Along the Edge of America [Paperback]

Peter Jenkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

The best-selling author and walker Peter Jenkins, landlubber par excellence, now takes to the waves and explores, as only he can, a part of America rich in history, mystery, and lore: from the Florida Keys to the Mexican border, by way of the Everglades, the treacherous "jungle woods," genteel southern homesteads, the Cajun marshlands, and Texas's coastal cattle country. It's a riveting encounter with hardy, resourceful, colorful - and occasionally dangerous - characters who have one thing in common: a fierce love for their world of wind and water and sun, a world that Jenkins brings uniquely to life.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In the past, Peter Jenkins' explorations (The Walk West, A Walk Across America, The Road Unseen) have been confined to land, but now Jenkins takes to the watery edge of the Gulf Coast, traveling in a 25-foot cruiser from the Florida Keys to Texas cattle country. Jenkins's riveting storytelling is all the more fascinating because his adventure is not just a paean to dare-devil accomplishments. Jenkins explains from the start that this trip was meant to renew the confidence he'd had before a bad divorce laid him low. But while he rediscovers his zest for life, he also learns how to operate a boat, navigate a storm, and avoid getting hijacked--all the while sharing the stories of the individuals he meets, from the alligator-wrestling Parker brothers to Mr. James Bloodworth and Bloodworth's Drugstore, where you can still get a hand-scooped milkshake for $1.15. Jenkins relates a great tale, with honesty, humor, and a fine ear for language.

From Library Journal

At 22, Jenkins set out on a six-year walk across the country. It was a journey full of new people, places, and ideas, and it became a journey of self-discovery. His account of it (A Walk Across America, 1979) launched a successful writing career. Now nearing 40 and plagued by mid-life ennui, Jenkins once again set out, this time piloting a 25-foot boat along 1600 miles of Gulf Coast from the Florida keys to the mouth of the Rio Grande. During the two-year trip he found a startling array of intriguing characters and parts of America that few of us will ever see. The reader is also pleased that, once again, the author found himself. A travel book and more, this is recommended for all public libraries.?Jim Burns, Ottumwa, Ia.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395877377
• ISBN-13: 978-0395877371
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #481,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars forced adventure, November 21, 1999

By 

bob (pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Along the Edge of America (Paperback)

I enjoyed the book, though I had some problems with it. These had nothing to do with Jenkins' writing, which was superb. Rather, the whole "adventure" he writes about seems to have been orchestrated simply so that he could write a book about it. Unlike "A Walk Across America" which was written as an afterthought (since he planned his walk for its own sake, not because he wanted to write about it), "Along the Edge" seems a bit forced. Though he gives reasons for wanting to check out the coast, we can see that he was just looking for a unique adventure that he could write about.

Yes, I agree that this is what he does for a living, and why shouldn't he seek out another adventure? But this one lacked the magic of his other adventures. That said, most of the people he met in this book have fascinating stories to tell. The book is definitely worth reading--even if it takes some 80 pages of describing his preparations and training before he actually sets off.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not quite the Walk Across America book, June 18, 2002

By 

lor369 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Along the Edge of America (Paperback)

This book didn't seem quite up to the standard that the "Walk Across America" book was. This book seemed kind of dry, a bit forced. I felt that it went into too much detail about his preparations, the actual sailing experience, etc. This was great if you are interested in sailing, but I would have preferred to have him expand a little more about his relationships with the people he met along away, like he did in "Walk Across America".

There were some things that he didn't go into detail enough on. For instance, what all happened to his first marriage that resulted in the divorce and his depression? I would have liked to hear more about his current family. He talked about bringing his family on his trip, but there wasn't much mentioned about them. There was little mentioned about his boys, nothing that I recall about his daughter from his first marriage. He did talk a little about his dad, but when he mentioned that his dad came with him on the boat a 2nd time, he didn't expand at all on that experience. And he didn't expand much on his experience with his wife and younger daughter being with him toward the beginning of the trip.

He also mentioned coming to Christian faith in his "Walk Across America book". But again, that was barely mentioned in this book. Did he lose that faith?

It was interesting hearing about some of the people he met on his trip and about life in the southern US along the coast. And this book may be of interest for someone really interested in sailing. But it didn't quite hold my interest like "Walk Across America".

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peter Jenkins discovers people and places in the Gulf states, March 21, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Plymouth, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Along the Edge of America (Paperback)

In his book,ALONG THE EDGE OF AMERICA, Peter Jenkins tells us he has bought a boat. He and Warren Norville, a retired naval commander, stare at the 25-foot Grady White tied up at the dock.

We can read their thoughts. Peter looks at the boat and wonders what in the world he is getting into. Warren, who is to be his teacher, has the same thought as he sees the bewildered look on Peter's face. Casting aside their fears and doubts, Norville grabs the wheel and heads out to sea. Peter, quite pale, stares at the horizon.

Later, much later, Peter feels comfortable at the helm. He takes us with him as he and his boat,the Cooper, takes us along the Gulf Coast. We explore uninhabited islands, little-known bays and inlets. We look over his shoulder as he guides the Cooper up quiet rivers, where the only sounds are those of sea and shore birds calling to each other. They are quiet, exciting trips.

Page after page, we get to know the people Peter meets. He expores relationships between islanders and off-islanders, villagers and city dwellers, husbands and wives. A personal relationship is also explored when Peter's father joins him for a week of cruising. That relationship changes, like a Gulf weather report, from "cloudy and cool" to "warm and sunny", The week that began with the obligatory handshake ended with a warm embrace. Both of them agreed that the bright sun makes your eyes water.....

Exciting and always thought-provoking the book teaches us much about our country and the people that are its foundation. We become their friends. Peter and his boat, the Cooper, become our friends as well. As we near the end of the book, we slow our reading. We savor each word and phrase. Before we close the book, we reach out and embrace the people we have met along the watery way. We wave good-bye to them. We will remember them as a friend should, with love and respect.