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From: Bob Denton <BDenton_at_aquagulf.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 09:23:26 -0500
I guess it's a sign of the season when all you northern paddlers spend more
bandwidth discussing books then paddling <G>

Cya 

Bob Denton
S. Florida 

(Water Temp : 79F)

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From: wildwater <wildoats_at_ionet.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 08:39:52 -0600
> I guess it's a sign of the season when all you northern paddlers spend more
> bandwidth discussing books then paddling <G>
>
> Cya
>
> Bob Denton
> S. Florida
>
> (Water Temp : 79F)

Keep talking like that and we'll all grab our boats and come winter at your
house.  Hope you have lots of room and food.  :-)  Seaya!!

Alice


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From: Hal Levine <hlevin_at_jlc.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 10:24:26 -0500
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


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From: Christopher E. Bush <chris.bush_at_stratos.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 14:33:02 -0500
"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
> 
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From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1998 17:40:46 -0800
Christopher E. Bush wrote:
> 
> 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. [snip]

I read this book, also, and found it kind of a disturbing read.  The narrative of the trip was OK,
with lots of sturm and drang re:  paddling.  But, the dynamics between Waterman and his wife really
ate into me.  Made me want to take the two of them aside and "speak to them sternly."  The pollution
was not exaggerated.

> 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.  [snip]

Sounds like a good read.
-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
sea kayaker
chemist
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From: Alex Ferguson <a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 13:38:20 +0000
[HL]
> 2.  Happy Isles of Oceana by Paul Theroux -  If you like Theroux you will
> probably like this book.

There was a question of accuracy relating to Tristan Jones, 
here's another writer with inaccuracies. Theroux at his usual 
unlikeable self. With reference to his Fiji section, inaccurate 
and unlikeable. One village he was unwelcome at, we had 
them begging us to come to stay at their village versus the 
other village. Incidently if you paddle west from 
Nambuwala, there's 100+ km of open sea. I was told that he 
had time to write one section of the Australian bit or paddle 
it but not do both .....

> 3.  The Starship and the Canoe by Ken Brown - Its way out there but was a
> pleasant diversion.

Definitely interesting.

> 4.  Kayaking the Vermilion Sea by Jonathon Waterman - I only wish I had the time
> to do the trip.

As others noted, an odd couple. So much nicer to have a 
compatable paddling companion.


--
----------------------------------------------------
Alex Ferguson      a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz
Electronics Workshop, Chem Dept, Univ of Canterbury
Christchurch, New Zealand
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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 21:12:02 -0500 (EST)
On Mon, 23 Nov 1998, Alex Ferguson wrote:

> > 2.  Happy Isles of Oceana by Paul Theroux -  If you like Theroux you will
> > probably like this book.
> 
> here's another writer with inaccuracies. Theroux at his usual 
> unlikeable self. With reference to his Fiji section, inaccurate 
> and unlikeable. 

Amen to that. As I recall, there was one island he liked out of about 50
he visited. Judging from this book, Oceania is peopled by brutish louts
living in filthy conditions. I don't think that's true.

I've read several of Theroux's travel books and he seems to
be totally disgruntled at everyone he meets. I frequently find myself
staying "Paul, why don't you just stay home?"


Steve Cramer                     
Test Scoring & Reporting Services      Sometimes you never can 
University of Georgia                    always tell what you 
Athens, GA 30602-5593                      least expect the most.


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From: <volinjo_at_juno.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Books
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 11:33:19 -0500
sounds like fun.  when would you want to do it?  my husband & i might be
interested, if it can fit an academic calendar (i.e., sometime in
january, between semesters).

On Fri, 20 Nov 1998 11:04:19 -0500 Bob Denton <BDenton_at_aquagulf.com>
writes:
>Comooon Down!
>
>Actually if anyone would be interested in a FL Cyber Paddle, I'd be 
>happy to
>organize one. I used to do an annual Cyberdive for the divers on 
>Compuserve.
>We averaged around 30 divers per event. Maybe a tour of the Keys or
>Everglades?
>
>cya
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