What are you reading now?

[miketx]

I read quite a lot and I always have since I was in middle school. Seems like I am always engrossed in some star system light years away fighting lizard people, or a time travel adventure or something. Today I started reading Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana jr. It's about a young man living in the 1830's who becomes ill and has his vision affected and with no medical remedy around, decides to sign up for a two year voyage from Boston to the west coast of the north American continent to load skins to sell. It was a trip for him to recover or die. Fortunately he recovered his vision and went on the write the book.
It's very detailed and tells the reader what daily life aboard the 85 foot Brig "Pilgrim" was like. Below is a recreation of the ship.

According to the book there were about 15 people aboard and they were very busy. They continually had to put up and take down the sails depending on the weather, and had to be on watch around the clock. So the sailors life was one kept busy! They had a compass and maritime chronometer and the ability to sail by the stars. The voyage took two years and is a wonderful tale of adventure on the high seas without all the hollywood hype thrown in. A good read if you are interested in history or sea going vessels of that period.

I figured I should post this to dispel some of the nasty rumors that I "can't read".

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Can I get it on Kindle?

 

[miketx]

Can I get it on Kindle?

That's the version I have. Amazon has it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0082XP72S/?tag=ff0d01-20

free.

 

[miketx]

And remember, this was before the Panama canal so you have to sail around cape horn. The Strait of Magellan and the Drake passage can be very dangerous.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

And remember, this was before the Panama canal so you have to sail around cape horn. The Strait of Magellan and the Drake passage can be very dangerous.

I'll check it out.
Sounds like an interesting tale.

 

[Toro]

If you like books about ships, read Endurance.

Absolutely one of the best true stories I’ve ever read.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

If you like books about ships, read Endurance.

Absolutely one of the best true stories I’ve ever read.

Who wrote it?

 

[miketx]

If you like books about ships, read Endurance.

Absolutely one of the best true stories I’ve ever read.

I have it, only a different title.

 

[miketx]

If you like books about ships, read Endurance.

Absolutely one of the best true stories I’ve ever read.

Who wrote it?

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Sweet!
Both are on Amazon!

 

[Cellblock2429]

I read quite a lot and I always have since I was in middle school. Seems like I am always engrossed in some star system light years away fighting lizard people, or a time travel adventure or something. Today I started reading Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana jr. It's about a young man living in the 1830's who becomes ill and has his vision affected and with no medical remedy around, decides to sign up for a two year voyage from Boston to the west coast of the north American continent to load skins to sell. It was a trip for him to recover or die. Fortunately he recovered his vision and went on the write the book.
It's very detailed and tells the reader what daily life aboard the 85 foot Brig "Pilgrim" was like. Below is a recreation of the ship.

According to the book there were about 15 people aboard and they were very busy. They continually had to put up and take down the sails depending on the weather, and had to be on watch around the clock. So the sailors life was one kept busy! They had a compass and maritime chronometer and the ability to sail by the stars. The voyage took two years and is a wonderful tale of adventure on the high seas without all the hollywood hype thrown in. A good read if you are interested in history or sea going vessels of that period.

I figured I should post this to dispel some of the nasty rumors that I "can't read".

/----/ Thanks, just ordered the print edition for $5 Amazon prime.

 

[miketx]

As I read the book, I have to stop all the time and look up a word like "Top-Gallant Sail", lol!

 

[OldLady]

In the Heart of the Sea is really good too, if you like ship adventures.

You have got to have a LOT of respect for those sailors back in the day. Unbelievable.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

All right you bastards...I've bought three books on your recommendations they better be good!!!

 

[miketx]

All right you bastards...I've bought three books on your recommendations they better be good!!!

Man! I was just kidding!

 

[miketx]

Language was so different back then!

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

As I read the book, I have to stop all the time and look up a word like "Top-Gallant Sail", lol!

I find myself doing that a lot.
The writer will bring up some fact or location and you just have to learn about to add depth to the story.

 

[miketx]

As I read the book, I have to stop all the time and look up a word like "Top-Gallant Sail", lol!

I find myself doing that a lot.
The writer will bring up some fact or location and you just have to learn about to add depth to the story.

Good thing I got the dictionary on my Fire!

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

As I read the book, I have to stop all the time and look up a word like "Top-Gallant Sail", lol!

I find myself doing that a lot.
The writer will bring up some fact or location and you just have to learn about to add depth to the story.

Good thing I got the dictionary on my Fire!

Had a few Fires.
They always died and the battery life sucked.
The paper white lasts for weeks.

 

[miketx]

As I read the book, I have to stop all the time and look up a word like "Top-Gallant Sail", lol!

I find myself doing that a lot.
The writer will bring up some fact or location and you just have to learn about to add depth to the story.

Good thing I got the dictionary on my Fire!

Had a few Fires.
They always died and the battery life sucked.
The paper white lasts for weeks.

So far mine is good.