Staniel Cay [Paperback]

Nick Finneran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2004

In STANIEL CAY, old Nick Finneran finally tells his story of how, as a teenager in post-World War II 1948, he and his cousin Tony leave the cold Massachusetts winters behind to begin a life's journey. Along the way Nick and Tony do a lot of fishing, meet colorful characters from the pre-tourist days of Miami, and discover a wrecked sailboat in the mangroves, which they rebuild and sail to the Bahamas. The teenagers experience the tranquil life in the Caribbean before the tourist boom, but soon uncover a plot that could prove to be the opening salvo of the cold war! The boys are incredulous to find themselves in a life and death struggle for survival.

STANIEL CAY (pronounced "key") is a story of youth, adventure, and mischief, that hasn’t been concocted since Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn sailed the Mississippi. The vivid descriptions of small boat sailing are reminiscent of Joshua Slocum and Tristan Jones. The action is interspersed with an expert’s detailed description of the endless days of sailing, fishing and "bumming in the islands mon".

Editorial Reviews

Review

I don’t know how much of this story is true, but Finneran tells the tale like a master. -- Son Los Mismos

Mark Twain, Lawrence of Arabia and Horatio Hornblower WISH they were Nick Finneran! -- Miami Yesterday and Today

From the Inside Flap

Nick Finneran's STANIEL CAY is Pure Nerd Fiction! There were many times during the book that I just sat back, took a deep breath, and imagined myself out there on the turquoise waters of the Great Bahama Bank, eating cracked conch and drinking beers with Nick and Tony Finneran. (Robert Donahue)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (January 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414034881
• ISBN-13: 978-1414034881
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,202,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nick Finneran's STANIEL CAY is Pure Nerd Fiction, February 25, 2004

By 

Daniel Murphy - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Staniel Cay (Paperback)

Review by Freelance Writer Robert Donahue on January 28, 2004

Last week, I attended the annual Strictly Sail event, which was held at Chicago's Navy Pier to report on the event for a local newspaper. Quite by accident, I attended a book signing event by author Nick Finneran, where I received a copy of STANIEL CAY. Nick Finneran is a hoot, a real life Walter Middy (a modern day Ernest Hemingway?). Massachusetts-born Finneran has been a champion sailor, a Navy Captain and war hero, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, fly fishing instructor and confidant to three presidents (or so he says). Throughout my adult life, I have been looking for a grown-up's version of the Hardy Boys. Nick Finneran has done it with STANIEL CAY. STANIEL CAY is pure nerd fiction, although Finneran swears that the events in STANIEL CAY are true. The book is fast-paced, enjoyable and funny. Even if you are not a sailor or fisherman, you will appreciate Finneran's description of his days growing up on Cape Cod, his escape to Miami in 1948, and his adventures in the Bahamas. Finneran takes the reader back to the pre-tourist days in Miami and the Caribbean. Nick and his trusty cousin Tony Finneran (also born in Dorchester) leave the cold Massachusetts winters behind, and go looking for warmer climes in Miami. They discover a wrecked sailboat in the mangroves, which they rebuild and sail to the Bahamas. All along the way, the boys, on the edge of manhood, go fishing, sailing, beer-drinking and happen to uncover a mystery that leads them on a life and death chase through the Exuma Island chain. He has interspersed some great passages throughout the book that make certain moments come alive for the reader. There were many times during the book that I just sat back, took a deep breath, and imagined myself out there on the turquoise waters of the Great Bahama Bank, eating cracked conch and drinking beers with Nick and Tony Finneran. I found STANIEL CAY to be a real page-turner. There aren't a lot of complex twists, Nick just tells it pretty straight, but he keeps the tension high throughout the book. I read the entire book in a couple of one-hour sessions while listening to Jimmy Buffet music and drinking a Corona. There are a few uninteresting passages here and there, but they do not detract from the overall story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Escapism, May 4, 2004

By 

Mike Tormey (Colts Neck, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staniel Cay (Paperback)

Looking for a great read to help savor those lazy days of summer? Well search no more! Nick Finneran provides a lively tale based upon his recollection of events of his youth. Readers cannot help to recall the optimism and carefree times of their own youth's as they join Nick and Tony on their adventure. While there are times in the book you wish you could prod the author with a disbelieving "your-pulling-my-leg" stare, it only serves as testimony that you are enjoying a great storyteller who can capture your imagination. Nick's storytelling is a credit to his craft, and I look forward to reading more about his adventures in the (hopefully) not so distant future. Ole!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finneran brings the Exumas to life., March 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Staniel Cay (Paperback)

I liked this book very much. Nick's descriptions of life in Miami and in the Bahamas in the 1950s is vivid. As said by previous reviewers, Staniel Cay is mostly a sailing-cruising book ala Joshua Slocum or Bernard Moitessier. But it also has a nice plot that is very much reminiscent of the old Hardy Boys books. I got the shivers when Nick and Tony were sailing across the many cuts in the Exuma island chain. Finneran is a perfect example of how every man is still a little boy inside (sigh).