Customer Reviews

Narrow Dog to Indian River

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After reading Narrow Dog to Carcasonne, I pre-ordered this book and looked forward to its arrival. I enjoyed this one even more than the first. Terry Darlington is a terrific writer and both books about his marine adventures are really fun to read. His writing is observant and clever, poetic, charming and witty. The tenderness of his feelings for his wife of many years adds a very special dimension to his travel adventure story. Few books make me laugh aloud but this one did several times! Perhaps I enjoyed this book so much because I'm a North Carolina immigrant, trapped here by my husband's hatred of snow and love of golf. Mr. Darlington captured the essence of the Carolina tidewater and its people: generous, naive, welcoming to everyone. I hope Terry Darlington has more books in the works for us but for the sake of his lovely Monica, I hope the Phyllis May won't cross too many more large bodies of water.

Narrow Dog to Indian River is a further tribute to Terry's ability to see common sights with a simile that casts an unexpected clarification of the object or scene. His powers of observation take the commonplace to a unique and beautiful comprehension.
As the pages past, I found myself not just reading but standing quietly beside Terry and Monica and observing and feeling all that they saw and said. It is wonderful read.
Often his biting satire on pompus people and decaying conditions are uncomfortably accurate as he shows us what we too often accept as acceptable. Yet even criticisms are couched in a wit that both entertains and informs. Terry does not spare himself in unveiling personal shortcomings. Highly recommended.

Loved the first book, this one was at least as good if not better. I have spent time on a narrowboat and understand the love people have for them. This author is wonderful in his view of his own foibles and those around him. Hilariously good read...Buy the books, get a dog, go to the UK, rent a narrowboat and see the world completely differently.

Dry and understated in the finest English tradition, this lovely theme on discovery is sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes melancholy, sometimes unexpectedly eloquent and gorgeous, and always full of beauty and insight. The narrative unselfconsciously reinforces the irrepressible likableness of the author, his long-suffering wife, and of course, the center of the system: Jim.

Number one- if you are getting this book because you think it is about a dog, put it back down. The dog takes up about 5% and that part is very matter of fact; this dog is not Marley (thank God!).

The premise of the book is that 2 elderly Brits who have taken an English canal boat (6 ft wide by 60 ft long- no kidding) down the rivers of France, had so much fun and sold so many books, that they decided to go down the Intracoastal byways of the US Atlantic and write another book. It seems they did not do their research and they were on the edge of death or at least panic for the entire several months they were boating. However, they spent a lot of time on land meeting people and getting a feel for the Southern US. I like British humor and I laughed heartily in many places. Generally I am quite irreverent, the more politically incorrect the better. However, in places, Terry, the author, annoyed the crap out of me. Terry describes himself as fat (I think that was his exact word) but nonetheless invests many comments on the size of Americans. He is not offensive in how he describes other human "failings", if you will, but is brutal about weight. As a not small person myself, I was starting to get put out (I wasn't making fun of his drinking problem.) until I had lunch with a friend at the Longhorn Saloon, and had to admit that he had a point, even if it was inelegantly put. The other thing he did that I found off putting was constantly pointing out when he saw an African-American, as if he had seen a strange bird. But, then I considered that when he was young, there were only Caucasians in Great Britain and as she became more integrated, it was mostly by immigration- probably a whole different perception of other races. Not that the US has an admirable history on the race front. However, even though I live in Vermont, the whitest state in the Union, we are very politically correct and would never comment on someone's race, so it is jarring to hear it brought up over and over.

An more than above average book, not a great book.

I found this book thoroughly enjoyable and hated to see it end. As an American who has lived in many regions of the country, I found the British observations of our east-coast/Southern citizens interesting, and I felt his descriptions were fair. It never occurred to me that the insects, flora and fauna of this region would be so intimidating and such obstacles to a journey such as this couple made. I had a new appreciation--if you can call it that--for the differences between the climate and conditions we face in the USA vs. those of Great Britain.
I actually did laugh out loud several times while reading this book, and hope he will write more--but manage to do it without putting Monica and Jim through another journey so fraught with peril.

Enjoyed Terry's first book, Narrow Dog to Carcassonne, had to have the second. Unique writing style. Great dog - Jim!

I sent these to family members after reading them and finding them hilarious and heartwarming. Especially for people who like dogs and boats.

My wife and I live on a houseboat and we both enjoyed this engaging tale of life and adventure afloat. Terry D has rapier sharp wit and a keen eye for people's foibles ashore. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of the Americans he met on this narrowboat journey, seen fresh through the eyes of a Brit.

My wife and I were sorry to hear that the boat which is the subject of this book was totally destroyed in a marina fire in Staffordshire, England. I understand the Darlingtons have built a new boat and I wish them pleasant and safe nautical journeys and hope they will write more books.

Although the book was written for a general audience, readers who have traveled the ICW will best appreciate the adventures of "Tits Magee". Most of the challenges and encounters the author, his wife and dog experience are due to their canal boat, which is basically a floating rowhouse on the water. Being from the South, I found myself laughing out loud at the unique viewpoint of someone and some boat from across the pond.