The Fisherman's Son

This is a gem of a novel. I didn't know that they wrote them like this anymore, or that anybody would publish them: An adventure story of sorts, but primarily a bleak philosophical novel set against the unforgiving sea. The book invites many comparisons from American (and English) literature: Melville, Conrad, London and, to a lesser extent, the Steinbeck of Cannery Row. It is clear, in any event, that Coleridge's Ancient Mariner holds a great sway here, and several passages are almost lifted from that eerie poem. From "Hours passed, each minute eternal" to "Neil saw the bird's cold eye looking down upon their small boat as if in judgment" the mariner and his albatross seems to haunt the book. For my part, I think the writing most resembles that of Jack London, to my mind a writer most neglected by the establishment. It's not as heavily-laden with philosophical ponderings as Melville, yet it certainly carries more heft than Steinbeck. London also was a sailor, and you will find, in his seafaring books, all the sorts of detailed nautical terminology that reviewers have noted in this book. If I had to sum up what this book was about, I could do no better than quote from Neil's reverie at the end of Chapter Four: "What if God was a fisherman like his father, full of cunning method? A solitary fisherman in the vastness of his universal sea. What if he lured living things to their death? What if God left them? Forgot them? Who would know? Only fisherman would know, and they had promised not to tell." Well.....What if?

Koepf honors two great American traditions in his fine work: the power of the individual personality and the wonder of the ocean.The sea has held a special place in the American imagination. Rarely is an environment captured so completely as Koepf's world of northern California fishermen. As a tribute to the author's storytelling you need not fish or even live by the sea to appreciate this novel. Anyone can appreciate this story of an American family caught in conflict with a world as changeable as coastline weather. The characters stand as proud, moving examples of independence and fortitude. Koepf acutely evokes the mythical, mysterious power of the ocean, in all its beauty, grandeuer, force and terror while avoiding assigning a judgemental or definitive "personality" to it. This book overflows with action, suspense, romance and heartbreak and is tightly woven with simple but evocative prose. In search of a compelling story that continues to haunt after the last page is turned? Read this book.

Michael Koepf has done an amazing job. This is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Not only is the story amazing but the writing was amazing as well making a combination not seen very much anymore. I recommend this book to anyone who loves good literature!!!

Anyone who enjoyed "Into Thin Air", "Into the Wild" or "The Perfect Storm" will also love this book. I live within a mile of this "fishing village" and was personally involved in the lifestyle of the commercial fisherman and its fascinating characters. This book could easily be non-fiction as the depiction of this dying way of life is factual as well as riveting. Most of the characters I assume are composites of people Mr. Koepf knew, but the man he called "Raisin" was real. His close friends truly did call him Raisin(real name Bill)and he was an incredible human being with a fierce courage I have never known since. He unfortunately died at a young age but those in his close-knit circle of friends never thought of him as disabled, and he was quite willing to aim a rather "salty" tongue-lashing at anyone who tried to treat him as such. Mr. Koepf portrayed him with dead-on accuracy and brought back very welcome memories of a time and friendship with folks I enjoyed very much. I am sure that Bill's sons are very proud to see their father depicted in the way that Mr. Koepf has. His account of Neil's harrowing experiences on the sea are "edge-of-the seat" thrilling but this book is also a very poignant portrayal of Neil's relationship with his father, family and friends. I am sure you will find it fascinating and well worth the read.

The Fisherman's Son is an unusual mixture of powerful often savage imagry and economical poetic prose. It moves between the brutal practicalities of life and the illusiveness and desires of lost childhood dreams; from the haunting passages of a rescue at sea to the savage killing of the sea lion. So many wonderful and rich adventures at sea, so many lives lost that speak of a time gone by. Hat's off to Mr. Koepf.