A Gentleman's Guide To Graceful Living

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO GRACEFUL LIVING

by Michael Dahlie

 

Award: PEN/Hemingway Winner 2009

 

Date Read: October 29, 2023

 

Arthur is a laissez-faire kind of guy. He goes with the flow and has life happen to him instead of making life happen. Most recently, his import/export business has imploded and his wife, Rebecca, has left him. Arthur doesn’t know which way is up anymore.

 

Keeping him grounded are his sons, Patrick and David, and his fly-fishing fraternity that is exclusive, member’s only and a legacy from Arthur’s father. Some day he will pass his membership on to his sons, just as he had hoped to pass along the family business. Yet, being the disaster that he is, Arthur manages to lose even his membership.

 

Arthur has stuck his big toe into the dating pool and managed to meet Rixa, a woman who convinces him that she absolutely must tour Maidenhead Grange, the name for the fly-fishing camp in the Catskills. Against his better judgement, Arthur agrees, knowing that outsiders are expressly forbidden, especially females. Although he manages to avoid running into other members, he lights a fire in the fireplace and realizes the chimney is aflame. In short order, the roof catches on fire and the entire second story is burned to a crisp. His little transgression has turned into a major gaffe.

 

At times humorous and heartwarming, A Gentleman’s Guide is somewhat baffling for me. I don’t see a hero in Arthur but, as one critic claimed, “a well-heeled wimp.” I have to agree with that. By the end, there is a modest transformation where Arthur seems to take his life by the balls but maybe subtle changes are all anyone can really manage. Lord knows I haven’t even managed that lately.

 

I wanted to root for Arthur but found myself tolerating him instead of cheering him on. His emotions are right at the surface, which I actually admire and the set-up for this character was beautiful, I just felt Dahlie could have done so much more with him. Nevertheless, an entertaining read and a subtle transformation take this to a satisfying conclusion.

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