Read the book before you judge is all I'd say. The artwork in the book is superb (the images of barbel, perch and pike for example are stunning) and the info is spot on.
Ok, so the main protagonist is a woman, an attractive one as it happens. Get over it! Do you think the book would sell if it was "Fishing with Agatha"? There is very little flesh on display- and the protagonist is very much a positive female role model, catching the fish and putting some of the blokes in their place as she goes!
Hi Dom,
Long time no see mate. Hope you're well? How's Norbert?
Thank you for your stirring defence of your publisher but you seem to have missed/side-stepped the point... and, you know me mate' I am not about to 'get over it' in an intelligent debate... Seriously?
mg: Lol!
Compared to the quality of most of Merlin's output, this book is what it is...
Titillation mixed with a 'Crabtree'esque format... designed to appeal to the stirring hormones of early-teen male anglers. Yes it will sell, but that is not my point... the publisher and author are off-base with this release.
IMHO the author/publishers have missed a great opportunity to inspire young female anglers and have instead produced a product that whilst appearing to be the ideal intro for a female angler, instead manages to reproduce the kind of air-brushed/ manicured female stereotypes that are usually the domain of the tabloid press, FHM and their ilk.
Body image is a very serious contemporary issue among young girls growing up in today's society and the 'barbelling barbie' protagonist in this publication is ill-conceived and retrogressive to say the least in the context of this debate... It doesn't make any difference how much 'putting some of the blokes in their place' she manages to achieve along the way...
As you say tho, the fish pics are good for CGI illustrations...
