New Reads
SEVEN AT SEA
By Erik & Emily Orton, 2019
This autobiographical, courageous story unfolds from alternating perspectives of the New York City-based Orton family. A husband with no sailing experience, a wife with a deep-water phobia and five children — the youngest with Down syndrome — pack this New York Times best seller with resilience and truth during an uncertain journey 5,000 miles between Manhattan and the Caribbean. shadowmountain.com/product/seven-at-sea
UNCHARTED
By Janet Howle, 2020
This adventurous novel about two broken people thrown together to sail dangerous waters sets a dark, turbulent period in the history of the Bahamas as a backdrop for a present-day catastrophe. Drawing on the author’s extensive experience cruising these islands’ unspoiled seas, this riveting suspense story will captivate both seasoned and armchair sailors. janethowleauthor.com
SHIPPED
By Angie Hockman, 2021
This beachy rom-com places a workaholic marketing manager and her arch-nemesis coworker on a company cruise together to the Galápagos Islands. The kicker: they are up for the same promotion. Aboard the ship, they walk a thin line between loathing and liking each other as they compete for the new position in this enemies-to-lovers tale. angiehockman.com
THE FLOWER BOAT GIRL
By Larry Feign, 2021
Newly released this summer, this biographical novel is based on the true story of a 19th century Chinese woman who became the most powerful pirate in history. Her father traded away her youth and sold her to a floating brothel, and then she was kidnapped by sea bandits right after buying her freedom at 26 years old. This strong heroine protagonist’s story speaks volumes. piratequeenbook.com
Classics
THE SEA-WOLF
By Jack London, 1904
In this novel, a literary critic survives a ferry shipwreck and is rescued by a cynical yet powerful sea captain who is — quite frankly — losing his mind. This riveting psychological thriller touches on themes of bravery and survival, following a gentleman scholar who falls under the dominance of the brutal captain and devious, motley crew aboard the Ghost, a seal-hunting schooner. penguinrandomhouse.com
THE BOAT WHO WOULDN’T FLOAT
By Farley Mowat, 1969
Encountering sharks, rumrunners and a cast of unforgettable characters along the way, Mowat tells the story of sailing from the shores of Newfoundland to Lake Ontario with a plan to roam the seven seas on his troubled boat, The Happy Adventure. This entertaining book shares a love for boating and exploration with a twist of comedic relief. godine.com/book/boat-wouldnt-float
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA
By Ernest Hemingway, 1952
This epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life is a short yet heroic story by one of the leading 20th century American novelists. As Hemingway’s last major work of fiction published during his lifetime, its “destroyed but not defeated” moral is symbolic of the last years of his extraordinary life. simonandschuster.com/books/old-man-and-the-sea
LIFE OF PI
By Yann Martel, 2001
Made into a major motion picture, this fantasy fiction adventure tells a tale of a 16-year-old boy who survives a disaster at sea. The only other survivors from the wreck are a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger, resulting in an epic journey of enlightenment and discovery. penguinrandomhouse.ca
