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Book Review of Sloop: Restoring My Family's Wooden Sailboat--An Adventure in Old-Fashioned Values

gourdhedd avatar reviewed on + 9 more book reviews


This book is about how the author, a carpenter and writer, rediscovers an almost derelict family sailboat and brings it back to life. The story covers boatbuilding, family history, geography of the local area, and a close look at all of the characters that contribute to the author's efforts. I call books like this "Comfort Reading". Like comfort food, the story entices, warms you, reels you in and keeps you hooked. This book won't change your life, but for a few days it will take you out of the present and into the southern Massachusetts countryside and sailing environment. At the end of the book, Dan Robb alludes to another boatbuilding project, building a Herreshoff 12 1/2 from ground up. I wish he would chronicle that effort also.

The book is perfect for a dreary day right after football season ends. Betcha can't read just 20 pages!