Re: [Paddlewise] Books

"Cold Oceans" seems pretty good, so far, but the author seems too
hell-bent on achieving his destination rather than enjoying the
journey.  That's probably why his expeditions so often "fail".  I'm only
half-way through, and his newly found girlfried (wife-to-be), seems to
be making inroads towards changing this attitude.

Jonathan Waterman's book is also good.  However, his intermixings of his
struggle with his marriage seem awkwardly placed.  His descriptions of
the Sea of Cortez as a polluted wasteland are disturbing.

Everybody should absolutely read "The Starship and the Canoe".  I've
never read anything like it.  For you computer-geek/paddlers, George
Dyson's current work, "Darwin Among The Machines", while having nothing
to do with paddling, is thoroughly enjoyable, if a bit "intellectual".

Another book previously mentioned is Anne Linea's "Deep Water Passage". 
Her descriptions of paddling Lake Superior are, well, superior.  Unlike
Waterman, she does a great job of mixing in the emotions of her life
with her journey.  The only thing that bothered me was that here is a
woman who has the financial and other freedoms to undertake this type of
journey as well as month/summer long backpacking trips, etc. etc., who
spends an aweful lot of time whining about feeling trapped by her
obligations to family, career, etc.  Not surprisingly, the story finds
her returning from her journey to a husband she will leave, and kids she
will take from him as well.  I liked the writing, I liked the way the
story was told, but I didn't like the author much by the end.

If you've read all of the above (and below), and want something else
only peripherally related to paddling (Aleutians hunting whales from
kayaks, etc.), try James Michener's "Alaska".  It's pretty long, though.

Cheers,
Chris

Hal Levine wrote:
> 
> wildwater wrote:
> 
> > > I guess it's a sign of the season when all you northern paddlers spend more
> > > bandwidth discussing books then paddling <G>
> 
> I beg to differ.. I have more time and places to paddle. I can go places where
> the bugs and jet skis have abandoned until spring and I don't have to spend as
> much time mowing, weeding and pruning.  I do have some books to "recommend".
> 
> 1. Cold Oceans by Jon Turk -  It was interesting.  Although it's a new book his
> kayaking was done a number of years ago. I have to admit I did enjoy most of it.
> 2.  Happy Isles of Oceana by Paul Theroux -  If you like Theroux you will
> probably like this book.
> 3.  The Starship and the Canoe by Ken Brown - Its way out there but was a
> pleasant diversion.
> 4.  Kayaking the Vermilion Sea by Jonathon Waterman - I only wish I had the time
> to do the trip.
> 5.  The Log From the Sea of Cortez by Steinbeck - a classic
> 6.  Hunters of the Stormy Sea by Harold McCracken - Its a very good history of
> the sea otter hunting in Alaska. It was written in 1957 your library may have a
> dusty copy (mine did).
> 7.  Any Edward Abbey book.
> 
>     Hal
> 
>     Wilton, NH
> 
>     Power your boat with carbohydrates,
>     not hydrocarbons.
> 
>           http://www.jlc.net/~hlevin
> 
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
> ***************************************************************************

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************