Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Audiobook By Paul Torday cover art

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

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Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

By: Paul Torday
Narrated by: Paul Torday
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Author Paul Torday makes his debut with this clever absurdist novel. Fisheries scientist Dr. Alfred Jones is approached by an extravagantly wealthy sheik with a novel plan. To foster goodwill, the sheik would like to introduce salmon fishing to Yemen - the same Yemen that is largely a desert - and politicians think it's a great idea.©2007 Paul Torday (P)2007 Orin Publiching Group Ltd. Fiction Genre Fiction Literature & Fiction Political Sports Fishing Middle East

Critic reviews

A remarkably assured first novel, this one is a pure delight." ( Booklist)
Entertaining Story • Thought-provoking Premise • Excellent Performance • Clever Humor • Original Concept
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I didn't like the premise of the book, valuable researchers' resource redirected to the pleasure of a man's desire to go fishing. The concept of "researchers working only in fear of losing their job", ordered by higher-ups to make the salmon fishing happen so that they can get rich, was personally appalling. I can't help but put myself in the story, and I would have to say that I don't enjoy living other people's frustration.

Distracted by the British bureaucracy/philosophy

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Quasi epistolary structure that built nuanced characters. Very well performed in almost a tv doco style.

Sardonic but warm with themes of faith and courage to follow dreams

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Good listen, I wasn't sure what I was going to enjoy but was "hooked" after the confusing beginning straightened itself out

Good listen.

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I had wanted to read this before seeing the movie - enjoyed the performances! Held my interest well, good nuances and very expressive. Highly recommended.

A great story told well!

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The performance of this novel is excellent and the story is entertaining and thought provoking.

Maybe I'll Start Fishing....

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If you could sum up Salmon Fishing In The Yemen in three words, what would they be?

Lovely, very British

Would you be willing to try another book from Paul Torday? Why or why not?

Yes, combines humor, spirit, sorrow into a simply story. Unique.

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I can't explain why I liked this book so much, but I did! Loved it and was sad to have it end. Whimsical yet very grounded. Had a few parts that dragged, but those parts helped tell the story.

Lovely book

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Good read. Had a little bit of everything in it. Politics, satire, comedy, relationships and some fishing. I would highly recommend it. Don't let the title fool you. Fishing is part of the story but really only plays a minor role.

Haven't seen the movie but really enjoyed the book

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I've seen this movie about a dozen times. I love it. I had no idea how it compared to the book. And now that I do know, I'm eager to listen to the book again. At the base of either version is a great story of faith!

The narrators also did a great job with the characters.

Surprised...in a good way

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Salmon fishing in the Yemen is the tale of Afred, fishery academic, who is persuaded by Sheikh Mohammed of Yemen to concoct a plan to introduce salmon to the Yemeni waddy. Does that sound far-fetched? It is. But Torday's humor and style somehow hold it together. The story is told threw a procession of diary entries, memoranda, letters, newspaper editorials and parliamentary investigatory reports.

Alfred's wife is as cold as a Yemeni monsoon. He has a boss who knows nothing about fisheries. The boss is set on stealing credit for anything good that happens and pushing the blame for any thing bad on to someone else. It's full of bureaucratic double dealing.

I'm not sure of Salmon fishing in the Yemen's genre. Is it a comedy? Is it a farce? A love story? A nature tail? Torday's premiss is so wild the verges on science fiction.

The performance was excellent with the exception that some of the middle Eastern accents were a little too contrived. One would think they could get performers who actually have the accent.

Ultimately, Salmon Fshing in the Yemen is a story about belief that I couldn't quite believe. I couldn't willingly suspend my disbelief, but found the book to be a worthwhile listen because of it skillful lampooning a British Bureaucracy.

Far fetched. but still worthwhile

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Loved this movel. Very tongue in cheek. Characters really come to life. Now IIm going to see if the movie does it justice and perhaps I'll look for snother novel by Torday.

Very amusing

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