Dirty Shirt: A Boundary Waters Memoir Paperback – June 5, 2014

First, a confession. I will never be accused of being an "outdoorsy" person. The only two camping experiences of my life, eons ago, both ended in near-disaster. My idea of roughing it would be staying at a Days Inn instead of the Conrad Hilton.So . . . what is a non-avid outdoorsperson doing reading a book whose cover photo is a man holding a fish, and which revolves around canoeing, camping, portaging, and life in the wild? In a word (okay, two) -- loving it!I was drawn to Jim Landwehr's writing through his blog. I was impressed by the freshness and clarity of his writing style and eager to see if it was sustained through a book-length manuscript. It was, and then some. His narration of his adventures in the Boundary Waters with his brothers, friends, and children kept me turning the pages, ready to see what was going to happen next. He brought the whole outdoor experience alive. The reader is literally there in the canoes, and the campsites, and walking the trails of the portages. His respect, and love, for the site of this memoir is apparent. And he makes the reader, who may never actually see the Boundary Waters, respect and care for them, as well.Of course, there is so much more to the book than camping. It is about friendship, family, and endurance through life changes. It illustrates how a particular place can become so much a part of your life that in many respects, it is who you are. It is a perfect example of how the setting of a book can also become one of its characters.Finishing the last page of Dirty Shirt, I had a new understanding, and respect, for those who turn to the "uncivilized" wildernesses of the world for sustenance, renewal, and continuity in their lives, and made me realize how much the places I haunt, while perhaps not quite so wild, serve the same function.I highly recommend this book, and I am ready to see what Jim Landwehr has in store next!

This book is spectacular! If you have not visited the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), author Jim Landwehr transports you there with a poignant panorama of the mind. While reading Dirty Shirt, I felt I could see the beautiful, yet rugged terrain, smell the exhilarating fresh air, feel the refreshing waters, and I could almost smell the pine. I also gained a healthy respect for the mosquitoes, mayflies, exhausting root-lined trails, slippery rocks, and rushing rapids!Mixed into the nature walk is an honest and funny reminder of the importance of family. Landwehr describes wacky family rivalries and nit-picking among brothers in a way that nails inter-family relationships. Love is not lost among his brothers, though. They each find a father they barely knew in the various personalities and quirks of their brothers. They leave behind a part of themselves.This moving memoir made me laugh out loud and cry real tears. While Landwehr is no Nicholas Sparks (yet), I found his book nearly on par with Sparks', Three Weeks with My Brother." "Dirty Shirt" reminds me to cherish my family and to seek ways to further cement relationships with my kids and siblings. Wonderful read and great lessons!

Amazingly written - made me feel like I was reading an account of my own experiences in BWCA. The chapters in this book and the words written about the place and people we share our trips with truly captures the experience.

I really enjoyed this book, I originally bought this book because I know Jim and wanted to read about his escapes to the Boundary Waters with family and friends. I came away with a different impression of Jim and his writing skills after reading this book. Jim transported me and other readers to an area I have never traveled with his descriptions of the area and often longed to pack my gear and travel to this area myself. I also enjoyed reading the descriptions of his relationships with friends and family.I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun read-especially those of you like me who have taken canoe trips in the past and want to relive those experiencesCongrats Jim!

I absolutely loved this book! The author does a fantastic job of reliving and sharing some of his fondest memories over several years with his brothers in the great BWCA. The story also tells of many adventurers that they experienced there as their families grew. Some funny and some bittersweet, but all truly engaging and very well written. Of course there are also big fish stories and funny portaging tales to boot! A wonderful follow-up to another book by Jim Landwehr, Portland House...

Nice read and good coverage of the topic. If you have been there you will enjoy the recollections. Well worth the money and the time to read the book. I reduced by one star only because the book does not flow well and the author's style is a bit choppy. Sometimes the stories seemed out of place. Although it did not detract from the content, it could have been written a bit smoother. I still recommend the book, however!

Jim has a gift of bringing the reader along with his journeys. I laughed, I cried and I felt the love he has for his family!

I'm a guy. I have brothers. This book is reminiscent of how we interact, so naturally it made for laughs. This book is not a travel book or how-to book, it's more of a memoir and homage to a boy's life in the wilderness with his friends and brothers. Some reviewer called it a book depicting the life of frat boys, and though I never was, im glad it is...enjoyable read and I recommend.