EBIAT

The Boat of Dreams is a departure for Richard Preston, but what range it shows! This is destined to be a family treasure that comes out every holiday to be read and shared by all. It is a tender story of loss, and love, and most importantly hope... a story that will bring tears to your eyes and encourage a few laughs, too. The genesis behind the writing of this jewel is moving as well, and Preston's intentions to share the profits for cancer research are to be commended (and copied!). Enjoy.

Along with the Bible story of Mary and Joseph and the Babe in the manger,and Dickens'A Christmas Carol, this heartwarming tale is destined to become a Christmas classic. The Boat of Dreams is a story that both holds your attention and heals your heart. A wonderful story to read to your children.

The reason this book was written gives it even more poignancy but the book itself stands alone as a testament to faith and the power of love. All of the characters are clearly drawn and I found myself racing along to finish - it's a very easy read and certainly a wonderful book to read aloud with children, family and friends. I hope it becomes another XMAS classic. Thanks, Dick!

Here's a bear's-eye view of the priviledged world of "Master," as the little American boy, his parents, nanny and his stuffed toy polar bear travel from winter home to summer home to luxury hotels around the globe in the pre-World War I days, as written quite matter-of-factly by the boy's mother. Poignant, dramatic adventures ensue when the family boards the Titanic on its fateful voyage. A wonderful introduction for youngsters to the historic event; equally intriguing for adults, with actual photos, many of which were taken by the the author/survivor/mother, including photos of her son with Polar, his toy bear. A fascinating glimpse at a narrow slice of high society American life. Hopefully with the release of the film "Titanic" in December 1997, this little book will see a reprint. Charming!

I found this book excellent! It's a great way for children tolearn, not only about the world's most famous maritime disater, butfor them to also have an understanding of what life was like for the wealthy to have lived during this era. I plan to be a teacher and have already acquired this book and have read it to several children. What a better way to promote history than through a true story, and with the perspective through a bear's eyes. Highly Recommended! If fact, I am doing a rhetorical criticism paper on this book.

This book has much to offer, for young readers and for adults. It is a wonderful glimpse into history, told from the perspective of a Steiff polar bear, who is very much a part of the life of young Douglas Spedden. His family's travels and his young life unfold in a beautiful text that is illustrated with sensitive illustrations and historical photographs. The Speddens traveled on the ill-fated Titanic. The incredible drama of that event unfolds in the most personal narrative. The magnficent beauty of the ship is conveyed as the family enjoys its commodious luxury. The drama of its sinking is compelling as well as touching in the describtion of the heartbreaking separation of Polar from young Douglas. This is how a young child would remember such an event. Fortunately, Polar is found and reunited with his friend.

The story behind the story is as wondeful as the book itself. Leighton H. Coleman III found this wonderful manuscript in his grandfather's barn. It was written by his cousin, Daisy Spedden. How brilliant of a mother to convert a traumatizing event into a story for her little boy! Her tender insight, the wonder of discovery and the perfect blending of history and narrative--ocean liners, wonderful bears--all of these components make this a perfect children's book that is both educational and entertaining (for parents, too!). I have given scores of copies to my friends with children and to my many adult friends who are fascinated by ocean liners and the Titanic. The book is well-crafted with much to offer.

Children will enjoy this book and the illustrations clearly depict TITANIC's sinking and discovery. My daughter pointed this book out to me in 1991. I was surprised to see my picture in it! ( I was one of the US Naval officers to accompany Dr. Ballard on his 1986 expedition to the site.)

I am in love with the great liner that took her first and last voyage over 86 years ago. Titanic's 45,000 ton body was built in Belfast, Ireland, and now rests two miles under the sea! For many, many decades the question was put, over and over again- where exactly is the great liner in the sea?The question (along with many other questions) were answered when Robert D. Ballard discovered the long lost ship. Ballard's book, "Exploring the Titanic" takes you 12,460 feet under water to Titanic herself. "Exploring Titanic" has wonderful pictures, graphics, diagrams and intense information. Even though it is written for about the age of 8, adults might find interest in the book as well. I would have given it a 10, but graphics are not as clear as they could be, and is written quite simply.

I first read this book almost 15 years ago, at age 5 : I loved it, and read it uncountable times. Today it is still just as fascinating. Beautifully illustrated and clearly written, it was the first of many Ballard books that I read. I would also recommend the Discovery of the Bismark and The Wreck of the Isis, just as interesting but less well known. A great way to start reading about the great ships of the past.

If you are at all interested in the U-Boat war in the North Atlantic during World War II, then this book is for you. Werner tells the story of his wartime career in gripping detail. What I found most interesting about the book, however, was not so much the descriptions of combat (although those are certainly interesting enough), but rather the fascinating glimpse into ordinary life in Germany and occupied France during the war, as described by Werner when he recounts his leaves and furloughs and visits home. Likewise, Werner's story of the brutality of French treatment of German POWs at war's end is also very eye opening. Aside from that, there are plenty of Asdic pings, depth charge runs, torpedo fan shots, and silent runnings to keep even the most demanding submarine fan enthralled for hours. Immerse yourself in the excitement and the horror of World War II under the waves with the words of a true master. Highly recommended.

I am an ex-submariner in the U.S Navy with eight strategic deterrent submarine patrols in the North Atlantic and I can only imagine the absolute courage and patriotism shown by the men described in this book! Captain Werner describes what is truly a life of adventure bordering on madness as he and his crew dodge British and US aircraft and destroyers in the most dramatic cat and mouse game of all time.

The book follows Werner's career as a U-Boat officer that starts at the beginning of WWII. He talks about the initial glory and successes of the German U-Boat campaign against the British and he follows the war as the tide changes against Germany. Werner describes reports of boat after boat being sunk and most of his fellow commanders being killed at sea and he shares his thoughts as he continues to bring his boat to sea in spite of almost a guarantee of being killed.

I can't recommend this book strongly enough. It is the BEST submarine saga that I have read to date and it is also a tribute to men who have gone to sea in defense of their country.

This book is amazing. You won't be able to put it down!!

During the 2nd WW, I spent a good deal of time selling newspapers in the days before vending machines took over. I now live in Huntsville, Al. so thought I should read something by this author,who is best known for "Rocket Boys." However,when I came across this title, I decided to go with U-boats. It was a subject which had great news exposure in the papers I sold . Well I never realized how close the sea war really was to our shores in the early going. This is an well documented account of Nazi sub activity which was apparently kept quiet at the time. As a matter of fact there are so many accounts of ship sinkings that I almost gave up reading Torpedo Junction; rather like having to endure a losing football team for several seasons. This all changes at about p.200 when Hickman proceeds to give a most exciting account of a battle twixt the 'Icarus'(coast guard cutter) and U-352 which was the first German submarine sunk by our side . If you are interested in this aspect of the war which was a critical effort in which we were losing badly, this is your book. For those who like their desert first, start on p 200 of the paperback edition. If you are a "senior" like me get the nore expensive edition with larger type!

Torpedo Junction was an area off the eastern coast of the United States. During World War II, a handfull of German U-Boats sunk more tonnage than the Japanese fleet sunk in the pacific. War material being transfered across the ocean was the target and many items were lost. In the first days alone, one U-Boat sunk just under ten transports before returning to reload.
This part of the war is largely unknown, but played a crusial part in the war.
Homer Hickam wrote out this book wonderfully, making it seem if you were right there with the submarine commanders in battle. What I found interesting about the book is the detail and accuracy of the book. Hickam used sources from the commanders to military officials to write this, providing a complete and accurate history of the U-Boat wars.

I read Hickam's The Keeper's Son first then noticed in the back where he mentioned writing this book, too. It is the true story behind The Keeper's Son and what a story it is! Like the other reviewers, I never realized the tremendous damage the u-boats caused along our shores. The book, Hickam's first, is written with such skill, it seems like you're right there on those little cutters or the con of the u-boats. High recommended for all those interested in World War II or true sea tales.

This story is about the great ship Titanic. Of course we've all heard of it! Meet Elizabeth and Max, from first class and then Irish Kathleen (Katie), Brian, and Patrick (Paddy). It tells about the days before, during, and after the sinking. Elizabeth Farr wants to go to college but her parents are determined for her to marry a boring banker. Max Whittaker betrayed his parents and went to Paris to study art, now his Grandmother is providing him with a 1st class ticket so he can get back to America. Katie wants to follow her dream of singing in the Us. Her parents bought her the 3rd class ticket for her birthday. She is traveling with two men, who are brothers, Paddy, and Brian. There is a lot of romance. But then the ship starts to sink. It's discribed so well I felt like I was there! You can see the horror these poor people felt. AMAZING! But I think the ending, though not to perfect, was a little too happy. And I'm tired how in most books the women get in the lifeboats. Yes, most did, but still can't they have one that has to survive not in a lifeboat, like Max did in this story? Oh well.

TITANIC: THE LONG NIGHT by Diane Hoh is a great fictional account of the Titanic disaster through the stories of five fictional teenagers on the doomed ocean liner. Elizabeth Farr is in first class. She is trying to escape both her debut into society and an impending marriage to a wealthy, older man she doesn't love, and to persuade her parents to allow her to go to college. Also in first class is Max Whittaker. Max defied his wealthy parents by travelling to Paris to study art. Now poor, he is only able to travel first class on the Titanic because his wealthy grandmother sent him the ticket. In third class is Katie Hanrahan, a 16 year old Irish girl dreaming of becoming a singer in New York. Katie has left her family and her small village to build a new life for herself. Also in third class are two brothers, Brian and Patrick Kelleher. They also dream of a new life in America. During the voyage, Elizabeth falls in love with Max, and is now more dertermined then ever to break off her engagement to the man she does not care for. Katie falls in love with Patrick, only Patrick is afraid to return her feelings, as he believes that Katie loves his brother Brian. It takes the sinking of the Titanic for true feelings to be revealed. But is it too late? Who will survive? Will Elizabeth, Max, Patrick, Brian, and Katie be among those who get out alive? READ THIS BOOK TO FIND OUT!

I first read this book when I was in sixth grade, a little after the time the film came out. I read it within a day, and it became my favorite book.
Right now I'm a junior in high school, and today I picked it up again. I remember why I loved it so much. The characters are amusing, the plots are captivating and the romance between Elizabeth Farr and Max Whittaker is extremely enjoyable. We all know what happens to the Titanic, but we dont know what will happen to these 5 teenagers that the book focuses on.
If there has to be a main character Elizabeth is clearly it, having the prolouge being written about her, and the most space in the book about her. She is a likeable character, spoiled but passionate and headstrong. We sympathize with her struggle to convince her parents to let her go to college instead of marrying a boring banker 10 years her senior.
She meets Max Whittaker, a poor painter with rich parents who have disowned him. I suppose there's a sort of Jack Dawson feel to him, but I fell in love with this character more than Titanic's Jack. Elizabeth immediatly makes the mistake of directing him to third class when he is actually in first class, just like her. Thus the romance begins, Max teasing her-Elizabeth going from hating him to becoming jealous of him and his onboard friend Lily.
In third class, Kathleen Hanrahan is traveling from Ireland to America to pursue a singing career. She's accompanied by Brian Kelleher and his brother Paddy. Although she is more like Brian, she suddenly becomes attracted to(and horrified because of it) rascal lady-killer Paddy.
Even more interesting, is that Kathleen and Elizabeth cross paths a few times somehow knowing or sympathizing each other.
Obviously with the Titanic sinking, there's alot of suspense and drama- which only makes the romances better. I really couldn't put down this book! Max and Elizabeth make a great couple and Kathleen and Paddy (almost) equally so. Even at sixteen it makes you wish 'if only romance today could be like this'.

A book of tremendous force. A tragedy expertly transformed into determination and hope, a powerful tribute to life, to love and courage. Intensely gripping, this book swept me into a world so real that I could smell and hear the backdrops.

I wept at the triumphant ending, at Hanna's indomitable spirit, her humor and her abiding love for mankind. Lady Crawford and Gerda are marvelous characters, as are all, but Hanna herself is outstanding.

How this book is not a best seller is beyond me. The author had written a story with such eloquence and care, and blended meticulous research into one of the most human stories I have ever read. BOAT OF STONE is a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit. None of the reviews do the book justice, it is a SPLENDID book! A book that will be read for many, many years to come. And a book that I was able to find ONLY at Amazon, having had it recommended to me so much, but unable to find in bookstores. Read it. You will be enthralled.

I read this book after reading Maureen Earl's earlier book, GULLIVER QUICK. I was really not prepared for the power that I found in BOAT OF STONE. Ms Earl has written a book that is both important and enormously gripping. That the book is based on a real story only makes it more amazing. This is a book that will survive into the ages, a must read.

I thought it started out slow, but stick with it ,it get's better!

I think Hickam is one of the best writers around. His books are always interesting and page-turners. I love this novel. The characters are compelling such as Dosie and Josh, and Miriam and Krebs. And I learned so much in this novel. I had no idea about this big battle off the Outer Banks during World War II. My husband bought this, just loved it, which made me a little reluctant because he talked about the battle scenes. Then I read it and knew Hickam had written a romantic adventure that women can love, too. So is it a man's novel or a woman's? Remarkably, both! It is also a great tale of the sea. I could even feel the sand between my toes, smell the salt air, imagine myself standing high above the ocean on a lighthouse. Just good adventurous romantic stuff. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. The Thurlow family rocks!

I read this wonderful book in one day! I've walked the beach, swam the waters, watched the waves and the sunsets on the Outer Banks, and Homer Hickam takes me back there with "The Keeper's Son." The irascible, independent islanders of Hickham's Killikeet are people who live on in my imagination, and that's the sign of a great writer - someone who creates characters so real you're sure they could be part of your life if only you could get inside the pages of a book. But Hickham has gone one better, he's given us a rousing tale of World War II and the courageous islanders who fought off German U-Boats that tried to cripple shipping along the eastern coast of the U.S. Sometimes a narrative gets choppy when an author jumps back and forth between two main characters' points of view, but not Hickam's. Both the sub captain and the Coast Guard ensign are men you come to respect and care about. Added to all this is a series of love stories, the love of brothers and of fathers and sons, the love of a man and a woman, the love of a community has for its own, both native and adopted. And wait, that's not all - Hickam has added a mystery that has you guessing until the very end - is the long lost son really lost or has he come home. Hickam has hinted this will be only the first in a series of books about his Killkeet Islanders and I can't wait to get back to them. This is one book (or series of books) I'll buy for myself and not just rely on the public library to supply me. In fact, I'll probably buy it for my daughter who spent a summer working for the National Park Service on Cape Lookout as a loggerhead turtle monitor. She's going to love it because it will mean going home to her too.

Nick Schade's book on strip building kayaks is well worth the read, if you are looking for some inspiration. It is well laid out and on the whole gives you the information you need. You might decide you want to skip the difficulties of lofting your own plans and just buy some, but if you are math minded and put in the hours, this book has enough information to build a very nice kayak without the need for buying plans.

This is the best book I have ever seen on the subject of strip built technique. I have read this book, several times, and created a boat based on the designs from the author. This book has ALL the information needed to make a beautiful kayak. It is my primary shop reference, with specific details on design, how to assemble the strips, how to fair the boat, how to fiberglass, how to outfit and finish the boat. The steps are described in detail, and richly illustrated with informative pictures.

Thank you Nick Schade for your excellent book, your superb website and your magnificent boats. I picked this boat for all the wrong reasons. I had not paddled one, or evaluated the technical merits of it's design with respect to other boats. I didn't do a cost-benefit analysis or listen to the advice of friends. When I saw that boat, she stole my heart. Honestly, I can't imagine being happier with a boat if I had done all those other things anyway.

To think that by using what I learned in your book, in thirteen short weeks I watched a bundle of sticks and a roll of blueprints metamorphose into a such a beatutiful creature, is almost incredible. She may have come out of my basement through my hands, but she's your creation too, and I thank you for helping me make it real.

The single biggest disadvantage to having a boat made from this book is that it takes much longer to launch, because everyone around wants to know where you got such a lovely boat. This book will get you there, so plan ahead for the delays now.

Sincerely,

Ed Valley

I just got Nick's book last night. I only had time to skim it, but here's my first impression.

If you're looking for a book with step by step instruction from start to finish, buy Nick's book. I think anyone with reasonable shop skills could successfully complete a kayak with this book to guide him.

If you want a good discussion on design philosophies, and an overview of what goes into designing a kayak, without detailed mathmatical analysis, then this is for you. Nick doesn't try to be artificially eloquent and use excessive jargon to appear intelligent, and thereby make his book difficult to understand. Instead, he uses common words with enough terminology to understand the information being given.

There are good quality illustrations throughout the book which make the building techniques described easier to understand.

If you're looking for a hardbound coffee table book full of beautiful color pictures, you might be disappointed.

Pictures are, in most cases, the best way to communicate. The effectivity ranking of pictures is, in my opinion, as follows:

1. Color illustrations. 2. B/W illustrations, drawings, and sketches. 3. Color photos. 4. B/W photos.

The only thing I would like to see changed in Nick's book, after a brief perusal, is more color. But, I realize that this would add to the cost of the book.

The book is priced quite well, and it is a very good value. I feel I definitely got my money's worth.

When a hardbound coffee table version full of color illustrations and photos of beautiful boats in beautiful surroundings becomes available, I'll probably want to order an autographed copy.

When electrical or mechanical systems go wrong on a boat afloat, you have a crisis. An uneducated repair can be costly. This book needs to be handy.

The book devotes 113 pages to aspects of the electrical system, then addresses auxiliary sources of power, electric generators and motors, marine electronics, diesel engines, transmissions, refrigeration and air conditioning, toilet systems, pumps, steering systems, stoves, heaters, lights, rigging, deck rigging and hardware. Its a gold mine.

Its guidance in the toilet repair and generator troubleshooting has been a great help to us.

I dont have boat but I bought this book. it was great deal. you have to buy this book before buy boat also you have to buy it if you have a boat. this book helps to you everywhere and everything in your boat. including lots of pictures and lots of problems and their solves, it is realy bible of sailors. thank you Nigel Calder
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Having completed the our first year as full-time live-aboard cruisers, currently in the Sea of Cortez, we find that this book to be essential reading. The information is presented in easily understandable terms and sufficient detail to assist in solving most mysteries of marine systems. By it and take it with you!