Scan barcode
pussreboots's review against another edition
5.0
Alone on a Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo for the longest while had the honor of being the second book on my wishlist. It had been on there I think since the book was first published. For whatever reason it doesn't seem to have been published here in the States even though many of Morpurgo's other books are in print here.
When the book came out I was very active in BookCrossing especially with book relays, rings and RABCKs (random acts of BookCrossing kindness). Although I don't remember receiving the book via the site, I did, a couple years ago. At the time I received the book I wasn't actively trying to read wishlist books. Thus, out of sight, out of mind.
Flash forward to June 2010. I am participating in the On My Wishlist meme. At the time I had 309 books on my wishlist and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was number two. Except I had forgotten that I had a copy!
Go forward to the end of the year when I was culling my shelves for books I realized I would never read and should donate to the Friends of the Library. What does my hand fall on? Of course... Alone on a Wide Wide Sea.
The book takes its title from Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's a poem I've read in pieces many times but still need to sit down and read as an epic poem. The poem itself provides the warp which the plot is woven through.
The book is told in two parts: Arthur Hobhouse's story of life in Australia as a transplanted WWII orphan and Allie Hobhouse's solo sailing trip to England to find her aunt. Arthur's story is one of trying to find a sense of family and belonging. Along the way he grows up and gains the skills he needs to return to England, namely, ship building.
The journey home though isn't Arthur's to take and must instead be taken by his daughter. At the time I was reading the book, there was a girl of similar age making a solo sailing journey around the globe. To keep herself sane on the trip she memorizes the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
At the close of the book Morpurgo explains that the book was inspired by actual families who were split up during the war and adopted off to families in Australia and Canada.
When the book came out I was very active in BookCrossing especially with book relays, rings and RABCKs (random acts of BookCrossing kindness). Although I don't remember receiving the book via the site, I did, a couple years ago. At the time I received the book I wasn't actively trying to read wishlist books. Thus, out of sight, out of mind.
Flash forward to June 2010. I am participating in the On My Wishlist meme. At the time I had 309 books on my wishlist and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was number two. Except I had forgotten that I had a copy!
Go forward to the end of the year when I was culling my shelves for books I realized I would never read and should donate to the Friends of the Library. What does my hand fall on? Of course... Alone on a Wide Wide Sea.
The book takes its title from Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's a poem I've read in pieces many times but still need to sit down and read as an epic poem. The poem itself provides the warp which the plot is woven through.
The book is told in two parts: Arthur Hobhouse's story of life in Australia as a transplanted WWII orphan and Allie Hobhouse's solo sailing trip to England to find her aunt. Arthur's story is one of trying to find a sense of family and belonging. Along the way he grows up and gains the skills he needs to return to England, namely, ship building.
The journey home though isn't Arthur's to take and must instead be taken by his daughter. At the time I was reading the book, there was a girl of similar age making a solo sailing journey around the globe. To keep herself sane on the trip she memorizes the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
At the close of the book Morpurgo explains that the book was inspired by actual families who were split up during the war and adopted off to families in Australia and Canada.
silversetchfield's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
hollymarshall's review against another edition
5.0
i remember this being my favourite book ever when i read it as a kid. i have such beautiful memories of it and definitely want to pick it up again because i believe that it would be just as good reading it as an adult/teen
rumay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I listened to this as an audiobook as a kid and will always return to Michael Morpurgo's amazing storytelling. It feels extremely soothing to return to his books, and reminds me of falling asleep to them when I was younger. The characters and plot are complex and interesting. The only fault I have is that I find Arthur's story in the first half much more enjoyable than the story from Allie's perspective, but it is still a lovely and emotional read to the end.
juliaallsop's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book as it was a quick and easy read. The first half felt a bit rushed though and I could've read a book just about Arthur's story in my detail but I did enjoy Allie's half and it had a beautiful ending full circle moment.
goboil's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
josiekai's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.5
silverliningsandpages's review against another edition
5.0
This had been on my TBR for two years and I finally read it in advance of hearing Morpurgo speak at the Borris Festival. It’s about British orphan Arthur who is separated from his sister after WW2 and sent to Australia as part of the programme of child migrants. He survives cruelty, abuse and exploitation on a working farm and later discovers he has a talent for yacht design. 60 years later, Arthur’s daughter Allie sets sail alone in a yacht designed by her father, resolved to find his long-lost sister in England.
.
Well, I loved this story - it is both sad and joyful but above all, life-affirming. As I’m learning to expect with Morpurgo, this is primarily about love, loss, identity and memory. What I like about his writing is how his evocative stories draw the reader in, his characters are believable and while pitched at the right level for younger readers, he doesn’t shy away from important or difficult issues. Tears may have been shed, very satisfied ones though.
.
My follow up from this will be to seek out and read The Ancient Mariner, which was beautifully weaved through the story, to very profound effect.
.
A gorgeous, special story that’s still lingering in my memory
.
Well, I loved this story - it is both sad and joyful but above all, life-affirming. As I’m learning to expect with Morpurgo, this is primarily about love, loss, identity and memory. What I like about his writing is how his evocative stories draw the reader in, his characters are believable and while pitched at the right level for younger readers, he doesn’t shy away from important or difficult issues. Tears may have been shed, very satisfied ones though.
.
My follow up from this will be to seek out and read The Ancient Mariner, which was beautifully weaved through the story, to very profound effect.
.
A gorgeous, special story that’s still lingering in my memory
meganlouise815's review against another edition
2.0
This has a beautiful cover but that's about all it has going for it. It was so boring
lnatal's review against another edition
4.0
From BBC Radio 2:
Episode 1 of 4
Arthur Hobhouse and his friend Marty meet for the first time on a boat bound for Australia. They are part of a consignment of child migrants sent from Britain to find new and better lives in Australia. The boys are sent to work at Cooper's Station, under the care of the cruel and vindictive Piggy Bacon.
Episode 2 of 4
Arthur and Marty manage to escape the hands of the vicious, religious sadist Piggy Bacon. They flee into the unforgiving Australian outback where they find a temporary sanctuary with the kind and generous Aunty Megs. They stay with her for 5 years, working on her farm. All goes well for them until they have to leave to make their own way in the wide world.
Episode 3 of 4
Facing hard times, Arthur and Marty turn to drink. Arthur ends up in hospital where he falls in love with a nurse, Zita, marries and has a daughter. Arthur and his daughter Allie decide to build a small boat to sail from Australia to England in search of Arthur's long lost sister Kitty. When Arthur dies unexpectedly, the trip is put on hold until Allie announces that she will make the 15,000 mile journey round the world to find Kitty on her own.
Episode 4 of 4
Allie Hobhouse decides to sail solo to England to look for her Aunty Kitty. She rounds Cape Horn, has an unexpected encounter with a space traveller, is shipwrecked and eventually finds herself in London. Will she find her Aunty Kitty? Find out in this, the final episode of Michael Morpurgo's Alone On A Wide Wide Sea.
Alone On A Wide Wide Sea was written by Michael Morpurgo, adapted for Radio 2 by Ian McMillan and stars Jason Donovan, Olivia Beardsley and Toby Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08zqpv0
4* War Horse (War Horse, #1)
3* Private Peaceful
CR Alone on a Wide Wide Sea
TR An Elephant in the Garden
Episode 1 of 4
Arthur Hobhouse and his friend Marty meet for the first time on a boat bound for Australia. They are part of a consignment of child migrants sent from Britain to find new and better lives in Australia. The boys are sent to work at Cooper's Station, under the care of the cruel and vindictive Piggy Bacon.
Episode 2 of 4
Arthur and Marty manage to escape the hands of the vicious, religious sadist Piggy Bacon. They flee into the unforgiving Australian outback where they find a temporary sanctuary with the kind and generous Aunty Megs. They stay with her for 5 years, working on her farm. All goes well for them until they have to leave to make their own way in the wide world.
Episode 3 of 4
Facing hard times, Arthur and Marty turn to drink. Arthur ends up in hospital where he falls in love with a nurse, Zita, marries and has a daughter. Arthur and his daughter Allie decide to build a small boat to sail from Australia to England in search of Arthur's long lost sister Kitty. When Arthur dies unexpectedly, the trip is put on hold until Allie announces that she will make the 15,000 mile journey round the world to find Kitty on her own.
Episode 4 of 4
Allie Hobhouse decides to sail solo to England to look for her Aunty Kitty. She rounds Cape Horn, has an unexpected encounter with a space traveller, is shipwrecked and eventually finds herself in London. Will she find her Aunty Kitty? Find out in this, the final episode of Michael Morpurgo's Alone On A Wide Wide Sea.
Alone On A Wide Wide Sea was written by Michael Morpurgo, adapted for Radio 2 by Ian McMillan and stars Jason Donovan, Olivia Beardsley and Toby Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08zqpv0
4* War Horse (War Horse, #1)
3* Private Peaceful
CR Alone on a Wide Wide Sea
TR An Elephant in the Garden
More...