Joe and Me: An Education in Fishing and Friendship

The novel Joe and Me by James Prosek is a book about a special relationship between a ranger named Joe Haines and a young boy by the name of James Prosek. James was caught trespassing and fishing without a permit in a local pond near his home in Connecticut. But instead of running a way like his friend, James dropped his rod and surrendered. This move would change his life forever. Joe took James home and explained to him that he could catch just as many fish with out trespassing or breaking any laws. From that point on Joe and James' relationship began to grow. Joe began taking James along with him on many fishing trips and other outdoor adventures. He taught James all he could ever want to know about the great outdoors. Although Joe was much older than James, he never treated James like a little kid or like he would a son. Joe treated James like a friend. This is one the best educational books not only on fishing but also on friendship that I have ever read. The tone of the book was pleasant and serious as Joe taught James about fishing and friendship. The weakness of the book was that each chapter was an essay that made the story line choppy. The strength of the book was the easy lessons on fishing and friendship.

A fishing guide friend lent us Joe & Me, which I just finished reading on a cold, rainy March afternoon, lying on the couch with a fire in the fireplace. A perfect way to spend the day, although you'll do equally well under a tree or on a park bench this summer. The simplicity of James' writing evokes "My Old Man and the Sea", to my mind one of Hemingway's best. Prosek's watercolors that illustrate the text are a joy as well, and I am ordering the hardcover to keep by the aforementioned couch. A must for anyone who enjoys a respite from the stress of our modern day lives. I can't wait to read more of Prosek's work.

Mr. Prosek's book should lend itself as an inspiration to all of us in the outdoor world. I was lucky enough to have a loving father who showed me the ropes of the outdoors, but if I didn't, I would want Joe Haines. Take it as a message to teach your children someday the majesty of the outdoors.

JOE AND ME is a remarkable collection of essays. There is a curious satisfaction in reading each chapter, even though no thrilling event or unusual action occurs. It is similar to lying in a hammock on a warm summer afternoon listening to the radio braodast of a baseball game. If you would find that boring, more's the pity for you. James Prosek recounts the strong friendship that can develop between people with similar interests---in this case, fishing. The older man, Joe Haines, is eager to share years of knowledge about nature and how to make practical use of it. The young James has his own competence in thise matters, but is quick to accept the gift to expand that competence. The payoff is mutual. And the reader also shares. Now, maybe just another 15 minutes in the hammock and I'll be ready for something more invigorating