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Driftwood - Stories Washed Ashore
When was the last time you read some modern sea stories—stories of ships and the seafarers who man them? Tales of adventure, love, romance, piracy, intrigue. And human nature? Well, look no further. These are twelve stories of the sea, but not necessarily for seafarers alone. They are for anybody and everybody who likes to read fiction. And a ripping good yarn, as Sailors used to say once upon a time. Written by a sea Captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea, more than forty years on the waves and still counting, these are stories set in the 70s, 80s up till the present day. Will you come aboard now? The voyage is about to begin.
192 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2019
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March 18, 2022
When you think of sea stories, you might think of adventure and pirates, of seamen longing for home, of ship staff having a fun time at sea without being “at sea”,… Here’s an anthology that collects all these ideas and more, bringing to you an assortment of sea stories set in a mostly contemporary time frame.
The author has been a marine Captain for more than four decades, and you can see the richness of his experience and his exposure to various circumstances, cultures and climes in this book. Though the twelve stories are all set amid the oceans, they are quite distinct from each other in content and in approach. The foreword says that they are “tales of adventure, love, romance, piracy, intrigue and human nature.” I can’t put it better myself.
My husband works in shipping, and thus I have had a long connection with ship lingo such as dry docking, berthing, poop decks (they are not what you think! 😛), chartering, and so on. I have also been privy to umpteen one-sided phone conversations with “Bada Saab”, “Second Saab” and “Batti Saab”, the last honorific still making me snort every time I hear it. I have also seen a friend’s husband serving on a ship that was captured by Somali pirates, with the mostly Indian crew being released only after about 40 days of negotiations. So reading stories set around these partly familiar and yet novel situations was an interesting and almost personal experience for me.
At the same time, I can see why this anthology may not click with every reader. You need to have a certain amount of familiarity with nautical terms and technicalities, and unless you are willing to invest that much energy in interpreting the information, some of the stories will miss their mark and you won’t be able to connect with them. Am I then saying that this anthology is only for those who know the world of ships and ship staff and all things maritime? Not at all. But having familiarity with these will help you appreciate the content more.
There is a glossary at the end of the book, but as happens with many Kindle editions, I discovered the existence of the glossary only after I had eaten my husband’s head many times about the terms I didn’t comprehend. Maybe hyperlinking the more esoteric terms to the listing in the glossary or having the meaning as a footnote would have made a difference. (Oh, and a proper Table of Contents also, please. The Kindle edition didn’t have any.)
I have read “The People Tree” by the same author, but this collection predates it. So if I make a comparison between this debut work and the second anthology, I can see that there is already an improvement in certain writing decisions that didn’t sit well with me in this book. For instance, in almost every single story here, the physical details of the women characters are described elaborately while the details about the men’s appearance hardly ever cross a couple of words, and are usually limited to height or facial hair. Referencing skin colour or looks again and again is distracting. When the character is first introduced, I can understand why the remark about their physical features or appearance was made. But beyond this, no other story required it, except perhaps for “Sapphire Blue”. Sometimes, even the age—either in years or a hint through work experience or other clues— of the men isn’t mentioned, and this makes a difference in some of the tales where the events might relate more to youthful transgressions but you have no clue if the character fits into that slot. There are a few grammatical errors in a couple of the stories, such as in the usage of “who” for “whom”. In a few cases, the same adjective is used to describe a character after a few paragraphs. So a “sullen” woman might be called ‘sullen” again within a few lines. I don’t recollect facing these issues in ‘The People Tree”, so these might be areas the author has worked on since the publishing of this book.
Of the twelve stories in the book, these were my favourites:
Thus six of the twelve stories met my high standards. There were a few more stories that crossed the three star mark. So my overall level of satisfaction from the book is very high.
For a debut work, the range of stories is impressive. The endings in every story left me happy, even if they weren’t typical endings at times. Many of the author’s stories once again left me wondering whether they actually happened or not, and this is a huge testimony to the power of his storytelling. (The ‘Author's Note’ at the end suggests which of the tales are based on actual episodes. But I couldn’t believe only those few were based on facts. Every tale felt so vivid and realistic!)
I would definitely recommend this interesting collection, because regardless of the minor flaws I have pointed out, it still remains a fascinating debut work and offers a rich variety of tales from a lifestyle most of us don’t have an insight into. “Captain Saab” has a knack for narration, and having read both his works, I know that he is among the few contemporary Indian writers of short stories who can be relied on to deliver a memorable experience.
3.75 stars, based on the average of my ratings for all the stories.
PS: I loved the title of the book. How apt for this collection!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
The author has been a marine Captain for more than four decades, and you can see the richness of his experience and his exposure to various circumstances, cultures and climes in this book. Though the twelve stories are all set amid the oceans, they are quite distinct from each other in content and in approach. The foreword says that they are “tales of adventure, love, romance, piracy, intrigue and human nature.” I can’t put it better myself.
My husband works in shipping, and thus I have had a long connection with ship lingo such as dry docking, berthing, poop decks (they are not what you think! 😛), chartering, and so on. I have also been privy to umpteen one-sided phone conversations with “Bada Saab”, “Second Saab” and “Batti Saab”, the last honorific still making me snort every time I hear it. I have also seen a friend’s husband serving on a ship that was captured by Somali pirates, with the mostly Indian crew being released only after about 40 days of negotiations. So reading stories set around these partly familiar and yet novel situations was an interesting and almost personal experience for me.
At the same time, I can see why this anthology may not click with every reader. You need to have a certain amount of familiarity with nautical terms and technicalities, and unless you are willing to invest that much energy in interpreting the information, some of the stories will miss their mark and you won’t be able to connect with them. Am I then saying that this anthology is only for those who know the world of ships and ship staff and all things maritime? Not at all. But having familiarity with these will help you appreciate the content more.
There is a glossary at the end of the book, but as happens with many Kindle editions, I discovered the existence of the glossary only after I had eaten my husband’s head many times about the terms I didn’t comprehend. Maybe hyperlinking the more esoteric terms to the listing in the glossary or having the meaning as a footnote would have made a difference. (Oh, and a proper Table of Contents also, please. The Kindle edition didn’t have any.)
I have read “The People Tree” by the same author, but this collection predates it. So if I make a comparison between this debut work and the second anthology, I can see that there is already an improvement in certain writing decisions that didn’t sit well with me in this book. For instance, in almost every single story here, the physical details of the women characters are described elaborately while the details about the men’s appearance hardly ever cross a couple of words, and are usually limited to height or facial hair. Referencing skin colour or looks again and again is distracting. When the character is first introduced, I can understand why the remark about their physical features or appearance was made. But beyond this, no other story required it, except perhaps for “Sapphire Blue”. Sometimes, even the age—either in years or a hint through work experience or other clues— of the men isn’t mentioned, and this makes a difference in some of the tales where the events might relate more to youthful transgressions but you have no clue if the character fits into that slot. There are a few grammatical errors in a couple of the stories, such as in the usage of “who” for “whom”. In a few cases, the same adjective is used to describe a character after a few paragraphs. So a “sullen” woman might be called ‘sullen” again within a few lines. I don’t recollect facing these issues in ‘The People Tree”, so these might be areas the author has worked on since the publishing of this book.
Of the twelve stories in the book, these were my favourites:
The Piano Man - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – Loved the plot development from start to end.
Sapphire Blue - 🌟🌟🌟🌟 – Didn’t expect the direction this would take.
The Visitor - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – What an amazing story! Every nature lover will enjoy this sweet tale.
Miss me? - 🌟🌟🌟🌟 – Somewhat predictable but the structuring makes it a good experience.
Smoke on the Water - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – A brilliant depiction of friendship on the high seas.
Stairway to Heaven - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 – Yet another story about friendship, but which proceeds in a very different manner from the above.
Thus six of the twelve stories met my high standards. There were a few more stories that crossed the three star mark. So my overall level of satisfaction from the book is very high.
For a debut work, the range of stories is impressive. The endings in every story left me happy, even if they weren’t typical endings at times. Many of the author’s stories once again left me wondering whether they actually happened or not, and this is a huge testimony to the power of his storytelling. (The ‘Author's Note’ at the end suggests which of the tales are based on actual episodes. But I couldn’t believe only those few were based on facts. Every tale felt so vivid and realistic!)
I would definitely recommend this interesting collection, because regardless of the minor flaws I have pointed out, it still remains a fascinating debut work and offers a rich variety of tales from a lifestyle most of us don’t have an insight into. “Captain Saab” has a knack for narration, and having read both his works, I know that he is among the few contemporary Indian writers of short stories who can be relied on to deliver a memorable experience.
3.75 stars, based on the average of my ratings for all the stories.
PS: I loved the title of the book. How apt for this collection!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
October 21, 2024
This author is a beautiful storyteller. His characters are fascinating and at times quirky. Mostly they are interesting to follow, as they all have a connection to the sea. As does the author. Chatterjee, is a ship’s captain by profession, and his knowledge lends itself beautifully as he captures the essence of sea life in his characters stories. Readers can’t help but see what he sees as he describes the surroundings. As an example…
“Have you ever looked at the sea on a clear sunny day in the middle of the morning? It is sapphire blue when calm…blue like the gemstone…and it smiles and twinkles in the light.”
He also gives us insights into how seamen believe when he shares in one story…
“Seamen are basically simple folk. They have faith in God and their superiors. In that order.”
In one story we can see the sense of superstition felt by the seamen as they experience a pigeon and a sparrow who come on board their ship. How will these birds guide their journey to safety, and/or give them a feeling of their own group pride and internal fears on their own trip?
“Here were two different species of birds sticking together, forgetting their cultural differences, overcoming their racial prejudices if any, united in their bewilderment about the strange surroundings and probably terrified of the circumstance that had befallen them.”
Each of his stories has captivating characters, with a moral readers could probably relate to in some ways. But mostly, there is something to appreciate about life on the sea.
“Wasn’t it Darwin who said that it is not the strongest of the species that survive, or the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change?”
The author also provided at the end of the book a glossary of marine terms.
Readers will delight in this collection of stories to read in-between their novels.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
“Have you ever looked at the sea on a clear sunny day in the middle of the morning? It is sapphire blue when calm…blue like the gemstone…and it smiles and twinkles in the light.”
He also gives us insights into how seamen believe when he shares in one story…
“Seamen are basically simple folk. They have faith in God and their superiors. In that order.”
In one story we can see the sense of superstition felt by the seamen as they experience a pigeon and a sparrow who come on board their ship. How will these birds guide their journey to safety, and/or give them a feeling of their own group pride and internal fears on their own trip?
“Here were two different species of birds sticking together, forgetting their cultural differences, overcoming their racial prejudices if any, united in their bewilderment about the strange surroundings and probably terrified of the circumstance that had befallen them.”
Each of his stories has captivating characters, with a moral readers could probably relate to in some ways. But mostly, there is something to appreciate about life on the sea.
“Wasn’t it Darwin who said that it is not the strongest of the species that survive, or the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change?”
The author also provided at the end of the book a glossary of marine terms.
Readers will delight in this collection of stories to read in-between their novels.
I want to thank the author for this complimentary book for our Little Free Library Shed. I am providing an honest review.
October 19, 2019
Beautiful and heartwarming stories.
August 6, 2020
Driftwood means pieces of wood which are floating on sea or are washed ashore. A book about sea & seafarers, this book so vividly describes the relationship between the sea and it's sailors😍
.
Driftwood is a collection of 12 short stories of modern seafarers. The stories are a perfect blend of mystery, thrill and fiction. They explore various emotions like love and loss, laughter and loneliness, highs and lows of life. As the author says, the human emotions are same on land and sea, but we rarely know about the life of the people on sea.
Though each story has a common theme of seas and oceans, it still has a different flavour of its own.
The narrations are so surreal, they will take you to experience the sea with them.
A Mariner's life is unpredictable and so is the end of each story, even if the stories are short the characters immediately connect with the readers.
.
Some of my favourite stories from the book are: Stairway to Heaven, Smoke of the Water and Just a Seaman 😍
.
Driftwood is a collection of 12 short stories of modern seafarers. The stories are a perfect blend of mystery, thrill and fiction. They explore various emotions like love and loss, laughter and loneliness, highs and lows of life. As the author says, the human emotions are same on land and sea, but we rarely know about the life of the people on sea.
Though each story has a common theme of seas and oceans, it still has a different flavour of its own.
The narrations are so surreal, they will take you to experience the sea with them.
A Mariner's life is unpredictable and so is the end of each story, even if the stories are short the characters immediately connect with the readers.
.
Some of my favourite stories from the book are: Stairway to Heaven, Smoke of the Water and Just a Seaman 😍
September 13, 2019
I am drawn to all things maritime and it's no surprise that Captain Beetashok Chatterjee's "Driftwood" sucked me in and left me thirsting for more stories from the author. Chatterjee's stories blend the wise old soul of the ancient mariner with the freshness (and folly) of a young sailor thirsting for adventure. The themes are inspired by different stages in his vast and varied 40 odd years of maritime experience. What stood out for me was the artfully drawn out suspense in the narratives, through which a range of unique character reveal themselves. The author's words have a deceptively soft touch and I found myself overpowered by emotion at unexpected places and junctures, as I navigated the anthology.
The stories aren't tied up with neat endings and that left me asking at times whether the author couldn't have given a happier twist to certain tales. Yet in one story – my favorite because I identified with the craziness of the characters and their escapades - where two sailor buddies are shown to have a lasting and solid friendship, I found myself asking why they didn't end up doing something more exciting together?
But then that is a mariner’s life - its allure lies in its unpredictability.
The title Driftwood alerts you to the essence of a life at sea – you never know where the voyage will take you and leave you.
My personal favorites are "Stairway To Heaven" (despite my being disappointed with the ending), the delicately woven "Little Girl Lost" (that could be the title of a children's story) with its poignant ending, "Do You Miss Me?" especially for it's unusual structure, the heartbreaking "Smoke On The Water" and Transition which almost felt like the story of my own life. And the startlingly swift conclusion of "Just A Seaman" was executed with great finesse.
I will leave you with a line from the anthology that is close to my heart - "He waited till the boy sailed across the dark oceans of sleep to dream of things that should never change".
I suggest you grab a copy and let the stories carry you with them.
The stories aren't tied up with neat endings and that left me asking at times whether the author couldn't have given a happier twist to certain tales. Yet in one story – my favorite because I identified with the craziness of the characters and their escapades - where two sailor buddies are shown to have a lasting and solid friendship, I found myself asking why they didn't end up doing something more exciting together?
But then that is a mariner’s life - its allure lies in its unpredictability.
The title Driftwood alerts you to the essence of a life at sea – you never know where the voyage will take you and leave you.
My personal favorites are "Stairway To Heaven" (despite my being disappointed with the ending), the delicately woven "Little Girl Lost" (that could be the title of a children's story) with its poignant ending, "Do You Miss Me?" especially for it's unusual structure, the heartbreaking "Smoke On The Water" and Transition which almost felt like the story of my own life. And the startlingly swift conclusion of "Just A Seaman" was executed with great finesse.
I will leave you with a line from the anthology that is close to my heart - "He waited till the boy sailed across the dark oceans of sleep to dream of things that should never change".
I suggest you grab a copy and let the stories carry you with them.
July 28, 2020
To pick up a book and trust that an author’s adventure may teach you something along the way is quite an understatement.
This book is like a compounded gem. It is as well to say that the sea itself is the author.
My knowledge of ship terminology is under developed, yet when I was reading it felt as if I was experiencing it first-hand.
To my contentment the author has also provided with glossary of marine terms used in the book which makes it quite solicitous.
Also while reading (don't rush through) for everyone and the story has been told very beautifully, sometimes giving too much details about smallest things. But even that is done well and shows the artistic prowess of author.
It really allows the imagination to take over to make the reader feel as though they are right there in the same ship, and part of the same crew. It gives us a brief glimpses of seafarer's journey on and off board. I must say the author has a very observational way of writing. It's well versed with adventure.
A mix of personal experiences and elite observations from a seafarer itself.
It's brimming with rich details that fill all five senses simultaneously. From different countries to different conditions of sea, the author has beautifully depicted each and every element in the book. It's full of beautiful metaphors and phrases.
Not to forget this book also has crazy twists.
The 'twist at the end' of the stories are more the sort to make you smile, chuckle and gasp in amazement.
The first chapter itself " The piano man " kept me jaw dropping. There are similar 11 chapters, each chapter with riveting endings.
Now I’m going to stop here because you have to read this book for yourself. I’ve given you the preview, now you must buy your front-row ticket to see how this venture plays out.
This book is like a compounded gem. It is as well to say that the sea itself is the author.
My knowledge of ship terminology is under developed, yet when I was reading it felt as if I was experiencing it first-hand.
To my contentment the author has also provided with glossary of marine terms used in the book which makes it quite solicitous.
Also while reading (don't rush through) for everyone and the story has been told very beautifully, sometimes giving too much details about smallest things. But even that is done well and shows the artistic prowess of author.
It really allows the imagination to take over to make the reader feel as though they are right there in the same ship, and part of the same crew. It gives us a brief glimpses of seafarer's journey on and off board. I must say the author has a very observational way of writing. It's well versed with adventure.
A mix of personal experiences and elite observations from a seafarer itself.
It's brimming with rich details that fill all five senses simultaneously. From different countries to different conditions of sea, the author has beautifully depicted each and every element in the book. It's full of beautiful metaphors and phrases.
Not to forget this book also has crazy twists.
The 'twist at the end' of the stories are more the sort to make you smile, chuckle and gasp in amazement.
The first chapter itself " The piano man " kept me jaw dropping. There are similar 11 chapters, each chapter with riveting endings.
Now I’m going to stop here because you have to read this book for yourself. I’ve given you the preview, now you must buy your front-row ticket to see how this venture plays out.
November 22, 2019
✨ Stars (out of 5): ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
✍️Review:When was the last time you read a splendid sea story? This book is a assortment of stories by the seaman himself and there are 12 chapters with short sea stories of love, romance, piracy, conspiracy, and human nature.
This is a book of 192 pages with short stories of the expedition.
The blurb is interesting, and the book cover is well thought and alluring. The title stands out speaking just what you would want to expect from this book. It has 4+ pages of appendix for people to comprehend more about marine terms. I love how the book was edited with designs of the waves at the footer of every page. Now I know more of them- I just need to get my ship and just get my Pirate mode on.
Most of the chapters are fast-paced. Having spent his entire adult life in the marine, the author makes this book an authentic read and more significantly – we feel his knowledge talks.
An immaculate narration with unpretentious language makes this book a light easy read. It is also gratifying that by the end of this book- you would know many marine terms, problems, and excursions. Beetashok gives that promise and he has kept it in this book. Some stories like Stairway to heaven, the piano man and blue sapphire are my favorites 🙂
So, if you are a reader of an exploratory book filled with whodunits. This is your book as this is interesting, innovative and more importantly wholly exclusive.
👨💻Read the complete review:
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✍️Review:When was the last time you read a splendid sea story? This book is a assortment of stories by the seaman himself and there are 12 chapters with short sea stories of love, romance, piracy, conspiracy, and human nature.
This is a book of 192 pages with short stories of the expedition.
The blurb is interesting, and the book cover is well thought and alluring. The title stands out speaking just what you would want to expect from this book. It has 4+ pages of appendix for people to comprehend more about marine terms. I love how the book was edited with designs of the waves at the footer of every page. Now I know more of them- I just need to get my ship and just get my Pirate mode on.
Most of the chapters are fast-paced. Having spent his entire adult life in the marine, the author makes this book an authentic read and more significantly – we feel his knowledge talks.
An immaculate narration with unpretentious language makes this book a light easy read. It is also gratifying that by the end of this book- you would know many marine terms, problems, and excursions. Beetashok gives that promise and he has kept it in this book. Some stories like Stairway to heaven, the piano man and blue sapphire are my favorites 🙂
So, if you are a reader of an exploratory book filled with whodunits. This is your book as this is interesting, innovative and more importantly wholly exclusive.
👨💻Read the complete review:
http://www.merrybrains.com
📷Photography Partners: @prakzrai - PrakzStudios
📧Feedback/Review Request:
Link in bio
http://www.merrybrains.com/…/book-rev...
Or write to :
admin@merrybrains.com
August 27, 2019
As mentioned in the Blurb, this book is a collection of short stories about the sea and seafarers. I read a book about the sea or sea voyages after a long time.
Each story is different from the other, as every voyage is different from the other. Each sailor has a different story to tell and each story has adventure, with a twist and a turn .
The stories I like most are ," The Piano Man " which started as a simple story but surprised me at the end with a twist .
" The Hijack " is one of the most adventurous stories I’ve read where we catch glimpses of high level corruption and dangers to a seaman’s life.
" Reach for the Stars" is one such story full of suspense and thrill. You have to read it to know more about it.
My personal favourite is " Stairway to Heaven " ; it is a story of blossoming friendship between two seafarers which end up lifelong.
Some end sadly, but not every story can end on a happy note, no ? That’s life.
Among the other stories, I liked , "Miss Me" and " Sapphire Blue", which are completely opposite in temperament . Whereas in the first one, we witness betrayal from a husband ,in the other we meet a devoted husband whose wife.... well, you have to read the story to find out.
This collection is full of beautiful stories of beautiful journeys and experiences.It is a perfect collection of stories from imperfect sea voyages. Each with a beautiful message or a lesson.
The language is simple yet alluring. A few quotes are really heart touching and inspiring.
Bon voyage !!
————
August 31, 2019
Driftwood – Stories Washed Ashore is a collection of short stories penned by Beestok Chatterjee. The author is a ship's captain by profession and has been more than forty years at sea. What is unique about this collection of stories is that they are about ships, seafarers and of course the sea. The author says that there are no modern sea stories and he has written this collection to fill that void.
I really liked the story Sapphire Blue which is a psychological thriller. The Piano man is another wonderful story from the book and highlights how appearances are deceptive. The language is lucid and simple and the stories are adroitly weaved. There is an element of surprise, a twist in every story and that makes the stories even more interesting. These stories are not only about sea, they are about humans and all the emotions – love, hate, jealousy and longing.
The writer says that his purpose of writing the book is to give the readers a glimpse of sea life. He wants the readers to feel what it is like to be at sea, to empathise with the trials and tribulations of a seaman. I feel that the author has succeeded in achieving this goal for he transported me into a completely new world, which was new to me. These stories are a ticket to voyage at the sea and help you live the life of seafarers vicariously. Seldom does one come across a collection as unique as this one. Read this book, you will repent not reading it.
I really liked the story Sapphire Blue which is a psychological thriller. The Piano man is another wonderful story from the book and highlights how appearances are deceptive. The language is lucid and simple and the stories are adroitly weaved. There is an element of surprise, a twist in every story and that makes the stories even more interesting. These stories are not only about sea, they are about humans and all the emotions – love, hate, jealousy and longing.
The writer says that his purpose of writing the book is to give the readers a glimpse of sea life. He wants the readers to feel what it is like to be at sea, to empathise with the trials and tribulations of a seaman. I feel that the author has succeeded in achieving this goal for he transported me into a completely new world, which was new to me. These stories are a ticket to voyage at the sea and help you live the life of seafarers vicariously. Seldom does one come across a collection as unique as this one. Read this book, you will repent not reading it.
September 12, 2019
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by S.T. Coleridge is the only poem I fondly remember when it comes to sea vogue stories. I read it during my 8th grade and again got a chance to read it during my graduation. Both times I was left spell bound.
Driftwood by Beetashok Chatterjee is another amazing story based on sea vogue. The book contains 12 short chapters all telling us a unique story. My favourite one has to be chapter 11 named Little Girl Lost. It is about a girl who joins a merchant ship. Upon her arrival, most of the men if not all, judges and doubts her capabilities for they believe that merchant ship is not a place for a girl to work. Later the story ends up beautifully.
Narration of the story is just flawless which gets inked into the minds of the readers. Language too is kept crisp and lucid. Each of the story has its own essence and theme. The writer, being himself a sea captain, has created a beautiful sea world for its reader to read and imagine.
I particularly would like to appreciate the little detailings of the book. Be it the sea waves printed on its borders or the way each chapter begins. Title is well chosen and the cover too looks attractive. The blurb is precisely written intriguing a reader to buy the book at the first place.
I'd recommend this book to people fond of short stories. But I strongly believe that this book shouldn't be kept reserved for any particular genre. People loving any genre may find the stories engaging and interesting.
Driftwood by Beetashok Chatterjee is another amazing story based on sea vogue. The book contains 12 short chapters all telling us a unique story. My favourite one has to be chapter 11 named Little Girl Lost. It is about a girl who joins a merchant ship. Upon her arrival, most of the men if not all, judges and doubts her capabilities for they believe that merchant ship is not a place for a girl to work. Later the story ends up beautifully.
Narration of the story is just flawless which gets inked into the minds of the readers. Language too is kept crisp and lucid. Each of the story has its own essence and theme. The writer, being himself a sea captain, has created a beautiful sea world for its reader to read and imagine.
I particularly would like to appreciate the little detailings of the book. Be it the sea waves printed on its borders or the way each chapter begins. Title is well chosen and the cover too looks attractive. The blurb is precisely written intriguing a reader to buy the book at the first place.
I'd recommend this book to people fond of short stories. But I strongly believe that this book shouldn't be kept reserved for any particular genre. People loving any genre may find the stories engaging and interesting.
August 31, 2019
The author is my friend since school days but I shall try to be objective in my review of this book stemming from his decades long career as captain of a merchant ship.
It's a very good book, offering stories connected with the sea but in quite different ways. A range of moods and emotions is evoked, philosophical, quirky, surprising, introducing technicalities but in a reader friendly way, the thrill of the beauty of the sea, tragic... Crime, pirates, fire, an accident, love, friendship, fraud and despair, betrayal: the stories deal with several themes.
The plots are well crafted and skilfully related so as to maintain the interest. Plenty of details are given for a sense of verisimilitude. The pace is brisk and efficient yet not seeming unduly hurried and many stories end with a 'twist in the tail'. Just one story left me feeling depressed at its end. The book as a whole does give revealing vignettes into different worlds. An interesting read.
It's a very good book, offering stories connected with the sea but in quite different ways. A range of moods and emotions is evoked, philosophical, quirky, surprising, introducing technicalities but in a reader friendly way, the thrill of the beauty of the sea, tragic... Crime, pirates, fire, an accident, love, friendship, fraud and despair, betrayal: the stories deal with several themes.
The plots are well crafted and skilfully related so as to maintain the interest. Plenty of details are given for a sense of verisimilitude. The pace is brisk and efficient yet not seeming unduly hurried and many stories end with a 'twist in the tail'. Just one story left me feeling depressed at its end. The book as a whole does give revealing vignettes into different worlds. An interesting read.
August 26, 2019
A very well written collection of sea stories , each story taking you along a different route and anchoring at a different port. One has always wondered how it must be like to spend days and months on the blue expanse, what toll it takes on the crew on board, what psychological pressures build up and how they are dealt with, being confined as it were between the length and girth of a ship. This book , with its interesting range of characters help you settle your curiosity to a large extent.
For many who read the book, the first story is bound to be a favourite :-)
There are others which pull at your heartstrings making you smile or sad and some which takes you along the risky part of such voyages and makes you marvel at those who set sail again in spite of having lived through it.
The style is smooth you can drift along without getting bored at all.
Definitely recommended
For many who read the book, the first story is bound to be a favourite :-)
There are others which pull at your heartstrings making you smile or sad and some which takes you along the risky part of such voyages and makes you marvel at those who set sail again in spite of having lived through it.
The style is smooth you can drift along without getting bored at all.
Definitely recommended
September 12, 2019
Welcome to sea world!!!
I know nothing about sea-life.
This book really made me to understand what is like to be a sailor[seaman,mariner or seafarer].Not all will step into the place where is no assurance about their life.Whatever the rank of a salior, i respect their hard work and dedication. It contains 12 short stories written beautifully with great message behind it.The language is simple and so easy to understand.I love the glossary at the last few pages which really helped to understand marine terms.Amoung twelve stories,personally touched stories are -The piano man,Goldilocks and the Three Bears,The visitor,Transition,Little girl lost,Just a Seaman.
Overall,i loved this book.
I know nothing about sea-life.
This book really made me to understand what is like to be a sailor[seaman,mariner or seafarer].Not all will step into the place where is no assurance about their life.Whatever the rank of a salior, i respect their hard work and dedication. It contains 12 short stories written beautifully with great message behind it.The language is simple and so easy to understand.I love the glossary at the last few pages which really helped to understand marine terms.Amoung twelve stories,personally touched stories are -The piano man,Goldilocks and the Three Bears,The visitor,Transition,Little girl lost,Just a Seaman.
Overall,i loved this book.
August 25, 2020
Driftwood : Stories Washed Ashore
By Beetashok Chatterjee
Published by Readomania Publication
Firstly let's look at this beautiful cover. This book is about short stories related sea and seafarers. Very well written, the narrations are amazing and surreal, they will take you experience the beauty of the sea with them. This book gives a perfect glimpse of sea and seafarers life. These stories perfectly express various themes like friendship, adventure, crime, love, accident, suspense, etc. Goldilocks and the three bears is one of my favorite story from the book.
Definitely recommended!
By Beetashok Chatterjee
Published by Readomania Publication
Firstly let's look at this beautiful cover. This book is about short stories related sea and seafarers. Very well written, the narrations are amazing and surreal, they will take you experience the beauty of the sea with them. This book gives a perfect glimpse of sea and seafarers life. These stories perfectly express various themes like friendship, adventure, crime, love, accident, suspense, etc. Goldilocks and the three bears is one of my favorite story from the book.
Definitely recommended!
September 4, 2019
Driftwood is a lovely collection of short stories , about the sea and the men who venture out to the unknown.
It's a very well written , easy to understand and relate.
It provides a nice glimpse of what goes on at the sea, and the men and women who venture out to the unknown.
Go ahead and get a copy of the book. I assure you , when you finish the book , you would be wanting more of them stories.
Double thumbs up , and looking forward to volume 2!!
It's a very well written , easy to understand and relate.
It provides a nice glimpse of what goes on at the sea, and the men and women who venture out to the unknown.
Go ahead and get a copy of the book. I assure you , when you finish the book , you would be wanting more of them stories.
Double thumbs up , and looking forward to volume 2!!
December 16, 2020
A retired sea captain shares the unexpected thrills, mysteries and surprises that he encountered over the course of (practically) a lifetime spent at sea. If I'm not wrong, many of these stories are inspired by real events, and whether you're a noob (like me) or a connoisseur, there's something in this anthology for everyone. 👏
August 27, 2019
Thoughtfully curated anthology of seafarers. Their emotions varied from cheeky to depressed, their lifestyle and dilemmas, their desires and sacrifices, all in well-written prose that never slackens. A must buy.
October 4, 2019
Driftwood by Beetashok Chatterjee is an interesting collection of short stories based at the sea offering an insight into a mariner's life. Quite a few make an impact and leave you with a sense of wanderlust.
September 13, 2024
Title: "Driftwood"
Author : Beetashok Chatterjee
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm thrilled to share my thoughts on "Driftwood", a mesmerizing collection of sea stories by Beetashok Chatterjee.
The cover page, featuring a stunning orange and blue design with a driftwood motif, perfectly captures the essence of the book. It's a beautiful representation of the sea's power and the stories within.
The twelve tales in "Driftwood" are expertly crafted, transporting readers to the high seas and into the lives of seafarers, pirates, lovers, and adventurers. Chatterjee's prose is engaging, with a quality that makes even the most turbulent moments beautiful. His writing is effortless, making it easy to become fully immersed in each story.
Character development is another strong aspect of the book. Chatterjee masterfully creates relatable. From the grizzled sea captain to the young lover, each character is skillfully woven into the narrative.
A stories are sooo good but these Two stories that stood out to me were "The Piano Man" and "The Visitor". "The Piano Man" tells the tale of a captain who, after a long time at sea, visits a cafe and meets a mysterious man with a piano. The piano man shares his own sea adventure with the captain, but the story takes a surprising turn at the end, leaving the reader pondering the truth. Chatterjee's masterful storytelling weaves a spellbinding narrative that will keep you enthralled.
"The Visitor" is a poignant tale of an unlikely friendship between a pigeon and a sparrow found on a ship in the middle of the sea. Though the pigeon's fate is sealed, the story is a powerful exploration of life, death, and the human condition. Chatterjee's writing is evocative and moving, making this story a standout in the collection.
What sets "Driftwood" apart is its ability to appeal to a broad audience. While the stories are rooted in the sea, they explore universal themes of human nature, love, and adventure, making them accessible to readers who may not typically gravitate towards nautical tales.
In conclusion, "Driftwood" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story, regardless of their familiarity with the sea.
Thankyou beetashok again for this book 🥰🤗
Author : Beetashok Chatterjee
Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'm thrilled to share my thoughts on "Driftwood", a mesmerizing collection of sea stories by Beetashok Chatterjee.
The cover page, featuring a stunning orange and blue design with a driftwood motif, perfectly captures the essence of the book. It's a beautiful representation of the sea's power and the stories within.
The twelve tales in "Driftwood" are expertly crafted, transporting readers to the high seas and into the lives of seafarers, pirates, lovers, and adventurers. Chatterjee's prose is engaging, with a quality that makes even the most turbulent moments beautiful. His writing is effortless, making it easy to become fully immersed in each story.
Character development is another strong aspect of the book. Chatterjee masterfully creates relatable. From the grizzled sea captain to the young lover, each character is skillfully woven into the narrative.
A stories are sooo good but these Two stories that stood out to me were "The Piano Man" and "The Visitor". "The Piano Man" tells the tale of a captain who, after a long time at sea, visits a cafe and meets a mysterious man with a piano. The piano man shares his own sea adventure with the captain, but the story takes a surprising turn at the end, leaving the reader pondering the truth. Chatterjee's masterful storytelling weaves a spellbinding narrative that will keep you enthralled.
"The Visitor" is a poignant tale of an unlikely friendship between a pigeon and a sparrow found on a ship in the middle of the sea. Though the pigeon's fate is sealed, the story is a powerful exploration of life, death, and the human condition. Chatterjee's writing is evocative and moving, making this story a standout in the collection.
What sets "Driftwood" apart is its ability to appeal to a broad audience. While the stories are rooted in the sea, they explore universal themes of human nature, love, and adventure, making them accessible to readers who may not typically gravitate towards nautical tales.
In conclusion, "Driftwood" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story, regardless of their familiarity with the sea.
Thankyou beetashok again for this book 🥰🤗
November 13, 2024
Many stories transport us to various locations, but how often do they take us to the high seas?
When we think of the ocean, we imagine serene beaches, sunsets, and the melody of glittering waves.
Yes, the ocean can shimmer like scattered pearls under the light, offering breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset. But beneath its beauty lies an ocean full of unforeseen challenges and mysteries that many of us rarely think about.
This book is a collection of twelve short stories that will take you into this vast, unpredictable expanse. Here, seafarers and ship workers face everything from storms and isolation to pirate threats and the daily grind of life far from solid ground ~ realities rarely explored in literature.
Each story is beautifully written, bringing the ocean alive with minute details. The author's writing is so vivid that it sparks the same curiosity we felt as children, flipping through storybooks with the eagerness to know more.
In a way, this collection will take you back to school days, where every story carried a lesson/moral, asking, "What did you learn from this?" These are the kind of stories that will remind us of life's vastness and depth, much like the ocean itself.
I particularly love how "Driftwood: Stories Washed Ashore" is a fitting title for these untold tales of the high seas, stories that are often lost to the waves, never to reach the shore.
P.S. The ocean hides far more than we can fathom.
When we think of the ocean, we imagine serene beaches, sunsets, and the melody of glittering waves.
Yes, the ocean can shimmer like scattered pearls under the light, offering breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset. But beneath its beauty lies an ocean full of unforeseen challenges and mysteries that many of us rarely think about.
This book is a collection of twelve short stories that will take you into this vast, unpredictable expanse. Here, seafarers and ship workers face everything from storms and isolation to pirate threats and the daily grind of life far from solid ground ~ realities rarely explored in literature.
Each story is beautifully written, bringing the ocean alive with minute details. The author's writing is so vivid that it sparks the same curiosity we felt as children, flipping through storybooks with the eagerness to know more.
In a way, this collection will take you back to school days, where every story carried a lesson/moral, asking, "What did you learn from this?" These are the kind of stories that will remind us of life's vastness and depth, much like the ocean itself.
I particularly love how "Driftwood: Stories Washed Ashore" is a fitting title for these untold tales of the high seas, stories that are often lost to the waves, never to reach the shore.
P.S. The ocean hides far more than we can fathom.
September 29, 2025
The twelve stories come from the pen of a writer who has seen the life amidst the ocean from close proximity- Mr. Beetashok Chatterjee.
The stories give us a wide idea about the lives, challenges and various adventures faced by the people who work on the ships.
The style of writing is absolutely simple, it successfully drives home the aspects of sea life, making it a very engaging read.
Hijack was a story that kept my eyes glued, turning pages anxiously. But I liked the story, The Visitor, the most. It is such an endearing tale, of a simple sparrow, and how its presence changes the very routine and life of the people on board, and how it expects to have its course of meal irrespective of the time zone changes, made such light and engaging read. The story ends with the survival of the fittest theory!
All in all, the book is a beautiful bouquet of twelve stories taking us nearer to the life of those who spend years living in the sea.
The stories give us a wide idea about the lives, challenges and various adventures faced by the people who work on the ships.
The style of writing is absolutely simple, it successfully drives home the aspects of sea life, making it a very engaging read.
Hijack was a story that kept my eyes glued, turning pages anxiously. But I liked the story, The Visitor, the most. It is such an endearing tale, of a simple sparrow, and how its presence changes the very routine and life of the people on board, and how it expects to have its course of meal irrespective of the time zone changes, made such light and engaging read. The story ends with the survival of the fittest theory!
All in all, the book is a beautiful bouquet of twelve stories taking us nearer to the life of those who spend years living in the sea.
February 12, 2020
When impeccable language meets real-life experience, the resultant prose is likely to be anything but not gripping. These were my feelings once I read ‘Driftwood – stories washed ashore’. The book is un-put-down-able! I highly recommend it.
As the author says in his foreword, how often have we come across books chronicling anecdotes and tales from the sea? Sure, we have our share of fairy tales, avengers and what not. But, stories of the sea life, depicting real-life incidents, and real-life situations and narrated with candid lucidity, are hard to come by. Well, look no further than this book.
Driftwood is a compilation of 12 short stories from a seaman’s life. The stories revolve around incidents on the port, during the call to duty, the trials and tribulations seamen face, their fears, their hardships, etc. They give a layperson or landlubbers (as the author calls them) glimpses into a world that is largely ignored for the very simple reason that it is far removed from our day to day living. I mean, who cares what goes on in the high seas so long as it does not concern us, right? Out of sight is out of mind.
To give you an idea of how far out of mind their life is, consider this - I don’t think there are many who have not watched the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Johnny Depp is the most adorable pirate, isn’t he? That or the Netflix series ‘Black Sails’ shows pirates in an almost redeeming light. Well, once you read the book, you realize that pirates are anything but! Piracy is a real-world concern and pirates are anything but what they are portrayed to be.
In his story ‘The Hijack’ on page 43, the author writes that -//even today merchant seamen are left to fend for themselves against armed pirates. They are not allowed to carry weapons on board, nor given any military training in self-defence. All this in the face of AK-47’s that the pirates wield. // Reading this gave me goosebumps. Imagine spending months on end away from your family for livelihood then being accosted by armed bandits of the seas. With such puny defensive measures in place, is it any surprise that many ships and crew are held, hostage?
The entire book is sprinkled with such references and real-life extracts.
My favorite stories from the book are the first and the last. The first, ‘The Piano Man’ aptly captures the gullibility of the seamen who far removed from the conniving masses, are such easy prey for shysters when onshore. The last one ‘Just a Seaman’ is a heart-wrenching portrayal of how these trusting men are targets for duping and how when left with no recourse they end up taking matters into their own hands – often with disastrous results.
The print quality of the book is excellent as is the text (font) size. Readable font size is a must for my farsightedness. This is one book you can pick up on your travels and finish in one sitting.
Yes, it is that gripping!
And yes, it does indeed make you empathize with the characters for that are how well they are sketched.
As the author says in his foreword, how often have we come across books chronicling anecdotes and tales from the sea? Sure, we have our share of fairy tales, avengers and what not. But, stories of the sea life, depicting real-life incidents, and real-life situations and narrated with candid lucidity, are hard to come by. Well, look no further than this book.
Driftwood is a compilation of 12 short stories from a seaman’s life. The stories revolve around incidents on the port, during the call to duty, the trials and tribulations seamen face, their fears, their hardships, etc. They give a layperson or landlubbers (as the author calls them) glimpses into a world that is largely ignored for the very simple reason that it is far removed from our day to day living. I mean, who cares what goes on in the high seas so long as it does not concern us, right? Out of sight is out of mind.
To give you an idea of how far out of mind their life is, consider this - I don’t think there are many who have not watched the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Johnny Depp is the most adorable pirate, isn’t he? That or the Netflix series ‘Black Sails’ shows pirates in an almost redeeming light. Well, once you read the book, you realize that pirates are anything but! Piracy is a real-world concern and pirates are anything but what they are portrayed to be.
In his story ‘The Hijack’ on page 43, the author writes that -//even today merchant seamen are left to fend for themselves against armed pirates. They are not allowed to carry weapons on board, nor given any military training in self-defence. All this in the face of AK-47’s that the pirates wield. // Reading this gave me goosebumps. Imagine spending months on end away from your family for livelihood then being accosted by armed bandits of the seas. With such puny defensive measures in place, is it any surprise that many ships and crew are held, hostage?
The entire book is sprinkled with such references and real-life extracts.
My favorite stories from the book are the first and the last. The first, ‘The Piano Man’ aptly captures the gullibility of the seamen who far removed from the conniving masses, are such easy prey for shysters when onshore. The last one ‘Just a Seaman’ is a heart-wrenching portrayal of how these trusting men are targets for duping and how when left with no recourse they end up taking matters into their own hands – often with disastrous results.
The print quality of the book is excellent as is the text (font) size. Readable font size is a must for my farsightedness. This is one book you can pick up on your travels and finish in one sitting.
Yes, it is that gripping!
And yes, it does indeed make you empathize with the characters for that are how well they are sketched.
January 9, 2022
“Seamen are basically simple men. They have faith in God and their superiors. In that order.” The Hijack
The title and the cover image are reminiscent of the shore and the sea; the tagline brings in the salty tang of the blue waters. Twelve stories leap off the page and keep the readers engrossed, their themes ranging from love and romance to adventure and intrigue.
The first story titled ‘The Piano Man’ sets the stage for all the others to come, with a twist that brings a smile on the face. It reminds one of Coleridge’s famed ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, a reminder that is carried on in another story titled ‘Transition’, which throws up a contrast between the past and the present, the Ancient and the Modern Mariner, as seen through the eyes of a young boy, Keenan, who loves the adventurous tales narrated by his lively ‘grampa’.
Beetashok Chatterjee’s love of the sea comes out vividly in the way his protagonists find themselves at home on board. His descriptions mirror this point. Whether it is Paul in ‘Sapphire Blue’ and his mystery women or Jay and Chow in the wonderful ‘Stairway to Heaven’, whose deep friendship starts at sea and is continued even after, the lure of the blue is unmistakable.
A clear picture of the quintessential seafarer shines through the book. In the heartwarming tale ‘The Visitor’, ‘the superstition of the seamen’ is palpable. They live out their lives with “the sun, the moon and the stars for company”. In ‘Stairway to Heaven’, the protagonists “saw Heaven that night”, an image that the author has put across thorough his evocative words.
Adventure runs like a thread through stories like ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, ‘The Hijack’, and ‘Reach for the Stars’, all of which highlight the perils that seafarers are superstitious about. For finally, a seaman is “Just a Seaman”.
The theme of love and romance is secondary, but enjoyable as seen in “Miss Me?”, a story written in a different style, and in the heart wrenching “Little Girl Lost”.
Beetashok Chatterjee has an engaging style that brings in the music of the sea. Even his metaphors are nautical.
“He sat down and began to play a slow sad tune, the sound of music filling the room like a tide rushing in.” The Piano Man
“The breeze blew in from the sea bringing him the kiss of a mermaid.” Transition
“The guilt comes and goes… like a wave around his ankles during a rising tide.” Little Girl Lost
And the most poetic one of all…
“He waited till the boy sailed across the dark oceans of sleep to dream of things that should never change.” Transition
Written by a sea captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea, this book is one that can be read by anyone who likes “a ripping good yarn” as the blurb goes!
The title and the cover image are reminiscent of the shore and the sea; the tagline brings in the salty tang of the blue waters. Twelve stories leap off the page and keep the readers engrossed, their themes ranging from love and romance to adventure and intrigue.
The first story titled ‘The Piano Man’ sets the stage for all the others to come, with a twist that brings a smile on the face. It reminds one of Coleridge’s famed ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, a reminder that is carried on in another story titled ‘Transition’, which throws up a contrast between the past and the present, the Ancient and the Modern Mariner, as seen through the eyes of a young boy, Keenan, who loves the adventurous tales narrated by his lively ‘grampa’.
Beetashok Chatterjee’s love of the sea comes out vividly in the way his protagonists find themselves at home on board. His descriptions mirror this point. Whether it is Paul in ‘Sapphire Blue’ and his mystery women or Jay and Chow in the wonderful ‘Stairway to Heaven’, whose deep friendship starts at sea and is continued even after, the lure of the blue is unmistakable.
A clear picture of the quintessential seafarer shines through the book. In the heartwarming tale ‘The Visitor’, ‘the superstition of the seamen’ is palpable. They live out their lives with “the sun, the moon and the stars for company”. In ‘Stairway to Heaven’, the protagonists “saw Heaven that night”, an image that the author has put across thorough his evocative words.
Adventure runs like a thread through stories like ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’, ‘The Hijack’, and ‘Reach for the Stars’, all of which highlight the perils that seafarers are superstitious about. For finally, a seaman is “Just a Seaman”.
The theme of love and romance is secondary, but enjoyable as seen in “Miss Me?”, a story written in a different style, and in the heart wrenching “Little Girl Lost”.
Beetashok Chatterjee has an engaging style that brings in the music of the sea. Even his metaphors are nautical.
“He sat down and began to play a slow sad tune, the sound of music filling the room like a tide rushing in.” The Piano Man
“The breeze blew in from the sea bringing him the kiss of a mermaid.” Transition
“The guilt comes and goes… like a wave around his ankles during a rising tide.” Little Girl Lost
And the most poetic one of all…
“He waited till the boy sailed across the dark oceans of sleep to dream of things that should never change.” Transition
Written by a sea captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea, this book is one that can be read by anyone who likes “a ripping good yarn” as the blurb goes!
September 26, 2019
Review :
Seaman is a position wherein a person is assigned to work on a ship, cruise, or a warship. All cruise or personnel on board at the ship will have the chance to travel the world. Travelling around the world will lead to great places that makes a memorable journey into your life.
A person working on a ship can have the chance to explore the vastness of the oceans.
"Driftwood; stories washed Ashore is a book that consists of 12 such stories related to Seaman's life and oceans. The stories hold adventure, love, romance, desire, piracy, intrigue, human nature, guilt and so on.
There are twelve stories of the sea that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to read fiction.
A few insights I drawn from the stories are;
💥Some stories are said aloud and sometimes a few stories wait to get the audience and sometimes they are washed with the waves..
💥Everyone has a life of their own with a certain risk factor, and seaman is no exception.
💥 Everyone get attached to someone or something at certain point of life and that attachment can be towards a person, a pet, a job, a bird or towards any special visitor during our routine life.
💥We get what we sow. Sometimes the situation which are forced on others by us will be forced upon us by someone.
💥Each of us has to take precautionary measures whenever we are heading to something different. We are taught to stay prepared against the worst that might come in, but due to little negligence it can cost someone's life.
A few stories I loved the most are
⏩Sapphire Blue
⏩The visitor
⏩Miss me?
⏩Little Girl Lost
⏩Just a seaman
I recommend this book to everyone.
Experiencing life at sea is a bizarre circumstance because you are able to reminisce your past memories back at home.
Stories are gripping.
The writing style clearly shows that the book has been penned down by a Sea captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea.
Narration and characters are very clear.
My rating 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Seaman is a position wherein a person is assigned to work on a ship, cruise, or a warship. All cruise or personnel on board at the ship will have the chance to travel the world. Travelling around the world will lead to great places that makes a memorable journey into your life.
A person working on a ship can have the chance to explore the vastness of the oceans.
"Driftwood; stories washed Ashore is a book that consists of 12 such stories related to Seaman's life and oceans. The stories hold adventure, love, romance, desire, piracy, intrigue, human nature, guilt and so on.
There are twelve stories of the sea that can be enjoyed by anyone who likes to read fiction.
A few insights I drawn from the stories are;
💥Some stories are said aloud and sometimes a few stories wait to get the audience and sometimes they are washed with the waves..
💥Everyone has a life of their own with a certain risk factor, and seaman is no exception.
💥 Everyone get attached to someone or something at certain point of life and that attachment can be towards a person, a pet, a job, a bird or towards any special visitor during our routine life.
💥We get what we sow. Sometimes the situation which are forced on others by us will be forced upon us by someone.
💥Each of us has to take precautionary measures whenever we are heading to something different. We are taught to stay prepared against the worst that might come in, but due to little negligence it can cost someone's life.
A few stories I loved the most are
⏩Sapphire Blue
⏩The visitor
⏩Miss me?
⏩Little Girl Lost
⏩Just a seaman
I recommend this book to everyone.
Experiencing life at sea is a bizarre circumstance because you are able to reminisce your past memories back at home.
Stories are gripping.
The writing style clearly shows that the book has been penned down by a Sea captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea.
Narration and characters are very clear.
My rating 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 26, 2021
“Driftwood Stories Washed Ashore” is an amazing compilation of 12 short stories that show us the world of seafarers from their own perspective. Having compiled by a sea captain who has spent his entire Professional tenure in the sea for more than 40 years, Betashok Chatterjee didn’t fail to surprise me with his diverse concepts and imagination.
Each story is exceptionally well written, and it transported me away into a beautiful magical world of the oceans. The stories are highly enjoyable, and I really appreciate the author’s writing style. Upon flicking through few pages of the first chapter, I could sense the author is a master of description and can tell he writes from what he knows and has experienced in his life’s journey. The longer stories were highlights of this collection for me, but all of it was very interesting. I doubt anyone has done such exhaustive coverage of the details and depths of the story like the way this piece of work is compiled.
Though I enjoyed all the stories in this book, “Smoke on the water”, “Stairway to Heaven”, and “Sapphire Blue” are some that got attached to my heart. The stories include essence of human nature, love, emotions, adventure and piracy beautifully blended with mix of various events and characters.
The language is simple and lucid. The characterization is done perfectly well. The cover illustration is very creative and the title suits perfectly well with the contents. The book is professionally-edited and exceptionally well written. The book is at heart a boisterous, with enough nautical adventures to satisfy the most demanding readers. I also see the way that the author has developed his world of very rare imagination to experience in many other novels. In summary, it is a fun read, with eternally fascinating stories of the naval genre. I highly recommend this for all the fiction lovers out there, and I would rate this book with 5 out of 5 stars.
Each story is exceptionally well written, and it transported me away into a beautiful magical world of the oceans. The stories are highly enjoyable, and I really appreciate the author’s writing style. Upon flicking through few pages of the first chapter, I could sense the author is a master of description and can tell he writes from what he knows and has experienced in his life’s journey. The longer stories were highlights of this collection for me, but all of it was very interesting. I doubt anyone has done such exhaustive coverage of the details and depths of the story like the way this piece of work is compiled.
Though I enjoyed all the stories in this book, “Smoke on the water”, “Stairway to Heaven”, and “Sapphire Blue” are some that got attached to my heart. The stories include essence of human nature, love, emotions, adventure and piracy beautifully blended with mix of various events and characters.
The language is simple and lucid. The characterization is done perfectly well. The cover illustration is very creative and the title suits perfectly well with the contents. The book is professionally-edited and exceptionally well written. The book is at heart a boisterous, with enough nautical adventures to satisfy the most demanding readers. I also see the way that the author has developed his world of very rare imagination to experience in many other novels. In summary, it is a fun read, with eternally fascinating stories of the naval genre. I highly recommend this for all the fiction lovers out there, and I would rate this book with 5 out of 5 stars.
March 26, 2021
“Driftwood Stories Washed Ashore” is an amazing compilation of 12 short stories that show us the world of seafarers from their own perspective. Having compiled by a sea captain who has spent his entire Professional tenure in the sea for more than 40 years, Betashok Chatterjee didn’t fail to surprise me with his diverse concepts and imagination.
Each story is exceptionally well written, and it transported me away into a beautiful magical world of the oceans. The stories are highly enjoyable, and I really appreciate the author’s writing style. Upon flicking through few pages of the first chapter, I could sense the author is a master of description and can tell he writes from what he knows and has experienced in his life’s journey. The longer stories were highlights of this collection for me, but all of it was very interesting. I doubt anyone has done such exhaustive coverage of the details and depths of the story like the way this piece of work is compiled.
Though I enjoyed all the stories in this book, “Smoke on the water”, “Stairway to Heaven”, and “Sapphire Blue” are some that got attached to my heart. The stories include essence of human nature, love, emotions, adventure and piracy beautifully blended with mix of various events and characters.
The language is simple and lucid. The characterization is done perfectly well. The cover illustration is very creative and the title suits perfectly well with the contents. The book is professionally-edited and exceptionally well written. The book is at heart a boisterous, with enough nautical adventures to satisfy the most demanding readers. I also see the way that the author has developed his world of very rare imagination to experience in many other novels. In summary, it is a fun read, with eternally fascinating stories of the naval genre. I highly recommend this for all the fiction lovers out there, and I would rate this book with 5 out of 5 stars.
Each story is exceptionally well written, and it transported me away into a beautiful magical world of the oceans. The stories are highly enjoyable, and I really appreciate the author’s writing style. Upon flicking through few pages of the first chapter, I could sense the author is a master of description and can tell he writes from what he knows and has experienced in his life’s journey. The longer stories were highlights of this collection for me, but all of it was very interesting. I doubt anyone has done such exhaustive coverage of the details and depths of the story like the way this piece of work is compiled.
Though I enjoyed all the stories in this book, “Smoke on the water”, “Stairway to Heaven”, and “Sapphire Blue” are some that got attached to my heart. The stories include essence of human nature, love, emotions, adventure and piracy beautifully blended with mix of various events and characters.
The language is simple and lucid. The characterization is done perfectly well. The cover illustration is very creative and the title suits perfectly well with the contents. The book is professionally-edited and exceptionally well written. The book is at heart a boisterous, with enough nautical adventures to satisfy the most demanding readers. I also see the way that the author has developed his world of very rare imagination to experience in many other novels. In summary, it is a fun read, with eternally fascinating stories of the naval genre. I highly recommend this for all the fiction lovers out there, and I would rate this book with 5 out of 5 stars.
December 15, 2021
Wanna go on a cruise with a Captain filled with love and nostalgia for the sea?
Driftwood will certainly take you on a roller coaster ride over the shores and the seas! A sailor definitely has a lot to tell, that too of a world that is unexplored by many of us. Like how the ocean is full of wonders and treasures, Driftwood is a book unique in its style and approach. It contains a plethora of experiences, nostalgia, and love for the sea. A must-read for all who love to explore the unexplored!
I have read quite a lot of fiction, non-fiction, love stories, horror stories, stories on war, stories on refugees but this is the first time I came across a book that had all these in one and at the same time giving a glimpse of life at sea.
Driftwood… a collection of 12 short stories coming straight from a sailor’s heart gives an insight into what life is like on the sea. There are stories of adventures and hijacks, love and romance, faith and betrayal. All with a unique taste that allows the readers to explore the different genres in one book.
The stories I liked, in particular, was the opening story The Piano Man, Transition, Sapphire Blue, Goldilocks, and The Three Bears, The Visitor.
I had absolutely no idea about what life at sea is about, but after reading the book I feel I have been through a voyage with a lifetime experience with the author Captain Beetashok Chatterjee.
Thank you Captain for writing this!
Shristee Singh
September 4, 2019
This book has a collection of short stories about the sea and seafarers. The stories are beautiful. The author has connected the stories with the sea in quite a unique manner, which I have to appreciate.
I read a sea story/stories book after a long time. This one is the first one I have read by an Indian author. I loved a range of facets of life at the sea or sea voyages. The characterization is good. It is truly impressive. Both ‘Reach for the stars’ and ‘Just a seaman’ are my favourite stories from the book.
The philosophical touch is sprinkled over some stories so beautifully that one would love to read them again to find the deeper meaning. Each story has something different to give you. The sea waves are never the same, just like the experiences of one person from another.
The stories cover various themes like thrill, love, suspense, friendship, accident, betrayal and crime. The cover is just so beautiful. The title is apt too.
The author has been successful in giving us a glimpse of sea life. I liked the language used in the book. However, there are some technical terms for which you have to use a dictionary. Although the author has not used many still you will feel the need. Such vocabulary is used probably because to connect more with the sea world.
I am recommending this book. It deserves 4 stars.
I read a sea story/stories book after a long time. This one is the first one I have read by an Indian author. I loved a range of facets of life at the sea or sea voyages. The characterization is good. It is truly impressive. Both ‘Reach for the stars’ and ‘Just a seaman’ are my favourite stories from the book.
The philosophical touch is sprinkled over some stories so beautifully that one would love to read them again to find the deeper meaning. Each story has something different to give you. The sea waves are never the same, just like the experiences of one person from another.
The stories cover various themes like thrill, love, suspense, friendship, accident, betrayal and crime. The cover is just so beautiful. The title is apt too.
The author has been successful in giving us a glimpse of sea life. I liked the language used in the book. However, there are some technical terms for which you have to use a dictionary. Although the author has not used many still you will feel the need. Such vocabulary is used probably because to connect more with the sea world.
I am recommending this book. It deserves 4 stars.
September 13, 2019
Driftwood is a collection of stories about the sea and the sailors. A bunch of stories full of adventure in and around the sea, the characters present a wonderful plot in each story and every story has something different to offer from the other.
The way each story has been narrated by including similar yet unique characters every time is a commendable thing to do! This is my first read about sea life and I’m mesmerised by every story!
Some stories teach you a lesson, some teach you adventure and some are just to be heard, so magical!
Stories like “The hijack” “Stairway to Heaven” are so beautifully crafted that one cannot help but admire. I fell in love with every story that I read. The narration was pretty strong and the vocabulary was too good. Words related to the sea are now added to my vocabulary, thanks to this book.
This one is a great read, sure to take you on an adventurous ride. Last but never the least, the cover and title are so in sync that they don’t reveal the content upfront. Everything seems to have been done so thoughtfully. And that attractive cover! Simply perfect.
The way each story has been narrated by including similar yet unique characters every time is a commendable thing to do! This is my first read about sea life and I’m mesmerised by every story!
Some stories teach you a lesson, some teach you adventure and some are just to be heard, so magical!
Stories like “The hijack” “Stairway to Heaven” are so beautifully crafted that one cannot help but admire. I fell in love with every story that I read. The narration was pretty strong and the vocabulary was too good. Words related to the sea are now added to my vocabulary, thanks to this book.
This one is a great read, sure to take you on an adventurous ride. Last but never the least, the cover and title are so in sync that they don’t reveal the content upfront. Everything seems to have been done so thoughtfully. And that attractive cover! Simply perfect.
October 18, 2019
Driftwood is a collection of short stories which bear the saltiness of the sea.
The seafarer's life was unfamiliar to me and still is. But not as unfamiliar as it used to be.
The author, Betashok Chaterjee, is himself a sea Captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea, more than forty years on the waves and still counting. Naturally then, when he tells you of the sea, you'd listen carefully.
In addition to being a sea captain, Mr Chatterjee is an excellent story-teller. The very first story, "The Piano Man" was well-structured and gripping. A short story is doubly delightful when it delivers a twist you never saw coming—which "The Piano Man" did, and how!
Each story in this collection is well-crafted and told with impressive confidence and elan. I found them surprisingly restful, for which credit must be given to the author.
In this volume, Mr Chatterjee has promised us another volume of stories—they may be based on the sea but maybe not.
That is something to look forward to!
The seafarer's life was unfamiliar to me and still is. But not as unfamiliar as it used to be.
The author, Betashok Chaterjee, is himself a sea Captain who has spent his entire adult life at sea, more than forty years on the waves and still counting. Naturally then, when he tells you of the sea, you'd listen carefully.
In addition to being a sea captain, Mr Chatterjee is an excellent story-teller. The very first story, "The Piano Man" was well-structured and gripping. A short story is doubly delightful when it delivers a twist you never saw coming—which "The Piano Man" did, and how!
Each story in this collection is well-crafted and told with impressive confidence and elan. I found them surprisingly restful, for which credit must be given to the author.
In this volume, Mr Chatterjee has promised us another volume of stories—they may be based on the sea but maybe not.
That is something to look forward to!
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