A River Runs Through It

Norman Maclean

A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean is a beautiful, classic, heart-wrenching story set in the early 1900s. It follows the lives of two brothers, Norman and Paul, and the majestic river that ties them together. The boys’ father, a Presbyterian minister, taught them fishing fly rod. This serves as a symbolic representation of the brothers' connection and bond. It is seen as a metaphor for the values that each of them strived to uphold in their lives. Norman, the older brother, is the rational and realistic one of the two, while Paul, the younger brother is the more rebellious and outgoing one. The story moves back and forth in time between their early life in Montana as young boys to their adulthood. The river, which serves as a metaphor for life, ties together the stories of loss, love, and determination of these brothers. Regardless of the mistakes they make in their paths of life the river remains constant allowing the brothers to discover more about themselves.The reader will find themselves captivated by this story as one discovers the positive and negative traits of life that the river brings about. From their childhood learning the art of fly-fishing to the forgotten wisdom of their father, this novel helps the reader see a mirror of life and how it can both triumph and bring despair. This novel has been a popular classic that captures the soul of the characters and readers alike.