Books to Read

bastonjock

bastonjock

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One of the joys i get from sailing is the oportunity to be able to read a good novel in peace and quiet.Ive just finished a book by Bernard Cornwell,its a historical Novel set around the time of King Alfred.Its got an interesting angle for East Coast sailors as a lot of the action takes place around Benfleet,the Thames,Orwell and the Stour,apparently there was a large battle between the saxons and the Vikings on the Stour.

Wonder if the Stour has changed much since 875 AD ?
 
Hi Clive

The book is called sword song.Its one of a series set in an around King Alfreds time,its Saxons v celts,danes and norsemen.

ive also started the Sharpe series of books,ive read 1 &2 now i need to get the next couple,what i liked about BC,s books is that he qualifies the historical truth at the end of the book.
 
Sounds great, I'll get it. Just read his 'Azincourt', terrific read, based on the siege of Barfleur and the Battle of Agincourt. Un-put-down-able.
 
Books to read

I've treated myself to the Swallows and Amazons books by Arthur Ransome. I read some of them as a kid, but they're so well written I'm enjoying them again as an adult. Fresh from their adventures in Swallows and Amazons, Susan, John, Titty and Roger take on the challenges of the tides, mudflats and pirates in the estuaries of the East Coast. When the children are invited aboard The Goblin at Pin Mill, they have no idea that their world is about to become a larger, scarier place............

I love the innocence of these books, after all what's wrong with a name like Titty? :D

Anyone else have any reading suggestions for times aboard?
 
I second Mrs Sea Mist II. I have a very battered set of AR's books that have been read innumerable times in the last 40 years. I had the pleasure of introducing my son to sailing via Swallows and Amazons about 4 years ago.

Another recommendation for a children's sailing book that can be enjoyed by adults is The Brotherhood of Pirates by William Gilkerson....

.... and a book to avoid is Sail by James Patterson - spoilt by far too many nautical errors.
 
bastonjock said:
Neil you can get a copy at the Garden center just North of Baston,its a hardback at 2.99
Click to expand...

Mat, Would you pick one up for me?

PS sat is not looking too good.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Cloudy and breezy with rain at times on Friday. Rain clearing to scattered, blustery showers, strong winds and sunny spells on Saturday. Bright or sunny on Sunday with fewer showers.

Updated: 0301 on Wed 30 Sep 2009
 
BC is an excellent author. Just finished Azincourt. More blood and guts than his boaty ones but still very well written (bit like his Viking ones). Since this has a boat theme, also enjoy Clare Francis as a writer. It is a shame that both of these, (and Sam Llewelyn) don't seem to write boating stories these days.

Due to an offer at the bookshop I also bought James Patterson's 'Sail'. Surfice it to say I will not be reading one of his books again!
 
Transatlantic at Last by Helen Tew - sailing across the pond at 89, with her son, in a 26ft wooden boat after being disappointed as a young girl when her father said is wasn't suitable for a girl. Made me feel a wimp:o

In the Oxfam shop in Woodbridge I bought a novel The Estuary about the Deben, Felixstowe Ferry nad Bawdsey in 1953 floods. If it's any good I pass it round - if it isn't then I'll give it back to Oxfam!

"My Three Grey Mistresses" (Memoirs of a lad from Leigh) - Stewart Platt. About his sailing exploits - one of his boats "Celadine" used to be on a mooring in Pyefleet. Big hardback available for loan.
 
I read Helen Tew's book a couple of years ago - very humbling. It was interesting how she seemed to find northern Europe populated by members of her RCC (I think it was).

A book of local interest I enjoyed a lot recently was "Suffolk Invasion" by Frank Hussey, mainly about Landguard Fort and the Dutch invasion of 1667. Very well written by someone who understands yachting.
 
I'd vote for The Navigator by Morris West as an interesting one.

The story of one man's search for an uncharted, legendary island to which all navigators are said to go on the eve of their deaths.

All this mention of BC books, I thought it was about the cavemen cartoon series by Johnny Hart.

This one makes me think of marina diesel pricing.....

BCoil.gif
 
johnalison said:
I read Helen Tew's book a couple of years ago - very humbling. It was interesting how she seemed to find northern Europe populated by members of her RCC (I think it was).
Click to expand...
I met Helen Tew in the '80s when I was a cadet member of the Royal Cruising Club - a formidable Lady. Consdering the RCC only has 400 members they do seem to have covered most of the globe, maybe that is why at 28 when my cadetship came to an end I did not feel worthy to try & go for full membership!
 
MoodySabre said:
"Celadine" used to be on a mooring in Pyefleet.
Click to expand...

She still is. Now painted green, though, not grey.

Not nautical, but Hilary Mantel's "Wolf Hall" is one of the best books I've read for a very long time. Up for the Booker Prize and I'll be surprised if it doesn't win. (But don't let that put you off)
 
Celandine used to be in Heybridge Basin in the 70s. She was mentioned in YM as having cruised to the Channel Islands and I remember thinking how adventurous that sounded. I used to meet the owner a few years ago in the Nottage but haven't seen him lately.
 
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