Seafaring Tales
Robinson crusoe rescues friday-1868 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
One thing about recovering from walking pneumonia is the down time I need to rest and recuperate. I can’t complain too much about having to take it slow these days since it means I’m getting caught up on my classics list.
I’m not sure why, but I seem to be on a sea theme binge.
First I read Captains Courageous, and then I moved on to Life of Pi, and finally finished up Billy Budd. I’m slogging through an abridged version of Robinson Crusoe. Maybe someone out there has a clue why I am so drawn to the ocean. Maybe having a fever made me want to be cool and refreshed by ocean breezes and be buoyed in my troubled time? Since I am on a roll, I am up for any ocean going suggestions for reads.
I teach my AP students the art of micro-precis, which means they have to summarize the plot in one sentence. Let’s see if I can practice what I teach:
Captains Courageous: rich brat gets fished out of the ocean and learns how to be a decent human being by hook and not crook via a Troop of fine men sailing on the We’re Here.
Life of Pi: A boy finds himself a reluctant Noah as he endeavors to survive an epic journey with a tiger.
LIFE OF PI | Ang Lee | 35th Mill Valley Film Festival (Photo credit: diginmag)
Billy Budd: Handsome sailor “Baby” Budd hits upon the wrong way to get promoted and leaves the readers hanging as to the unfairness of the justice system.
English: Book Jacket for the novel Billy Budd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Robinson Crusoe: TGIF takes on a whole new meaning as one man figures out Dad might have been right about remaining at home and not be so anxious about seeing the sea
Okay, they’re bad, but then I didn’t plan on turning these in for a grade.
Oh, and please don’t suggest Moby Dick. Once is more than enough for that whale of a tale.
Pam Webb 
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea ?
Loved the one-liners !
That’s a possibility. Although I have seen the Disney version so often I would interpose Kirk Douglas on the story 😉
I’ve started 20,000 leagues, but I still haven’t finished! Did I mention that I started it a year and a half ago?
Moby Dick still makes me shudder too. What I always find odd is the single footprint Crusoe finds, why just one? That bothers me…perhaps to much.
I’m right at that part! I keep rereading it to figure out why there is only one. And what’s weird is that Crusoe thinks it’s weird as well and goes to check it out and it’s still there! No tide? Versimilitude foul!!
Horatio Hornblower? I started the Hornblower series, but got distracted with something else. I’ll get back to it someday. The Odyssey? Mutiny on the Bounty or The Little Mermaid?
p.s. I hope you get better soon!
I loved the Ion Grufford series and sought out the books. I too got distracted and didn’t finish them. Those are all great suggestions. I’ve read them and might reread them for
the sake of renewing my interest. Ooh, I should reread Treasure Island!
And thanks for the concern–I’m feeling much better. 😉
And no-one has mentioned the Patrick O’Brien books, in particular Master and Commander, which was also a marvellous film. Hope you are now back on deck (do Americans use that phrase for recovered from illness 🙂 )
Good suggestion. I will look them up. And yes, I’m feeling much better. All I have to do is post grades and it’s smooth sailing. I like that “on deck” expression. Although my cohorts might think I’ve not got a full deck if I start bantering it around. 🙂