I feel disappointed. A better Ed might feel something different, but this one is sad that such a beautiful, vivid, promising book kept wandering into religion and a grand Search For Meaning. It was awkward, much like enjoying a rich conversation with a friend who then veers off to talk earnestly about magic pixie dust. Embarrassing.

That said, I still found much to love in this book. Yes, it nominally concerns itself with fishing -- about which I know and care nothing -- but that's really just a vessel for a tale of growth and transformation. Duncan may be hung up on mysticism, but his larger-than-life protagonist can (at times) surpass that to set an example we'd do well to learn from.

My rating is unfair: this is not a three-star book. But having just given [b:Empire Falls|187020|Empire Falls|Richard Russo|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172536990s/187020.jpg|826474] four stars, and lacking the ability to offer half-stars, I can't justify putting the two on equal terms.