Customer Reviews

I've Been Around

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

 

 

When I was a freshman in high school, I read Tania Aebi's first book, Maiden Voyage, about her solo circumnavigation of the globe at the age of 18. That book was a huge inspiration to me, and I was thrilled to find out she had a new book out. I've Been Around is a collection of essays that will update Aebi's fans as to her life after her trip. More than that, this new book evokes the same sense of wonder and inspiration as Maiden Voyage. In fact, when I first purchased I've Been Around, I was so excited that I began reading it on my walk from the bookstore to my car. I parked far enough away that I was able to finish the first essay I had turned to: "Close Call". Immediately, this essay put me back in that state of mind which Maiden Voyage evoked; a sense of the amazing potential we all have. "Close Call" is about the story Aebi tells people when they ask if she ever felt in danger from anyone she met on her voyage. Aebi relays a story of meeting some fishermen off the coast of Sri Lanka. Ultimately, the story is not of the danger she was in, but of how helpful the fishermen were. In fact, she finds out years later just how safe she really was, and how sincere these men were in their concern and helpfulness towards this young woman alone at sea. I think tales of the inherent goodness of people are more necessary now than ever. "Close Call" will be the essay I share with the many people who tell me that they are scared to travel overseas. The fact that I was nearly run-over by a Honda Element while reading this essay, however, taught me I need to be more careful while close to home.

I've Been Around is written with the same humble, down to earth tone as Maiden Voyage. While there are plenty of sailing stories from trips she has taken since her solo voyage, what appeals to me about Aebi's writing is how she applies the lessons learned from her trips to real life. I've personally never been on a sail boat. The writing in this book is less about sailing and more about how to be resourceful and inventive in order to survive the many day-to-day and extraordinary challenges we all face. I loved reading I've Been Around and I highly recommend it to all sailors and non-sailors out there.

As a long-time follower and fan of Tania Aebi, and reader of her first book, "Maiden Voyage," the account of her solo circumnavigation as the youngest woman to accomplish such a remarkable feat, I waited in great anticipation for the release of her latest book, "I've Been Around." This compilation of her articles with her musings on not only the sailing life, but how intertwined that life can be with so many other aspects of living, is wonderful! It's a joy to learn about what is happening to her since her voyage and to be able to peek into the mind of this very special person. For the true adventurer or even the adventure wanna-be, I highly recommend Ms. Aebi's new book.

I was very excited to get this book. I love Tania's column in Attitude's. Then to find out, she just took her old columns, kind of sorted them by topic, and stuck them in book form....Boo.
I hope she sits down and writes a book from scratch, looking back at her circumnavigation, her life since then. That could be a great book.

This book is a compilation of short stories Tania wrote for a magazine. I did not find it as informative or interesting as her first book Maiden Voyage. Sadly, if you are looking to learn something about sailing, there is not a lot of meat in this book....however, her first book is terriffic.

When I read Maiden Voyage by Tania Aebi, I thought it was one of the best, well written accounts on the market...a truly amazing story. I was disappointed in this one however in that it lacked Tania's excellent and detailed story telling, and much of it was just a summary of accounts in her previous book.

I'm one starring(?) sheridan house not Tania, I'd like to read it if I can find a complete copy :-)))

I bought two copies (presents) some time ago and only recently was told both copies were missing nearly fifty page" right in the best part" P 125 thru 176.

After reading the first book by Tania Aebi, Maiden Voyage, I couldn't wait to read her second book to see what happened in her life. However, I was disappointed with this book. I felt that her writing style had changed and the stories lacked the same charm and witt. I was also disappointed to find that the book was actually a group of short stories, not a continuation of Maiden Voyage. I felt there was no flow and devoid of much emeotion. All in all, I still think Tania Aebi is amazing and has lived an amazing life and Maiden Voyage will be one of my favorite books.

Tania Aebi caused a world sensation when she sailed around the world solo as an 18yr old, the youngest person ever to do so. She told her story in the excellent 1989 "Maiden Voyage" book. Many years later (2005), Aebi returns with this book.

In "I've Been Around" (230 pages). the author (now in her 40s) brings a collection of sailing-related and other stories, some of which work, some of which don't. One of the better one is "Close Call", in which she recalls being scared in her trip around the world at one point, when she seeks the help of two Sri Lankan guys to tow her into the harbor and wonders about their intent (being a young girl, alone), only many years later to reconnect with one of them, and feeling ashamed about her apprehension then. Most of the stories in this book are 3-4 pages long, and bring the author's recollections of various sailing experiences, now and then. It is not what I expected, to be honest. I had hoped for a more personal book, as in: how her relationship with Olivier (started in her 'maiden voyage') developed and then fell apart (we know they married, had 2 kids, and eventually divorced).

In all, "I've Been Around" doesn't measure up at all to the pleasure that was "Maiden Voyage". This book is not a sequel to it. It's a non-personal book with observations about sailing, nothing more.

If you read the wonderful book writen by Tania Aebi titled, Maiden Voyage and enjoyed it, then these stories that are inspired from that specific trip, then you will enjoy the inspiration these have to offer. I reread them from time to time enjoying them each and every read.