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Rita Pomade

Teoksen Seeker: A Sea Odyssey (19) (MiroLand) tekijä

2 teosta 3 jäsentä 1 Review

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I knew Seeker: A Sea Odyssey by Rita Pomade was going to be a compelling story before I even read the first word. First of all, I know nothing about sailing so I was curious and second, the notion of leaving a steady job to sail around the world is intriguing, something dreams are made of. To say that it would take courage is an understatement. So while I expected an exciting, romantic adventure, I found myself mesmerized as much by Rita’s inner journey as I did by her detailed guide to the art and science of sailing.

Throughout a seemingly mundane list of day-to-day activities necessary for pulling off a sailing trip around the world (this left me reeling at all the things that can go wrong and all the work that has to go into keeping the sailboat functional), the author weaves a multilayered narrative of a troubled marriage, a woman trying to find her way. The sailing trip becomes a metaphor for learning how to control what she can and how to give in to what she cannot control. As the storm winds blow and she and her husband, Bernard encounter obstacles in maintaining the course, Rita begins to take her life lessons from the sea.
Rita’s descriptions and sensory details pull me right into the scenes. The tiny details of the sailboat, the people, and the places they visit are stunning and helped me to experience her journey first-hand. She offers reflections and introspections boldly and honestly without an ounce of self-pity, leaving me feeling the tensions and subtle and not so subtle changes in her relationship with Bernard. While he obsessively cares for the yacht at the expense of their relationship, she goes off to explore the surrounding culture. He begins drinking daily and though she notices Bernard’s mood changes, she does not immediately connect the drinking with his strange behavior. She doesn’t want to believe her marriage is in trouble. Her character development is multidimensional and believable. When I see Bernard’s fun-loving, caring side, I am able to experience the pain when he becomes aloof and dismissive. I feel Rita’s building frustration with his inability to openly communicate and by the time she eventually makes a firm decision about their relationship, I experience relief that Rita has come through this journey a stronger and more confident woman. In seeking Shangri-la, she is personally transformed by the journey. She is the heroine and I am rooting for her. When Rita was a young girl, her mother told her to always be open to new experiences which she shows in graphic detail.

This story could be a guidebook for anyone sailing to far off places. But it goes way beyond that by being an engaging, believable and courageous story of how one woman has the courage to face the unknown and look deeply within herself to find her own happiness. A beautifully-written, well-paced and captivating memoir that reinforces the gifts available to us when we are willing to step outside our comfort zones.
… (lisätietoja)
 
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kathleen.pooler | Jul 28, 2020 |

Tilastot

Teokset
2
Jäseniä
3
Suosituimmuussija
#1,791,150
Arvio (tähdet)
5.0
Kirja-arvosteluja
1
ISBN:t
2