Customer Reviews

Sunfun Calypso

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sunfun Calypso is a must read for anyone who has been or dreams of traveling to the islands. The author, Julian Putley's imagination has woven together fact and fiction in a cleverly disguised and very descriptive story that makes you smile knowingly as it transports you back to the very places he writes of. It will take you along the pot holed roads in the back of taxis with Bob Marley shrines on the dashboard listening to the lilting dialect of your driver while holding on for your life, to feeling the spray on your face as you are sailing from island to island. His characters, some endearing and some not so..are all people we have met along the way. All this plus a very entertaining story that keeps you reading and ready to anticipate the next page. This has to be one of the most descriptive books I have read and I marvel how the author writes in such as way that the stage is set and in your minds eye you imagine it perfectly. He captures the essence of the people so that they are part of your life plus the flavor of the islands making you yearn to return and experience what you may have missed on your journey. The author obviously knows and loves his islands and I am very much looking forward to another of his stories.

Putley does a wonderful job crafting words and twisting phrases. He is a generous spirit whose clarity for observation is right on the mark. After you read his descriptions of the meals, sea and sun in this book, you'll be ready to hire him in a minute to charter your cruise. Wonderful development of plot and characters. This book is a true depiction of a fairy tale vacation.

Our group just returned from a sailing vacation in the B.V.I. and Justin was the Captain of the "Change Order" one of our three beautiful, high tech catamarans, but,unfortunately, not ours! While he's changed some names of people and places in the book, I recognized many of the sites and types of people. His book is not only a good story,his descriptions of the islands and the way of life are also accurate to what we experienced. Even if you never get to the islands, you can get a feeling for what it's like to be there.

One way to put a smile on your face is to go cruising through the British Virgin Islands. The next best thing is to read Sunfun Calypso. I read the book a couple of months after sailing in the BVIs. The book brought back all the sun, beauty and laughter of that trip while shining a delightful light on what life is like for the lucky and some not-so-lucky people who work there. The plot follows a British couple who tries to develop a small resort and yacht charter company. Corrupt politicians do their best to suck the life out of the business before it gets its legs. There's a skillfully portrayed scene of a powerful hurricane and a captain with more hubris than sense. The storm destroys the captain and nearly the business. But pluck, good humor and hard work bring the business back. The author knows of what he writes, and if you're at all interested in life in the islands, this is a fun way to learn.

Julian Putley has done a remarkable job of capturing the essence of a trip to the Islands in this great book while keeping the reader entertained with twists and turns on every page. If you have never been to the BVI or just spend your days dreaming of such a trip, this book should be required reading. For those of you lucky enough to have spent time in the Islands, you will recognize so many of the people, places and customs that you'll find yourself with a huge smile on your face and you'll start itching to go back. All in all, this is a great little adventure written by someone who knows and loves his Islands.

This book is a must read. Julien (The Author) was our Captain in the BVI and the book is very reflective of his great personality. The book has something for everyone. It is hilarious and contains some tradgedy. I highly recomend it. The only thing better than getting Julien as your captain is reading his book.

The type of story that once you start reading, you cannot stop! A little of everything in this story. Adventure and romance, fiction, history, politics, etc. I enjoyed reading Sunfun Calypso very much!

Having been to the Caribbean a few times, I could easily recognize the wonderful "fictitious" characters and situations in this fun filled book. The story is well narrated, and full of suspense too: I could hardly wait to find out what the end was going to be. I definitely reccomend this book!

So I'm sailing along the leeshore of Cooper Island with our Skipper from a Tradewinds charter and begin discussing the business opportunities available in the BVI's. He tells me that he's written a fictional book touching on the experiences of foreigners who have attempted to do just that. His name was Julian Putney and he just so happened to have a copy on hand. I read it almost non-stop and was immediately asking about the sequel. I'm told it's coming. If you're looking for a hilarious and insightful story about the modern day BVI's, read this book. He has also written the definitive "Drinking Man's Guide to the BVI", and a wonderfully rich historical short story, "The Virgin's Treasure Isle".

These islands and the expectations of the people who visit them have not changed since "Don't Stop the Carnival". This is refreshing, fast moving, and a modern update of that tale. In this instance, the backdrop is the British Virgin Islands, and since the author is British and has worked in the industry which he writes about, truly believable, and fun to read. The additional mystery subplot adds to the whole and explains the book's racy cover. This is a must for anyone now living in these islands, planning a visit, and especially if you plan to charter a sailboat in the area. I hope the Mr. Putley will write the next book.