'Sailing Alone Around the World' by Joshua Slocum

I just bought this book, a first-hand account by the first person to sail solo around the world (in 1895-98). Some LT members recommended it, and it sounds like a great true adventure story.

So, is anyone interested in reading along with me?

Yes. I've had it on my TBR list since high school. (Wow, time flies.)

My local library has a copy. I can borrow it and read with you.

Caveat: I'm heading on Monday to a sunny clime for two weeks. I can read it and then pop in to discuss it with you after the 28th. Or, if you want to do a coordinated reading to discuss the chapters individually and would be willing to wait, I'll be back online around the 28th.

Hmm. Well, I've been really looking forward to this book for awhile. I don't want to wait, so maybe we can discuss it after we both read it?

>3 madpoet: Sounds great. Post your running thoughts here, and I'll respond when I get back with some of my own. Looking forward to it. I've not done a 'group' read on LT previously.

I'm about halfway through. Great story, but he doesn't do as much philosophizing about his journey as many travel writers. He pretty much sticks to what actually happened.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I won't mention any particular incident. It's interesting to see how much the mariner's fate is out of his control, dependent on weather and luck as much as his own skill. Even an expert pilot like Slocum gets into trouble, even runs aground a few times.

Slocum built the ship he sailed, himself. What an amazing character! Actually, my great-great-grandfather, along with his 4 brothers, built a ship which they used to immigrate to Canada, from England. I guess people were handier 100 years ago.

Another thing: it's curious how famous the Spray is, and how everyone seems to know about it, and gives Slocum hospitality and lots of gifts along the way, all around the world. I don't know how he got so much publicity, but it certainly helped him. Also, it says a lot about how globally connected the world was, even in the 1890s, before trans-oceanic cables or radio transmissions, and of course long before satellites and the Internet. Before he arrived in almost any port, news of his travels had preceded him.

Sea stories like this really make me want to take up sailing (if I had the time and money) but they also remind me how dangerous it is, and how much I'd need to learn before I could hope to follow in Capt. Slocum's wake.

I finished the tale. Highly recommended. I ended up wishing his voyage had lasted a little longer.