First off, 'Deadliest Catch' is the most "real" reality show on television. Secondly, this is a book by first time writers, but long time brothers (with help from MacPherson). Thirdly, my copy was an uncorrected proof. Now, on to the review.

The brothers Hillstrand are certifiably crazy! Putting this book down when needed was very hard to do. Reading about playing with firecrackers, hitting the rough seas at an early age to earn a living, or being in the middle of a drunken brawl is more than enough reason to keep on reading. It just seems impossible that anyone can live this way, but all Hillstrands have done so. And furthermore, they continue to do so. Whether you are a fan of the show, or of juvenile disobedience--even at an older age--this book is a perfect read for satisfaction.

[Drawbacks of proofs are inevitable, and I have no way of knowing right away what the finished print is like. Aside from grammar mistakes, including some brain-twisting sentences, there is the rough timeline of the book. Jonathan has interspersed through many chapters, a riveting story about how he almost ..., eh, maybe I shouldn't say more on that subject. But, in the end, I felt it was a struggle going back and forth between a battle between man and sea, and the MANY ordeals the brothers have faced growing up, and working on the boat. If there was a better division between these two styles, and not this mixing, the book could have gotten another 1-and-a-half stars from me.] ( )

Having never seen the show, but heard of it, I enjoyed reading about the adventures of the two brothers. It was fascinating to hear all they had to endure to do the job. ( )

A fun look inside the world of Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand. It amazes me that these guys made it to adulthood, much less lived long enough to become famous! Fans of Deadliest Catch will enjoy this memoir. ( )

Didn't get past the first chapter before deciding it wasn't for me. Didn't realize it was connected to a TV show.

I got this book through the Early Reviewers program. At the time, I had never seen the Deadliest Catch, so had no clue who these guys were. I was just interested in Alaska and being a Great Lakes girl, boats interested me. I really enjoyed the book. It was a very readable and entertaining. There were a lot of Wow! moments. When I got cable, I tuned into the show and found that the voice in the book was very authentic. ( )

As a fan of "The Deadliest Catch" on Discovery, I was excited to score this book. But it didn't ring as true to me as the show does, and while the adventures don't necessarily disappoint, it just didn't feel as vivid to me. It's an all right read, and easy to get through. But the show is much better. ( )

The most surprising thing that I got out of reading this book was how, through the grace of God or any number of pagan deities, did these men get out of childhood alive. Taping shotgun shells to BB guns? Plinking .22's at each other to hear the whistle? Showing up at a girlfriend's parents' house to pick her up on prom night driving a Winnebago? Any one of those things would - should - get you shot.

Neither of the brothers nor the ghostwriter have the chops to turn the descriptions of the hard domestic life of the fishermen into real poetry, and the book does function as an advertisement for the television show.

On the whole, it was a decent book for what it aims at, although I think it would have been an amazing magazine feature piece. ( )

Being a fan of the "Deadliest Catch" TV show, I expected to really enjoy this book. I was disappointed.

As with most books of this type, the "celebrity" authors (the two Captains Hillstrand, who are featured in the TV reality series "Deadliest Catch") worked with a professional writer in the creation of this book. In the best books of this type, the "pro" keeps his or her own personality in low profile, and you can almost HEAR, in your mind, the subjects of the book saying their piece in their own voices. Unfortunately, I didn't feel this was the case here, especially in the sections featuring Jonathan. The CONTENT of the stories fit my expectations based on what I'd seen of the Hillstrands on TV. My problem was with the stilted prose used in the telling of the stories. Once in a while Jonathan's voice came through lound and clear, but I could not imagine him saying 90 percent of what was written in "his" first-person account, at least not in the way that it was written. It was just too flowery and formal, and these guys, especially Jonathan, are not flowery, formal kinds of guys. It was a little less of an issue for me in Andy's sections, perhaps because he comes across as a little more well-spoken than his brother on TV.

I found this so distracting that it was difficult to really enjoy what might have otherwise been a very interesting account of life lived on the edge in a very perilous profession. It might have been helpful if their pro co-author had focused more on helping them better organize the stories they were telling into a more unified, easier-to-follow, book. ( )

I got this as an early review copy, and was interested to really get into the nitty gritty of crabbing in Alaska. However, I was greeted almost immediately by pastoral elegiac prose about the the life of a rough and tumble crab fisherman and its glories. The disbelief engendered by the purple prose was augmented by descriptions of a lifestyle that sound more ripped from a B-movie western than a nonfiction book.

I may give this book another shot in the future, but the taste it left in my mouth after the first couple of pages makes me hope that this one got another couple of rounds of editing before publication. ( )

I love the show, "Deadliest Catch", and the book didn't disappoint me. A simple read, but I found the lives of the Hillstrand brothers interesting and entertaining. ( )

http://tinyurl.com/db5qhc ( )

I am not a fan of the show, but had hopes for the text, as so many of my friends are fans. Unfortunately this book was like pulling teeth to read. The narration was trite and at times almost laughable. In all fairness, I could not finish the book, so my renew is based on the first 50 or so pages. ( )

The book does give an interesting glimpse of the lives of these two brothers. I have never been a fan of "The Deadliest Catch" tv show, but I did enjoy reading what they wrote about their lives and backgrounds. At certain points the book seemed to ramble and skip between stories, and the authors tended to sidetrack often. I imagine it's what it'd be like if you were to listen to their stories in person. There were some editing problems, at least in the Early Reviewer edition, misspelled words and typos, etc. ( )

I am a Discovery Channel junkie so naturally I am a big fan of the show. The Time Bandit is one of my favorite bats on the show so reading this was a must do for me. The book itself is simply done but does give you more background then you see on the show. It was a nice way to spend an afternoon making me look forward to the upcoming season. ( )

I don't know that this is one that can really appeal to a large audience but it certainly had an appeal for me. I've had a secret obsession with Deadliest Catch from the first moment it aired. I can't explain it. And I also can't explain how the crew of the Time Bandit became my favorite to watch. What I do know, is this book made me love them all the more. There is something so incredibly heart-warming and touching in the midst of a world where people barely call home for the holidays to see a family...that actually comes together, works together, lives together, and supports each other in one of the deadliest jobs and places this world has to offer. ( )

Time Bandit is a fascinating look at the life of an Alaskan fisherman, written in the form of a meandering series of stories that illustrate the lives of the Hillstrand brothers and the world they live in.

The book is less a novel and more a personal account, though no less powerful for it. What it lacks in polish, it more than makes up in authenticity. Often non-fiction works struggle to be as interesting as their fictional brethren, but Time Bandit never suffers from this all too common fault.

The audience for the book may not be as wide as some other forms of literature can claim. For those who are fascinated by the experiences of someone who lives in a reality much removed from that of the every day citizen however, it would be a hard task to put the book down once begun.

The book goes beyond being merely a series of recollections, as it shows the insight of the Hillstrand brothers into human nature as it is revealed around them. The people that surround them are not merely one dimensional ciphers, but living breathing people who have motives and reasons of their own for what they do.

The writing itself can be hard going at times, as neither of the brothers are writers, but rather fishermen by trade. This doesn't hurt the subject at all, though it does the clarity, as at times the lack of structure muddles what is being said. Given the form of the account, nothing could change the structure outside a complete re-write which would loose most of what makes Time Bandit such an interesting read - its character. ( )

Time Bandit is a simple tale from a simple fisherman. Granted, this fisherman fishes the most dangerous seas around and develops many tales from that. This book would never be remotely mistaken for literature. It reminds me more along the lines of telling tales through oral tradition. This isn't because he necessarily tells tall tales, though I do question the truth in many of them, just the way he writes or speaks.
Reading this, I was going to write that the first chapter, written primarily by Johnathan Hillstrand, is more of a primer for the life the brothers lead, but by the time I finished the book, I realized it never stopped this format. Because of this, he goes off on tangents frequently, and a lot of times, for too long. The book is packed full of various mini-stories with everything on how they outfit their boat to some of their more memorable crew. I think this entire book could have been streamlined a great deal. It doesn't seem to have any real strong direction to it. There is a plot of sorts, in that Johnathan is stranded on his 'vacation' boat and his friend is trying to find him, but this plot is so weak that it really is unnecessary. It probably would have been better without the pretense of any kind of plot, whatsoever.
I have to agree with one of the other reviews that I read. That is, I wanted to like this book, and maybe at another time with some different editing, I would have liked it, but overall this book was a great disappointment. I had a difficult time picking it back up after I had set it down and it took far too long to read, considering it's length and scope. I rarely toss my books in the bin, but that is exactly where this one is headed. Two and half stars. ( )

This is a book about fishing.

I have a personal bias when it comes to this read. I am a fisherman, not by trade, but in my heart. The way Andy describes it is totally spot-on. While this collection of anecdotes and tall tales surrounding what is most likely one of the most insane profession remaining on the planet provide the reader with a profile of the type of person who would pursue this line of work, it does not prepare the reader for the realities that person faces, which are detailed brilliantly.

I could not put down Time Bandit. The narrative voice, and his stories, echo true with an insane combination of humor, somberness, exaggeration, and majesty.

Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand are brothers and crab fishermen in the Bering Sea. Their lives are among those documented on the television show THE DEADLIEST CATCH.

This book is basically a memoir, divided into sections where different voices are heard. Jonthan has joined a group of his buddies for ‘fishing camp’ basically an opportunity for them all to drink, tell lies and fish, with a little betting on the side. The adventure for John starts when his boat is disabled and he is left adrift. His batteries are gone, so he cannot radio for help and since he tossed his cell phone into the fire the evening before, he is isolated. His thoughts turn to the past and the events that lead to his present condition. He tells of his father, also a fisherman, his brothers and their lives as boys and men fishing in Alaska.

Andy, meanwhile is working on his horse farm in Indiana. He is married, has two children and has elected to spend his off seasons working with horses and building a life for the time when he can no longer fish. He also thinks about his brothers, their parents and the way they grew up.

One of John’s fishing buddies and a crewman on his boat, TIME BANDIT, is among the guys at the ‘fishing camp’. He becomes concerned when John hasn’t returned by late evening. He just has a feeling something is wrong. It is a sensation that has served him well in years past working the deck of a crabber.

The story bounces back and forth between the two brothers with bits about Russell, the deck hand. Johnathan is the baby of the family, never married, though he has children and grandchildren. His thoughts are mostly of the past and of ways to get out of his current predicament. He savors some of the tales of catches, drinking, fighting and womanizing that make up the largest part of his life.

Andy has spent many of their years protecting John, first from their father then from the incidents he’s gotten himself involved in. Andy also looks forward, realizes that the fishing industry is changing and that before too many more years pass, he, John and TIME BANDIT will be outmoded, old fashioned and out of the field.

This book is an interesting, if fairly superficial, look into the inner workings of men who work hard, play hard and live dangerously. It opened a new vista for me, one I’d never thought of. Who thinks how difficult it was to catch the beautiful crab on your plate, boiled in saltwater with melted butter. It is a good read, with stories of heroics, dastardly behavior and always the boat, the sea and the catch. ( )

Not bad, actually there are some really great stories in this book. but sometimes it was a little difficult to follow, there's a story going on while each person is telling other stories that happened in the past or are examples of why stuff like this happens to them. A little choppy but very entertaining after all nobody can tell stories like fishermen. ( )

This was tough...I wanted to read this book, I wanted to like this book, and I should have liked it. But I didn't. From the start it definitely felt cobbled together. It was like listening to a bunch of drunk loggers in a bar in Raymond or Forks. Every once in a while there was something to like, but more often than not, the writing was, well, crap. This book did not do the Hillstrand brothers much justice. This was not an easy book to get through. A disappointment. ( )

I am really enjoying this book as it tells a story in a way that I'm actually able to mentally picture the events occurring. I'm about 1/2 way done with it right now, so a more "formal" review will be coming in the near future. In the meantime, I promise not to peek at what others have said. As a sidenote, I am aware of the show, The Deadliest Catch, but haven't sat down to watch it as it's not really my cup of tea, nor that of my pre-teen boys. ( )

Time Bandit: Two Brothers, the Bering Sea, and One of the World’s Deadliest Jobs
Andy and Johnathan Hillstrand, with Malcolm MacPherson
Ballantine, 2008

Time Bandit takes its title from the Hillstrand family fishing boat, whose captains attempt to narrate their passion for fishing on the Bering Sea and their love of Alaska. Although Johnathan Hillstrand’s accounts and anecdotes often drift as aimlessly as his imperiled Fishing Fever vessel, the poetic sentiments that burst forth when he talks purely about fishing are captivating, even for someone who has never fished before.

Johnathan’s narrative consumes the greater part of the book, and contains the kind of wild tales and close calls with which viewers of The Deadliest Catch have become familiar. This reviewer was not at all familiar with that TV program when reading the book, so the episodes were fresh and exciting. The most consistent plotline in Johnathan’s sections develops when he is stranded on the Fishing Fever with no fuel and no radio, a race for survival that suspensefully concludes at the end of the book. Johnathan’s human flaws and stoicism emerge here in equal measure, propelling the reader along a thrilling current between other scenes and stories.

Brother Andy’s narrative, on the other hand, is far more thoughtful and much better constructed—no awkward, choppy phrasing as with many of Johnathan’s tales. Andy has settled down with a wife and children, living half the year in the lower 48 and away from Johnathan’s wild bachelor exploits in untamed Alaska. Yet, he is still tugged by the tides, “as if sirens were calling him toward jagged rocks on the shore,” as Johnathan puts it.

Devotees of The Deadliest Catch and fishing—whether it be adventure sport fishing or simply casting a line on the shore of a lazy river—will appreciate Time Bandit for its affectionate and passionate reflections on fishing and fishing’s impact on human lives. Yet the book also appeals to those people (this reviewer included) who have no interest whatsoever in fishing, touching upon such diverse topics as the environmental health of marine species, international relations, marriage, business, economics, family affairs, and individuality. For those readers who think a book about crab fishing could not possibly be that interesting, give this book a go.

Time Bandit is a love song to fishing, adventure, and the ideal of self-reliance. The core questions the brothers seek—successfully—to understand and explain, as Andy says, are these: “Do you stop what you love to stay alive? Or do you continue to do what you love even if it kills you? It is a question of what a life is worth.” ( )

This book is an amazing story. I can't believe how these guys can go out on the sea to fish like this - risking their lives all the time it seems. It is kind of frightening, though it also seems to be a good way to exorcise those demons that guys who never grow up seem to cultivate. The sensible part of me says they are nuts, but it is kind of interesting reading... even more harrowing than the guys who drive the trucks up across the ice in Northern Canada. They are all fools, but it sure is a way to make money fast, if you live to enjoy it ( )