My friend recently chose this author's 'Coasting' for our book group, and I enjoyed it so much I went on to read Passage to Juneau: A Sea and its meanings.
Raban is English by birth, but seems to have settled in Seattle, which has a pleasing ring to it. Coasting is an account of his first sailing trip round the British Isles, in the years of Thatcher and the decline of British industry. Evocative, charming and thoughtful.
Passage to Juneau is set in, I think, the late 90s. Raban sails from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska, through the Inside Passage, past Vancouver Island and extraordinary seas. I'm ashamed that I knew nothing at all of this part of the world, but I'm inspired to visit now. The awesome contrasts between the fathomless sea and the twee tourist homes, the fascinating history of the early explorers and their encounters with the native Americans, a complete de-bunking of the modern myths of the Indian 'at one with nature'.
Fantastic stuff - anyone else?
Raban is English by birth, but seems to have settled in Seattle, which has a pleasing ring to it. Coasting is an account of his first sailing trip round the British Isles, in the years of Thatcher and the decline of British industry. Evocative, charming and thoughtful.
Passage to Juneau is set in, I think, the late 90s. Raban sails from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska, through the Inside Passage, past Vancouver Island and extraordinary seas. I'm ashamed that I knew nothing at all of this part of the world, but I'm inspired to visit now. The awesome contrasts between the fathomless sea and the twee tourist homes, the fascinating history of the early explorers and their encounters with the native Americans, a complete de-bunking of the modern myths of the Indian 'at one with nature'.
Fantastic stuff - anyone else?