dernwyn
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Oct 8, 5:20pm
Views: 3675
|
I attempted James L. Haley's "A Darker Sea", his Master Commandant Putnam and the War of 1812 novel. Excellent descriptions of life in those times, but this novel requires far more knowledge of nautical and seafaring terms than I shall ever acquire. I need to "visualize" what I'm reading, and had to put it down over half-way through as I was no longer able to understand what was happening.
"Two Tankers Down: The Greatest Small-Boat Rescue in U.S. Coast Guard History" by Robert Frump. Now THIS I could not put down, having already read "Their Finest Hours" (and seen the movie based on it several times, and hubby having Chatham (Cape Cod) family history makes it real to us). This is the full story of the two tankers that split in half during the 1952 storm. It begins with describing these types of oil tankers and their construction history in laymen's terms, so by the time they get to Cape Cod you know that they are disasters waiting to happen. The four rescues - three mostly successful, one not at all, at the bows and sterns of both ships - are described so well that you can envision yourself there. Not surprising, since the author interviewed many of the survivors. And then he continues with how much the press and Coast Guard made of the pilot who led the boat handling the Pendelton stern rescue's "heroism", singling him out, that it negatively affect his career.
"The Hunt for Red October" by Tom Clancy. Very interesting how this is similar and very dis-similar from the movie, but overall a good fun read.
"Making It So" by Patrick Stewart. A pleasant and candid read, Stewart writes like a story-teller. Of course there was not as much Ian McKellan in there as I should have liked! 
Currently reading "A History of the World in 12 Shipwrecks" by David Gibbins, which details shipwrecks discovered throughout the world and what they prove or disprove about the cultures of those times. A bit heavy, but fascinating.
"Atlas of Extinct Countries" piques my curiosity, it's going on my long "To Be Read in Retirement" list, thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I desired dragons with a profound desire"
(This post was edited by dernwyn on Oct 8, 5:24pm)
|
