Review of Bluewater Walkabout
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Macha Marumo Mphela
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Review of Bluewater Walkabout
[Following is a volunteer review of "Bluewater Walkabout" by Tina Dreffin.]
Tina Dreffin met Peter, her husband, at a time when her career and general feeling of relationships was in precarious waters. She had just quit her job in sales for a property company, without any idea how she would make the next rent. After an eventful day that saw her car impounded and saw her confidence chipped by a corporate sexual predator, she had no other choice but to leap and leave her job. This attitude would prove to linger when she met Peter. He was a free spirit whose life was aboard boats, and he would instantly re-awaken her adventurous side. He soon swooped her off her feet and into a life at sea. Bluewater Walkabout: Into Africa is a memoir of the author's life as she and her young family sailed the dangerous waters of the South African coast, gliding all the way to the Caribbean.
This book is marketed as a memoir, but, for the most part, it felt as though I was reading an adventure novel instead. It's full of very dramatic, hair-raising encounters with wildlife and nature. It's pulsating and intense, and told so well that I felt as though I was an actual witness of all the drama. The Kruger National Park expedition was my favourite of the stories. It is exactly what I would expect a safari excursion would be, but it gave me more. The more personal parts of the book were also very honest and necessary. Although the author shares that there were some apprehension from others about the inclusion of some of the details, I did find those parts highly necessary for a complete story to be told. It made me connect with the author instantaneously, and it gave her a humanity I appreciated.
Pictures and quotes begin each chapter. I always like a relevant quote that sets the tone for what's ahead. Quotes from some larger-than-life figures such as, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, and Oscar Wilde adorn the pages. The pictures are also personal memorabilia that the family experienced on their very long journey. This gave the book a very personal touch that made it a little extra special.
The editing is the only sore point of the book. Some of the errors I noticed involved the incorrect naming of towns and cities, which could have been easily avoided by a simple internet search. This part of the critique is the only reason I will not give the book a perfect rating. 3 out of 4 stars is the rating I will go for in this instance. It's a worthy read that shows tenacity and strength.
As I have stated before, this book is more adventure novel than it is a memoir. At least that's what I think. As thus, I would recommend it to those who either enjoy a good memoir or those who would rather read adventure novels. This will satisfy either reader immensely. Just be aware that there are some strong themes of sexual assault that may be disturbing.
******
Bluewater Walkabout
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tina Dreffin met Peter, her husband, at a time when her career and general feeling of relationships was in precarious waters. She had just quit her job in sales for a property company, without any idea how she would make the next rent. After an eventful day that saw her car impounded and saw her confidence chipped by a corporate sexual predator, she had no other choice but to leap and leave her job. This attitude would prove to linger when she met Peter. He was a free spirit whose life was aboard boats, and he would instantly re-awaken her adventurous side. He soon swooped her off her feet and into a life at sea. Bluewater Walkabout: Into Africa is a memoir of the author's life as she and her young family sailed the dangerous waters of the South African coast, gliding all the way to the Caribbean.
This book is marketed as a memoir, but, for the most part, it felt as though I was reading an adventure novel instead. It's full of very dramatic, hair-raising encounters with wildlife and nature. It's pulsating and intense, and told so well that I felt as though I was an actual witness of all the drama. The Kruger National Park expedition was my favourite of the stories. It is exactly what I would expect a safari excursion would be, but it gave me more. The more personal parts of the book were also very honest and necessary. Although the author shares that there were some apprehension from others about the inclusion of some of the details, I did find those parts highly necessary for a complete story to be told. It made me connect with the author instantaneously, and it gave her a humanity I appreciated.
Pictures and quotes begin each chapter. I always like a relevant quote that sets the tone for what's ahead. Quotes from some larger-than-life figures such as, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, William Shakespeare, and Oscar Wilde adorn the pages. The pictures are also personal memorabilia that the family experienced on their very long journey. This gave the book a very personal touch that made it a little extra special.
The editing is the only sore point of the book. Some of the errors I noticed involved the incorrect naming of towns and cities, which could have been easily avoided by a simple internet search. This part of the critique is the only reason I will not give the book a perfect rating. 3 out of 4 stars is the rating I will go for in this instance. It's a worthy read that shows tenacity and strength.
As I have stated before, this book is more adventure novel than it is a memoir. At least that's what I think. As thus, I would recommend it to those who either enjoy a good memoir or those who would rather read adventure novels. This will satisfy either reader immensely. Just be aware that there are some strong themes of sexual assault that may be disturbing.
******
Bluewater Walkabout
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Advanced Lotto Rotation System by Joseph Z Vlasic
