| And Then We Went Fishing |  | Author: Dirk Benedict
Publisher: Avery
Category: Book
List Price: $9.95
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Seller: betterworldbooks_
Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 854637
Media: Paperback
Pages: 183
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 4.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0895295598
Dewey Decimal Number: 791.45028092
EAN: 9780895295590
ASIN: 0895295598
Publication Date: May 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
From the author of Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy comes a dramatic, autobiographical tale--two stories deftly woven into an engrossing narrative--in which a child's birth triggers memories of the author's father's death . A memorable recounting of Benedict's own rites of passage.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
 A revealing look at life, death and family December 31, 2009
Nicole N. Pellegrini (Philadelphia, PA)
In Dirk Benedict's second autobiographical work, he juxtaposes two key events in his life: the violent death of his father when he was just eighteen, and the birth of his first son twenty-five years later. The life-and-death contrast could have been a cheap cliche, and Benedict's writing sometimes comes across amateurish in how he awkwardly weaves the two stories together. But it is a powerful story to be told, and I felt a great deal more understanding for Dirk and his strong personal beliefs after reading this work--even if I still find much I disagree with about him on certain issues of gender relationships and roles.
Dirk and his wife Toni had planned on an "all-natural" home birth for their child, with only the assistance of a mid-wife. But things begin to go wrong quickly as the mid-wife has other plans delaying her involvement as labor begins, and the back-up help she summons in her absence is of little to no help at all. As Dirk tries to help his wife--mostly on his own--through a long, slow delivery, he reflects back on his youth and the death of his father which has haunted him for decades. The exact details of his father's demise are not revealed until the climactic ending, but much is foreshadowed and hinted at as he talks about his fractured family.
I could relate to the difficulty Dirk faced in such a familial situation, feeling a closeness to his father while his siblings were more bonded to their mother. Being stuck in the tug-of-war for his affection and loyalties in the midst of his parents' divorce, he tries to help his mother even while he does not want to give up striving for his father's approval and love. These events seem to have been a large part of what has shaped Dirk's beliefs and relationships for most of his life, for good or bad, and he talks of several failed and early romances from his high school and college years, as well as sporting events where he tried but didn't manage to meet his goals.
Where the book stumbles a bit is when Benedict spends too much time away from the "action" (both current and past) to ramble on about his distrust of the modern world, the medical profession, and the sexual revolution. There's a seeming contradiction to some of it, as he appears to believe the birth control pill and the sexual freedom it brought about was a BAD thing for women--yet at the same time he describes the traumatic stress an early Catholic girlfriend went through because of the strict religious doctrines of her family and a pregnancy scare. He praises Toni and women in general for their physical and mental strength, yet at times he can be quite disparaging of them as well--such as when he berates their mid-wife for talking about men in sexual ways or expressing any interests besides motherhood and traditional roles.
Still, the book is an easy and engaging read. I finished it in two days and probably would have finished it in one if I'd had the time. It's a brave and honest look into the author's life and beliefs, like them or not. I would recommend it to fans of the actor's work looking to learn more about him, as well as to anyone who has gone through a difficult childhood and the struggles to accept it--and move past it.
A SHARING OF EXPERIENCE August 21, 2005
Furry vore (right here and now)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
This second book by Dirk Benedict touches on some deeply personal experiences of his life that he shares with the reader. It interchanges between the tale of his father's death and his first child's birth, each unique experiences.
He and his wife had elected to have a homebirth way before they became fashoinable, and the endless parade of misfit Midwives makes for humorous reading.
the personal tradgedy of his father's murder, and the state of the family during that time give depth to the pages.
As well as he touches on subtle aspects of his life that may haunt him later, such as his head injuries that kept him out of the Army and his suggestion Natural birth should be required by law for at least two children per family. (Do we really want the government making this personal decision for us? How could anyone make such a suggestion!)
One point of note is chapter 9. A rant against birth-control and a disticntly male-sided view of free love and yuppies, (These views only are valid with one generation and don't seem to apply to us younger then baby boomers) which is typical of his style but totally seems out of place with the rest of the book.
A deeply moving recounting of past experiences with an ironic climax.
But a suggestion to a would-be-buyer: Get it off of Amazon. It's much cheaper. [...]
Bravo! Bravo! October 25, 2003
Angela Twigg (Shelton, CT USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I loved Dirk's Second book, and it was so wonderfully written by a honest man, not by a celebrity, and I actually felt for the man what he went through for the birth of his first son, George, by reading the pages, and I love the ending, and I hope that he would actually write more for the happiness, and the being of his fans, because we would want more, who wouldn't agree with me?
A TAPESTRY OF THE HEART May 20, 2002
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
In case you didn't know, Dirk Benedict is that good looking actor who endeared himself to millions by playing the loveable scam artist, "Face" on the A-Team. In addition to this and numerous other acting credits, Mr. Benedict has to rank as one of the finest yet most under-rated writers of non-fiction in America. Believe it! He is THAT good! In, "And Then We Went Fishing", he delicately intertwines the story of the birth of his son with the tragic murder of his father. And he throws in a little bit of Shakespeare for company. But the English bard is not needed here as Mr. Benedict's smooth and thoughtful prose can easily stand on it's own merits. The author does not play it safe with this book. It's not just that he chooses to show us his heart and share his intimate thoughts. He risks compromising this by using flash backs. Lesser word smiths can mess up their stories when they use this style by confusing their readers with the "back and forth" technique. Not Dirk Benedict. He has masterful control of his prose and manages to captivate his reading audience. The result is a beautiful tapestry of 2 different stories that occured decades apart. The only criticism I have of this work is the occasional use of cuss words. Not to be prudish, but most of them were really not necessary. I would recommend that those who teach others how to write prose, put this book on their students required reading list. The tome will not only teach them technique but it will give them a clear example of what putting one's heart into their writing is truly about. Dirk Benedict, you're not only a talented actor but a great author. Encore.
Not just a pretty "face"! September 24, 2000
MartinGateaux (London UK)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
From the guy who brought so many cliches to the screen, to a writer with an honest and traditional background, came "And then we went fishing". I cannot describe the underlying sense or feeling one receives when reading this book. Then comes a story from out of the blue that confirms to you inside that there are good people in the world, moreover, there are people who can be honest with those they know not. To me that is the sign of a true writer,more importantly of a good man. Good Luck.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 19
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