Review of HOOKED by Jim Baugh

Review of HOOKED by Jim Baugh

I usually read mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction. I decided to take a break and read something lighter and more fun. Boy, did I find a fun read! Jim Baugh is a modern day mix of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. The son and grandson of prominent Virginia attorneys and judges, I’m surprised that Child Protective Services hasn’t tried to retroactively, put him into foster care-- even if he is over 50. At times, I almost forgot I was reading, and felt I was sitting at the kitchen table with Jim over a bottle of Scotch

HOOKED is the irreverent autobiography of Jim Baugh, the host, producer and director of Outdoors with Jim Baugh, Ski East, Classic Fishing. Fishing Virginia and, RV Times. Jim’s outdoor columns have appeared in major national Magazines. Jim grew up in the home of a prominent Charlottesville attorney and judge. He spent weekends on the “rivuh” in Gloucester, Virginia, boating, fishing and crabbing, while the adults were busy with “boats, booze and booty.”

HOOKED takes you from Jim’s childhood, and escape from his mother’s mental illness through learning to play keyboard instruments and become a magician, to producing and starring in a successful outdoor television series. The cast of characters reads like a comedy. From being caught skinny dipping by the 100 passenger Okracoke Ferry (while trying to pull a splinter out of his girlfriend’s butt), to beings surprised on a first date by his “older woman” date, who was decked out in BDSM gear, Jim kept me laughing.

Jim pulls no punches in the book. He mentioned in an email that he’s ruffled some feathers. Anyone who refers to his stepmother as “THE BITCH FROM HELL,” in all caps has to expect some pushback. Jim takes us from childhood, through fatherhood and his failed marriage, and dating as an adult. I laughed as he described asking his crew “can you swim?” as their boat was sinking, and all they did was shake their heads. His descriptions of a little boy’s reaction to his mother’s bouts of severe mental illness were gut-wrenching. HOOKED is a perfect read for a late season visit to the beach. I had planned on doing just that, but broke down and read it during Hurricane Irene. I’m glad I did.