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Summary: Real People, Real Adventures
Review: I never left my chair by the fireplace, and yet I visited the Dry Tortugas, the Keys and the heart of the Gulf Coast. I saw Peter Jenkins emerge from a cocoon of self doubt, hurt and anguish to once again become a literary hero of simple Americana. And all this from my own reading chair. Best vacation I ever took!
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Summary: This guy is my hero. And, he writes books that inspire.
Review: I read this because I'd first read wo others of his, LOOKING FOR ALASKA and A WALK ACROSS AMERICA. Peter Jenkins is a man with great heart, no matter what personal situations he is dealing with, and one who appreciates that you don't have to be some pampered star or off the deep end into all kinds of the bizarre to have a life worth writing about. Peter has changed my view point and I say cool and thanks for doing this for me before I hit 25.
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Summary: Now I understand my Dad
Review: I read `Along the Edge of America' and it helped me understand my Dad and what he went through after a divorce from my Mom. I guess I didn't think of grown-ups being in pain, or sad, weren't they always the together ones. Now I see it somewhat, as much as I can for a seventeen year old who has only broken up with his girlfriend. I respect Peter Jenkins because he is a strong man, what an adventurer, yet, sensitive. A friend told me to read this book because I dream of a long boat trip. I got that, met some cool and surprising people and got much more, too.
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Summary: Jenkins should walk the plank!
Review: I'll be the first to admit that I love both books and boats. This Jenkins piece should have been a winner. It wasn't. Although many of the characters were unique (who isn't). Their stories couldn't "float the boat (or save the book)." This book shold have been about boats and boating; not ex-bikers, bourbon-sipping southern belles and society's drop-outs. Boaters: this book is worse than running aground in a new cruiser. Spend your money on your vessel not this book.
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Summary: JENKINS DOES IT YET AGAIN.
Review: I've read all of Jenkins' books and next to WALK ACROSS AMERICA this is my favorite. The author is real, has insight into himself and those he meets. If you have a taste for adventure, to get away from the routine of daily life this is a wonderful read. It's right up there with BLUE HIGHWAYS and a Native American trek book called WALKING THE TRAIL/ONE MAN'S JOURNEY ALONG THE CHEROKEE TRAIL OF TEARS.
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Summary: Peter Jenkins discovers people and places in the Gulf states
Review: In his book,ALONG THE EDGE OF AMERICA, Peter Jenkins tells us he has bought a boat. He and Warren Norville, a retired naval commander, stare at the 25-foot Grady White tied up at the dock. We can read their thoughts. Peter looks at the boat and wonders what in the world he is getting into. Warren, who is to be his teacher, has the same thought as he sees the bewildered look on Peter's face. Casting aside their fears and doubts, Norville grabs the wheel and heads out to sea. Peter, quite pale, stares at the horizon. Later, much later, Peter feels comfortable at the helm. He takes us with him as he and his boat,the Cooper, takes us along the Gulf Coast. We explore uninhabited islands, little-known bays and inlets. We look over his shoulder as he guides the Cooper up quiet rivers, where the only sounds are those of sea and shore birds calling to each other. They are quiet, exciting trips. Page after page, we get to know the people Peter meets. He expores relationships between islanders and off-islanders, villagers and city dwellers, husbands and wives. A personal relationship is also explored when Peter's father joins him for a week of cruising. That relationship changes, like a Gulf weather report, from "cloudy and cool" to "warm and sunny", The week that began with the obligatory handshake ended with a warm embrace. Both of them agreed that the bright sun makes your eyes water..... Exciting and always thought-provoking the book teaches us much about our country and the people that are its foundation. We become their friends. Peter and his boat, the Cooper, become our friends as well. As we near the end of the book, we slow our reading. We savor each word and phrase. Before we close the book, we reach out and embrace the people we have met along the watery way. We wave good-bye to them. We will remember them as a friend should, with love and respect.
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Summary: A cross between a Travel Guide, Midlife Chrisis and Boating
Review: In this book, it is easy to see the author has several demons on his soul. It is an attempt to find ones place in this world by way of cruising a boat along the gulf coast... Along the way running into wonderful places and beautiful faces. I found it hard to put this book down, Mr. Jenkins has a way of drawing you in and showing you the pain of his shattered marriage, aging body, and longing for the lost adventures of youth. Fortunately, the authors pain eases about half way into the book, and his traveling adventures keep you hooked. I personally have visited most of the places in the book, and can say they are discribed quite well. After reading this book, I now have some new travel destinations, and a strong desire to run out and buy a boat... As an intresting side note, I gave a copy of this book to a relative a couple of years ago as a x-mas gift. At the time, he was serving as a deckhand on a private yacht cruising the gulf of mexico for the winter. Upon return to the yacht, the owner f the yacht picked up the book, read it cover to cover, and ordered the boat turned around to visit some of the places in the book. A few weeks later, I received a thankyou note from the yacht owner for giving that book to my uncle. He explaned that now he had a real first person account of the places he wished to visit, and would not have to depend on the stiff, corporate language of the travel guide books to find fun destinations to visit.
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Summary: Grand Adventures are Still Possible
Review: Let's be honest, I came to this book simply because I so enjoyed Walk Across America. But after reading it I once again have faith in the grand adventure, even if it's on a fiberglass boat along the coast of a rather civilized nation. Yes, "the grand adventure" is still here and Jenkins truly does bring it to life.
As a university professor of writing I decided to use his book in a class on essay writing I teach (each chapter works well as an individual short essay). The class enjoyed the book, the discussions generated each time we met were far-ranging and interesting, and the writing it modeled made the class papers better.
Jenkins has the ability to bring "the other" to life (and when you're in an air-conditioned classroom a southern swamp is indeed an "other"). He is good enough at it to keep my class engaged for an entire quarter as we not only critiqued the book itself, but also every line, every character, every nuance. The consensus? A strong, warm book that makes the amusing funny, the scary frightening, and examines various human relationships in unique, and yet familiar, ways.
Jenkins is simply a wonderful writer in the finest American tradition. He tells a story, tells it well, and then moves on.
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Summary: What a long sad journey this has been...
Review: Most people who go through midlife crisis stay up late for a few weeks and brood. After that, we count our blessings and move on. Not Jenkins. In this sad book, we see a man who has refused to grow up and has stayed self absorbed. The ruins of his marriage are worth the next adventure. Pitiful.
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Summary: Fun To Read, Full Of Unexpected Moments
Review: Peter Jenkins once again takes his readers with him on an unforgettable exciting journey. As you open the book, you are on his boat Cooper, and along with Peter, meet many interesting and colorful people, plus experience many exciting moments. As he travels the Gulf from the Florida Keys to the Mexican border, Peter provides us with more than a travel book, as he reveals his own personal journey through lifes peaks and valleys. This book is full of fascinating information, good stories, and wonderful descriptions. As with all of Peter Jenkins books, you will want to savor the last few pages because you won't want the journey to end.
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