Sebastian Junger
The Perfect Storm (1997)
Author: Sebastian Junger
Genre: Non-fiction (Adventure/Disaster)
Book Summary:
In late autumn 1991, the swordfishing ship Andrea Gail set sail from Gloucester, Massachusetts. The ship was at sea for nearly a month and having terrible luck with catching fish when they finally got some fish and headed back to shore. On the way to shore, the ship got caught in three storms that came together, forming "the perfect storm". The Andrea Gail disappeared and the crew was never heard from again. Junger spoke with friends and family of the crew members that disappeared, as well as with survivors from other ships that were out in the storm in order to create a full picture of the men on the Andrea Gail and others that were involved in the storm. Junger also provides information about the fishing industry and the rescue efforts by the Coast Guard.
Geographical Setting: Massachusetts
Time Period: 1991
Appeal Characteristics:
One major appeal characteristic is the cinematic tone. Junger's book is action-packed and dramatic and Junger interweaves fact with the action so that you learn about weather, fishing, etc. while the story unfolds. Another appeal characteristic is the subject matter. Junger brings in many different subjects to flesh out his books- the fishing industry, fishing boats, fishermen, weather, and the Coast Guard are subjects that Junger covers in his book. He also explores the tragedy in the capacity of the characters that were involved. He includes biographic information that makes you feel like you know the people on the Andrea Gail. This is another appeal element- Junger's concentration on the characters in the story. He gives biographic information about Bobby Shatford, one of the fisherman on the ship, and provides details about his personal relationships, including the girlfriend and family members he left behind on shore.
Read-alikes:
Readers who are interested in the subject matter and like Junger's cinematic storytelling style might like Linda Greenlaw's The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey. Junger actually talks about Linda Greenlaw in The Perfect Storm-her ship, the Hannah Boden was a sister ship to the Andrea Gail. Greenlaw describes her adventure on her own swordfishing boat. They also might try Working on the Edge: Surviving In the World's Most Dangerous Profession: King Crab Fishing on Alaska's HighSeas by Spike Walker. In this book, Walker describes the dangerous world of fishing for crabs in Alaska. Readers that like the palpable action of The Perfect Storm and are interested in sailing might try Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy. This book gives the story of 16 sailboats racing through dangerous waters in the Vende Globe contest.
Another subject Junger touches on in his book is the fishing industry and readers looking to explore this subject might try Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky. This entertaining book describes the history of the cod fishing
industry and its impact on the world (and the world's impact on it). Another suggestion for patrons who like disaster/survival stories is The Last Run by Todd Lewan. This book describes a shipwreck and rescue after a fishing trip in Alaska. Readers that like the fast pace and adventurous tone of the book might also like Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Krakauer was a journalist picked to go on an expedition to Mount Everest and tells the story of that ill-fated trek where 8 people died. Patrons who enjoy the fast-paced tone and want to explore some fiction might try The Fisherman's Son by Michael Koepf. Written by
a former commercial fisherman, this novel combines literary writing wih seafaring action as Neil Kruger is shipwrecked and reflects on his life.
Red Flags: Some rough language
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