3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great story about a summer on a commercial fishing boat, June 9, 2010
I learned a new side to Rafkin in this book. When I first picked it up, I expected another installment of his famous ORCA adventures, but was surprised to see that this book has a very different theme. It describes the adventures of a young man during a summer on a fishing boat. Of course, any book by Rafkin has to include adventure and gripping story lines that capture the full attention of the reader and no different here. Let's just say, this is the "Deadliest Catch" on steroids. I found myself engrossed with the lives of the crew and the life on a commercial fishing vessel that is in the Ocean and faces threats of similar magnitude as the fishermen in Alaska.
Reading the book, I learned something about Rafkin as well. He has great admiration for commercial fishermen because he spent time on these vessels when he was younger and has first hand experience of how tough and dangerous the life on such a vessel can be.
You can tell from the book that this is not a book based on second-hand research, but a book based on first-hand experience and the admiration for the men who are commercial fishermen comes clearly through.
For anyone who likes the Deadliest Catch and their adventures or who likes to read about the Ocean and men who make a living from it will certainly enjoy this book.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Real Life on the High Seas, June 14, 2010
Who hasn't heard that old sailor-esque saying that includes the title of this book? "Red Sky Morning" by Andrew J Rafkin tells the tale of one man's adventures through a life with the sea. From his days as a young fisherman just earning his sea legs to later times when the money was there for the taking if you had a sea-faring soul, the reader is swept into a story of the highs and lows of this watery world. But the sea is not always going to give up it's riches without a price....a lesson that our Andrew learns in a crushing twenty four hour fight for his life.
Filled with the raw emotion that comes from having "been there, done that", Andrew Rafkin lets readers take a peek inside the world of the illusive fisherman. You may be surprised by all it entales. Upon reaching books end though...you will certainly have a new found respect for both them and their trade. An interesting read for sports enthusiasts and even those that merely love a real life adventure on the high seas....
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Non Stop True Life Adventure, April 22, 2008
This review is from: Red Sky Morning (Paperback)
In his new book "Red Sky Morning" Andrew Rafkin reflects on his tremendous respect for the ocean and a love for sports fishing. Rafkin relives the summer he turned 17 in this coming of age fast moving adventure of his summer as a member of the crew on a commercial tuna fishing boat.
Andrew a gifted story teller uses the first person narrative in telling his story. He drew me into his life by taking me back to my own teen years. A younger Andy relates the adventure from his viewpoint, including tales of liaisons with Rosa, Lauren, Nicole, and Erin. These relationships add an element of romance to Andy's 17th summer. In a climatic ending Andy fast forwards to a setting two years later and an unforgettable adventure on a commercial fishing trip that turned a dream opportunity into recurring nightmares.
The book is rich in information on the back ground of sports fishing and the history of commercial fishing and reveals Andy's love for the ocean and fishing. He takes the reader from Monterey to San Diego on the West Coast all along the East Coast from Florida to Massachusetts. He describes the Western Ace as a modern day purse seiner that cruised at 11 to 12 knots with the capacity to hold 800 tons of fish.
I became personally involved as Andy described the fourteen members of the crew and their reaction to the delays in port, the thrill of the catch, the tropical rains, the hurricane force winds, and the crashing waves battering against the ship. The life of a commercial fisherman is perilous and is the most dangerous of all professions experiencing more fatalities per year than any other vocation.
I was moved as Andy recalled of the importance of the summer as a bonding experience with his father. He remembers it as the most important time ever spent with his father. Prior to this summer, it was not unusual to only see him a few days between fishing trips. Being on the crew with him gave Andy the opportunity to get to know his father in his domain. He gained a new respect for him and came to understand the awesome responsibility of being captain over a crew of men.
"Red Sky Morning" is a gripping seafaring adventure story written for sports fishermen, for anyone who loves the ocean, or for those who own or have dreams of owning their own boat, catamaran, or yacht.
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