Honeymoon at Sea, by Jennifer Silva Redmond, is a captivating memoir and tale of sailing in a small boat for the first year of her marriage to Russell Redmond. Her grandfather once said, "If you want to get to know someone, take a long trip in a small boat."
Redmond's captivating memoir takes you on an extraordinary journey – from the author's bohemian youth in Venice Beach to her acting career in NYC, and finally, into a love story with her husband, Russel. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Baja California and the Mexican coast, the author weaves together her personal experiences and adventures with skillful storytelling. With warmth and a touch of humor, she shares the triumphs and tribulations of a life at sea, providing an authentic and compelling portrayal of their encounters.
Jennifer and Russell made the decision to leave his developing painting career and her aspirations to become an actress to the winds of chance by sailing a twenty-six-foot Columbia sailboat called Watchfire, from San Diego along Baja's coast to the Sea of Cortez. They explored the western coastline, eastern coastline, and multiple islands before sailing south to the Panama Canal. The thousand-mile trip, related in first person by Jennifer with humor and blunt honesty, will delight the armchair sailor as well as romantics and adventurers.
The author's adventure at sea began soon after her marriage to Russell in 1989. Her intermittent flashbacks flow with the sea's current from her childhood with hippy parents and bohemian lifestyle to her coming-of-age adventures as a struggling waitress while following a dream to become an actress. Jennifer's meditative and often poetic journal relates their trials at sea, from glassy and becalmed waters to turbulence with terrifying storms.
Told in a lighthearted style with humorous dialogue and what Jennifer called "Russell-isms," the memoir is visually stimulating with images of jewel-like islands, glowing sunrise and sunsets, and phosphorescent sea creatures. Snorkeling and spearfishing in the clear water and the unexpected diversity of marine life are related as fun and terrifying. The couple enjoys idyllic hiking on deserted islands and shopping for necessities in small bodegas on shore. Here, they learn that the Spanish word "manana" does not mean tomorrow but "not today." At anchor, Russell, who is a recognized illustrator, sketches and paints in acrylics, in a style Jennifer calls "Mexpressionist."
The author uses some nautical terminology in context while including humorous non-nautical terms that they invented. The bow of the sailboat is the "pointy end." Much of the couple's interaction is in snappy dialogue and "no-holds-barred talk." Included is realistic romance with neighboring sailors docked nearby by reporting an "always rocking sailboat."
The Redmonds survived their challenging honeymoon year. They returned home by sailing through the Panama Canal and then into the Intercoastal Waterway. From Houston, Texas, their sailboat was trucked back to San Diego. The Redmonds continue their adventures on a slightly larger sailboat to this day.
Honeymoon at Sea delves into the themes of love, friendship, bravery, and the transformative power of embracing new experiences. A must-read for seekers of truth, inspiration, and the beauty that lies beyond the horizon.
Reviewed by: carole
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