Quote of Book Essay

Quote of Book Essay

By Drew

          “Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.” I chose this quote as most important quote of the book. It is a pretty descriptive quote, but you have to think about it to understand what Norman MacLean is trying to say through it. It can be kind of puzzling. I think it is saying that when he (Norman) is fly fishing as an old man, all the memories of his life come back to him, and it brings him joy. He remembers his father teaching him the “ten to two, four count rhythm” that is essential to catching fish while fly-fishing. His father taught him many things when he was young, like throwing rocks into someone’s fishing hole when they were catching more fish than you. Paul did this to Norman, and the father did this to Paul in the end of the book. I think it also brings back memories of his brother Paul. They took many fishing trips together. Fishing was their life. They loved going together and learning from each other. It helps him remember all the good times that the two brothers had spent together.

          This quote is particularly meaningful to me because every time I step onto a baseball field, it reminds me of my father. It reminds me of when I was younger in the front yard hitting a ball off of the tee to the widespread arms of my dad. Also the weekends spent playing catch or going into the field to take grounders or to hit in the cage. It helps me to remember how much he cares about me and how well he wants me to do.