A review by bearforester
Spartina by John Casey

4.0

Spartina was surprisingly good. I took a chance on it because it won the National Book Award (in 1989 or something). The book, according to its description, is about a Rhode Island fisherman, and it compared it to Moby Dick and the Old Man and the Sea (since those took place at sea). I wasn't really looking forward to reading it, but I decided to anyway.

Well, it started out a little slow, but around the 75 page mark I realized I was starting to enjoy the book a lot more, and by the midway point, I really enjoyed it. I looked forward to reading it, and didn't want it to end, which after finish a book last week that it took me a couple months to get through, is a big positive.

Yes, the book takes place at sea in parts (only very small parts). It is more about a man who happens to be a fisherman, his town, and the other people in a small town. Are any of the characters people you care a lot about? Not really. But they are all interesting, believable, REAL characters.

Definitely recommended.