{"id":4742,"date":"2016-09-13T23:34:55","date_gmt":"2016-09-14T03:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/?p=4742"},"modified":"2016-09-13T23:34:55","modified_gmt":"2016-09-14T03:34:55","slug":"book-review-the-fisherman-by-john-langan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/book-review-the-fisherman-by-john-langan\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Review: The Fisherman by John Langan"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Fisherman <\/a>by John Langan<\/em> <\/p>\n

Word Horde Books, 2016<\/p>\n

ISBN-13: 978-1939905215<\/p>\n

Availability: Paperback, Kindle edition<\/p>\n

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Imagine, if you will, a dark tale co-written by Peter Straub and Thomas Ligotti, filtered through the whimsical sensibilities of Neil Gaiman, and spoken to a friend over beers at a campfire. If that description conjures up something tantalizing to you, John Langan’s The<\/em> Fisherman<\/em> might just be what you\u2019re looking for this year. Intriguing and unique, it almost begs to be read on the porch, with feet up and a drink in hand..<\/p>\n

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The <\/em>Fisherman<\/em> is a novel about a pair of widowers attempting to find purpose in their lives. Both suffer from guilt and damaged psyches after the deaths of their wives, and each seeks a way to get back on track.<\/p>\n

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The pair begin fishing, a peaceful, solitary sport that allows plenty of time for introspection and bonding between them. One suggests an ideal spot– Dutchman’s Creek– a place not found on any map, and rife with local legend. \u00a0The men discover the complex story through the owner of a diner. <\/p>\n

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At the creek, they discover Der Fisher, also known as The Fisherman. He offers redemption to both men, but at a price. What ensues is a conflict between wits, souls, and cosmic forces, that will shake the reader free of any preconceived notion of what to expect.<\/p>\n

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The Fisherman is meant to be experienced as a journey, like a raft ride down a mysterious river. The story is deeply layered, and Langan keeps readers engaged while skillfully leading them through labyrinthine passages. Langan\u2019s smart, smooth tale-spinning succeeds on all levels, and will likely find audiences in places reaching far beyond the horror crowd. Highly recommended<\/p>\n

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Reviewed by David Simms<\/p>\n

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