Hooked On Hope – Out Now!

Hooked On Hope – Buy it here

Well here it is – the follow up to my book Terminal Chancer

Emancipated from the drudgery of nine-to-five and buoyed by the flexibility of self-employment, Boo resolves to take his newfound freedom and use it to navigate the predictably unpredictable waters of the River Ribble, where success comes to only the most committed of anglers. Flanked by a colourful cast of characters, not least the eccentric and excitable Lamont, Boo enters the fishing season feeling a sense of optimism that comes with knowing that the reward is the journey rather than the destination, although he wouldn’t turn his nose up at a massive Ribble salmon.

Some reviews of Hooked On Hope

Wonderful writing with unique visualisation

Hooked on Hope is not a simple continuation of Terminal Chancer, but rather an evolutionary development. Having quit his job at the Cracker Factory, Boo Gilbraith’s perspectives change in subtle ways that add yet more value to his writing. Everything that I loved in Terminal Chancer – the narrative, characterisation and amazing visualisation – is still present, but the new angles and lighting add to the effect. Yet again I found myself laughing out loud in a public place, something no other book has done in decades.
Wonderful, do buy it.

A Must For Anyone Interested In Fishing And Has A Sense of Humor – Highly Recommended

This book is so funny it had me in stitches, I couldn’t put it down so read it from cover to cover in one sitting. There are so many characters in this book that fishers will relate to. Well written from start to finish, highly recommended.

 

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More kind words for Hooked On Hope

The second book from James Gilbraith is a delight from the first to last page. His debut novel, ‘Terminal Chancer’ came on like Hunter S Thompson with an Ipod shuffling the best music you may have never heard, while wading on the river Ribble. Imagine if ‘the detectorists’ went to see the Happy Mondays, or if Tony Wilson gave fishing a factory number. It’s that good. ‘Hooked on Hope,’ is slightly more introspective in comparison to the first book, and the prose has matured as has the protagonist. This is not to say that Gilbraith doesn’t still make you laugh out loud – anyone familiar with H.R. departments in any workplace will howl with laughter as he negotiates his exit from the place he refers to as ‘The Cracker Factory;’ but there is a pathos evident in the second novel that sees Gilbraith seizing back his precious time from the clutches of the workplace, and using it to reflect on its passing.

There are some genuinely moving passages that sit along side the laugh out loud, the conservation ethos and the delightful musical references. So on the second cast, Gilbraith has delivered on all fronts. He’s managed to write and self publish two novels about fishing, neither of which are about fishing, but are absolutely about fishing. This is not the contradiction that it appears to be. I’ve bought both books for family members who are into fishing, but have no idea who The Beta band are (they loved it) and Ive bought it for friends who collect records and know every one of New Orders tour dates up until Peter Hook left the group. (They also love it.)

Most of all, this is a warm, funny and life affirming read. Gilbraith strikes the reader as the kind of friend you’d like to go to the pub with, or might bump into in a tackle/record shop and strike up an instant friendship with. Finally Gilbraith reminds us that the best things in life are not at the grind stone, they are found in the time spent with family and friends. In seeing new places, listening to music, looking at art – just doing something for the pure joy of it. For him and his cast of unforgettable characters, it is all these things…. and wading through rivers with a fly rod.

Highest recommendation, someone is surely going to make this into a short film or TV adaptation ? Someone give Baby Cow Productions a call – if the script is anything as good as the podcast Gilbraith has released, they’d be onto a winner.

Heres two more

Buy a copy & phone in sick !

I have barely fished for salmon in my life, yet like his debut, “Terminal Chancer” ( truly a sleeping classic of angling writing) this is a book that speaks to any angler.

Hooked on Hope is humorous, profound at times and again encapsulates the essence of what it is to be an angling addict. It also reflects how shared obsessions bonds us ( perhaps chains us is a better word ) with those of diverse characteristics.

…I must seek to remember what the door mouse said.

Spot On

Boo Gilbraith lets us join him for a season of salmon fishing. Mainly set on his home river, the Ribble, we are taken on a rollercoaster of highs and lows, happiness and sadness but all written with great humour and well-crafted prose. This isn’t a “how to” it is much better than that, it is “why?” The author explores life and friendship tied together with fishing and a musical soundtrack to his life. There aren’t many fishing books that will make you laugh out loud. This one will.

Im always happy to hear from readers, if you buy on Amazon please leave a review if you have enjoyed it and please take a photo of the book & share on social media. Its hard to get the word out without an agent or publishers. Getting either of those things is total witchcraft to me – so please do help me out and share it if you can.

Im on facebook as Boo Gilbraith, twitter @boogilbraith and instagram as Terminal Chancer – give me a follow if you use those platforms.

If you dont enjoy it then you can give me a dead arm the next time you see me.

Playhappy

James (Boo) Gilbraith