Review of Bluewater Walkabout

[Lyn Cabioc]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Bluewater Walkabout" by Tina Dreffin.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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A love letter to all the places this family travels to all the beautiful creatures and people they meet; Bluewater Walkabout is comparable to a captain's log. Tina Dreffin goes on her walkabout with her family, and while they are at sea, everyone grows mentally. Everything that one would anticipate from a personal trip book was included in this memoir: family, drama, and evocative descriptions of foreign destinations.

This book is not your average travel guide's dry tome that describes every nook and crevice for the meticulous traveler. The author's travel and exploration quest are interspersed with the account of their sailing tour. Her openness and bravery, as well as the love and strength that unite their family, are evident on every page. You can see their spirit and sense of exploration via her bright and colorful descriptions of the various sites they visit. She strikes the perfect mix between the trip's activities and her reflections on parenthood, philosophy, and self-reflection. The ups and downs of a family making crucial decisions to pursue their aspirations are beautifully described in this honest and exciting book. The book doesn't sugarcoat the trying times. It's not just a travelogue; it's also a story about relationships and atonement.

However, this book will most likely appeal to you if you enjoy sailing or know anything about it due to the extensive usage of sailing jargon. Furthermore, it bounced around so much in the first few chapters you’d have to go back and reread entire passages to determine whether we are in the present or the past because it lacks a sense of flow or continuation. Hence, all of these accentuate what I dislike in this book.

I am rating this book 4 out of 5 stars. It is very personal and sincere, and it features different experiences despite the use of jargon and the lack of clarity in its transition. The author is talented enough to write such a beautiful book full of lessons and experiences that her readers can relish.

You'll adore Bluewater Walkabout if you enjoy sailing, exploration, travel, and original memoirs. The author's friendly and simple-to-read writing style perfectly complements the reader's path of personal development and healing in this book.

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Bluewater Walkabout
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