the
bookstore. I would imagine that they could pull it up and it should
indicate the professor who is using Middleton's work as text. I'll let ya
know something tomorrow eve.
Mark
Indian Joe asks
Please include me on correspondence about Middleton, I,m pushing my dukie
prof { now teaching at UNCW} to include one of his books in Current
American Novels Class.

Stay away from Cormic McCarthy"s new book unless need a headache.

Both of you wound enjoy Christopher Camuto's "Another Country"---Journeying
to2ard the Cherokee Mountains.
He also wrote e " A Fly Fisherman's Blue Ridge ". I have ordered an old copy
from somebody.

Opus hope your back will be ready for spring-----my back is acting up from
too much tennis and kayaking but I really enjoyed the steroid pills my doc
gave me --take six pills first day--five next day etc.. Flew very high the
first of week.

Books
 

"Joe McIntosh" wrote

Please include me on correspondence about Middleton,


Bernard Middleton?


Dan

Books
 

"Daniel-San" wrote in message news:1Qauh.56001
Bernard Middleton?

I'm fairly confident Joe is referring to Harry Middleton. His "On the Spine
of Time" is a great read, mostly about fishing in the Smokies. I highly
recommend it.

Joe F.

Books
 

"rb608" wrote ...
"Daniel-San" wrote
Bernard Middleton?

I'm fairly confident Joe is referring to Harry Middleton.

Yeah, somehow I doubted there were two people on the planet reading about
bookbinding.

His "On the Spine of Time" is a great read, mostly about fishing in the
Smokies. I highly recommend it.


I have a list of novels and other good non-fiction that I need to read.
Unfortunately, it will most likely remain a list of "to read" rather than
one of "read" -- at least for the next few years.

Dan
....my swap flies should go out Monday...

Books
 

On Jan 25, 5:37 pm, "Daniel-San" wrote:

...somehow I doubted there were two people on the planet reading about
bookbinding.

Weeeelllllllll....

Not just at the moment, but I read Annie Tremmel Wilcox's "A Degree of
Mastery: A Journey Through Book Arts Apprenticeship" a few months ago.
Made me want to go out and get some tools (yeah, like I NEED another
****in' project!) and stitch something together. Actually, I've got a
good start on it now, as I've recently DISassembled a book in order to
make it easier to scan and digitize.

His "On the Spine of Time" is a great read, mostly about fishing in the
Smokies. I highly recommend it.I have a list of novels and other good non-fiction that I need to read.
Unfortunately, it will most likely remain a list of "to read" rather than
one of "read" -- at least for the next few years.

Bad plan. You are NEVER gonna catch up. Trust me......I've been
trying for years!

Dan
...my swap flies should go out Monday...

Swap flies.....uh oh. Gotta run. :(

Wolfgang

Books
 

"Wolfgang" wrote...


"Daniel-San" wrote:

...somehow I doubted there were two people on the planet reading about
bookbinding.

Weeeelllllllll....

Not just at the moment, but I read Annie Tremmel Wilcox's "A Degree of
Mastery: A Journey Through Book Arts Apprenticeship" a few months ago.

Good book. I enjoyed it as well, but perhaps for different reasons. The
insight into modern craft binding apprenticeships is what interested me. The
mentoring part...well...

Made me want to go out and get some tools (yeah, like I NEED another
****in' project!)

Amen to that.

and stitch something together. Actually, I've got a
good start on it now, as I've recently DISassembled a book in order to
make it easier to scan and digitize.

Oooohhhh! Was it stitched or glued? If stitched (unlikely if a recent book)
was it with thread or wire? This of course was one of the "high art"
discussions that the bookbinders engaged in back about 75-80 years ago.
Still something of a controversy...well...as much of a controverys as is
possible in the book arts. I don't recommend beginning the process of buying
tools. From my limited look at that aspect of the whole thing, those tools
don't come cheap.


His "On the Spine of Time" is a great read, mostly about fishing in the
Smokies. I highly recommend it.I have a list of novels and other good
non-fiction that I need to read.
Unfortunately, it will most likely remain a list of "to read" rather than
one of "read" -- at least for the next few years.

Bad plan. You are NEVER gonna catch up. Trust me......I've been
trying for years!

But it's good to dream. Besides, uncompleted lists keep ya going, no?

Dan

Books
 

"Daniel-San" wrote in message
. net...

I have a list of novels and other good non-fiction that I need to read.
Unfortunately, it will most likely remain a list of "to read" rather than
one of "read" -- at least for the next few years.

You should really move it up your list, you won't be disappointed.

Books
 

Wayne Knight wrote:

[_On the Spine of Time_]

You should really move it up your list, you won't be disappointed.

Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but IMHO, _OtSoT_ was enjoyable mostly
because of his descriptions of some places that I had the pleasure of
visiting in western N.C. His writing style is (for me, anyway)
overbearing; he's never met a cliche he didn't like, and he seems bent
on packing as many metaphors-per-square-inch as possible into his writing.

It's not that I mind a good metaphor, but his over-reliance on them
tends to actually interfere with what he's attempting to describe.

Don't get me wrong, I've read the book several times and will
probably pack it along with me on my next trip to the Smokies, but for
someone who has never experienced the streams of the area, I can see how
the book could be less than fulfilling.


Chuck Vance (and no, I don't think I could do better than
Middleton, but that's why I'm writing on ROFF :-)

Books
 

On Jan 26, 10:28 am, Conan The Librarian wrote:
Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but IMHO, _OtSoT_ was enjoyable mostly
because of his descriptions of some places that I had the pleasure of
visiting in western N.C.

While I enjoyed the book immensely, I'll admit to having read it
shortly following, and likely as a result of my first trout fishing
foray into the Smokies at a ROFF clave. Even without that direct
experience, however, I am closely familiar with the similar geography
of the Blue Ridge Mtns. to the north, and found it easy to identify
with the places and situations Middleton describes in OtSoT. I don't
know nothin' bout no cliches, but I did like the book. :-)

Joe F.

Books
 

try the earth is enough...

Conan The Librarian wrote:
Wayne Knight wrote:

[_On the Spine of Time_]

You should really move it up your list, you won't be disappointed.


Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but IMHO, _OtSoT_ was enjoyable mostly
because of his descriptions of some places that I had the pleasure of
visiting in western N.C. His writing style is (for me, anyway)
overbearing; he's never met a cliche he didn't like, and he seems bent
on packing as many metaphors-per-square-inch as possible into his writing.

It's not that I mind a good metaphor, but his over-reliance on them
tends to actually interfere with what he's attempting to describe.

Don't get me wrong, I've read the book several times and will
probably pack it along with me on my next trip to the Smokies, but for
someone who has never experienced the streams of the area, I can see how
the book could be less than fulfilling.


Chuck Vance (and no, I don't think I could do better than
Middleton, but that's why I'm writing on ROFF :-)

Books
 

Conan The Librarian wrote:
Wayne Knight wrote:

[_On the Spine of Time_]

You should really move it up your list, you won't be disappointed.


Not to be a stick-in-the-mud, but IMHO, _OtSoT_ was enjoyable mostly
because of his descriptions of some places that I had the pleasure of
visiting in western N.C. His writing style is (for me, anyway)
overbearing; he's never met a cliche he didn't like, and he seems bent
on packing as many metaphors-per-square-inch as possible into his writing.

It's not that I mind a good metaphor, but his over-reliance on them
tends to actually interfere with what he's attempting to describe.

Don't get me wrong, I've read the book several times and will
probably pack it along with me on my next trip to the Smokies, but for
someone who has never experienced the streams of the area, I can see how
the book could be less than fulfilling.


Chuck Vance (and no, I don't think I could do better than
Middleton, but that's why I'm writing on ROFF :-)

"less than fulfilling"??? guess it all depends on what you're tryin to
fill. g

middleton had a unique literary voice, and his writing was about so much
more than just fishing. i find his metaphors brilliantly conceived, far
from trite, and very effective. he's easily my favorite of his
contemporaries. i've never thought his metaphors overdone or excessive.
what are the cliches you reference?

he does restate similar thoughts in each of his books, and if you read
all of his stuff back-to-back, you'll probably notice and tire of the
repetition of the same themes. still, i wish i could discover other
flyfishing/outdoor writers as competent and engaging with words and
sentences. had he lived, i suspect middleton would have achieved
significant literary stature. if you get the chance, ask mcguane or
harrison or lyons what they think of middleton's writing.

....i don't think gierach was his equal in 1990. gierach is a fine
storyteller; middleton was an artist. sometime, take a look at rare or
limited edition fishing literature by 20th century american writers, and
compare the 1st edition prices commanded by middleton's books with those
of his contemporaries.

jeff

Books
 

On Jan 25, 7:43 pm, "Daniel-San" (Rot13)
wrote:
"Wolfgang" wrote...

"Daniel-San" wrote:

...somehow I doubted there were two people on the planet reading about
bookbinding.

Weeeelllllllll....

Not just at the moment, but I read Annie Tremmel Wilcox's "A Degree of
Mastery: A Journey Through Book Arts Apprenticeship" a few months ago.Good book. I enjoyed it as well, but perhaps for different reasons. The
insight into modern craft binding apprenticeships is what interested me. The
mentoring part...well...

Made me want to go out and get some tools (yeah, like I NEED another
****in' project!)Amen to that.

and stitch something together. Actually, I've got a

good start on it now, as I've recently DISassembled a book in order to
make it easier to scan and digitize.Oooohhhh! Was it stitched or glued? If stitched (unlikely if a recent book)
was it with thread or wire?

"Early Steps in Science" 1924 all around science textbook, geared at
about seventh or eight grade, I'd guess. Stitched with thread.

This of course was one of the "high art"
discussions that the bookbinders engaged in back about 75-80 years ago.
Still something of a controversy...well...as much of a controverys as is
possible in the book arts. I don't recommend beginning the process of buying
tools. From my limited look at that aspect of the whole thing, those tools
don't come cheap.

Well, cheap isn't really an issue......if they're cheap, they ain't
really tools.......right? :)

Wolfgang

Books
 

Wolfgang wrote:

On Jan 25, 7:43 pm, "Daniel-San" (Rot13)
wrote:

"Wolfgang" wrote...


"Daniel-San" wrote:

...somehow I doubted there were two people on the planet reading about
bookbinding.

www.horseandbuggypress.com

might interest you guys. in today's n&o, there was an article about it,
with photo showing the owner binding with linen thread.

jeff

Books
 

On Jan 26, 6:25 pm, jeff wrote:

middleton had a unique literary voice, and his writing was about so much
more than just fishing. i find his metaphors brilliantly conceived, far
from trite, and very effective. he's easily my favorite of his
contemporaries. i've never thought his metaphors overdone or excessive.

Well, let's just look at a sample from opening the book at random:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
I plotted the travel of a single drop, watched as the wind pressed it
against the windshield,
it tumbling like a smudge of jelly along the dirty glass, bending and
curving, but in the end,
always giving way and moving down toward the rhythmic swipe of the
windshield wipers until
the blade wiped it from the glass, flicked it aimlessly back into the
wind and rain, and another
drop found its path and began to slide inexorably down the grime-
covered glass. The streams
of raindrops on the window mingled, interlaced, one flowing into the
next and into the next,
so that the windshield took on the aspect of a great map of fast-
running rivers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------

And that's not even from the part of the book that really gets on
my nerves. :-}

Oh, well ... different strokes. My whole point was that it *is*
possible that someone could
find the book less than satisfying from a literary standpoint. If you
don't, that's great.

he does restate similar thoughts in each of his books, and if you read
all of his stuff back-to-back, you'll probably notice and tire of the
repetition of the same themes. still, i wish i could discover other
flyfishing/outdoor writers as competent and engaging with words and
sentences. had he lived, i suspect middleton would have achieved
significant literary stature. if you get the chance, ask mcguane or
harrison or lyons what they think of middleton's writing.

I'll be sure to do that. :-) (FWIW, I love McGuane's writing; he
doesn't seem
to force it like Middleton does.)

...i don't think gierach was his equal in 1990. gierach is a fine
storyteller; middleton was an artist. sometime, take a look at rare or
limited edition fishing literature by 20th century american writers, and
compare the 1st edition prices commanded by middleton's books with those
of his contemporaries.

That's fine, Jeff, but I'm not speaking for collectors, I'm just
speaking for myself.


Chuck Vance