A Marriage at Sea: A True Story of Love, Obsession, and Shipwreck by Sophie Elmhirst
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The author deftly tells the true story of a British couple who sold off their earthly possessions to buy a yacht and sail to New Zealand to start a new life. Before reaching their destination a whale surfaces under their boat, sinking it. They grab what they can and move to a life raft and dinghy to await rescue. But they have no radio or other way to contact anyone. Their flares are all duds. This tale is page-turning fun to read and rates five stars, but ultimately makes for a rather short book. The author, perhaps encouraged by her editor, chooses to carry the story on past that event. Inevitably the rest is anticlimactic and drags my rating down. Still, I enjoyed the book and was amazed at the courage and resourcefulness the couple displayed.