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clarkness's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a slow starter, but I have to say that I was pretty blown away by how much I was digging it at the end. It's just a straight up nonfiction account of a young sailor's trip to California in the early 1800s. The depth of the feelings that this book plumbs are phenomenal. You get a sense for how important the camaraderie between shipmates becomes on a long voyage and the bittersweet realization at the end of the book that these characters would never work together again or see one another all together once more. Dana returned home and the group disbanded despite the arduous journey they had taken together. Something about that really hit me.
Great book. Also a fascinating look at life in California just prior to the gold rush.
Great book. Also a fascinating look at life in California just prior to the gold rush.
eowyndoodles's review against another edition
3.0
This book was really interesting, if sometimes narratively slow. I haven't heard many points of view from people who were sailors. Most at-sea books I read are from the point of view of either officers or passengers (and also they are usually fictional which this one wasn't).
It was also really interesting to read about California before the Gold Rush when it was still part of Mexico. I knew all the places they mentioned! Point Loma in San Diego harbor! The missions! Santa Clara! I think I almost enjoyed the book more for that than I did for the sailing parts. In fact, I did enjoy it more for that part.
Also, Dana was surprisingly less-racist than I would have thought. There were definitely comments and statements where you were like "yeah, this is an American pre-Civil War talking". But mostly he was pretty open to seeing people as people although less smart than him and not quite as good, but he admittedly thinks that of many of the other sailors, too. Maybe it's because he's a Harvard boy. He seems to think pretty friendly of them, though. He also seems to be on good terms with the Kanakas he meets and treats them decently as people, although makes some comments. Of course, though, this is all from his point-of-view so Who Knows? But it was very interesting to me.
It was also really interesting to read about California before the Gold Rush when it was still part of Mexico. I knew all the places they mentioned! Point Loma in San Diego harbor! The missions! Santa Clara! I think I almost enjoyed the book more for that than I did for the sailing parts. In fact, I did enjoy it more for that part.
Also, Dana was surprisingly less-racist than I would have thought. There were definitely comments and statements where you were like "yeah, this is an American pre-Civil War talking". But mostly he was pretty open to seeing people as people although less smart than him and not quite as good, but he admittedly thinks that of many of the other sailors, too. Maybe it's because he's a Harvard boy. He seems to think pretty friendly of them, though. He also seems to be on good terms with the Kanakas he meets and treats them decently as people, although makes some comments. Of course, though, this is all from his point-of-view so Who Knows? But it was very interesting to me.
lesliebeach's review against another edition
This is my father's favorite book of all time, and finally, after many years of resistance (mostly on the basis of its being nonfiction, which I struggle to read), I've finished it. It is truly a fine yarn, the recollections and observations of a Harvard student in eighteen thirty something who goes to sea to heal his strained eyes, sails around the horn, explores nascent California (still a part of Mexico, pre-Gold Rush) and works in a way a young academic had never worked before. His insight into the social atmosphere at sea and ashore is clear, if rooted in his time, and the history of my state and its perception in the eyes of the world kept me engaged throughout. Excellent armchair adventure.
nadoislandgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I believe this is one of the first books to be written about California. It is the history of a college man who left home for his health and sailed to California as a sailor. He spent most of his time traveling up and down the coast of California and loading and processing hides for transit.
I appreciated the glimpse into early California history.
The book was a bit dry at times.
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I appreciated the glimpse into early California history.
The book was a bit dry at times.
Read via DailyLit.com daily emails.