Books Timid Spouses Are Not Allowed to Read

[EllanVannin]

Scary! I would say I have read approx 75% of the titles listed and I am the timid spouse! I just cant seem to help myself I have been reading such stuff for eleven years now and my husband is always saying why do you do that????? I have a theory that I might glean something potentially useful. So far all I seem to remember is how to re-hydrate with sea water via an enema which my other half for some reason finds disconcerting. I believe should we get in such dire straights he may appreciate my memory when he is the guinea pig.;-) The other down side to this behaviour is your timid spouse will start spouting really unhelpful advice to you at times when you really wish she would just shut up. ....well that seems to be what happens on our boat anyway lol.

Regards Clare

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned The Strange Last Yoyage of Donald Crowhurst.

You just did...I'll get it on the next recap..

[Sansaboat]

Cape Horn: One Man's Dream, One Woman's Nightmare

I know the woman that wrote this book and her husband. I think it is a GREAT read and I was totally into their story.

For your wife, however, I think it would invoke too much of the scary parts of cruising. Pitchpoling your boat and having all of your earthly possessions turned upside down soaking in 40 degree salt water is probably over the top.

I do think however, that the message of the book, is that she triumphed over her fears and was somehow stronger after the ordeal.

(I have a signed copy if anyone wants to borrow it! )

[CarlF]

Definitely keep "The Strange Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst" away from your wife. She won't go sailing if she reads it - nor will you be going either.

It's Conrad's Heart of Darkness set on a sailboat rather than a river boat. A good man's slow, hopeless descent into madness. All the more terrifying because it's non-fiction. The New Yorker magazine review called it "a masterpiece".

I read it almost 20 years ago and still find the memory unsettling. I actually got rid of the book so my wife wouldn't stumble on it (and maybe so I wouldn't be tempted to read it again).

Carl

Over 40 years later, his boat lies today on a Cayman Brac dune, Fiberglass sure is tough stuff.