Safe from the Sea
Peter Geye
September 2010
256 pages
Published by Unbridled Books
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FTC disclosurey statement-thingie: I checked this book out from the library. I know! I was surprised, too.
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Synopsis (lifted from B&N…god, I love cut and paste):
Set against the powerful lakeshore landscape of northern Minnesota, Safe from the Sea is a heartfelt novel in which a son returns home to reconnect with his estranged and dying father thirty-five years after the tragic wreck of a Great Lakes ore boat that the father only partially survived and that has divided them emotionally ever since.* When his father for the first time finally tells the story of the horrific disaster he has carried with him so long, it leads the two men to reconsider each other.
Meanwhile, Noah’s own struggle to make a life with an absent father has found its real reward in his relationship with his sagacious wife, Natalie, whose complications with infertility issues have marked her husband’s life in ways he only fully realizes as the reconciliation with his father takes shape.
Peter Geye has delivered an archetypal story of a father and son, of the tug and pull of family bonds, of Norwegian immigrant culture, of dramatic shipwrecks and the business and adventure of Great Lakes shipping in a setting that simply casts a spell over the characters as well as the reader.
I am absolutely not a fan of sinking ships or stories about sinking ships. The thought gives me the willies. For this reason, I refused to see Titanicin theatres (although it’s been hard to avoid on tv). Besides, we all know what happens at the end…the boat sinks and lots of people die. Why would I want to watch a movie about that?
So, given my feelings about sinking ships, I was surprised that I ended up loving this book. Which is good news for the book, since it’s one of the books on the short list for Literary Fiction in the Indie Lit Awards. Had it not been nominated, I doubt I ever would’ve read it, and that would’ve been a sad thing.
The strength in this book is the characters. Well, and the writing. Okay, and the story, too. But Geye really brought the characters to life. I could just picture crusty old Olaf, shivering in his union suit as he lay dying. I could also picture him as the weathered sailor on the sinking ship. He may have not been up for any father of the year awards, but it was interesting to watch him revisit his past and admit his mistakes to his son. And to see the son finally understand the father. And while I originally thought Natalie was a single-minded bitch, she grew on me, too.
And yes, I’ll admit, the story of the sinking ship sucked me in, too. This does not mean I’m going to read The Perfect Storm, though. No way, no how.
*This sentence cracks me up. It’s like the entire book in one run-on sentence.
Ha!! Now you see why I loved this book and make it a top read for 2010. I’m glad you gave it a shot.
Beth F´s last [type] ..Todays Read- Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt
I just won this book in a giveaway, and am really anxious to read it, since every review I have read has been positive. I am glad to hear that you thought it was good too, and I like the fact that the characters are so well done. Often I find that characterization is the make or break in the books that I read. Thanks for your persuasive review. I need to try this one soon!
I loved this one too. I posted my review yesterday and had a hard time not gushing…given that we are supposed to be as neutral as possible until we have a winner.
Ti´s last [type] ..Review- Safe from the Sea
Unbridled Books has a lot of great titles, so it’s fantastic to see that they’re starting to get some recognition in the blogging world! I agree that shipwrecks don’t exactly draw me to a book, but you’ve made this one sounds irresistible.
Steph´s last [type] ..“The Weird Sisters” by Eleanor Brown
I won’t read Perfect Storm either, but this one does sound really good!
Heather J.´s last [type] ..Prisoners in the Palace
I tried to read The Perfect Storm. It was a serious error in judgment. I think I actually purchased the book. Duh. Nothing happens. Big storm. More big storm. Lotta water.
This one sounded so great when Amy of Amy Reads reviewed it that I put it on my PBS wish list. I’ve already received a copy, but I’m not sure where I put that sucker, so I guess I’ll get to it when I get to it. I’m happy to see more thumbs are pointed upward, in the meantime.
Just finished this one this afternoon! Holy cow, what a beautiful book. I had chills reading certain passages. Can’t wait to see what the rest of our panel thinks!
Meg´s last [type] ..Almost Wordless Wednesday- Sock monkey love
Everyone seems to love this book!!! It sounds like I need to read it ASAP.
That is definitely one seriously long sentence.
Side note: Titanic, so not worth it. Blah.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Weekly Geeks- You Know Youre Looking at a Winner
Characters, writing and story? I’m sold. For some reason (the cover?) this one has had no appeal to me until I read your review. I’m off to the library myself to find it…
Pish posh. The Perfect Storm was sooooo good. And so was Titantic. There is something so fundamentally freaky about sinking ships that appeals to me.
Glad this was a good one. I know Ti liked it too.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Review- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
I can’t say I’m a fan of sinking ship stories either, but I keep hearing such good things about this one that I definitely will have to read it. I do love a book with great writing, characters and story. Thank you for your great review, Jill.
Literary Feline´s last [type] ..Random Friday Fun- Question of the Day- Fill-Ins & Book Beginnings
I could barely say that first sentence without stopping for a breath (must work on cardio!)
I remember reading Beth Fish’s review of this book; I’ve yet to bring it in to my home, but it won’t be long (I’m a fan of the sinking ship story …)
Dawn – She Is Too Fond of Books´s last [type] ..Thoughts on Earth by Jon Stewart audiobook … DNF
I love that you found a great new book that you wouldn’t have otherwise read through the Indie Lit Awards!
Cass´s last [type] ..Bloggiesta- Starting Line
With the Lovecraft binge I’ve been on lately, all I can think is “Cthulhu” or “Innsmouth” whenever I see something involving people and the sea or other big bodies of water.
Wasn’t there in Moby Dick a whole chapter comparing sailing the Great Lakes to sailing the ocean?
EL Fay´s last [type] ..Along the shore the cloud waves break-
I really enjoyed The Perfect Storm when I read it back when I was a teenager. I do remember that it had a very detailed description of what it is like to drown, so, yeah, given your feelings about sinking ship stories, I can see why you would give it a wide berth.
Christy´s last [type] ..Library Loot – January 17th
I need to pull this one out soon–everyone seems to feel the same way about it that you did.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Its Bloggiesta Time – Ole!
I’ll have to write this one down for my book club. I grew up in MN and enjoy it as a setting. I can relate to your negative feelings about sinking ships-the Edmund Fitzgerald saga always freaks me out!
Michelle´s last [type] ..The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver