Customer Reviews

The Motion of the Ocean

5 star:		(88)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Motion of the Ocean is an entertaining, thought-provoking memoir of a woman's voyage, both across the Pacific Ocean and through the inevitable ebbs and flows of marriage. Throughout the book, the author tackles some of the "big questions" that many couples face when trying to figure out how to be an `us.' From encounters with local islanders to frighteningly vivid descriptions of thunderstorms out at sea, to poignant reflections on an island's cross-dressing subculture, The Motion of the Ocean is at times serious, at times humorous, and always witty and thoughtful. If you like books that make you laugh, make you think, inspire you to see your relationships in new ways, and open windows into worlds you might never have a chance to see, then you'll love The Motion of the Ocean.

The Motion of the Ocean is a smart, funny, fascinating read for all of us land-lubbers who are too scared to sail the south pacific with our newly-wed spouse. Janna Cawrse Esarey is as honest, witty, and appealing as writers come. She never shies away from revealing the ups and downs of her own personal shortcomings, her ruminations about love and marriage, the challenges of travel, or the search for The One. This book is SUCH a pleasure to read, equally fun to discuss with book groups, girl friends, and husbands. Made me laugh out loud over and over, but there's nothing fluffy about this poignant, thought-provoking memoir. Much more than just a summer read . . . one to buy for your girlfriends!

Once I started reading this book, I was not able to put it down. As fiction it would still be great but the fact that it's a true story (a true story!!!) makes it all the more wonderful. Janna Cawrse Esarey is a wonderful writer who makes me think, laugh, and want to have a glass of wine with her. Her comments on relationships definitely hit home for someone at a similar age and place in life, but what I most loved was her ability to tie all of their adventures together and interrelate the stories. This goes on my Christmas shopping list for all of my girlfriends!

Hopping off the hamster wheel daily grind to sail away to Margaritaville is a common dream. For most this nautical desire never goes beyond the fleeting thought stage. For Graeme and Janna Cawrse Esarey it was reality for two and half years. Stuck in a relational and career rut, Graeme and Janna decide to embark on a B-HAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal): to sail away to the South Pacific.

The Motion of the Ocean is more than just a travel-adventure drama, however, rather it is a real life love story set on the Pacific Ocean. And just like the unpredictable course of the ocean waves, so too are the currents of couplehood. Esarey's writing is at turns confessional and deeply moving. She admits that "sometimes the space between people feels totally innavigable . . . . Right now I'm having a hard time just navigating the islands of me and Graeme - the person I love, the person I thought I knew best in the world." Later, she discovers that "even though the honeymoon ends, so too, do the storms. We just have to stick around long enough."

In other parts, the memoir reads more like a comedy. When describing their Labrador retriever Scout's refusal to be "sailbroken" Esarey channels Dr. Seuss: "She will not pee on a mat. She will not pee on a hat. She will not pee on a boat. She will not pee on a coat. She does not like our green mat plan. She does not like it, Janna and Graeme."

After the trip's termination, Esarey reflects upon the accomplishment of many personal goals: escaping her workaholic lifestyle; fulfilling her youthful dream of sailing to the Southern Cross; and finding her personal purpose (becoming a writer). While Esarey takes pride in these achievements, she professes that, "It's not so important what Graeme and I did . . . its more important how we did it . . . By giving to each other, by relying on each other, by seeking support when each other wasn't enough." In short, "life's biggest, hairiest, most audacious goal . . . [may be] Figuring out how to make love last."

The Motion of the Ocean is the perfect Staycation read!

The only warning for this book is do not attempt to drink hot liquids while reading. It burns too much when it comes out your nose because you are laughing so hard. This book requires no expertise in sailing, no current or former marriage, significant others or partners. If you interact with other human beings, you will recognize yourself in this story and empathize with the situations. And laugh your [...] off. GREAT first book.

I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful this book truly is. I would find myself laughing and tearing on many of the pages as Janna reveals her tale with unflinching honesty. True life sailing adventures are the majority of books I read and own. I found myself thinking that if an alien race came to earth and asked for one book that would describe human life best, I would hand them this book! I loved this book so much, I bought a copy each for my sister and mother but wouldn't surrender my own even under the condition that it later be returned. I simply didn't want to part with it! Here is the truly surprising part, I find it comparable to Shakespeare! The wit, wisdom and insights in the human psyche with it's strengths, weaknesses, foibles and vulnerabilities are all to be found in Janna's excellent adventures. Highly recommended!!!

The plot summary of this memoir does justice to the gist of this lovely book, but not to the author's "voice."

The narrative is smart, reflective, honest, and very funny. She obviously loves words and this is so apparent in how she chooses just the right one and then plays with it in a thoroughly accessible, yet original way. Before embarking on the seven seas, Janna was an English teacher yet struggled with the all-consuming nature of this profession: "I thought I could change the world one student at a time. And while the efficacy and advisability of this scheme is highly debatable, I passionately loved my job. I just didn't love the person I'd become through my job: a harried, perfectionist, martyring workaholic." This statement alone will resonate with teachers everywhere.

My perfect formula for a perfectly satisfying memoir is as follows: the writer must likeable (or, if not, then incredibly interesting and/or witty), the writing must be strong, and I need to gain insight into not only the author, but myself as well. The Motion of the Ocean satisfied all three of these guidelines beautifully. Although I would NEVER sail around the world -- or want to -- and I'm not terribly reflective, really. However, it is truly fascinating to read about what it would be like to live on a sailboat for two years. And from the very beginning I was pulling for Janna and Graeme -- as sailors, as friends, as spouses, as individuals.

Spending 300 pages with this couple is truly a joy as well as a journey, an escape, a vacation.

We read this in our book club and had a fabulous discussion! Regardless of our age or marital status, all of us could relate to the author's ups and downs in her relationship and her experience and musings offered us a wide range of topics to discuss and questions to answer. Despite the front photo, this is not a discourse on a technical sailing trip but rather an adventure-love story that is funny, entertaining and filled with colorful tales from far-away places.

Your style as a woman is very similar to me. I need friends, savor community and feed off shiny buttons. It was refreshing to hear the story of a woman who is succeeding in love not for her cooking skills or pink responsibilities but because, there was a moment she knew that this was the man she would love until the day she died.

Thank you for providing me an incredible reading experience, inspiration that will never be forgotten and many laughs along the way.

~Casey

The Motion of the Ocean is a terrific read--even for guys. There are people who have done amazing things, and people who are great writers. This author is both. I'm no sailor, but I am married and this book offers insights into both. If you are a guy who is constantly asking your wife, "Why do we have to keep talking about the relationship?" then you may not get into this (even if it'd be good for you.) But if you want to learn what's it's like to sail the Pacific and get some clues to what's happening on the other side of the bed, buy this book. Oh, it's fun too!