Big Blue Society
“The Big Blue is a secret society. Out where no human eyes can see, where the night is truly dark and the dawn a blinding sear, we set the wild man in us free. We never planned to share our secrets with anyone.” – Mark Cavanagh
Big Blue Society is the hysterical and emotionally-charged true story of what happens when a diverse but devoted group of men decide to overcome their differences and life challenges and live life by one motto – “Go for It… and Deny Everything.”
When disabled Vietnam veteran and war hero Norm Hansen returned home in a body cast and suffering from PTSD, he felt helpless, hopeless and lost. He asked his best friend to take him to catch a fish. The one place where fishing success was ensured was posted and patrolled. They got arrested and threatened with jail time if caught trespassing again, so they had to take their angling pursuits on the road.
From the soothing silence of the Adirondacks to the roaring heart of Yellowstone, these men chase their dreams with a tackle box, a tent, and a penchant for adventure. Over 40 years of fishing and camping trips, hijinks in the wilderness, campfire stories, raucous initiations… and occasionally catching fish.
Equal parts emotional healing, misadventure and deep camaraderie, Big Blue Society is about a once-in-a-lifetime brotherhood that formed around Norm, and how it healed them all. Outdoor adventure enthusiasts and fans of camping and fishing humor books will never forget the quiet, reflective, thoughtful moments in the book, as beloved members pass and the remaining members soldier on… for the Big Blue Society lives on so long as one of them draws a breath.
“What will we do when we’re too old to go on these trips? We’ll make a hypnagogic return to the days of the Big Blue.”- Norm Hansen
COMING SOON:
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers’ Favorite
Big Blue Society by Mark Cavanagh is a true-to-life retelling of the escapades of a close-knit group of friends, the “Big Blue” crew, who bond over fishing trips, road adventures, and misadventures. The group includes a range of colorful members, each with their quirks and personalities. From chaotic fishing trips to secluded Maine locations to wild road trips filled with pranks and mishaps, the Society’s adventures are fueled by a sense of camaraderie, humor, and youthful rebellion. The group has a diverse background that sometimes leads to clashes between bohemian lifestyles and old-fashioned values, but their shared experiences create lifelong connections. Over time, Cavanagh shares how these adventures shape the Society members’ friendship, from the carefree days of youth to the more contemplative moments as they age.
In Big Blue Society: Fishtales and Mayhem, Mark Cavanagh holds nothing back in the vignettes shared in which fishing and camping trips are frequently laced with substance indulgence, flatulence contests, and a whole lot of booze. The writing is simple and straightforward, allowing the humor and eccentricity of the group, as it happened, to stand on their own legs. There are pop culture references that will absolutely feed into the nostalgia of the sixty-plus-year audience, but as a younger reader, it was the more serious, deeper moments—especially of loss—that felt the most sincere. This contrasts with the carefree chaos of the younger years of the men, making it all the more meaningful. As a legacy biography, I think this book will be treasured the most by the friends and family of the Big Blue Society, providing them with a time capsule of shared history. Recommended.