Customer Reviews

Diving The Seamount

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At it's heart, Diving the Seamount is about an ancient desire for escaping the mundane and meaningless lives which most of us lead, and throwing the dice for paradise. This book offers many stories, many of which represent salvation and redemption, all within the context of a geographical locale capable of causing many to question the very value of their existence, and the quality of their happiness. Though scuba diving offers the common link between many of its characters, Diving the Seamount explores the universal nature of mankind's desire for peace, quiet, love, and the ever prescient attraction of the sea, regulator or no. Tom Rapko writes in the spirit of Steinbeck, and the similarities between this book and the Monterey Series are not lost on me. I will be looking forward to future offerings from this promising new author, and share the sentiment of another reviewer that employing an editor would do much to bring out the talent made obvious by this nascent effort.

It is very rare when a book this short in length (130 pages) is so packed with adventure and excellent character development. However, author Tom Rapko accomplishes just that in Diving The Seamount.

Additionally, Rapko's obvious passion for diving is hard to contain, and as such the reader can't help being drawn into the excitement of the story. Another area in which the author succeeds is in his description and development of each character. We follow the lives of several strangers who have little in common aside from their trip to Baja to dive the seamount. We then see how their lives unfold afterward and the changes that are brought about by their experiences at the seamount. What I appreciate most about the characters in this book is that, while they come from all walks of life, it is very easy to identify with each one. Rapko also manages to avoid cliches, and brings a very human approach to the variety of characters, whether it be the natives of Baja or the big city lawyer from the United States.

In addition to a very entertaining story that makes this book hard to put down, the book is full of little philosophical gems that causes the reader to ponder the choices that he or she has made regarding their own life. And rather than tell the reader which life path to take, Rapko allows the reader to decide that for him or herself.

I would highly recommend this book for anybody with a sense of adventure, particularly anybody that loves SCUBA diving or has ever entertained the notion of trying it.

This self-published novel may be the worst book I've ever read. It's as if the author sat down with a thesaurus to turn 'birds' into 'avians', and to have people 'perambulate' and 'hagger' [sic] instead of walk. The writing is full of strange word choices and even stranger phrasings, the author working very hard to be clever and original. The result is that this amateurish book reads like a very bad first draft. This reader's most frequent response to the writing: "huh?"

It also seems the book went to print without being read by a living, human editor. The computer's spell checker gives us 'unique receipts' instead of 'recipes,' 'segregate home' instead of 'surrogate,' and 'wince it came' instead of 'whence.' People go 'aboard' to study. The manuscript is replete with these uncorrected errors, the editing a bad joke. Did the author actually critically read his own manuscript before publication?

The story gives very little actual sense of what diving the Sea of Cortez seamounts, or what visiting the town and people of La Paz are truly like. To this avid reader and avid diver who's explored those very seamounts, and spent more than a year traveling the wonders of Baja, this book is a major disappointment. And worst of all: the story itself is simply boring.

Caveat emptor. I wish I had read an honest review before spending my money.

DIVING THE SEAMOUNT is a terse, intricately woven tale of the effects of shedding the world-weary outer skin by communing with nature and the core whispers of healing that surrender offers. Set in La Paz, Baja California, author Tom Rapko tells - no, shows - us a place called the Seamount which is a ancient volcano under the waters off Baja, a site known by legend to be the source of spiritual renewal. Rapko intertwines the lives of disparate people, each of whom needs a moment of life renewal, as they dive and photograph and experience the wonder of the seamount. By juxtaposing the lives of the peasants in La Paz with the lives of the 'outsiders' who come to La Paz to dive, the author makes numerous comparisons and metaphors as to what is the essence of being. Without succuming to being preachy, Rapko delivers meaningful moments in an easy to read format, moments that linger for reflection long after the reader finishes this book. Recommended.

I picked up this book after a friend recommended it because they know I like to scuba dive. What I got was a fictional but realistic glimpse into life in Baja Mexico and how one experience can change a person forever. What a great book.

Rapko's story is one written with a personal commitment and honesty I don't often find in contemporary fictional works. Rather than simply pushing along a plot to tell a story, Diving the Seamount tells a story to share an idea. The author's philosophy is never forced upon the reader, but instead is set forth for the reader to experience as the characters themselves experience Baja's majesty.

"Diving the Seamount" written by Tom Rapko is a wonderful little character driven tome about life and the things that really matter in ones decision to live life to it's fullest.

Character driven the book starts out getting the reader exposed to the main characters and the journey to LaPaz, Mexico for a scuba dive in the warm waters off of Baja California Peninsula for a life experiencing change and energy at the seamount. The book is filled with people wanting something more out of life and not just material things but life for life's self. To experience the best of what life can bring, but not material worth but the satisfaction that knowing you have made the best from what you have.

The book is filled with little "what if's" and philosopher's twists of fate. The book shows the life of the regals and that of the common folk and how they live their respective lives. Those of privilege and those that make it from day to day.

"Diving the Seamount" is a book about not only life, but that of underwater beauty too as the the seamount affects the people that dive it and either return or how the seamount affects their lives in the future. The author is a diving photographer and it shows with the detail in the writing. I am an amateur scuba diver and a photographer myself and I could visualize myself taking pictures of the dive and all of the preparation needed for that dive.

I found "Diving the Seamount" to be a very realistic and enjoyable read as the author takes you through life's changing spirit. This book would be and excellent read for those who seak a realistic story that has some adventure, but those interested in how the characters mature. It would be interesting to see if the author could recreate these characters 20 years hence to complete this adventure into life's full circle.

I gave the book a solid 4 stars for good writing and a story told well in a realistic sense making an interesting read and it is a book to pick-up at your local bookstore for a good read.

Diving the Seamount can be summed up in one word: phenomenal. Tom Rapko reminds us all that we should take time away from our busy lives to actually experience life and embrace that which brings us happiness. Gus, fully enmeshed in the fast-paced world of a young, promising attorney, experiences a spiritual awakening while visiting the sleepy Baja village of La Paz. Once satisfied by material possessions and career advancement, he finds himself longing for the simplicity and beauty of life in the small Mexican village. His ambition turns quickly towards realizing his new goal: leaving all of the constraints behind and enjoying life in La Paz. Life in La Paz moves on at its own pace, enveloping him and those like him who appreciate the beauty inherent in simple existence.

"Everything seemed so alive, so passionate in Baja. Every action had a purpose, instinctively calculated, and executed perfectly." Tom Rapko's portrayal of life in the sleepy seaside town of La Paz, Mexico and how relationships are formed and transformed is passionately written. He has an uncanny ability to make the tiny town and the characters come to life, rather than stay two dimensional. In the first couple of chapters I was hooked as I read about a simpler kind of life and the exciting first dive to the Seamount. As the story progresses you find yourself pondering the very same questions Gus, one of the characters, ponders, "what would it be like to escape the rat race?" And wondering if you could summon the courage to do it. This novella is a wonderful and thought provoking read, executed perfectly by the author. I look forward to reading more stories by this author as his ability to tell a story matures with continued writing.

Mr. Rapko's wonderful story is set in Baja, Mexico and follows six scuba divers after they experience a dive together. Overall, I found the book to be enjoyable, meaningful, and thought provoking.
The characters are engaging, well developed, and represent different several personality types often encountered in American society. Although I am a diver and appreciated the careful and vivid descriptions of the two dives, the climax and moral of the story can be transferred to other sports, experiences, or passions that other readers may enjoy and can relate to a soul-touching moment or revelation. As the story developed, I wondered if some of the characters' choices may be selfishly motivated, and focus on living only for pleasure, but eventually each one gained my admiration after their displays of integrity and dedication to helping others, although through different means.
Mr. Rapko's writing displays a good sense of humor that is speckled with a little irony; and even though he challenges the status quo, workaholic, lifestyle, he does so in a thoughtful manner that reflects the developing attitude of the characters. The moral is simple and beautiful and left me thinking about the things I love in life and the values that are most important. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy good writing, memorable characters, and a thoughtful, moral story.