BOOK REVIEW: SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN

Title: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Author: Paul Torday

Number of pages: 317

Synopsis

When he is asked to become involved in a project to create a salmon river in the highland of the Yemen, fisheries scientist Dr Alfred Jones rejects the idea as absurd. But the proposal catches the eyes of several senior British politicians. 

Fred then finds himself forced to work with the eccentric Sheikh Muhammad and his beautiful Harriet. And there's the small matter of figuring out how to fly ten thousand salmon to a desert country - and persuade them to swim there...

My thoughts

I actually come across this novel after watching the movie. The movie is really great, unique and inspiring. But what really attract me is the idea of salmon in the desert. Even though its absurd but I like the probability and the saneness of the idea. The challenges it provides is tremendous but possible. The main character, Dr Alfred Jones also see the probability of the idea, with influences of Miss Harriet and Sheikh Muhammad. 

The main story is about faith and science. Can these exist together when the nature is challenged? While science limited to the evidence and fact, faith is not confined and makes everything is possible. Sheikh Muhammad is the man of faith and Dr Alfred is the true scientist. In this story, we can see how faith intervene with science creating something extraordinary. Dr Alfred not only face the biggest challenges in life that change his life but also himself. As a researcher that do a research in a subject that really hard and almost impossible, Dr Alfred character gives me strength and inspired me to work harder. And as a Muslim, Sheikh Muhammad faith and spiritual strength make me elavuate my level of faith in God.

Another two character is Miss Harriet who in charge of administration of the project and Mary Jones, Dr Alfred's wife. They are the backbone of the project or backbone of  individual involved in the project. However, their character is very different. I personally hate Mary Jones and I am not sure if there is people like this exist in the real world. Even the extreme INTJ won't behave like she did. Maybe the writer want to emphasize the characteristic of career woman with iron-will-non-supportive traits with a gypsy flairs and cruel words. I hope I will never come across this kind of people in my life. Meanwhile, Harriet is the typical career woman that have 2 faces, professional worker in heels and emotional woman in love. I would say that Harriet is more typical and ordinary because I know many people with this character in real life, but not Mary Jones. 

Things I Like

1. The way this story is written. Its not your conventional story telling. The story told from the Dr Jones' diary, Harriet's letters, emails between characters and interviews. 
2. The inspiration given by the story especially related to research.
3. Dr Alfred Jones's character and Harriet's insecurity. 
4. The absurd idea of salmon project but the level of awesomeness if it happens.
5. The inspiration in related to man-made-nature in which is possible and can be seen in the history of Nami Island. 
6. The movie - I encourage you to watch it. It is really good. 
7. Salmon

Things I hate

1. Mary Jones and the sentiment she brings that are so inhuman. She is more absurd than the idea of salmon in the desert. 
2. The ending. It is very realistic in real life but it makes me feel so hopeless. After finishing the book, I feel so bad. My mood goes down to the drain. I have to sleep to shake it off and a lot of fake laughter. But it is realistic, it is what can happen in the real world, which makes it more hateable. 

Credo, quia impossibile est - I believe in it because it is impossible