Salmon Fishing in The Yemen, by Paul Torday

I have to admit to passing up this book several times before I actually read it. I mistakenly thought it was about salmon fishing, but it is so much more than that. For anyone who is a fan of British understated humour, this book reads as mix between the TV show "Yes, Prime Minister" and a good Bill Bryson book.

A potential reader may wonder: Why Salmon? Why in the desert-like Yemen? These are excellent questions, and the book will answer both questions in a delightful story.

We meet the hapless Dr Alfred Jones, tireless scientist and salmon fishing enthusiast for the British National Centre for Fisheries Excellence, whose tour de force to this point in his career is a published article on mussels in alkaline solutions. Hardly a page turner, and hardly the makings of an adventurous take-charge scientist willing to bring salmon fishing to the Yemen.

However, hired and inspired by Sheik Muhammad ibn Zaidi of the Yemen, Dr. Jones will do everything he can to make the Sheik's dream come true. In doing so, he finds strength and awareness in himself that he never thought possible.

This is a wonderful, fun and joyous book.