January—June 2021
SWORD OF KINGS Bernard Cornwall
SATCHEL Larry Tye
SHACKLETON’S FORGOTTEN MEN Lennard Bickel
THE HORSE’S MOUTH Joyce Cary
BAD LAND Jonathan Raban
EMBERS Sandor Marai
EXTRAORDINARY LIVES various
IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE Sinclair Lewis
VEXATIONS Caitlin Horrocks
NEVER LET ME GO Kazuo Ishiguro
WOLVES OF EDEN Kevin McCarthy
DRACULA Bram Stoker
HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECTS
Neil MacGregor/British Museum
PEELER Kevin McCarthy
GULLAH DAYS Barnwell/Grant/Campbell
ARCH OF TRIUMPH Erich Maria Remarque
CAPTAIN WILLIAM HILTON AND THE FOUNDING OF
HILTON HEAD ISLAND Dwayne Pickett
THE PERFECT MILE Neil Bascomb
DEAD SOULS Nikolai Gogol
MACHINES LIKE ME Ian McEwan
CONVERSATIONS WITH BEETHOVEN Sanford Friedman
ALONE Michael Korda
1984 George Orwell
RETURN TO THE SEA Webb Chiles
There are many very good books in that list. I saved the best for last.
I bought a speedometer/odometer for my bicycle. It actually is a mini computer with a display the size of my Apple watch that attaches to the handle bar and records many things besides distance and speed. It functions via GPS. It cost $36.
Some of you may remember that I bought my first GPS, a handheld unit made by Sony, thirty years ago this fall in New Zealand. The GPS system was not officially in operation, but the satellites were up there and it worked. The Sony handheld was one of the least expensive available at the time. It cost $2000.
Lachlan Morton is in Paris. He made it faster than I expected, riding through the night and covering the last 579 kilometers/360 miles in nineteen hours. Impressive, indeed.
I have not been in Paris for many years, but I remember the traffic and thought the most dangerous part of Lachlan’s ride might be those last few miles. From the photos it seems he wisely arrived after dark.
https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/the-alt-tour
Webb - I continue to enjoy your writing immensely and your observations on life. Of course, we are all looking forward to hearing about the destination of your next voyage. Your teaser will keep us all reading every posting.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Scott
S/V Free Spirit
1975 Ranger 23
Los Angeles, CA
Scott.
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about that and I do not intent to tease. I have been and perhaps am still unsure of my commitment to next summer’s destination and reluctant to put myself irredeemably on the line, but I am becoming increasingly less reluctant and more certain. I will come clean soon.
I'm guessing Laphroaig Village, Islay, Scotland. 9Regardless, a worthy destination.)
ReplyDeleteYoung Sam Holmes is also reading your book pick for January as he single hands his cape dory across the Atlantic. https://youtu.be/oBvl_nq65KQ
ReplyDeleteI helped him work on his boat a bit and he came sailing on my CD25 a few times.
DeleteI always told him he needed to read webb's book. I was happy to see he took my recommendation. Also speaking of Sam, spoke to him briefly after his trip to Bermuda, he had steady winds the entire trip and only tacked twice and that was to heave to. It stuck me as a stark difference from webbs experience, I wonder if the secret is to sail during early hurricane season or if he just got lucky.
Zach
These people fuel our imagination. I am grateful for their presence. I sincerely thank them.
ReplyDelete