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Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

By Paul Torday

(44)

| Hardcover | 9780151012763

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Book Description

Dr. Alfred Jones is a henpecked, slightly pompous middle-aged scientist at the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence in London when he is approached by a mysterious sheikh about an outlandish plan to introduce the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen. Dr. Jones refuses, but the project, howeverContinue

Critics

Faith, hope, love ... and fish

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen by Paul Torday 323pp, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, £12.99 The impossible title of this extraordinary book took me back to a moment nearly 20 years ago. I had walked for three days down Wadi Surdud, one of the great seasonal wate ... (read full critics)

guardian.co.uk published on Sat, 25 Sep 2010

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen-- book review

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Paul Torday Harcourt Hardcover 352 pages April 2007 On the eve of his twentieth wedding anniversary, Dr. Alfred Jones decides it is time to begin reflecting on his marriage and his life, capturing in his diary “the increas ... (read full critics)

curledup published on Tue, 7 Sep 2010

6 Reviews

very British. The style and spirit I miss in Italy

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Anna said on Nov 6, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

This title has been languishing on our TBR bookshelves for far too long as despite the fact my husband and others via reviews have been encouraging me to read this debut novel, I somehow never did. I think maybe I was unsure it was going to be to my taste. Well I was pleasantly surprised with this ... (continue)

This title has been languishing on our TBR bookshelves for far too long as despite the fact my husband and others via reviews have been encouraging me to read this debut novel, I somehow never did. I think maybe I was unsure it was going to be to my taste. Well I was pleasantly surprised with this diverting and original satirical novel weaved around bureaucracy that picks fun at every facet of the British lifestyle.
The protagonist is Dr Alfred Jones, known as Fred a boring lower ranking civil servant, a fisheries specialist in fact for the National Centre For Fisheries Excellence. He reluctantly thanks to higher officialdom forcing him to do so becomes part of a project to introduce the sport of salmon fishing to the Yemen. The course of British Politics and his own life are changed forever as gradually Fred becomes fascinated with the project. As he studies the feasibilities for the Sheikh whose idea this all is, he also grows emotionally and is no longer the underdog husband or lowly civil servant whose high points in life include publishing an article in a fishing magazine on fly larvae or acquiring a new electric toothbrush!
Overall I recommend this as it is a refreshingly different book that is an easy read. A warning though if you do not enjoy satire, give it a miss.
For more information on the author, his writing and various links please visit LindyLouMac's Book Reviews

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Lindyloumac said on Jul 14, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

This book is the debut novel from Paul Torday and it is quite a book. Torday shows an accurate perception of the political and bureaucratic operations of government departments and a witty commentary on the Blair era. This book is not written as a narrative in the more usual storytelling style but ... (continue)

This book is the debut novel from Paul Torday and it is quite a book. Torday shows an accurate perception of the political and bureaucratic operations of government departments and a witty commentary on the Blair era. This book is not written as a narrative in the more usual storytelling style but as a document of letters, emails and interviews between the departments and characters who make up the story. Dr Jones works for the National Centre for Fisheries and Excellence, a part of DEFRA as a scientist. He is approached about the salmon fishing project but instantly sees that it is not viable. However, his letter stating this fact is not taken well by the estate agent whose rich client, a Yemeni Sheikh is prepared to finance this scheme. The well heeled agent then uses her contacts in government to pressurise NCFE by making it political. Alfred's ambitious and extremely selfish wife with whom he is locked in a loveless marriage has no interest in the project or Alfred and is quite scathing, she totally dissassociates herself when she is given the opportunity to head up her bank's European office in Geneva. Alfred is pushed into setting aside his other work to pursue this unusual project. Once the project takes off Alfred works more closely with Harriet the agent on whom he develops a crush. He gets to know the Sheikh who becomes his employer once the government decide to wipe their hands of the initiative. There are some interesting characters in the book besides Alfred and his wife. His immediate boss David who features little, is typical of the ambitious civil servant, and so is Peter Maxwell ( a Peter Mandelson type figure) the Prime Minister's spin doctor, typical of the politician. Harriet Chetwode-Talbot is a strong intelligent woman but she falls apart in the end when she learns her fiance has been killed on a secret mission in the Middle East. Alfred falls for Harriet but it is not meant to be, however he learns how to love and realises that his marriage is a sham. The Sheikh is an inspirational character who has a strong belief in God. He believes that it is God's will that the project should succeed and that hope and faith should be placed in that. The Sheikh finances the project as he believes that salmon fishing will bring a sense of peace and calm to the Yemeni people. Such is his belief that those around him, Alfred, Harriet and the Sheikh's gillie Colin MacPherson are driven along with him.

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Booketta said on Mar 18, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

I quite enjoyed reading this little book, but somehow didn't just feel like finishing it. It is in the shape of "documents", investigating an imaginary project about introducing salmon fishing in the Yemen, of all places. The project ends up to be a huge political mess, and that's when I stopped rea ... (continue)

I quite enjoyed reading this little book, but somehow didn't just feel like finishing it. It is in the shape of "documents", investigating an imaginary project about introducing salmon fishing in the Yemen, of all places. The project ends up to be a huge political mess, and that's when I stopped reading. I liked the subtle humour and the characters are all very realistic, but the pace is maybe a bit too slow to my liking.

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berserkasfuck said on Mar 10, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Interesting idea, surprising ending, occasionally funny, execution needs improvement.

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oriole said on Mar 17, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

An enjoyable read. Brilliant idea of arranging documents into a story. Very sweet.

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Little Downs said on Aug 8, 2008 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback