Streams of Consciousness: Hip-Deep Dispatches from the River of Life

This book serves as Jeff's confessional on some of life's most tragic events and how fly fishing allowed him to cope. Sometimes nature serves as the best healer for what troubles the mind - Jeff captures this through his own reflections and experiences. Very well written by an author who bares his sole to the reader.

Read Jeff Hull's previous book and have recommended it repeatedly. Stumbled onto this one while ordering Pale Morning Done as a gift and was ecstatic to order. Another great read. Short stories about the intersection of fishing and life in all of its complexity, from funny to intense. This is an insightful storyteller. Keep them coming.

Discovering a new author is a great pleasure in life. And so it was when I discovered Jeff Hull last year and his first book, Pale Morning Done, a page-turner of a book full of great flyfishing, side-slapping (or nearly so) humor, authentic dialogue, compelling characters, and a strong point of view. After tearing through Pale Morning Done, I couldn't wait for his second book. Streams of Consciousness did not disappoint me. Although it is a book of short stories, rather than a novel, there are many similarities. You get more variety for your money but also the same compelling themes delivered in the same polished style. In Streams of Consciousness, Jeff Hull takes us from spawning white bass in the sloughs of Lake Erie to his favorite streams near his Montana home and from first love to life threatening depression and the painful loss of a young sibling. He explores our relationships to each other and to our animals. He titillates us with exciting places to fish. And, he teaches us some interesting and uncomfortable facts about our endangered planet. Whether you are a flyfisher like myself or a non flyfisher like my wife, who was drawn to the humanity of the stories, there is much to enjoy and ponder in Streams of Consciousness. It is indeed strong proof that Jeff Hull has more than one good story to tell and it whets my appetite for his third book.

Several years ago I read a story in Fly Rod & Reel magazine called "Rorschach Bluegills" by Jeff Hull. I thought it was as good a piece of writing as I'd seen in ANY magazine in a long time and when my copy of that issue was lost, I wrote to the editor and requested another. I'm happy to say that if I lose that magazine again, I'll still have that story in "Streams of Consciousness: Hip-Deep Dispatches from the River of Life". As good as that story is, it is surpassed by "Third Spaces". The story is particularly poignant to me as my own brother has health issues that required him to have a kidney transplant years ago, and I was able to be an organ donor for him. I was fortunate to not lose my brother to his disease, but as I read this incredible work I was transported to that place and time in my life when I went through that experience with my brother, which is precisely what good writing does. I can't recommend this book highly enough and hope that Jeff Hull has a long and prolific career. I'm anxiously awaiting his next work.

I freely confess bias. I love Labrador dogs. In fact, if reincarnation exists, I pray that I come back as a Labrador in my family because I'll get enough belly rubs, treats, ear scratches and crotch sniffing for more than one lifetime. But then I'm addicted to fly fishing too, with the rhythm of the line, the feel of haul, double haul, and the effortless side-flick of line under edge brush to coax out a bank-hugging 'Bow. "Streams of Consciousness" has all you want of both, but it seems rather deep, personal introspection on life, death and relationships. A Lab, a 7 weight, or a brother can be like a bright shiny fish, held for a magic moment by a thin filament of crafted attraction and purposeful force. But in the end if you release and free this shiny possesion that you can never really own, you will possess the richness of that experience forever. John O'Donoghue in "Anam Cara" said, "Ironically, difficulty can be the great friend of creativity." Streams of Consciousness is forged, creative serious thought after the searing reality of the death of a loved brother, contemplation of one's own death, and the capricious impermanence of relationships slipping away like a gentle tug on a slipped Nail Knot. I hope Jeff Hull keeps writing. Pierce E. Scranton Jr. M.D. author, "Death on the Learing Curve"