File Size: 5961 KB
Print Length: 199 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (July 3, 2012)
Publication Date: July 3, 2012
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
Language: English
ASIN: B0089LOFX0
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
X-Ray: Not Enabled
Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #174,889 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #3 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Education & Reference > Adventure & Adventurers #5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Biography > Sports #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Biography > Cultural Heritage
Years ago, when I was growing up, I read the account of Robin Lee Graham as the young man who sailed around the world alone, and also got married along the way, in three installments of the National Geographic, circa 1965-1970. These articles so affected me that I also wanted to sail around the world. However, as I read this book it soon became apparent to me that this book is also an account of a true life love story, between Robin and Patti, both with simple values and needs, in sharp contrast to most people who are primarily concerned with money and social status. They were deep in love and would, and did, do anything for each other.Robin alone, and later with Patti, sailed to some of the most beautiful places on Earth, I think they must have enough memories for 20 lifetimes. The writing style makes you feel that you are right there with them.The pictures included in this book are poor black and white, but as I remember, the National Geographic articles included excellent color photographs, it would do you well to find those issues.As for me, I never did get to sail around the world, a little thing called life intervened, the grind and all that! I did take a sailing class through a local university in the summer of '77, even got an "A" in the class, but this pales in comparison to the daring sailing of Robin Graham. Sometimes, during trips to Florida I gaze at ocean-going yachts at wharfs, and yes, the dream is still alive, thanks to Dove
I read DOVE in 1973, shortly after it was published, and I will eternally thank Robin Lee Graham for introducing me to the sailing life! As a boy not much younger than Graham himself I was captivated by his story, by his daring in taking a 24-foot sloop across trackless oceans, by his exotic ports of call, and by the romance which fueled his ambition.Robin Lee Graham was like a lot of baby boomers, but when he dropped out at age 16, he dropped into exotic places like Fanning Island, Papeetee, and the Indian Ocean. More travelogue than sailing guide, DOVE gave it's readers glimpses of places rarely visited and virtually unknown at the time. Thirty years later in the Internet and Cellular World it's hard to picture just how far-flung Graham's travels really were. Graham sailed three-quarters of the way around the world without a 2-way radio, and without SatNav, GPS, Loran, EPIRB, or even a real life raft, in a boat barely bigger than a bedroom. He finished the trip in a slightly larger, better equipped boat.Graham was a reluctant sailor who was happiest ashore with his wife, Patti (who he met along the way in Fiji). Revisiting DOVE, I found that Graham felt overly pressured (by his father and by NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, both of which were financing the trip) to complete the circumnavigation. His strongest motivation to sail on was his wife, who played global hopscotch to stay always one port of call in the future. His best reminiscences always include her.Graham closed the circle, but I had to wonder if he would not have been happier, like Moitessier, just to sail off into the sunset and find his own way.
I first read Robin Lee Graham's account as it was printed in installments in National Geographic at the time of his voyage more than three decades ago. I was a few years younger than he, and fascinated by the narrative and photos of his exploits.It was very good to find this book recently and revisit his story. This book is of course an expanded account, a lengthier chronicle of his voyage. Also a more frank account; in those days, journalism observed proprieties, and Robin's relationship with Patti was portrayed by National Geographic as more G-rated than it was. (Not that the book is explicit -- Robin simply makes it clear that he and Patti lived together for periods during his journey, and considered themselves to be married before they had an official wedding ceremony).The book ends with Robin's account of the newlyweds, with young daughter in tow, moving to the woods of Montana to live a "simpler life". I must confess that the cynic in me was certain that they must have run into reality at some point and separated. But I was pleasantly surprised to find some articles on the web that indicated they are still married, with their two children grown and gone, and still living in Montana. In fact, I sugggest you go to Google Images and search for "robin patti graham". You will find a photo, taken just a few years ago, of a grey-bearded but smiling Robin Lee Graham, and beside him Patti -- who, despite being middle-aged, retains the blonde good looks that attracted Robin to her when they met in Tahiti about 40 years ago. There is a passage in this book where Patti asks Robin if he will still love her when she's 64. This photo provides a wonderful postscript to that passage.
I read this book for a class. Weve read a few books on sailing alone around the world, and I have to say, I enjoyed this one the most. It goes in depth on the loneliness of the voyage. It's not only about sailing but about the love of two people that defies time and distance, and a father who would do anything for his son. All in all, I think it is definatly a book worth reading.
Black Dove: Mamá, Mi'jo, and Me Black Dove, White Raven Dove Cameron Niedliche Schauspielerin: bilderbuch (German Edition) Lonesome Dove Dove