Books for reading

[Tom Lathrop]

I will also admit to enjoying the Hornblower series very much. 

I will put in another plug for "Master Mariner".  It is the best tale of the sea I have read.

[John Turpin]

I'm now on book two of Patrick O'Brian's twenty-one book Master and Commander series.  Great read.

[Charlie Jones]

Had the entire Master and Commander series - Took me three attempts to wade through Book 1, got halfway through book 2 and gave all of the Aubry books away- COULD NOT get into them.

DID like the movie though

I MUCH prefer CS Forester and his Hornblower books

[Travis Votaw]

There is a series of novels about the 18th century British Navy by Alexander Kent that were published in the early 1980s - paperbacks by Jove Books.  I have twelve of them.  They are about a character named Richard Bolitho who made his way up through the ranks much like Hornblower and Jack Aubrey.  I've read them several times.  Don't know if they are still under publication or not.

Two Years Before the Mast by R. H. Dana is also a good read. Historically important.

[Greg Luckett]

...Two Years Before the Mast by R. H. Dana is also a good read. Historically important.

I read this while on the Dewey and was so depressed that things were not much different from those days that I never read it again and have not forgotten it.  It is a good read and very accurate.

[Charlie Jones]

Travis- I remember the Bolitho series. Hadn't seen reference to them in years though. As I recall, a good read, although I haven't seen them all by any means.

Google shows 29 books in the series, and shows the author as Douglas Reeman , using the pseudonym Alexander Kent. Interestingly enough, the last book was published in 2007. First one in 1968. Quite a time span eh?

[JeffM]

I just finished O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin novels--actually, I've been rereading most of them so I'm not really finished.  I love the technical details (though I haven't quite puzzled out how a full-rigged ship is tacked) as well as the main characters and story.  O'Brien has recreated a rich world for me.  I wish he had lived to finish the 21st.

[Hirilonde]

I am about to read the whole Aubrey/Maturin series all over again.  From technical detail to character development I found them outstanding. 

The movie was very well done in many respects Charlie.  The problem was that is isn't any of the books, but a mish mosh of the first 5 books thrown together rather hap hazzardly.  It was a perfect example of why movie makers should stop trying to improve on great story telling and concentrate on their craft of representing it.

And remember now all:

"You must always choose the lesser of two weavels"

[Rod Thompson]

As Tom said, many good books on boats and sailing.  LIke many of you I suspect, I have a small library of nautical adventures.  Am also a fan of Farley Mowat and the Boat that Wouldn't Float.  Few books have led me to laugh as loud and long as following his exploits in Newfoundland and crossing over to the mainland.  I would read it again except I loaned it to someone whose name escapes me.  In my view his best book is

"No Bird Sang" about his WWII experience.  Probably the toughest for him to write.

Two recommendations that come to mind are The Year of the Boat by Lawrence W. Cheek and The Saga of Cimba by Richard Maury.  "The Year" will be of interest to novice boat builders taking on a stitch and glue project (that would be me).  Cimba is about an early 30's voyage from Deleware to the Pacific in a Nova Scotia schooner.  The author went on to a lifelong career as a mariner.  It will appeal to those who like a poetic turn of phrase.

[Tom Lathrop]

Rod,

We are on the same wavelength.

"And No Birds Sang" is one of the best books on war and what it does to change those who get caught in the worst of it.  "The Saga of Cimba" is also on my shelf from many years ago.

I hope someone takes me up on Monserrat and his "Master Mariner- Running Proud".  Apparently it is not well known.  It's available for a pittance from ABE Books.  I guess I read fiction for pleasure and the Aubry series is too much like drudge work for me.  Best book I've read lately is "Watering the Elephants".  Ken Follett is a favorite author and "Pillars of the Earth" is my favorite of his books.

[Docpal]

Rod,

If you like Farley try to find a copy of either "Grey Seas Under", or "The Serpents Coil". They have been out of print for awhile, and I got lucky enough to find copies in a used book store down in Key West a few years back.

Resources like Amazon.com have been making it easier to find a lot of the older classics over the last few years.....

[Travis Votaw]

Tom, have you read "The Cruel Sea" by Monserrat?  It's about convoy duty in the North Atlantic in WWII; a very gripping story - written in 1951 I believe.

Another one similar is The Good Shepherd by C.S. Forrester

[Tom Lathrop]

I've read most of Mowat's books including the ones mentioned.  Then there is "The Siberians" which got him persona non grata by our ignorant State Department at the time.  He said some relatively complimentary things about how the Russians handled their native populations compared to the USA and Canada which upset some people.  "The Serpent's Coil" scared me and I spent almost three years on a Destroyer including two typhoons.  Well, I was too young and inexperienced to be scared then, I guess.

[Joe Anderson]

I just reread a book I have had  around for awhile.

Cruising at Last by Elliott Merrick

True North and Northern Nurse also by Merrick are very good. They are wonderful tales about Labrador and the frozen north.

For some strange reason I also started reading parts of

Fundamentals of Kayak Navigation by David Burch.

This book has a lot information important to small boat sailors. David describes several nonelectronic techniques for determining your position and course. There is a good section on chart reading. Another section I liked is the one on safety when traveling with other boat traffic.

David has a way of making some of this arcane but essential information understandable and interesting.

[Greg Luckett]

Joe, thanks for resurrecting this thread. I had forgotten about it but enjoyed rereading all of it and gleaning some book ideas. :grin:

[napaman]

glad this thread popped up so I could find it---all good stuff!!

I have just finished "In the Year of the Boat" as mentioned above---great for novice builders...

And last year read Daniel Robb's book "Sloop" about a Herreshoff 12 1/2 re-build...very good read...

I am now reading a biography on Joshua Slocum...called: "Alone at Sea--the adventures of Joshua Slcoum" by Ann Spencer...its pretty good...but it makes me wish I found his autobiography first...still a good read...

Next up sounds like I will get a copy of the Princess...

Thanks...hope this thread grows---maybe a new forum should be started called "THE LIBRARY" where people can submit book reviews...

matt

[Greg Luckett]

Matt,

That is a good idea. How about it Frank?

[ecgossett]

Look up Farley Mowat and "The Boat who Wouldn't Float" still a classic, and you may even learn something.. Another good one but aimed at youth is the Black Joke by Farley as well.

[Randy Jones]

My favorite is probably "The Last Great Grain Race" by Eric Newby.  It is a first person account of an 18 year olds round trip from England to Australia and back in 1938 as crew aboard the 4 masted Moshulu.  Out of print for years, it is now available again.  Always makes me appreciate having enough to eat and a dry place to sleep.

[Greg Luckett]

I found this at Amazon, The Last Grain Race [Paperback] Eric Newby. Is it the same book?

Thanks. :-)

My favorite is probably "The Last Great Grain Race" by Eric Newby.  It is a first person account of an 18 year olds round trip from England to Australia and back in 1938 as crew aboard the 4 masted Moshulu.  Out of print for years, it is now available again.  Always makes me appreciate having enough to eat and a dry place to sleep.