- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: W&N; 1st ed. edition (11 Jun 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0297854232
- ISBN-13: 978-0297854234
- Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 14.6 x 22.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 420,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"Their adventures not only renew a passion for the slow life but are a great read" (Paul Blezard THE LADY )
"there's a brilliant bit towards the end describing how a clever idea from Shiv fixed the boat and saved the day" (Sam Leith DAILY MAIL )
"a fascinating insight into the journey the couple shared from their individual perspectives.. a unique and compelling story" (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
"highly entertaining and full of interesting observations, particularly with regard to the difficulties involved when living in such embarrassingly cramped conditions" (SAILING TODAY )
"there's a brilliant bit towards the end describing how a clever idea from Shiv fixed the boat and saved the day" (Sam Leith DAILY MAIL )
"a fascinating insight into the journey the couple shared from their individual perspectives.. a unique and compelling story" (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
"highly entertaining and full of interesting observations, particularly with regard to the difficulties involved when living in such embarrassingly cramped conditions" (SAILING TODAY )
Product Description
Damian Horner is scared that fifteen years in advertising have turned him into a bastard. As he approaches his fortieth birthday, he wants to see if he can be a good husband and a good father before it's too late. Siobhan, his wife, would like to find out too but has other worries. Do marriage and kids mean she's now trapped in a world of suburban domesticity? It takes a miserable day and a bottle of wine to change everything. Suddenly Damian and Siobhan decide to throw their lives in the air and escape to the French canals, taking with them their son Noah who is two years old and can barely talk, and their daughter India who is one and cannot walk. Told in two voices, we hear both sides of their story and get the whole truth as Damian and Siobhan describe coming to terms with themselves and their life on board an old fishing boat in France with no space, no fridge, no charts, no deadlines and no flushing toilet.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you've ever had one of those 'What if...?' conversations with your partner and regret not finding out the answer, this book is for you. The authors' 'What if...?' conversations led them to take an old wooden boat through France with two small children, with no idea what they would do at the end of the trip, or even how long it would take. Having lived out one of my own 'What if...?' conversations, I'd highly recommend this book. It's a warm, funny, touching, engaging, inspiring and very honest account of how two people gave up what looked like a great life on the surface (but was killing them underneath) for a new life of adventure, self-discovery, renewal and the unknown. Brave people, great story - it may be their first book but I'm sure it won't be their last.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Writing a bit flat ? I couldn't agree less, this is a great read. The format is unusual (intermingled differing/contrasting points of view from the 2 adults - while not letters it reminds me of Les Liaisons Dangereuses), and the (true) story moves forward nicely with a readable leisurely style. Interesting and enlightening (for me anyway) observations about France, WWII, other boat travellers, and also about the change/development of the main characters.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've just finished this book and thought it was a great escape for the summer--especially since we won't be going on holiday ourselves this year. It is packed with details about traveling through France on the canals--with two children under three no less! However, it's prose was flat and left me wanting more at the end. For example, both authors "sum up" at the end how proud they are of themselves --stating clearly how much they believe they've changed from their experience--and yet I felt I hadn't been shown that throughout the story. In particular Damien never seems to let go the idea that caring for his own children for more than the usual Saturday compromises his manhood. So much so he has to prove his manhood by diving in the poo infested waters of the canal to finally do something on his own terms as a real man presumably would. I felt they had discovered they could travel and somethings about their relationship, but they were very much the same people (a full time mum and a manly man bringing home the bacon) as they were when they left England. A good read for hot days in the sun--but not too substantial.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good read
Anyone who has ever been boating or is even thinking of boating will thoroughly enjoy this book.
Been there, got the tee shirt!
Been there, got the tee shirt!
Published 7 months ago by Mr. M. E. Young
Set sail on a family adventure.
When Damian Horner restores "Friendship" a beautiful old wooden fishing boat he and his wife Siobhan decide to escape the rat race and take to the French canals . Read more
Published 7 months ago by Retrochique
Just messing about on the river
Want to get away from the rat race? Love boats? Love France? This book tells you how to combine all three. Read more
Published 19 months ago by maidinspain
Didn't want it to end ...!
Oh, how I loved this book, and how I wanted to find out what happened afterwards! The descriptions of the places and the family's journey across France by boat was so enjoyable,... Read more
Published 22 months ago by D. C. A. Price
For Better For Worse, For Richer For Poorer
I live on a narrowboat and we are planning a similar trip down to the Med, so I was very interested in what they had to say. Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by Jill
Drama queens afloat ?
It is quite a neat idea - a dual narrative, from him and her, which works quite well. And the subject of a life changing "give it all up and cruise down the French canals" is... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Dunedin
Beautifully written adventure
I read a lot of travel writing and this book is definitely in the "Best in Class" category. The writers describe not only their physical adventure, but their individual emotional... Read more
Published on 26 Nov 2009 by Surveyors online
The perfect book to take on your holidays ...
This is a lovely read - Particularly if you dream of getting away from it all. That's exactly what this brave family did and the story is thouroughly absorbing and entertaining. Read more
Published on 29 July 2009 by Mrs. G. D. Thurley
Frank and funny
Their vivid descriptions of the limited space,tensions,challenges and successes above and below decks on their old fishing boat (Friendship) which The Horners live in for long... Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by C. Lovell
A great summer read.
This is a truly inspirational story and a fabulous read for those who have ever thought 'What if...'. Read more
Published on 23 July 2009 by S. Virgin
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