Be introduced to a new anti-hero. Meade Breeze lives on the far outskirts of society with no visible means of support. He survives on his wits and a meager income derived from selling home-grown dope to suburban housewives and home-brewed rum to bums in the park. He’s also on the run from his past misdeeds. He fears it will all catch up with him someday, so he stays on the move aboard his classic trawler. Explore the Gulf Coast Islands, Florida Keys, and the Bahamas with Breeze, but keep one eye over your shoulder. His mission to return his dead wife’s ashes to their special place seems hopeless. He’s going nowhere fast until a chance encounter with a lover from his past changes his luck . . . or does it?
He had me at Trawler Trash. When I dove into this book, I didn't know what to expect. Within minutes, Robinson ignited memories of places I'd nearly forgotten about. I love reading books about places I know, written by an author that's been there and done that. I've no doubt Robinson and I crossed wakes more than once and probably bumped elbows at Dockside once or twice.
Trawler Trash is a first rate novel about living, no make that surviving life afloat as told by someone who has done it. Full of heady descriptions of the southwest coast of Florida, the Keys, the Bahamas, Out Islands, all the way down to the British Virgin Islands, every description spot on. I highly recommend this sea story to anyone from those that have visited El Caribe, to the seasoned waterman.
Trawler Trash: Confessions of a Boat Bum: Trawler Trash Book 1 is by Ed Robinson. This is a fiction series but it uses real people and places but the events are basically fiction. This series follows the adventures of Meade Edwin Breeze as he works his way across the Carribbean and back. Breeze, as he was called, was at loose ends. His anchor, Laura, had died. She had been the “love of his life” and with her he had led a charmed life; but without her, his life fell apart. He couldn’t function at all. When he finally returned to work, he could do nothing. Then, it occurred to him that he could get rid of everything and buy a boat that he could live on and travel the islands on. He and Laura had dreamed of leaving everything behind and going on a long cruise. He cleaned out his house, put the details of a wrongful death lawsuit in the hands of his lawyer, embezzled money from his company, and headed for the Florida coast. He purchased a boat and named her A Leap of Faith as he and Laura had wanted. He set out to sail to the British Virgin Islands and spread Laura’s ashes there. He needed more money before he headed to the BVI so he decided to grow pot on a deserted island off the coast of Florida and also made illegal rum. On his trips to sell his pot and rum and make money, he ran into some unique characters. Some were to be friends and some were to be enemies. His adventures began.
I agree with other reviewers, the title does not do the book justice. This is an artfully told story about a man whose world has come crashing down around him. His loss and despair are palpable. As a wannabe sailor, I relished ever word about his travels to and through the Caribbean and everything he did along the way. The storms in the open ocean were described so vividly, my heart literally pounded. But beyond all that, this is a story about love and almost-love, told so poignantly the raw pain comes through sharp and clear. I was sad when I came to the end of the book, and for me that is rare. Aside from too many typos that jarred me out of the story (and those can be fixed) this is very well done. Bravo.
I lived in FL (Bradenton) for a while and did a lot of sailing, so I enjoyed this book. Accurate depictions of real places and procedures while boating which is rare for some reason in the literary world. It does seem to just start and end abruptly, but it has to start and end somewhere, I suppose. Quick read, I was interested in the main character and hope to read more about his (mis)adventures. It reminds me of a Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey treatment, but more realistic.
Great little book! I liked the story and I liked the characters-well told and engaging. Several times I found myself craving rum, cheeseburgers, and Jim Morris tunes.
I love historical events like this. Boats and historical events are what make me love reading. Could you please share the sequel books of your series?
In fact, even though I started reading very late, I'm getting more and more immersed every day.
It is a great chance to read the books of important authors. I know that. I'm looking forward to your new books.
I am writing the importance of reading a book here for friends who want to read this book. I hope it will benefit sellers and customers...
Are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
While reading, we have to remember different characters and settings that belong to a given story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you have to remember the details throughout the time you take to read the book. Therefore, reading is a workout for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading is a Form of (free) Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV shows and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading. Most importantly, it’s free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and the Ability to Focus
We can all agree that reading cannot happen without focus and in order to fully understand the story, we have to concentrate on each page that we read. In a world where gadgets are only getting faster and shortening our attention span, we need to constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, therefore, improving your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it is time to sleep. Now, more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. Therefore, by setting your phone aside and picking up a book, you are telling your brain that it is time to quiet down. Moreover, since reading helps you de-stress, doing so right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve the quality of sleep.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always filled with fun and interesting facts. Whether you read fiction or non-fictions, books have the ability to provide us with information we would’ve otherwise not known. Reading a variety of topics can make you a more knowledgeable person, in turn improving your conversation skills.
7. Reading is Motivational
By reading books about protagonists who have overcome challenges, we are oftentimes encouraged to do the same. The right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive, regardless of whether it’s a romance novel or a self-help book.
Confessions of a Beach Bum - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Ed Robinson's quirkily-named Confessions of a Beach Bum is the series opener of his Trawler Trash series, starring Meade Edwin Breeze, or just Breeze to his friends. After losing his beloved wife Laura to a freak medical mishap, Breeze vows to sprinkle her ashes on the BVI beach where he proposed to her. Having fallen on hard times financially, Breeze embezzles cash from his employers and having fuelled up his yacht, Leap of Faith, (aka Miss Leap) heads away from mainland Florida, before the Feds can catch him. What sets back his original mission? Where does he take up farming and brewing? Whom does he meet unexpectedly from his past?
A great tragi-comic adventure, that reminded me of Mike B. Good's comic pot-growing/smuggling adventure novels and David F. Berens' Bodean Brothers books, Confessions of a Beach Bum by Ed Robinson, is the perfect escapist comedy-thriller to while away an hour or two and make you forget all about Covid-19 risks and Lockdown restrictions, on a wave of nostalgia and optimism.
The ultimate get-away-from-it-all tale you must not miss - get your copy today and it's anchors aweigh!
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading but once I started I couldn’t put it down. There’s no action or intrigue or anything like that but it’s a good, solid read.
Breeze’s story is one that is so very interesting that it just compels you to keep reading to see what comes next. I won’t spoil it by saying anything but suffice to say that you won’t be able to stop reading and you’ll definitely be ready to move on to book 2 in the series once you’re done with this one.
Loved this book! This book is for anyone who can’t get that escape to the tropics fantasy out of their heads. 🙋🏻♀️ His vivid descriptions of life on a live aboard trawler bouncing from island to island was very detailed and added to the feeling of getting lost in the world. It was an organized quest style story that was very character driven. The authors knowledge of beach bum music and musicians was a nice touch. Also he booked dropped a bit from this genre which I also enjoyed. I’ll read the next one too.
Excellent .... Just discovered this author for the first time. Very good read. I’m a transplant boater from the lake St Clair area of Detroit. I’ve now lived and boated in the Fort Myers area of Florida for the last 20 years. So... I super enjoyed reading all the Pine Island sound local water locations in the Fort Myers/Sanibel/Captiva Islands area. Every area was spot on accurate. I hope the next book in this series is as rewarding as this one was...
Been a few hears since i first read the series and saddened by the passing of Ed. I see now that another author has picked up where Ed stopped and continuing on with the story of Breeze. As i read so many Tropical Authors books the characters are all jumbled together. Thought it a good idea to just start the series over and move into the new author.
I liked the adventures that Breeze took us on. He captured the essence of live aboard. We got to know the characters and enjoyed their quirks and party minds. I gave it 4 stars because I enjoyed his style of writing and of course, life on the water. Can't wait to get to the next book.
This is an entertaining read but somewhat slow and predictable. I thought that something was going to happen but it just reads sort of like a diary. People who are into boating will probably enjoy this. And what happened to his daughter? She was mentioned in passing but that's all.
Fictional,but accurate travelogue of a crazy boating life
Set in Florida and the Carribean , an adventurous and somewhat romantic couple years cruising the clear ocean waters and beautiful beaches of southern Florida and many islands in the southern Atlantic ocean. Very fun and fast read, populated with interesting characters, even a little danger!
Breeze is an awesome man. This was about one of the last of the books to read although it was the first of the set. Each of the Breeze books is self contained. So it was easy to get into each one. They are all exciting, colorful, sexy and I'm in the places with Breeze and enjoy being on his adventures with him. I've fallen in love with him. It's perfect.
Mr. Robinson has written a good original story about his character Breeze! It gives good reasons for his general distrust of government and society in general! Breeze gets involved with some interesting characters in his day to day life. The rest of this series should hopefully be as easy to read as the first one is!
I did enjoy joy this book, but I really didn't ever feel a connection that usually happens when I love a book. It held my interest, but the storyline just never made me go WOW. Not the kind of book I usually read.
After reading another work of the author I set out to read a few more. Easy read, nice story, and detailed sailing information for someone very interesting in living on a boat one day. Can’t wait to read another!
Breeze is the guy you want to go on a boat trip with. His life and exploits are fascinating, terrifying and mundane. Loss, failure and embezzlement drive him to finally put his late wife's ashes to rest, in a Mr Roads wild ride sort of way. Great read!
I wish I knew all the places that this character goes in his boat. That is why it didn't get 5 stars. The conversations were easy to read. This book was a nice change from my usual reads
billed as cross between John D. Mcdonald and Hemmingway. Main charactor is a little too "stumble bum" and touchy-feely sensitive for either travis magee or old man from the sea. whole first book was background (I hope) maybe read one more to see where he takes the series.
Not what I thought it was going to be. He names every small island and harbor and every cove on the East of Florida. Hardly interesting unless you're on your own boat spending time in the area.