He said, 'We are picking Paul up too much lately. He said, 'I am the desk sergeant, who wants you to come see your brother.' He had called me to the station to have a talk. 'The telephone rang at about two in the morning, and I heard a voice in it, which asked, 'Are you Paul's brother?' I asked, 'What is wrong?' The voice said, 'I want you to come see Paul.' 'Who are you?' I asked. Most of the time his friends would rather drink with him, or forget him even when they were not drinking, unlike that of your family. 'Although Paul did not drink when he fished he always started drinking when he finished fishing.'( pg 16) Most of the time Norman went fishing with Paul so that way he could keep an eye on him, and also to get Paul home safely. Throughout the novel Paul constantly drinks, except when fishing. That is the one thing you cannot count on your friends on.

Paul's theory about fighting is 'If it looks like a fight is coming, get in the first punch.'(pg.8) Even though Paul fought more times than not, his father, mother, and brother never disowned him, or loved him any less, than if he would not have fought. For instance take Paul who loves street fighting. Even when you do not think that anybody cares about you, or what you are remember you can always turn back to family. Family is there for you when the going gets tough, unlike that of your friends. The author teaches you that family is the only thing you can count on. One theme that the author gets his point across and explains the value of family ties is family itself. Perhaps that's the charm of this telling tragedy. These are ideals that transcend time and place. A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean, dissects the aspect of family ties, family, tragedy, and forgiveness.

The book a river runs through it