A Ship's Tale
4.8
5
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Paperback
USD
24.11
$24.11
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781932482034 |
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| Publisher: | Bitingduck Press |
| Publication date: | 01/31/2006 |
| Pages: | 454 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.01(d) |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Ship's Tale
4.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
5 reviews.
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The cover itself draws one in. Especially if one is a lover of tall ships, their mystery, their myriad stories.
This book is written for proficient readers of any age. A SHIP'S TALE contains several story threads that run the action swiftly. The characters are engaging, strong, and each is fully drawn in compelling, unforgettable detail. A SHIP'S TALE sustains suspense from event to event nonstop up through the riveting and exhilarating cappng scenes. Highly recommended.
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A conspiracy of sailors The old square-rigger Bonnie Clyde, a derelict ship, was slated to be scrapped. Or so the British Admiralty thought. How she ended up in a gale with an unlikely crew is the focus of N. Jay Young's delightful novel, A Ship's Tale. The reader is treated to the antics of a group of men brought together in 1946 by their love of the sea and the desire to preserve a piece of their country's maritime heritage. And so, the salvage work begins in earnest, and in secret, to spirit Bonnie Clyde to Scotland from her present home on the Thames. When Flynn, a former Royal Navy Officer, comes upon the ship and throws in his lot with Bowman, Harris, Edward and Boris, little does he realize that the next few weeks will be a: challenge to all and will permanently alter their lives. Yet, in spite of such obstacles as government officials, Flynn's regular job, and the persistent shortages in England after the war, they manage to hatch a very clever scheme. Each participant in this 'piracy' has specific jobs that usually require intrigue and more than a little bending of the law. Little by little, though, they come together to form a cohesive crew. And what a crew it is. Besides the old seafarers, there are 20 untested crewmen, an unlikely stowaway and a very surprising cook. How they join talents to make the plan work is the treat. We find ourselves willing accomplices in their ruses, admiring their cleverness and cheering them along. Seamen are like a fraternity and a number of them-including a U.S. Navy submarinebecome co-conspirators who use their boats to help the ship evade detection and surrender once spotter planes, MTB¿s (motor torpedo boats) and the Coast Patrol get into the act. A reporter, sympathetic to the mission of Bonnie Clyde and aware of a rollicking good story when he sees one, manages to get the British public on the side of the crew as well. That certainly gives the Admiralty something to think about. Friends on land, with the help of ham radio operators, are able to keep the crew abreast of what's being published in the papers and how far the investigation by Scotland Yard has proceeded. The first half of A Ship's Tale pulls the reader into the plotting by the crew, not only revealing what's being done to prepare the square-rigger for her rescue from the scrap heap, but also giving us very defined characters. Young weaves together the various subplots very deftly, so that, even though you want to know what ultimately happens to the ship, you can savor the time the author takes in setting the scene and building the background. You don't want to rush through this part there are revelations and laughs when you least expect them. The rest of the book, of course, covers the journey to Dumbarton, Scotland. At this point, you've gotten to know the characters really well, and Young puts the 'reader right next to then}' wherever the action on the ship takes place. This is good, clear writing that lets even the landlubber understand what's going on. Young also does a neat job wrapping up the crew's individual stories. All of which makes A Ship's Tale a satisfying, highly enjoyable read. --Liz Shaw
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Well written and easy to read, A Ship¿s Tale has it all: Bungling bureaucrats, a sweet romance, the draw of the sea, and salty characters from around the UK and their interactions with each other found me laughing out loud. Set in England,1946, the reader catches a glimpse of pub life from the back room and the resilience of the British people who turn bomb craters into duck ponds or drag their foot to stop their brakeless car. The first half of the book finds the characters we learn to love preparing the Bonnie Clyde, a square-rigger soon to be scuttled, for escape and a final voyage unknown to the powers that be. In the second half, the Admiralty, and Scotland Yard, tries to apprehend the Bonnie Clyde and its crew. Storms, clever diversions, and public opinion give our heroes a chance to outwit the entire British Admiralty, astonish its government, and made modern technology nearly obsolete in this effort. The ending was a complete surprise which brought tears through the cheering. Anyone who enjoys the twists and turns of a good adventure story, cheers for the underdog, or routinely gets lost in a book full of loveable characters, will find much to enjoy in A Ship¿s Tale.
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For anyone who has ever gone to sea, there is an understanding that that you either fall in love with the ocean and the life it offers, or 'swallow the anchor' and come ashore. As you spend time at sea, taking both the best and the worst that the ocean gives you, there comes a time when you realize how close a bond you share with your shipmates, and that there are few loves stronger than those one has for their ship. Young vividly captures this truth in 'A Ship's Tale,' and I can empathize with those men who love that ship - for I, too have loved and lost (a ship). Compelling, true to life, and hitting straight in the heart, I encourage anyone with a love of the sea, as well as those of you who are in a relationship with one of us 'ship loving' types needs to read this book. James P. Delgado, Host of National Geographic' Television's 'The Sea Hunters'
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