Books: “August” by Callan Wink (2020)

The AugSummer reading binge continues. And if you tell me a story that makes such abstruse subjects as fly-fishing and operating a baler interesting, I’m all in.

Such is the case with Callan Wink’s latest novel, “August” (snappy title, eh?) which follows the life of a small-town Michigan lad whose parents divorce and who’s taken by his eccentric mom to live in the Montana Rockies. He grows into manhood but not before having an affair with the older woman next door and running over his HS buddy with his beat-up Subaru.

Later, August eschews college in favor of working as a ranch hand, where he meets up with characters that would seem more at home in a John Irving novel. Advance praise for “August” compares the writing to Hemingway’s; I’d agree, but also throw in some Jim Harrison with perhaps a soupçon of Tom McGuane.

Wink, a recipient of a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, is also a part-time fly-fishing guide on the Yellowstone River. Fly-fishing is something I know nothing about, but if he can write lines like this, I’d hire him for the day just to shoot the breeze. (Wednesday)