I haven’t fished in years, but I can still appreciate a good fishing story, especially one full of
romance, mystery and, of course, embellishment. Mary Alice Monroe’s Time Is a River reels
in all of the above. Although flawed in many ways (an over-use of adjectives and the abundance of
see-through plot devices, to name just a few), this book falls into the curl-up-in-front-of-the-
ireplace-on-a-snowy-afternoon category. It’s a worthy diversion.
Monroe’s novel follows two stories: that of present day Mia Landan and that of Kate Watson whose
heyday as a fiercely independent woman was in the 1920s. Their lives become entangled through the
not sp subtle motif of fly fishing. Mia is a cancer survivor looking for new direction in her life.
Kate’s memory was tarnished thanks to rumors allowed to flourish through the years. Mia finds herself
in Kate’s old fishing cabin in the mountains of North Carolina and undertakes to solve the circumstances
of Kate’s fall from grace. The narrative unfolds through Kate’s long-forgotten diaries and Mia’s
new-found friendships.
This is a fun story, even if it is stocked with clichés and predictable experiences. Go ahead, let
yourself get hooked.
Three-and-a-half bookmarks
369 pages
Simon & Schuster, 2008
The Blue Page Special 
Ok, you got me hooked. I’m going fishing. Will let you know what I catch!
A VERY enjoyable read, thanks. It was well written, moved at a good pace, and kept me hooked enough to not want to put it down, even though the wee hours called.
I’m glad you found the fishing worthwhile!