Customer Reviews

Along the Edge of America

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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".

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.

I found and read Peter's "Walk Across America" several months ago and enjoyed it, so bought "Along the Edge" because I have thought about doing some traveling by boat along the coast. Peter's writing has a certain "basic" style; his books are honest and straightforward. The book details his purchase of a power boat and subsequent journey from Florida along the gulf coast. The chapters chronicle the people he meets along with a bit of insight about the geographic areas he encounters - a slice of life that most of us would never know first-hand. This book is light, upbeat reading. Readers will feel as if they are along for the ride, as in his first book. What an interesting life this writer leads, although I did tend to wonder how his new wife and kids dealt with his long hiatus off to wander and write despite their seemingly minimal visits. I enjoy his books because they are light, entertaining travelogues for those of us who like to wander uninhibited to new places and meet new people. Peter is a bit of a nomad who allows us to vicariously set off on new adventures and peek into our daydreams from a "being-there" perspective.

I have read all of Peter Jenkins books. This one is different in certain ways, that took some thought on my part to understand.

Almost everyone is guaranteed to suffer loss, defeat, prejudice and so on. Hard times come.

Well hard times, defeat, loss, maybe even some type of drepression befell Peter. He begins ALONG THE EDGE OF AMERICA attempting, subconsciously and consciously, to break free of the low down blues. At first there seemed a loss of that fantastic optimism gained by Peter's travels.

As this book moves on and Peter gains back his confidence in himself and meets inspiring people; people who have had much tougher times than he; I could see the power returning to him.

This is a book for anyone, maybe especially for men, that have lost a job dear to them, lost a family, lost their health, just plain lost and are in pain.....we all have or will be there....

Give it to someone you know who needs a lift....read it for yourself...

I have given countless to friends and family, they know not what they get until they are to the end.

Without leaving your favorite reading chair, you can once again experience real travels and real people with Peter Jenkins in his latest book, "Along the Edge of America". In addition to believing that you could recognize the rather stooped Daisy Durrant, or Diane Wilson mending her nets. and Larry the commercial fisherman on the street, Peter has a unique way of weaving in his own past, his family, and his emotions almost making himself a character. Daring to be real has probably cost him criticm but to me Mr. Jenkin's transparency made me identify even more with him than in any of his other books. "Along the Edge of America" dares to present people the way they really are and does not moralize away the bad or attempt to make the people something they are not. One begins to realize that the book's characters each have special significance in forming a living human quilt which we might entitle "Americana" Once again characterization and setting predominate in "Along the Edge of America". When I reached the last page I could only ask Mr. Jenkins where he is going next and who I will meet as I vicariously travel with him. Isn't it about time that we take the time to get to know our neighbors, to sit a spell, and reflect on the great variety of "us" there are in the USA? Thanks, Peter, for getting across the message that we are participants connected to one another, not just spectators as we move through our daily routines.

In his book describing his walk across many eastern states Jenkins does an excellent job of describing the scenery and people he encounters. You really feel that he bonds with those he meets.

The boat trip described in this book seems much less interesting - mostly because it seems so forced. It seems that Jenkins looks back fondly on his long walk and wants nothing more than to recreate it - this time on a boat. The trouble is, an adventure like his walk is impossible to recreate.

A Walk Across America was written after the fact. His adventuresome spirit led him to many intriguing places and he only thought to write about it after it was over. In this book however, Jenkins seems to be on a hunt for interesting folks to include in a new book.

Sometimes he succeeds in finding interesting people (a Vietnam vet and his brother, a Texas sheriff) but more often than not the people he describes were a bit eccentric but really not worth writing about in a book.

Approaching a mid-life crisis myself, what Peter experiences on this soul searching really hits home. I just finished reading his new book "Looking for Alaska" and immediately sought out this book. I was not disappointed, makes me want to pack a bag, get a dog, hop on my boat and sail to Nova Scotia - maybe Australia!

Peter, the person who walked across America and just came back from a year and a half in Alaska, takes to the water in his boat The Cooper.

I think he is brilliant at finding distinctly American characters that capture so much.

Here he explores the Gulf Coast region and all I knew of it prior to this book was Spring Break on the Florida Panhandle, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and not much more.

If you want to believe America is a glossy, full color TV comercial stay brain washed and do not read this book or any other of his books. If you wnat to make fun of people or feel superior to them read some of the other travel writers. If you want to get to know a diverse group of people that make up some of your own country read this book and all the rest of his.

I was as moved by the story of the ragged, toughened brothers Billy and Red and their surpriing love story as any human story I have ever read.

Thanks Peter for taking me on another journey outside of my comfort zone.

I read this because I'd first read wo others of his, LOOKING FOR ALASKA and A WALK ACROSS AMERICA.

Peter Jenkins is a man with great heart, no matter what personal situations he is dealing with, and one who appreciates that you don't have to be some pampered star or off the deep end into all kinds of the bizarre to have a life worth writing about.

Peter has changed my view point and I say cool and thanks for doing this for me before I hit 25.