And Then We Went Fishing: A Story of Fatherhood, Fate, and Forgiveness

by Dirk Benedict

From actor Dirk Benedict comes this brilliant autobiographical telling of two unique and engrossing events that had an enormous impact on his life. He intertwines the story of his wife’s unexpectedly complicated home birthing with his own coming of age in Montana―and the violent death of his father. Past events of love, friendship, hatred, and fatherhood culminate in a dramatic explosion before him, linking his father’s death with the birth of his first child. Benedict’s writing style is lively, creative, and always engaging. His use of humor, pathos, and imagery is masterful. He has taken two rites of passage in his life and woven them together to produce a story that is every bit as entertaining as it is moving. Given Dirk’s unique storytelling ability and well-honed sense of timing, And Then We Went Fishing will keep you hooked from page one to its powerful, poignant conclusion.

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Shaitarn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second autobiographical work from Dirk Benedict and switches back and forth between two traumatic times in his life: the first, his father being murdered in front of his eyes when he was eighteen, the second the disastrous attempt at the home birth of his first child which led to him driving his wife to hospital after she'd been in labor for over forty hours.

The narrative switches from one to the other, covering a fair amount of time and other events as it goes. As with his previous book, I found it an engaging and engrossing read. Dirk has a smooth, readable style; his frequent asides into his imagings made me smile, and even chuckle once or twice.

I enjoyed it, but do hope that one day he'll write another autobiographical volume that is more mainstream and dealing with his life and career. I imagine it would be just an entertaining as these two books.

[Elona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, another interesting read.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dirk is a fun loon. He has an alliterative thing. He's like Shatner.

[Jaina Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livre intéressant, plein de tendresse , d'amour et beaucoup de doute aussi ! j'ai vraiment aimé ce nouveau livre biographique de Dirk Benedict , on sent vraiment qu'il aime sa famille . sa femme doit etre une sacrée nana au vu de ce quelle endure lors de l'accouchement de son premier fils ! chapeau bas !

[Roxanna Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard read, but well worth it.

This was a hard read, it went back and forth like a bad tennis match. More than once I was ready to give up on it. Yet, I continued as I truly got caught up in the two stories merging. It is a good read and I am happy with the ending and reccomend this book to others.

[Patty J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful storytelling

I could not put this book down, read it from beginning to end in one sitting. Beautiful, thought provoking, touching, human story.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in 1 day! I read Dirk Benedicts other book this week in 2 days! ha.

I met Dirk Benedict in June of 2015. I was expecting to pay for a photo with him and Richard Hatch, and be dismissed back into the crowded room. I was pleasantly surprised at the thoughtfulness and attention he paid to me and my family. He was intelligent, funny, personable and real. This led me to add his two books to me "to read" list. I got them from my kids for christmas this year and read them both very quickly.

Of his two books, this is the more personal, focused on his father's passing and the birth of his first son. I found it to be well written and it was interestingly set progressing from his father's life until his death concurrent with the birth of his son, even though they occurred decades apart. I enjoyed the book. I hope that he writes a 3rd to fill the gap between then and now.

[Donna Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful book. I can't remember the last time that I read a book from start to finish in one sitting, but I couldn't put this down. Without giving anything away, the intertwining and juxtaposition of two momentous events in Dirk Benedict's life, build to a climax that is breathtaking, and both heartbreaking and heart warming. Think you know Dirk Benedict? Unless you read this book, you don't, and you never can. It's now nearly two weeks since I finished reading this, and it is still touching my soul. I think that it always will.