FLY FISHING THE RIVER OF SECOND CHANCES

Olsson's second chance comes in the form of an invite to fish and guide on Sweden's Idsjöströmen River. Although married, she falls in love with Lars, the Swedish riverkeeper, leading Olsson to pull up stakes in Montana and move with her young son to the small village of Gilmaden, Sweden. Despite the title, Olsson's memoir only shows brief glimpses of life on the river and her field of expertise, fly fishing. Instead, she concentrates on the nuances of Swedish culture. Her contact with and descriptions of Swedish plumbing, home design, social life, family interaction and food ("Swedes eat a lot of white food") range from humorous to touching. Her insights into Swedish character are also astute. For instance, during Sweden's miserable mosquito season, she points out rather coyly that the use of any kind of repellant indicates a "weakness of character." Unfortunately, Olsson explains little about Lars, her son or any of the Swedish characters she comes to know, and this makes the book less emotional and interconnected than one might expect from a memoir that involves a cross-cultural love affair. Still, Olsson's writing is perceptive enough to allow each chapter to stand on its own, making this book the kind of travelogue that can be read streamside. Illus. not seen by PW. (Oct.)