Novels of the nautical variety

[petem]

By some kind of weird logic Mrs Petem seems to have confused my occasional leering at Charlie Dimmock with admiration of Alan Titchmarsh and his literary abilities. Consequently what should appear in my stocking on Christmas morning, but the "Last Lighthouse Keeper" written by the TV gardener and housewife's favourite himself.

Looking at the back cover the book showed a glimmer of promise as it purported to tell the story of the last lighouse keeper who buys a motor boat and sails it round Britain.

To save anyone the trouble of reading it here is my review:-

Plot: Lightouse keeper in fictional cornish village buys ex Dunkirk little ship. Falls in love with girl. Discovers unlikely drug smuggling ring. Goes nowhere in the boat.

Affinity with the sea: Closest it got was when I dropped it in the bath.

Nautical references: Some references to 'Gin Palaces', 'GPS', 'Lobster pots', etc.

What's it good for: Might make a plot for 'Harbour Lights'.

Score: 4/10.

Anybody got any recommendations?

 

[burgundyben]

Can heartily reccomend Robin Know Johnston - Around alone, publshed in abart 1970 but a bloody good read, very nautical although mostly rag and stick, pulling ropes, sewing canvas etc, etc

Also, not read it yet but book called 'faster than the sun' by Peter Twiss, got a section on Fairey Marine (I am biased as a Huntress owner) but also he once held air speed record in Fairey plane so might be good read.

You might be online in middle of the night and on your own but its lunchtime in shaghai....must do some work now.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I can thoroughly reccomend Perfect Storm - not the film which was totally crap - but the book which is a riveting read

 

[BarryD]

Great (and I mean really great) historical novels are the Bolitho series by Alexandra Kent - all set in the late 1700 and early 1800 they follow Richard Bolitho from mid-shipman to Admiral, well worth reading.

Douglas Remman (the true name of Alexandra Kent) served in the Royal Navy in WWII and under this name he's written a lot of fiction about "modern" WWII era ship stories - also worth putting on the shelf.

For those who like more modern stuff - Clive Cussler and his roving hero Dirk Pitt have many adventures and amazing escapes that always seem to centre around the sea - Dik is supposed to work for some Govt. Agency that carries out sea surveys etc..

Ultra modern stuff - Derek Robinson (recent Shark Mutiny) very good but he alwyas kills off the best characters or dis-rates them.

I read a heck of a lot (not a lot else to do with 20 hours a week commuting) but I can't think of any author that covers modern small craft. If it's action/adventure I've probably read it <G>

IMHO and FWIW etc..



Barry D

 

[ari]

Remember many years ago reading an amazing true book called (I think) "Australia the hard way" by David Pyle, the story of how he sailed an 18ft open Drascombe Lugger to Australia!! Incredable.

Incidently, I believe that David Pyle is a director of Princess, anyone know if thats true? If so would explain why they are such good sea boats!!

Ari

 

[ari]

Oh, and...

Libby Purves, "Casting Off", woman escapes married life on family yacht alone and heads off along the south coast.

Libby Purves is a very keen yachtswoman so the boat is very well written from a boaty point of view and lots of stuff about sailing singlehanded and harbours and stuff and a good story too. Recommend it.

Ari

 

[DepSol]

I found it had too much detail and at some points made a good book a bit boring.

Dom

 

[miket]

Clare Francis has published 2 or 3 novels, (not the serious sailing jobs).

Boaty side fairly marginal but damned good read.

 

[petem]

Agreed.....

Read it a few years ago.

 

[claymore]

Patrick O'Brien books of Jack Aubrey are quite compelling -= bit like Bolitho/Hornblower but a bit more sailing detail

 

[Robin2]

The Hunt for Red October,

Anything nautical by Nicholas Monserrat (sorry if my spelling is wrong) if you can get it - especially The Master Mariner and Three Corvettes

Sea Change by Peter Nichols

 

[JohnR]

The Patrick O'Brian Aubrey-Maturin novels about the 18th century navy, I have read most of them.

 

[hlb]

But you dont need to go so far away.

Tales of the river Bank.

Show me the way Home. And the Sequel.

The Exploding Toilet.

And loads more.

Haydn

 

[piratequeen]

Also anything by Tristan jones, complete madman and explorer with one leg