Customer Reviews

Never Sniff A Gift Fish

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i first theses books when i was ten years old and i haven't stopped yet.. we only have four books but i intend to get more of the books.. they are funny.. i like the one where he goes hunting on his bicycle and gets the deer stuck on the pedals.

This is the second collection of stories by Patrick F. McManus that I have read, and while he is compared to many notable names on the jacket, and I compared him to other humorists I like the first time I read his work, he deserves to stand on his own. It is not an issue of his being as good, nearly as good, or better than another humorist. He is unique and very special, Mr. McManus is an original.

I think the title of this collection, "Never Sniff A Gift Fish", is unfortunate for no such activity takes place within the book. Not unlike the dozens of stories on hunting and fishing, all he generally brings back from an outing is new humor; he apparently catches and shoots virtually nothing. As I mentioned after reading his first book, his friends will stop by and ask that he not even think about whatever it is they are off to hunt or fish while they are off doing it. He has said he is so bad entire states have banned him, as he can single handedly destroy tourism for a state, and no one will lend him small motorized machines as he invariably causes them to cease to function.

This collection is much earlier than the first that I read, and the stories contain wonderful bits about his childhood, and also as a new husband and a father. These are great stories, many that include his young family and virtually everyone is G-rated, place them on film and they would probably be made by Disney. This is great reading, great fun and wonderful humor totally lacking in pretense or show. If this man records his stories on tape I might break a rule that has never been broken, that of listening to an author as opposed to reading his book. And I don't hunt or fish, neither activity is necessary to enjoy these tales as they are about human behavior, his humans are just generally outside.

Like the other book i reviewed for McManus (fine and pleasant misery), I must first note that one does not need to be active in, or even be interested in hunting or fishing to enjoy this book. It is funny because McManus is funny and intelligent and can string you along while he spins his tale. He lulls you into a false sense of comfort and then pulls the rug out from under you.

I am not sure if McManus could even write a full length novel, but that is ok. He is a master of the amusing short story.

The mountain car was my favorite story, even though it was a bit contrived, it was still funny. I use the "what does it run on, wet leaves?" line every chance I get.

Buy it if you are interested in having your funny bone tickled.

NEVER SNIFF A GIFT FISH
By: Patrick F. McManus

Have you ever heard of a great outdoorsman? You know, the one whose fly-casting technique can be compared to an old lady fighting off a bee with a broom handle. Or maybe the one whose attempts to pitch the family tent terrorized entire campgrounds. Well, for those of you who haven't heard of him, this book, will give you a little insight into the life of the great outdoorsman. Never Sniff A Gift Fish, is a great source for those useful camping phrases. Here are some of them.

Corn Flakes: A common camp food. Often eaten dry with salt and pepper since no one thought to bring milk.

Camping manuals: Books filled with ingenious camping tips which are forgotten the instant the camper sets foot in the field. "I read about a way to cook a chicken with a camera lens and a wire clothes hanger, but I can't remember how," he says. "Better just fry it."

Downwind: Whichever side of the campfire you happen to be on.
And who could forget "When hell freezes over": An expression used by wives and mothers to indicate the next time you'll get them to go on another camping trip.

This book is a hilarious combination of philosophy and fishing, all rolled into one. I loved the book, and I would definitely recommend this book to any outdoorsman, great or not, that has a sense of humor and a sense of what the author is going through.

...to enjoy these genuinely humorous stories. Patrick McManus's way of saying things quite seroiusly and having them end up being funny is really a riot. These stories are almost as good when you read them the 10th time as they are when you first read them. My favorites: "Poof!No Eyebrows!", and "the Mountain Car". These two are absolutely hilarious, but all the stories in this book are great. This book makes for great summer reading.

Patrick McManus is one of the few authors I know who can make me laugh after reading only the first sentence of one of his stories. His writing teems with belly-aching ineptitude about the great outdoors and life in general. This book and others by him are sure to bring tears to the sensible (or maybe not so sensible) reader.

I picked up this book by accident and after reading my first story "Poof No Eyebrows" I was rolling on the floor laughing. I have now included all Mr. MaManus's books to my collection. I'm a woman and it give me a totally new look at boys and men. It also gave me an idea of what to expect out of my teenage son. This book is a keeper.

Patrick F. McManus has an unsurpased gift for humor. He will relate stories about his experiences in such a way that one or two details are left out or made to seem unimportant. Later in the story, when these details are uncovered, the situation he has described to that point suddenly takes on a whole new and hilarious twist. Truely, this is simple (often nastolgic) humor at its best.

Shelton S. Herbert