Book-a-book of the Month Club discussion

Discuss the tale of the Andrea Gail here

I think I am about 15% in and I am finding the culture of the fishing industry very interesting.

I am at about 65%
To me this is reading very technical. I am finding I have to really think and figure out what they are talking about in regards to boat stuff and weather stuff. All the angles of the waves and the fetch of the boat and exponential multiplication of the wind speed to the wave height and blah blah... A lot of it is going over my head because I don't want to work so hard to figure out how it all works. I just want to find out what happened to the boat!

Vicki wrote: "I am at about 65%
To me this is reading very technical. I am finding I have to really think and figure out what they are talking about in regards to boat stuff and weather stuff. All the angles of ..."

I understand what you mean! Fortunately, though, with this one I am not minding it too much. I kind of find all of it fascinating - whether I understand it or not, so much goes into both fishing and weather!

Now - as I believe I mention on one of your statuses, Vicki, after reading Moby Dick, this book is nothing when it comes to excessive descriptions!

They mentioned in the book using GPS that was made slightly off intentionally by the government. I remember this being the case back in the early 2000s when I knew some people using GPS to map. Now, with GPS on phones (and everywhere else) I believe all those government restrictions on GPS are gone.

Oh! Very interesting. I WAS wondering about the GPS thing as I was reading.

I finished and it finished just as strong as it started. I really enjoyed this read. I thought it was interesting how they called it the PERFECT storm, but then caveated it with the fact the perfect isn't always a good thing. Something to think about for sure.

I live in a beach community so I understand the whole "love of the sea" thing as I could never leave and live anywhere else, but these fishermen really took it to a whole next level . Incredible really.

I agree about the technical talk, kind of over my head. I’m 62% in and despite some of that I am still enjoying the information for the most part.

I just read 20 pages where it was interesting to learn about the mechanics of water agitated by high winds, but it could have been summed up in one phrase as well: UNREASONABLY LARGE WAVES, HOLY CRAP!

Vicki wrote: " I thought it was interesting how they called it the PERFECT storm, but then caveated it with the fact the perfect isn't always a good thing. Something to think about for sure.."

That stuck with me, too. Perfect is usually a positive term, and it seemed that the fear was that people would think this book was saying that the storm was a good thing. But, you can have things were a perfect set of circumstances make a perfect mess.

Kind of like how awesome does not always mean good - it can just mean that it is unbelievable.

Just rolling in a month late, as per my style lately. Better late than never, yes?
Anyway, I just wrote my review and it made me realize there are a few different things going on in this book. The first part was more "narrated story with characters", then the second part was kind of "information dump", then the last part was more "tales of survival" with a side of information on rescues, etc. Did anyone else feel like there were these loose phases in the book?
I mean, in the end it all worked out, but there was a lot going on in the book overall.

Meghan wrote: "Just rolling in a month late, as per my style lately. Better late than never, yes?
Anyway, I just wrote my review and it made me realize there are a few different things going on in this book. The ..."

Never too late! You can go back and read and discuss the first book the club read anytime!

I agree with you about the the part breakdown. There are a couple of chapters about fishing thou could probably skip if you are not interested without any ill effect on the story. Also, I was expecting more about three Andrea Gail - that was a much smaller part than I expected.

I agree with yiou Meghan. The info dump was interesting to me though.
I think it had to be done that way (with the different phases and stories) because though they know what happened TO the Andrea Gail, they really don't know what happened ON the Andrea Gail. I think for me that is what made the story so riveting. Knowing that all those people's loved ones have to only wonder and speculate what really happened on that boat at that time. Makes for a very haunting topic. Hearing all the accounts and side stories about what down during that storm can only add to the mystery for me.

Vicki wrote: "I agree with yiou Meghan. The info dump was interesting to me though.
I think it had to be done that way (with the different phases and stories) because though they know what happened TO the Andre..."

Absolutely! It was almost strange to read a book when the author was using language like "he probably would have..." since there was no way to know. Every once in a while that uncertain language of the writer took me off guard, then I remembered again that nobody was left on the Andrea Gail to tell the tale, which was such a sobering and haunting thought.

Matthew wrote: "I agree with you about the the part breakdown. There are a couple of chapters about fishing thou could probably skip if you are not interested without any ill effect on the story. Also, I was expecting more about three Andrea Gail ..."

Although there were a few times when I glazed over in the middle, there really was a lot of interesting information as well about the industry and environment of that sector and I was glad to learn about it. I also was expecting more about the Andrea Gail as well, especially after so much information about the crew and their families at the beginning.

OH, and I almost forgot to add: Did anyone else find it interesting to learn that the real family and friends of the Andrea Gail crew played extras in the funeral scene of the movie?

Another reason to re-watch the movie with a new take on the story and cast.

Meghan wrote: "OH, and I almost forgot to add: Did anyone else find it interesting to learn that the real family and friends of the Andrea Gail crew played extras in the funeral scene of the movie?

Another reas..."

Did the version you read mention that? The copy I have I have had since before the movie so nothing about that in mine.