AUGUST - BOOKS ABOUT THE SEA

                                                          


JO  "WAVECREST" by BILL KNOX 

This is a mystery/crime set off the Scottish Coast.  The weather is terrible, icy and cold.  Jo loved this book and would recommend.

ANNE  "THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA" by ERNEST HEMINGWAY 1952
 
It's a book about an old Cuban fisherman and his young devoted apprentice.  It is simply written about the old man's endurance in going out further than usual into the Gulf Stream, trying to catch a  fish which he feels is too large for his boat and then keeping it while sharks circle........
It is a classic read.

ROSEMARY  "THE SEA BED" by   MARELE DAY  2009

It is written by an Australian author born in 1947.  The author lived in Japan and has written about the pearl divers called AMA.  They are mostly women.  There are three main characters - a Japanese monk, the granddaughter of a diving AMA and Lillie of the younger generation.  Rosemary said it was a good read.

CLAURENE  "THE SEA" by JOHN BANVILLE

John Banville is an Irish writer and he won the Booker Prize in 2005.  The plot is minimal.  It is his memory of past times living in seaside boarding houses.  It is a great read and Claurene said "just listen to the wonderful words".

PAMELA  "THE NIGGER OF THE NARCISSUS by JOSEPH CONRAD PUB.1898

The story is set on board a ship sailing from Bombay.  There are fourteen characters.  There is a huge storm and all the crew pull together showing great courage and endurance. The ship was loved by all, though difficult construction had caused problems.  There is tension about one of the crew members, a Negro.  This leads to a mutiny.  This is an exciting early Conrad book and his style was later perfected.

DIANE  "THE SHIPPING NEWS" by ANNIE PROULX

The author won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize.  It is a story of a man named Coyle who is a journalist.  He marries Petal, a user who dies.   Coyle goes to the old family home in Newfoundland and resumes journalism.  There are great descriptions of the sea, relationships, murder and parenting.

TAM  "OPERATION BEACH WATCH" by LEO KESSLER

The book is set in 1941 when the United Kingdom is having problems in the war.  It is about life on a submarine but also about the political strategies and secret meetings taking place with Britain trying to get the USA into the war.  It is an enjoyable read.

JULIA  "TRUE SPIRIT" by JESSICA WATSON

It is the story of a 16 year old girl who, in 2010, was the youngest person to sail around the world in 210 days in her yacht "Ella's Pink Lady".  It is a truly inspirational read.  There is a movie in the pipeline.

KRIS  "SAILING ALONE AROUND THE WORLD" by JOSHUA SLOCUM

A quote from Tim Flannery's introduction to the book "Among the many classics of the sea, few books can rival Joshua Slocum's Sailing alone around the World" for sheer audacity, adventure and beauty of language.  Although written little over a century ago it is redolent of an even earlier age, and has made so great an impression that thousands have moved to emulate Slocum's great feats".  The book is written by Joshua Slocum about his round the world trip taking three years and two months, arriving back in America in 1898. He built the yacht himself and seemed at one with his boat and the sea.  It was a great read. It is not a library book. 
The library book borrowed "Saved" by Tony Bullimore was read by Kris's husband.  He thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was a book about an Englishman who participated in the round the world yacht race in 1996.  His yacht capsized in the icy Southern Ocean and despite appalling weather conditions, the Australian rescue services did not give up and after four days being capsized, he was rescued.  It's a great story of his bravery and fortitude as well as the immense heroism shown by the Australian rescue services.

JOAN  "MASTER AND COMMANDER" by PATRICK O'BRIEN PUB. 1970

This book is the first in a series of 20 epic seafaring fictional novels based on the career of Captain Jack Aubrey during the Napoleonic wars, beginning of 19th century - The Age of Sail and Enlightenment.  It is about the action packed life on board a Man of War ship called "Sophie".  It is about the interaction of the officers and crew and the battle encounters with all types of ships, including pirates. " The prose is so descriptive you could be a crew member yourself" Joan said.  Joan thought is was well worth reading and she cannot wait to read the remaining nineteen in the series.