CurlyShavings

We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea by Arthur Ransome

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this book again this weekend for three reasons: 1) I needed some fiction, 2) I have been in some tough weather scrapes recently with my little boat and 3) I wanted to remember how John and his siblings handled their weather situations.



This is an amazing book. Ransome sets up the story so well and gets the reader into the minds of his characters so much so that one begins thinking what Susan and Roger and Titty and John are thinking. The timeline for the story is only a handful of days and so the action ends up being quite intense.



This is one of the stories in which we get a sense of John growing up as he takes charge, makes decisions and, in the end, has them all validated by those much more experienced than he. We also see the wisdom of his father when Commander Ted appears on the scene and gently takes charge of some aspects (primarily provisions) and leaves Skipper John to sail and run Goblin as he sees fit.



This is one of Ransome's best. Yes, it is fiction, but I think it shows how much we pamper our children these days while exposing them to so little that they would truly gain from.


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