Scott Bevan

The Hunter is intended as a love story to portray the author's affection for the river that he was raised near. Through the story, he also tries to explore people's disconnection with their sense of home as the river and environment changes around them. The story follows his journey as he paddles from town to town talking to landowners and stakeholders along the way. The book is full of local history dating back to the settlement of the Hunter Valley.

I will confess, I've never seen the Hunter River or experienced the towns that sit alongside. I found details of many of the towns and associated issues to be repetitive. The story is bookended by the author's affections and personal connection with the river, but for the time in between he is strangely absent as he tries to remain objective to the views and desires of conflicting stakeholders. I think this book would appeal more to locals with a sense of nostalgia.
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