Russ Sylvester Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 I figure I can get all sorts of ideas from you nice folks. Here's the deal, we're embarking on a seven day cruise starting saturday and I would like to take a book along to read. The problem is that I've finished everything I was reading and am now looking for something new. I'm open to ideas but NO romance crap or horror. I was reading the Schaara trilogy on the civil war, "Way of a Ship", "Making of a Yankee Sailor" and "Tuesdays with Morrie" if that gives any indication as to flavor. I know, I'm very eclectic. Ideas? One other unrelated idea. The ship is scheduled to sail at 5:00PM eastern time. I've found a webcam site that gives a view of port canaveral which is where we're leaving from. I'm gonna try to get to the stern of the ship and wave. http://www.portcanaveral.org/ Quote
Phil Gowans Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 I just finished the Bounty Trilogy by Nordoff. Part I is the standard story - Trip to Tahiti and Mutany, but covers the court marshall. Part II is Men against the sea - story of the 4500 mile open boat survival trip of Bligh & others. Part III is about Pitcarin Island. All quite interesting if you like Naval History. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 Disney cruise? 8) I have one slated for late February 2004. We went in 2000, and it was our best vacation ever. So we're really looking forward to it. Anyway, if you haven't read Joshua Slocum's "Alone Around the World", it is a great read. Fits in with your eclectic style, and it has a quaint and quirky feel to it because of the early 1900's style of writing. Should be available in paperback at larger bookstores (cheap!) There's also good civil war book, April 1864, which covers "the most important month in American history." Gave me some insights into guys like Lee and Grant that I hadn't realize before (I have a personal pet peeve about histories that pillage people in the past ... but this author is very good about presenting them as men of their times faced with tough decisions). Quote
Barry Pyeatt Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 I enjoyed Kon Tiki too. Facinating adventure about a recreated voyage of early Polynesian explorers and their navigation. Quote
Russ Sylvester Posted June 5, 2003 Author Posted June 5, 2003 Wow! Frank are you flying into Orlando? Are you spending any other time in Florida other than the cruise? Would love to hook up even for just a quick hello! I'm about 20 miles south of the port so it's a short hop. I've had Capt. Slocum's book in my hand at least a dozen times but for some reason never purchased it. That one and Bob Bitchins(Lipkin) "Letters from the Lost Soul" are both ones I will get around to reading someday. The bounty trilogy sounds like it has possibilities. My mom recommended "Green Mile" saying the book is very different from the movie and I thought the movie was pretty good. Quote
Steve Tarry Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 I favor big, historical novels for extended reading binges. Sarum and London are a good set, though neither depends on the other. Michener's early work, like Hawaii, can be fun and the ineptly named Merlin trilogy (four books) is wonderful. Speaking of ineptly-named trilogies, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a hoot. Huckleberry Finn is still the best American novel ever written and worth a look if you haven't seen it since school. Dare I suggest a collection of Shakespeare's plays? Enjoy the cruise, whatever books you decide to take. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 Wow! Frank are you flying into Orlando? Are you spending any other time in Florida other than the cruise? Would love to hook up even for just a quick hello! I'm about 20 miles south of the port so it's a short hop. Yeah' date=' we will be arriving 2/25/2004 at 4:15pm and staying a night in Orlando before we head out for WDW (where they should just grab you by your ankles, turn you upside down and shake all the money out ... in fact, I think that's a new ride in the future!) We'll be staying at Port Orleans for two nights after that, then taking the 4-day cruise. The day we get back from the cruise - 3/4/04 - we fly out at 5:30 pm. If I remember correctly, we'll get back in port and off the boat by 9 am, so we'll have some time that day too. I've had Capt. Slocum's book in my hand at least a dozen times but for some reason never purchased it. That one and Bob Bitchins(Lipkin) "Letters from the Lost Soul" are both ones I will get around to reading someday. The bounty trilogy sounds like it has possibilities. My mom recommended "Green Mile" saying the book is very different from the movie and I thought the movie was pretty good. Haven't read Bob Bitchen's book, but I enjoy his magazine from time to time. I suspect the book is a hoot too. Slocum is a "must read" for boat builders; I think he would have gotten along famously with the Stevensons; he has that same attitude about fancy naval architect "rules". Quote
GreenHorn Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 Russ, I am a fan of nautical history novels. There is a series by Patrick o'Brian that I was not able to put down. The setting is the late 1700's - early 1800's, and follows the adventures of a young commander and post captain in the British Navy. The first in the series, I believe, is titled 'Captain and Commander'. I found this series to be exciting, educational, comical, and provided a real taste of what life was like on a British vessel during the Nepolianic era. last I heard, Russel Crowe was making a movie based on the main character of these books. It was supposed to be released this summer. As of last october the movie was going to be titled 'The Far Side of the World'. There is also a series by James Nelson which is set during the pre-American revolution era, which follows a spunky young American merchant captian who gets roped into helping to form a navy for young America. This series is a great read, but it's not as rich, historically speaking. Of course, the Horatio Hornblower series is also pretty good. Have fun on your vacation! Quote
Paul J Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 I would recommend "Stand on Zanzibar" by John Brunner but I will warn you that you have to try very hard to get through the first 80 pages or so. Then things start to make sense. Then and only then will you begin to understand "The Hip Crime Vocab" by Chad C. Mulligan. The next one would be "The Left Hand of Darkness" by LeGuinn or "Earth Sea" by the same. If you wish lighter reading. But there is little better for reading than anything by Ray Bradbury other than JRR's "Lord of the Rings". Or maybe you would prefer a little "John Carter on Mars". Always a good read. Then of course there's Jules Verne. Then there's, oh heck just pick one any one there are far to many classic's to list here. Quote
Sailor3356 Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 Try Fathers day, a story about the worlds smallest boat to cross Atlantic. After reading about a 6 foot 7 inch boat the weekender is truly a large boat. Quote
ken connors Posted June 5, 2003 Posted June 5, 2003 actually the first book of the Patrick O'Brian's series is called MASTER AND COMMANDER, and i second that recommendation. awesome series of riveting adventures. Quote
buck Posted June 6, 2003 Posted June 6, 2003 My favourites are: 'The shipping news' by Annie Proulx 'The stolen years' by Hugh Faulkus 'The cape cod caper' by Philip Carey and a kid's book but never the less a classic 'We didn't mean to go to sea' by Arthur Ransome All superb! Quote
buck Posted June 6, 2003 Posted June 6, 2003 And who could go past the "The perfect storm" High tales of the dangers of fishing on the grand banks over the years and gripping to the last word! Quote
Andrew Posted June 6, 2003 Posted June 6, 2003 Hi all I don't know if any of you have checked out the Project Gutenberg site, its a collection of 'out of copyright' e-texts and they're free (Cap'n cheap strikes again!) Two of my faves are Moby dick (tough reading) and Sea Wolf Andrew Quote
Russ Sylvester Posted June 6, 2003 Author Posted June 6, 2003 Thanks guys, knew I could depend on you all to help me out. Lot's of good ideas so I guess I'm off to B&N this afternoon. Quote
John Teetsel Posted June 6, 2003 Posted June 6, 2003 The "Swallows and Amazons" series was a real treat. Some may consider it a childrens' story but I was thoroughly entertained. Young at heart would be my explination. I'm listening to the O'Brian series on tape as I drive to and from work and it is great. Enjoy your cruise. Watch out for those "all you can eat buffets". :wink: Quote
Frank Hagan Posted June 6, 2003 Posted June 6, 2003 In the Heart of the Sea is also a great book ... about the whaling ship Essex and the account of an attack by a sperm whale that became the basis for Melville's Moby Dick. Its a harrowing story of survival too, as the crew sets out in their small whaling boats in the Pacific after the whale sinks their ship. Quote
Andrew Posted June 11, 2003 Posted June 11, 2003 I realise that I've missed the deadline, but this site seems to have lots for us 'salty' folk, including Mr Slocums book try http://www.arthur-ransome.org/ar/literary/ardocs.htm they're all free!! (well done Cap'n Cheap) Andrew Quote
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