Saturday, December 31, 2016

Review of A Perfect Storm (1997) by Sebastion Junger

The perfect storm took place in the form of a hurricane on October 29 and 30 of 1991 over the north-central Atlantic. It affected millions but particularly people on the water: fishermen, boaters and the Coast Guard. Weather buoys recorded waves over 100 feet high, the highest ever recorded for that area. The hurricane was a result of three major storm systems that converged and overtook a swordfish boat, the Andrea Gail, with its crew of five. One member of a Coast Guard rescue team was lost when their helicopter was forced to crash land off Long Island. From beginning, middle to end this book and the stories of the people it entertains is completely amazing. It presents the lives, culture and community of North Atlantic fishermen in a profoundly personal and intimate manner.

Examining the history of fishing in New England, specifically from Gloucester and New Haven (where Ishmael went looking for work), the author presents its geography and technology. It goes in depth into storm systems, how they develop and spread. What could be more interesting? The descriptions are technical and precise. The writing style is both professional and journalistic. It reminds me of Into the Wild and Miles Harvey's The Island of Lost Maps. Stories that grow out of incidents inexplicable, bizarre, unfathomable.

The movie is watchable. It's a watered down version of the men reduced to sappy nonsense. They were much tougher and crazier than you'd think.

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