Hi all, how has your week been? Last week was quite busy here with sports and yard mowing. I had a tennis inter-club match, 18 holes of golf league, epic field mowing, and a cycling bike ride event a couple hours south of us all in one week, and now I’m resting. I must be crazy, lol. I’m no spring chicken. I should’ve taken a photo at the bike event yesterday, but I was full on — trying to go 50km (31 miles) quickly. It went better than expected and I finished third woman in my 50+ age group. My husband did well biking the 100km (62 mile) longer route. And now we’re taking a breather and it’s good that it’s a bit rainy this morning and we’re catching up on things. I’m adding this happy cow picture to ward off any crazy bad news.
I’m reminded at times that when I was working full-time in my 20s, 30s, and 40s I didn’t have time for blogging. It was only in my later 40s when I went part-time did I really have or make any time for it. So I’m impressed by bloggers today who somehow find time when they work full-time and/or are moms to young kids. That’s a lot! I think being mostly retired helps (my husband still works), though retirees are pretty busy too. What about you — did you ever blog while you were working full-time? Or did you start afterwards?
In book news, I see that author Margaret Atwood is coming out with a memoir of sorts on Nov. 4 called Book of Lives. Oh yeah, it’s going to be big in Canada. People who are Atwood fans are already aflutter with the news. I learned about the memoir from the Wordfest book festival here, which plans to host Atwood to come speak about it on Dec. 10. So I’ll gear up for it. I have seen Atwood speak before (she appeared like an ant on the stage as I was in a faraway seat in the balcony), but I heard her quite clearly. The two-time Booker Prize winner is always worth seeing and reading.
Next weekend I plan to post my August preview. Can you believe July is almost over? Ugh. And did you see the New York Time’s article about the man who read 3,599 books and his list? It’s sort of an entertaining read. He’s way more manic than I am about it, yay.
And now for a couple reviews of what I finished lately.
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst / Riverhead / 256 pages / 2025
4+ stars. This is an old-fashioned survival tale, based on a true story about a British married couple, who in 1972 set sail from England in hopes of making it all the way to New Zealand. They were a bit of a different couple, Maurice Bailey was an awkward loner type who had a miserable childhood with his family and didn’t know women particularly well. He was 8 years older than Maralyn, whom he met at age 29 through a mutual acquaintance. She, on the other hand, was an outgoing adventurous type who took to his hobbies of long hikes and boating well and surprisingly said yes to his marriage proposal a year later in 1963. They weren’t traditional in the sense of wanting to settle down with jobs and kids in England but wanted to chuck it all to leave and not come back. They wanted a different kind of life.
So the Baileys had a 31-foot yacht — the Auralyn — built. But for their journey Maurice decided not to have a radio transmitter onboard … he wanted to travel by the stars and be on their own. Maralyn, for her part, couldn’t even swim. Still they didn’t seem too concerned. They were eager to set sail in 1972, making it to Spain and Portugal and the Canary Islands before eventually crossing the Atlantic Ocean and appeared to be having quite a time, but it was later while trying to cross the Pacific that things took a fateful turn. And what an epic ordeal it turns out to be.
I don’t want to say too much of the particulars to give it away, but how had I not heard of this couple and their predicament before?! As a kid of the 1970s in California, I recall Patty Hearst and the Manson murders all too well (but not the British Baileys) and later I became well-acquainted with survival tales of the most direst of circumstances from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s and the other polar explorers’ to the 1972 airplane crash in the Andes (Alive), to Chris McCandless going Into the Wild in Alaska. But in particular, the Baileys’ ordeal reminded me slightly of Lauren Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken about the true tale of Louis Zamperini whose plane crashed into the Pacific in 1943 during WWII leaving him stranded on a raft for a long time. Poor Louis, I felt his agony in the open ocean on every page that I turned. And now I’ve added the Baileys’ story to my collection.
I think because of the book’s title I had thought it would be a survival tale that disintegrated their marriage while at sea. But I assumed wrong. In fact, their marriage is something uplifting in their ordeal that helps and binds them together. Maralyn turns out to be mentally strong and optimistic, whereas Maurice has spells of throwing in the towel and despair. Their yin-and yang combination helps their will to fight. And their tactics are a bit illuminating should you ever become in trouble.
The author, journalist Sophie Elmhirst is interested in this marriage angle of the Baileys’ story: how they fit and worked together — two sort of oddball people and what they manage to do. It kept me engaged with it. And for squeamish folks, it’s not for the light of heart, since raw seafood is fair game when you’re all alone with dwindling supplies in the vast Pacific Ocean. My only quibble with the book … is that the writing style is short and simple and somehow made it feel a bit muted at times. Still I consumed the book quickly, lapping up every detail and committing it to memory — the odd history of the Baileys. Some of it is sort of sad, even later, or kooky, and other parts inspiring. See what you think. It was on my summer reading list as Book #6.
The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight / 304 pages / 2025
3.75 stars. This is a coming-of-age novel — a genre I often like — about a Canadian girl (Penelope known as Pen) who goes to her first year at university in Edinburgh, Scotland. There she falls in with a group of friends as they navigate young age, school, independence, and their love lives.
She also gets in touch with a friend of her fathers’ — aristocrat Elliot Lennox, a mystery writer — in hopes that he might know something about her divorced parents’ past — what happened with them and what they seem to be not telling her. The Lennox family lives in an old mansion on a rural estate, where Pen is soon visiting as she befriends the entire family, including the swoon-worthy son, Sasha, whom she begins to dream about.
This is a promising debut by a 36-year-old Canadian author … and there was much to like. The author has a lively style with a good vocabulary, and Pen is an empathetic, young protagonist whom you feel for as she’s learning the ropes around school, going out with friends, but not being fully sure of herself, or confident in the love department. Then she meets Sasha who seems dashing and worth it, but is he available or not? She’s curious too about finding out a secret about her parents’ past, which by the end she figures out from her visits with the Lennoxes. And it’s a doozie of a secret.
So I liked much of it, though it’s a novel perhaps a bit too chock full of its varied cast and their particulars. Pen’s best friend Alice comes to narrate some chapters about her affair with a rogue professor, which I didn’t think was really necessary. And Sasha’s mother Christina is delved into quite a bit. To me, it was Pen’s journey and so, I would’ve streamlined these other distractions and plotlines and expanded hers a bit more. Still I think it was promising enough to want to see what Emma Knight will write next. This was Book #7 on my summer list of 15.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these and if so, what did you think?
I am a very big fan of Atwood’s fiction, but I generally avoid memoirs and biographies. I’ve actually found there to be more “truth” in fiction, if that makes any sense, so I’ll probably give her memoir a miss. However, “A Marriage at Sea” does sound intriguing so I might give that one a try, as well as “The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus” if only to find out how that title relates to the story.
Hi Dorothy, yeah I think there’s an analogy between the parenting of the character in the novel with that of the common octopus, but check it out. I’m not sure the title is really that good or right for the book (it’s not a big part) … but it seems to have captured some readers.
I will be interested to see what Atwood has to say. Cheers. Have a great week.
I am not big on disaster books but that does sound interesting, and I have The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus on hold at the library – I’d forgotten what it was about so appreciate the reminder.
I wish I were better at sports but I am more of a fan. Had a fun night at Fenway Park on Friday with my sister and friends, then was glued to the two following games against the Dodgers on TV. I also read Broken Country, which you recommended. I guessed who the murderer was and other secret but that did not lessen my enjoyment of the book.
Hi Constance, That’s cool to hear about your time at Fenway Park — that’s fun to go. I have not been following the MLB closely this season, so I was really surprised to see the Blue Jays (our team) is in first place. How crazy. They’re usually in last. So I hope I haven’t jinxed them.
I’m glad you liked Broken Country well enough and see what you think of The Common Octopus novel. It seems a bit hit and miss with readers. But I think the author has a bit of promise.
Enjoy your week. Happy reading.
Cows always crack me up the way they look up and stare. I wonder what they’re thinking.
You certainly had a lot of physical activities crammed into one week! I went on a hike with a friend yesterday and the heat just about killed me. It really wasn’t terribly hot, maybe upper 60s, but the humidity and the elevation gain (and lack of shade) made for a challenging hike. My friend actually stopped before we made it to the top since she was too hot. I continued and was thankful for the ocean breeze when I reached the summit. My legs felt it this morning, especially my knees. Congrats on your bike ride. I do miss cycling and hope to someday live somewhere that has a good trail system (although by the time we ever move, I’ll probably be too old for biking…)
I started blogging after my daughter was away at college. I was working at Barnes & Noble, but still had time to read and blog. I definitely have more time now that I’m no longer working, and I’m able to keep on top of my book reviews, but I don’t post much else. I used to blog a lot more about daily life, recipes, travel, etc. I guess with Instagram and Facebook those things get shared more easily there. At least for me.
I’m not a big Atwood fan, although I’m loving tv series of The Handmaid’s Tale. Elizabeth Moss is outstanding. I enjoyed her in Mad Men, as well.
Thanks for your review on A Marriage at Sea. When I first saw the title, I figured it wasn’t for me (or Rod), but reading your thoughts makes me think we’d both enjoy it. Something about the story (absence of a radio and traveling by the stars) reminds me of the book Rod wrote about Marv Creamer (Sailing by Starlight), so I think it’s one I should get for us to read. I’ll let you know what he thinks.
Hope you get well rested after your busy week. Glad you’re still getting rain. Send it my way, if you would, please. 🙂
Hi Lesley, thanks, I’m resting up. And it’s so weird you are not getting any rain there and we’ve been getting so much here. And now I hear about this tsunami warning tonight after the Russia quake. Yikes. Stay safe & well.
See what you & Rod think of A Marriage at Sea. I was surprised I hadn’t heard of the couple before. Someday I’ll get to Marv Creamer too. Marriage at Sea reminds me as well a bit of other stories & sailors.
Interesting to hear when you started blogging. I can see where working in a bookstore and blogging books would go well together. But it’s also easier being retired to have more time. I didn’t realize you used to post more often.
Way to go with the hiking. It seems like some steep climbs there. Such good exercise. Enjoy. & have a great week.
Those cows are so well fed! They look cute. You had a busy week cramming all the sports into it. Congratulations on your win! A Marriage At Sea sounds so good. Your review makes it come alive. I don’t gravitate towards survival tales but this one I would give a go. Glad you enjoyed The Life Cycle… a bit. Seems like a domestic drama with some coming-of-age. I finished Beartooth in three days this past week; I gave it 4*, pages flew by, even though it’s a slow burn character study. Thanks for putting it on my radar. Have a great week ahead!
Hi Carmen, thanks, the cycling event was a bit fun and surprising. And we might do one more of these events in September.
And I’m glad you liked Beartooth. Quite a Montana kind of rugged tale. Also pleased to hear you enjoyed my Marriage at Sea review, lol. It might not be as dramatic as the Alive story or film you saw … but it is a bit daunting.
I’m almost done with Heartwood this week and the ending is hard to put down. And I also saw the Booker longlist announcement …. so we will have to dissect that. I haven’t studied it too much yet.
Enjoy your week.
I have always worked full time and blogged and read until October last year! That is when I took some time off from work. I go back to work next week and I am worried about how I am going to fit it all in once I do go back, but it will settle into a routine of some sort I am sure!
Have a great week!
Hi Marg, I saw on your post about your new job. Congrats on that. But now you might not have too much time for blogging, argh. Though you did a good job in the past with blogging and working …. still it is a bit hard. I wish you luck doing both. Cheers!
Cows restful? Why yes!
Hi Mae, thanks. These cows were wondering what the heck I was doing … They were pretty peaceful though. Enjoy your Greece trip!
I like the sound of A Marriage At Sea. I think it’s one I would like. And yay…my library has it. Onto the TBR list it goes. 😀 Have a great week.
Hi Lark, I hope you enjoy it. I think you will … I can tell you read some survival kinds of tale … fiction and nonfiction. Have a good week as well!
Always nice to hear an update about your week, Susan. And I love the cow picture. Kind of looks like West Texas. You definitely had a busy week. Hope this one is fun in whatever way you decide to spend it. 🙂
Thanks Kay, sweet of you to say. Lots of horses & cows here — like West Texas! But maybe not quite as hot. Hopefully it’s a peaceful week … Enjoy yours as well.
You had one active week – congrats on taking third in your age group!! I started blogging back in 2008 when my oldest daughter went away to college… figured I needed another activity.
I’ve seen Margaret Atwood and she was great even though I’m not a huge fan of her fiction. Cat’s Eye and The Robber Bride, her least sci-fi/dystopian, are my favorites. I’m on the fence about her memoir, but it would be an incentive if she narrates the audio!
A Marriage at Sea is getting a lot of buzz lately. Not sure if it’s for me.
Hi JoAnn, interesting to hear when you started blogging … that was a year before me … and good timing.
And yeah I think Atwood’s new book would be good if she read the memoir. I’m thinking it will have some interesting stuff in it. So it’s on my TBR.
And A Marriage at Sea might not be for everyone … though it was pretty short and quick … and might make readers think a bit about such circumstances.
Cheers. Have a great week.
Wow, I had no idea that A Marriage at Sea was 1) about a real couple, and 2) took place 50+ years ago! I’m still interested in reading it, but not what I was anticipating. Yeah, I never heard about them either. I do like survivor stories, and I like how you describe the Yin-Yang of their relationship.
I haven’t read much by Atwood, but what I have read left me not enthused. Just me I guess as she has legions of fans.
You may not be a spring chicken, but you are certainly acting like one! A rest is definitely in order 🙂
To answer your question, I started my blog in 2008, when I was still most definitely working full-time and my kids were in high school and middle school. More than anything, it was a way of writing my stuff at least weekly–I wrote a lot in my job, but that was work!
I had dabbled with fiction writing a few years earlier but had simply not been able to make the time commitment to write fiction that wasn’t dreck. I’ve found that blogging, mostly about books, but also gardening and travels, has filled my need to write. The desire to write fiction has receded, but I love my blog and the friends ww that it has given me. My goal is to post weekly, and I rarely edit–just hit post and hope for the best!
One more note: I think the need to write/communicate is part of the human condition. I have shared this article from Time Magazine many times over the years (published in 2000), “I Am Writing Blindly” — it summarizes beautifully what I feel and why I blog: https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,998411-1,00.html
Hi Jane, a big thanks for the link on why blogging. I plan to print it out & read it over closer. It’s a keeper! And I’m glad for your thoughts on writing and when you started blogging. It’s amazing you started when you had that much going on — between work and kids. Your blog posts are well done. Interesting about your dabbling in fiction writing too. I didn’t know that! I hope you are enjoying retired life … as it hasn’t been that long since you gave up work. More reading & blog time!
See what you think of A Marriage at Sea — it’s a short quick read. Still surprised I never heard of the Baileys before.
Enjoy your week … and your garden.
I thought I did a lot in a week, but the sound of yours exhausted me! Congratulations on placing so well in the bike race. I have yet to play 18 holes, 9 suits me just fine. Maybe it’s because I can’t imagine finding enough time. Maybe when I’m retired it will seem more managable.
Hi Helen, 18 holes of golf can be wearing — sort of mentally. I’m tired after 9 but the league is 18 so I putter on. And thanks the bike event was sort of fun and surprising so we might do one more in September. I’m trying to have a more peaceful week this week. But keeping active. Enjoy your week.
Congratulations on doing so well at the bike race. It’s amazing that what the Baileys suffered at sea didn’t break up their marriage. They have a strong bond I do like these adventure stories and the disasters are more likely to happen when there is no adequate planning. Maurice wouldn’t bring a radio and Maralyn couldn’t swim. It’s amazing they made it home but glad they did.
Hi Kathy, thanks. I’m glad to have finished the bike race. lol.
And I was surprised too by the Baileys’ strong marriage … I was not expecting that in this book. And it sort of saved their lives. You’re right that the scope of the disaster perhaps could’ve been avoided if they had brought a radio transmitter. How crazy not to! Sort of makes no sense. But these folks seemed a bit different. You make good points. Have a great week.
All your sporty stuff is inspiring for my little couch potato self!
Marriage at Sea and the Atwood Memoir sound good to me.
I’ve been blogging and working full time for decades.
Hi Jinjer, it’s impressive you work full-time and blog too. Holy smokes, I just couldn’t do it back then, nor did I even think of it before like 2008. So kudos for doing both!
How is your bike? Any Sunday rides? I will try to keep going with bike rides (like once or twice a week) until summer is over. I will like to be on the couch more this week, lol. Cheers.
You have had a busy week! It’s so important to stay active, so bravo on all of your activities! Those cows are cute. Do you mow with a riding mower or tractor? My husband does all the mowing and uses a tractor for a lot of it except right in front of our house, where the grass is more traditional lawn style. He uses a push gas mower, but we plan to buy a riding one.
I don’t remember the Bailey’s ordeal, but I might have been too young for it to register (I’m 55). It’s a story I think I’d enjoy! I like survival stories. I always wonder if I could survive in a similar situation. I work less than part time now that we moved up north. It seems like I’m always super busy, though!
Hi Rachel, we have a riding mower but no tractor. It works quite well … just mostly we mow the yard areas around the house.
Yeah you should probably read the Baileys’ ordeal book … I probably could not have survived that! But perhaps you would ….
I know what you mean: about working less but somehow being as busy as ever. Odd how that happens. Have a great week.
You were really busy last week, and I admire your ability to do all of that. I never was that active. I started blogging at around age 63, when I was still working full time. For some reason, I was able to review many more books I read (all of them usually) then. I did not retire until I was 71, five years ago , and even with more available time now, I review less books and write less posts. But I still enjoy it, so I guess that is OK.
I like the sound of Margaret Atwood’s memoir. I will probably read it even though I only read one of her books, The Handmaid’s Tale. I did not enjoy reading that (too scary and depressing), but I admire her.
Hi Tracy, Wow you’ve had a good history of blogging and it’s admirable that you started when you were still working full-time. I’m glad you still enjoy it and I like reading your blog, which always has interesting reads on it. You worked for a long time! I hope you were happy to retire.
And I agree about the Atwood book — even if I’m not hugely into her books I still think her memoir will be quite interesting … and I admire her various ways. So I will keep it on my horizon. I have read maybe five of her books but not all of them. I still might read some more. Have a great week.
A Marriage at Sea arrived for me during the middle of Paris in July, so I sent it quickly back to the library for the next person in line. Now that I’ve read your review I want to borrow it again.
I don’t know how people work, raise kids, and blog steadily!
Hi Deb, yeah I can’t imagine being able to blog regularly with full-time work & family. I could not do it back then. Though I picked it up in 2009 and stopped my full-time job in DC in 2010. hmm.
You are full on with Paris in July, so that makes sense. A Marriage at Sea can be read whenever. It’s pretty short & quick. It might not be for everyone – their tale is a bit different. But it kept me curious to know what happened. In ways, it is a miraculous outcome. See what you think, whenever you get it.
Have a great week.
It sounds like you have been busy recently! Hope you’ve found time to relax and read as well. A Marriage at Sea sounds interesting, very ambitious to try to sail from England to New Zealand. I am working full time and blogging on the side. I was “lucky” that my first blogging years coincided with the covid lock-down, which gave me plenty of time for at-home hobbies. With things back to normal, it is more tricky. But as long as you don’t have ambitious targets of blogging every week or so, I think it’s doable.
Hi Stargazer, that’s interesting to hear. You do well blogging on the side of working full-time. I’m sure your time working is quite demanding, so just fitting in blogging when you can is quite a feat. I’m not sure I could’ve done it back then. I hope you continue with blogging when you can.
I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of the British couple before in A Marriage at Sea.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!