A Good Day to Die: A Novel Paperback – August 15, 1981

This is one of Jim Harrison’s early novels. It was written in the 1970s and has that 70s feel to it. A drug and alcohol fueled road trip with a grand gesture in mind. There is a strong post Vietnam, antiestablishment vibe to it. Well worth reading if you are a Harrison fan.

This is the first book of Jim Harrison's I have read, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Jim Harrison has a unique way of writing I have not encountered before. On the one hand, I had to consciously "get used to" his writing style; he is a master of digression. He will move off into a seemingly unrelated account of some experience right in the middle of the main story line. On the other hand, while I am not used to this style, in the end, liked it anyway. I wish I could describe his writing style better but ,lacking the skills of a good writer, I am unable to characterize it properly. I think his style is unusual and some people may not enjoy it but the only way you will find out is to read one of his books.

Jim Harrison, RIP. This clever, clever story steam-rolls from Key West to the Rockies, with routing through the old South. Reminiscent of Edward Abbey's The Monkey Wrench Gang, this story reminds us that not everyone has been or is on the same page when it comes to land development and preserving our natural resources. Perhaps the message is that individuals, no matter how brave or brazen, are little match for the powers that ultimately decide how our lands will be divided, mined, and dammed. I highly recommend, though certainly not a pre-teen read.

This book was written in the 70s, there are a lot of drug and culture of the times references that haven't survived the passage of the years well. A trio of main characters, head off with murky rationalizations, to blow up a dam (which doesn't exist) in the Grand Canyon. Along the way they shift their aim to another, lesser dam that one of them had seen once. The bulk of the story is about their road trip, drugs, booze, sex, motels, fishing. I kept reading, hoping the story would improve, become interesting. It did not. The end was disappointing. Perhaps an allegory about life.

Good, fast- paced Jim Harrison novel. Protagonist's perpetual hard-on when faced with the lovely Sylvia is understandable and envied, while his buddy Tim is a less palatable ex- army guy whose attraction to Sylvia is a mystery. These three travel, blow up a dam, and so goes the tale, accompanied by Harrison's ruminations on life.

Jim Harrison is an excellent writer. This book started well, but the plot turned out to be somewhat weak. Character development was good, and the fishing story line was good throughout. However, the book was a bit crude, even for my tastes. In fairness, I suppose it was on account of the characters. Not one of my favorites.

I love the way Jim Harrison writes. I feel like an old friend is telling this story while I read it. Like an older version of myself recounting it to a younger me, knowing exactly what I need to hear to feel. It's a familiar narrative. A simple and thoughtful approach to prose. The story is engaging and then as it goes on wanes to allow the narrator to feel through his words and connect with the reader on a deeper level. Then the story returns and ends the only way it possibly could. A good first Harrison read.

It was a good book but it kind of dragged on in the middle. At the end the action picks up

Jim Harrison's books are quite fantastic and readable. I'm pleased to own many of his books.

Harrison has some brilliant stories to tell - and some which are mediocre with an occasional punchy sentence. This book falls into the latter category, and I wasn't sorry I read it, but it's not up there with his best prose.