Status Updates From The Commodore: A Novel of t...

ill the Isabel Kwel's flaw take her crew to the bottom of the sea? Will West meet East? And what will happen when the Commodore runs out of blood pressure meds? This will be a spoiler free review so from here on I'm not saying a single word more except to say this is one fantastic book.

Oh! I forgot to mention the pet canary left in Harinxma's cabin by the tug's former captain 'Spooks' Haversma and a tame rat who arrives in a gift fruit basket!

Ashore, Harinxma has to deal with an unscrupulous and wily Dutch executive and his opposite number (and match) a Taiwanese gang leader/entrepreneur; afloat, Harinxma's problems include a first mate who comes aboard with crates of Holland gin, a Taiwanese captain who is paralyzed by his insecurities, an old village wise woman/chef and dozens more lively characters, all drawn with great good humor.

One test drive of the space - age but fatally flawed super tug and the Commodore is hooked, ready to sign up for a job towing a 40 thousand ton floating dry dock. The motley Dutch crew all have some blot on their records and most of the remaining crew are Taiwanese from two separate (and feuding) villages. Dislike, distrust and incomprehension lies as thick as fog.

Oh how I love the Commodore -- both the character and the book! From the opening moments when retired tugboat commander Maritnius Harixnma, Dutch WW2 naval hero and 30 year fleet veteran, the Commodore is wise, even canny, both ashore and afloat. At 70, he is happily enlisted in the over the hill gang, but is tempted back into service -- perhaps pushed by the incoming hoard of relatives arriving for Christmas!