Elizabeth Black / 12 August 2013 / Categories: Books, Fiction

Salmon Fishing in Yemen

For Dr. Alfred Jones, life is a quiet mixture of civil service at the National Centre for Fisheries Excellence and marriage to Mary—an ambitious, no-nonsense financier. But a strange turn of fate from an unexpected direction forces Jones to upend his existence and spend all of his time in pursuit of another man’s ludicrous dream. Can there be salmon in the Yemen? Science says no. But if resources are limitless and the visionary is inspired, maybe salmon fishing in the Yemen isn’t impossible. Then again, maybe nothing is.

INSPIRATIONAL!!!!!

I read only a few books a year, usually on holiday and for anyone who wants to be excited, inspired and have their eyes opened to the internal wheeler dealing inside government departments look no further than this cracker of a debut novel from Paul Torday, showing it is never too late to pen a work worthy of acclaim from Hollywood. I haven't seen the film starring Ewan Mcgregor and Emily Blunt because I believe it would be impossible to really capture the Impact of the book on screen and I want to treasure the memory and the experience. This book is a treasure and I loved the experience.

It is unique in that it is a tale told through narrative interspersed with diary journal entries which humanised the story for me, brought me in and made it feel very real.

The basic storyline is a government fisheries scientist, an expert gets involved in a project funded by a wealthy Yemeni Sheikh in bed with the UK government to spawn Salmon in the Wadis of the Yemen. Everyone says it is impossible, a stupid idea of someone with more money than sense, a whim because he likes fishing in Scotland and drinking malt whiskey and Paul Torday, the author lets his readers see how greed changes the way people behave.

I was absolutely gripped by this book and not in an intense way. You find yourself immersed in truth, passion, will determination. I got to see lands I have never visited and all the possibilities that life has to offer jumped from the page as the salmon from the water.

The book is fluent, funny, extremely well researched and I am sure when I feel in need of some light I will definitely pick it up again.

For me 5 stars and I would love to hear from someone who has read the book and seen the film.