ARA Review by ajwootton of The Reel Sisters

[ajwootton]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, The Reel Sisters.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Reel Sisters by Michelle Cummings is the story of a circle of women who bond and become bound by the sport of fly fishing. Set in Colorado, the story opens with an introduction to Rose, the matriarch of the group. It is Rose’s cabin on the Arkansas River that serves as the gathering point in which the ladies jointly pursue their passion for fly fishing and their friendships with one another. We also meet Sophie, the no-nonsense, joke-cracking, wood chopping pal whom every girl should be privileged to have in her life. Veronica, a corporate coach, and Amanda, a school teacher and wife of a soldier currently deployed in Afghanistan, were drafted into the group after separate, happenstance meetings with Sophie in which the conversation eventually turned to fly fishing. Neither had ever fly fished, but they were immediately attracted to Sophie’s passionate depiction of the sport and the allure that periodic girl time in a mountain locale offered.

Each woman’s story unfolds through their dialog with one another supplemented by first-person accounts of their lives provided in chapters designated to each of them by name. Rose, a true Yoda of the fly fishing world, offers lessons that on the surface pertain to the sport, but on a deeper level are relatable to headier topics of love, life and everything in between. We learn that each member of the group faces her own set of challenges, and we quickly come to appreciate the therapy that their camaraderie with one another and their passion for the sport provides. A fifth member, Melody, finds her way into the group in a surprising and unconventional rescue scene which we come to conclude is quite fitting for her character. Once the shock of the situation wears off, the four enthusiastically adopt Melody and welcome her into their clatch with arms wide open.

The book is cleverly divided into sections adorned with quotes from fishing publications and other literary works that offer a metaphorical overview of the events that follow. Cummings embeds within the story some solid angler advice and education that ranges from suggested clothing and gear to the proper tying and appropriate use of an endless array of flies making the story not only interesting, but also educational. Through the characters’ amusing and at times boisterous banter, Cummings intersperses a good dose of humor.

This story was a true delight to read. Cummings’ characters are real, funny, and strong. At the same time, even as she unveils the challenges and heartaches each woman has experienced, she avoids assigning them dysfunctional attributes. This enables her to maintain a lighthearted tone throughout. The focus is consistently leveled on the tribe’s love for its members and its passion for fly fishing.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Cummings wove an easy-to-read, highly engaging account of the magic that can occur when a group of female friends pursue a traditionally male-dominated hobby. She demonstrates the power of true friendship and the unparallelled value of “sister support”. I look forward to future works by Michelle Cummings, and am thinking seriously about taking up fly fishing!

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