One of the genres of books I have always enjoyed might best be labeled adventure/survival stories. This can be non fiction or fiction at its best. Be it at sea, on a mountain top, in the desert or wherever the odds of making it out alive are slim at best, that's what I want to read about. I was reminded of this, strangely enough, sorting through some pictures I took on a recent "leaf tour" of New England. I had a number of pictures of some of the famous "whaling towns" of Massachusetts. Thus, I was reminded of a book I had read shortly before our trip.
It was In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whale ship
Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick. It tells the story of the Whale ship Essex from
the point of view of Thomas Nickerson, who was a fourteen-year-old cabin boy on
the Essex. The book is based on a notebook written by Nickerson when in his
seventies which was lost until 1980. This true story was the basis of
Melville's classic tale of the men and the sea - Moby Dick.
As I took Mrs. T's picture standing in from of the famous
statue to those lost at sea, I couldn't help but think of those 20 men, whose
ship had been smashed by an angry sperm whale. In three small lifeboats, running
out of food and water, they were 3 months rowing distance away from the coast
of Chile to the east.
“They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in
great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For
he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is
melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken
man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble,
and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so
that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so
he bringeth them unto their desired haven.”
Psalms, 107:23-30,
If you like true life adventures Heart of the Sea is far
more reality than the pseudo kind found today on TV’s “reality shows.”
My roughfest time of year to keep up with reading. This sounds fun, but have been working on a book for the last three weeks.
ReplyDeleteCan you even imagine life at sea? I can't!
ReplyDeleteWhat a hard life the whalers lived. When were you on a leaf peeping tour in my neck of the woods? Hope you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. Good thing moving didn't mean moving and lifting boxes. It is snowing here...maybe some will come your way:)
ReplyDeleteRead about your moving things around a bit. Seems like we all do that on occasion if we blog much. Thanks for the book recommendation -- barbara
ReplyDeleteLife at sea isn't an easy thing. The book sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteThe book does sound interesting. I cannot imagine life at sea, though. Churns my stomach just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet that is an interesting read. I wouldn't have wanted to be a whaler.
ReplyDeleteI m happy to follow you, but if I might say so, that vivid blue bg is not easy on the eyes.
ReplyDeleteLife at sea??? What an adventure…..not for this land lover though. :)
ReplyDeleteI mut read that! I have a friend who is from Mattapoisett, MA, and I have visited that area (and the New Bedford whaling museum) many times!
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