Narrow Escape - A Year of Highs and Lows on Narrowboat Minerva

by Marie Browne

With its month by month and tongue in cheek look at the liveaboard year, Narrow Escape sets out to dispel the commonly held myths about this ‘idyllic’ lifestyle.

“Oh, you live on a boat? That must be really cold in the winter...” Or, “Oh, you live on a boat? It must be great being so close to nature...” Or, “Oh, you live on a boat? It must be fantastic to be able to go wherever you like, whenever you like...”

Narrow Escape sets out to dispel these commonly held public myths.

From how to avoid assassination by ninja stealth ducklings, through definitive proof that kittens are aliens and the best way to sleep at forty-five degrees, to the importance of having the right boating equipment; (a child’s plastic sledge and a never ending supply of cotton wool balls). This month by month account of one family’s liveaboard year takes a firmly tongue in cheek look at what it takes to enjoy the ‘idyllic’ lifestyle.

Genres: Travel, Biography

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2013

About the author

Marie Browne is a gently harrassed mother of three who, for the past fifteen years, has been desperately trying to escape the Customer Service Industry. Apart from her husband and kids, the best things in her life are real ale; barbecues; ugly mad dogs that nobody else wants and cream-covered designer coffees. She also has an obsession with shoes but her husband is threatening to get her help for that.

Reviews

[Emmalg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marie Browne's writing is very light and easy to read but I didn't enjoy this book as much as the others.

There is still a common story running through each chapter with the new marina owners but it doesn't hold the book together in quite the same way as the challenges previously faced in the others.

I would still like to read another, hopefully, covering the journey to Worcestershire in the future.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still amusing and I did enjoy reading about Marie and her family, but not as funny as her first book. However I hope there will be another, I would certainly buy it.

[Anne Flood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this light-hearted look at living an unusual lifestyle aboard a narrow boat. Made me realise this way of life isn't one I'd like to live myself, though.

[edward ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

Written with the style of a good story teller. I was left feeling as outraged by the new owners as she was. I am now reading her other books.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a trying year for Marie and family!
Coping with the extreme weather, a new landlord and problems with their boat; they still come out smiling.
Lots of "OMG" moments, and plenty of laughs.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable story.

[Robin Halvorson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the Series -- worth reading. I don't think that I will ever live on a narrow boat but I am intrigued by them.

[Ray Melville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very witty and amusing account of a year n the life of a narrow boat on Britain's waterways.

[Kaz Gaisford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole series of these narrow boat stories is very enjoyable.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story, but the run-on sentences sometimes wore me out.
Just with there had been tighter editing.