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lanid's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
tense
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
amberacks12's review
5.0
An incredible recounting of one young girl's incredibly foolish but amazing goal of circumnavigating to world in a sailboat by herself. I finished this book in a daze, it sucked me in. I travelled around the world with Tania from my flight to Utah. Maybe it was especially poignant to me as I had just gotten back from an international whirlwind trip to Peru. But I felt like I lived that trip with her. The emotions and the worries were portrayed in such a real way, that I couldn't help but feel as if I was there with her the whole way. And I couldn't help feeling the pull again of travel. An incredible story, an incredible way to see the world.
skjacksontum's review
3.0
So, I enjoyed this story, for that is what it is, a story. I have to take with a grain of salt the memories of over 30 years ago for it to be autobiographical. The author is around my age, and I can tell you, I could not describe to the detail this book has of her travels of my life in the 80's. But I did enjoy the book.
I do have to say I feel no love for her father in anyway. I feel her dad's way of dealing with how Tania rebelled in her teen years, which was a normal reaction to her parent's inability to deal with their personal life and drug their kids through custody hell, was irresponsible. Regardless of how he was raised, old Northern European style, it is not an excuse in 1980's America. The tough love approach almost killed his daughter, in the first week alone.
That and the fact that he set his daughter off on a solo journey at 18 with little to no experience in a boat that was not tested was almost criminal. I don't know much about sailing, just what I read. However, I do know that the boat should have been run through some sea trials. And his ability to jump on a plane at the drop of a hat at last moment to either meet her at a port (at least 3 times) or go off on a race on his own, just seems fantastical to me... or they are a wealthy family and it just isn't brought up. Based on how her parent's seem to drag the kids to Europe and back makes me think they had a lot of money.
The journey itself was fascinating. I've read other sailing and if anything it shows how the sailing community does take care of its own.
Read it for what it is - a good sea yarn.
I do have to say I feel no love for her father in anyway. I feel her dad's way of dealing with how Tania rebelled in her teen years, which was a normal reaction to her parent's inability to deal with their personal life and drug their kids through custody hell, was irresponsible. Regardless of how he was raised, old Northern European style, it is not an excuse in 1980's America. The tough love approach almost killed his daughter, in the first week alone.
That and the fact that he set his daughter off on a solo journey at 18 with little to no experience in a boat that was not tested was almost criminal. I don't know much about sailing, just what I read. However, I do know that the boat should have been run through some sea trials. And his ability to jump on a plane at the drop of a hat at last moment to either meet her at a port (at least 3 times) or go off on a race on his own, just seems fantastical to me... or they are a wealthy family and it just isn't brought up. Based on how her parent's seem to drag the kids to Europe and back makes me think they had a lot of money.
The journey itself was fascinating. I've read other sailing and if anything it shows how the sailing community does take care of its own.
Read it for what it is - a good sea yarn.
syebba's review against another edition
5.0
At the age of 15, this was one of the best books I have ever read and Tania's courage is inspiring.
ralswoods's review against another edition
5.0
If you read this book you are guaranteed to want to drop everything a buy a sailboat! Tania inspiring story about her Vosges around the world sparks a deep sense of adventure in me. Probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year!!
nkmeyers's review
3.0
In my GR favorite quotes you'll find the following: "There's nothing ... absolutely nothing ... half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats" -these words of Kenneth Grahame's from Wind in the Willows were cemented in my mind by my boat building father from such a young age that I can't remember ever not knowing them! or doubting them. After reading Aebi's memoir, it is clear that these words of wisdom are still worth quoting today! If you ever wake up and question whether what you're doing is worthwhile, for god's sake take the day off and get out on the water! if you need to take a couple years off and sail around the world or simply around the same little lake every day, I'm not sure if it even matters where you go! Just get in the boat!
mbraojos's review against another edition
4.0
Wow!
Wow, what a story.
Feels and IS real.
Kudos to you for your bravery and strength of character to do things that many of us only dream of doing.
Wow, what a story.
Feels and IS real.
Kudos to you for your bravery and strength of character to do things that many of us only dream of doing.
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