4 out of 4 stars
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Bluewater Walkabout by Tina Dreffin is a memoir about one woman's journey with nature, foreign cultures, and perilous adventures.
Tina Dreffin and her husband have an incredibly unique lifestyle; they live on the ocean. This certainly brings about a lot of fun stories as well as frightening situations. The author takes you through some of these tales while weaving in her personal story of sexual assault, loss of a child, and healing. There are many different aspects to this novel; it is a story of romance, heartbreak, adventure, humor, and parenting.
Much of the book is centered around a trip that Tina and her husband took with their two teen boys and their two friends as they sailed through some of the most dangerous waters around Africa. This adventure nearly unglued their family as the author tried desperately to protect the boys. Africa is a dangerous place for four teenagers who think they are invincible! Not to mention that life at sea, far from any medical assistance, is enough to keep any mother up at night.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. Even with some heavy themes, the story has a positive tone. Initially, I was concerned that it would be depressing, but that was not the case at all. I was also worried that I would get lost with technical terms since I am not familiar with boats. However, the author did well to make most of it clear. I do not feel like I missed out on anything important in the story, despite my ignorance of certain terminology.
It is impressive how well written this book is. Even though it jumps back and forth in time, it is easy to keep track of what is happening. The author manages to make the story flow, giving you enough back history without bogging down the entire story. The way she writes is very open and relatable. I was a little surprised at how easy it was to relate to her story even though I have not experienced many of the things she has. The way the author describes the places they have been is so clear that you almost feel as if you are right there with her.
My rating for Bluewater Walkabout is 4 out of 4 stars. It is an excellent travel memoir. Not only will nature and travel enthusiasts love it, but also those who love heartwarming family stories. I found the author’s life to be fascinating and I was not ready for the book to end. In fact, there is a slight cliffhanger at the end of this book which is something I have never seen before in a memoir. It definitely makes me want to check out the author’s next book and find out what happens next.
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Bluewater Walkabout
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