Overview:
Kingfisher Lodge, nestled in a canyon on a mile and a half of the most pristine river water on the planet, is known by locals as “Billionaire’s Mile” and is locked behind a heavy gate. Sandwiched between barbed wire and a meadow with a sign that reads “Don’t Get Shot!” the resort boasts boutique fishing at its finest. Safe from viruses that have plagued America for years, Kingfisher offers a respite for wealthy clients. Now it also promises a second chance for Jack, a return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss. When he is assigned to guide a well-known singer, his only job is to rig her line, carry her gear, and steer her to the best trout he can find.
But then a human scream pierces the night [Read more...]
WARNING: MINOR SPOILER ALERTS
Would I Recommend It?
If you read, The River, then yes.
If you love stories that incorporate the outdoors, then yes.
Thoughts?
I totally must’ve liked it cause I devoured it in three days.
I enjoy the way Peter Heller describes the outdoors. It puts me right out there, into nature. The way he describes the river, the trees along the banks, the birds above, and the fish below. And I don’t even like to fish, at all! I like to eat them… I just get drawn right into the whirlpool of his words.
The ending is a bit far fetched. Okay. A LOT far fetched. I feel that Heller made a bit of a mistake by not keeping the story to the outdoors. By bringing the final show down into a multi storied building and blowing things up… it was a bit much. The River had me on the edge of my seat as the story climaxed over and over. The emotions were also much stronger and darker in The River. Nonetheless, The Guide as it lead up to the finale had me intently turning the pages while also stopping to enjoy the scenery and the feelings it brought to the surface for Jack. The Epilogue wrapped it all up wonderfully well and I appreciated the romance between Jack and Alison.
I felt that the writing was easier for me to get into in The Guide vs. The River, but maybe it has to do with me now being more familiar with Peter Heller’s writing style.
I gave this book a 3.5 rating because it is a tad below the level of awesomeness that The River was. It’s just that The River was super good from start to finish. The Guide was a bit outlandish at the end, and again, perhaps if the action would have stayed outdoors then it would have been smoother or perhaps more interesting right through to the end.
The book definitely leaves me wanting to read more of Peter Heller’s stories and I want to read one of his non fiction books to see what those are like.
Quotable Quotes:
“Never Summers and the Gore Range. God, the names. You could almost walk into the words themselves.”
“It was nice to sit and listen to the stream in conversation with itself. It chortled and lapped and threshed.”
“There you have it: it is the most fun either way. Amazing. Was there anyone more polite on earth? Or thoughtful? Did it take twice as much energy to go through the world being this considerate?”
This was Jack describing the Takagis being super nice and polite. Made me laugh out loud cause sometimes… it’s like… really… it has to hurt, right? To be so sugary super sweet all the time.
“People need people, more than any other being needs any other being, and Jack thought as he sifted the remnants of the nightmare that the need makes us particularly vulnerable.” – page 149
Book:
The Guide
Author:
Peter Heller
Genre:
Fiction, Thriller, Outdoors, Light Romance
My Rating:
3.5 Stars
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