Ten Degrees of Reckoning [Paperback]

Hester Rumberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 11, 2007

This is the true story of a family who fulfilled their lifelong dream¿only to have it evolve into everyone¿s worst nightmare. It takes courage, commitment, passion, and patience to embrace life fully. The Sleavin family, two adults and their two children, possessed those qualities, and realized their dream to sail around the world in their 47-foot boat, the Melinda Lee. They experienced indescribable beauty, rewarding challenges, deep and meaningful encounters, and a wholly shared understanding of the world and of one another during their meticulously planned and crafted out-of-the ordinary family adventure. The author, a veteran sailor herself, uses her personal experience to take the reader on an ocean voyage, and shares the Sleavins¿ travels while she provides a backdrop of intriguing facts and information. Three years into the circumnavigation, not far from the shores of New Zealand, a ship, thousands of tons of steel, loaded with thousands of tons of timber, altered its course by a mere ten degrees, and everything changed. Every, single, thing. Based upon exclusive interviews with the survivor and other significant individuals, the author takes both an investigational and philosophical approach in order to depict the mystery of the tragedy and its aftermath. This is not a book about sailing, although life at sea is re-created with insight and familiarity. This is a universal tale about love and loss, humanity and inhumanity. This is a story that compels the reader to question and examine one¿s own behavior when circumstances alter the way we live. This is a story about facing our fears and striving to embrace life, every day.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Ten Degrees of Reckoning is a rare book. It both celebrates the love and spirit of adventure of the Sleavin family and tells in harrowing and gut-wrenching detail about the tragedy that claims the lives of three out of four of its members. To people who say: I can’t read such a sad story, I say only, you must. You must learn about and celebrate Annie and Ben and Mike so that they may be remembered. You must marvel at Judy’s bravery, her resilience, her will. You must repeat their story to others so that what befell them doesn't happen again. Read Ten Degrees of Reckoning. You must.”
—Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle and Comfort: A Journey Through Grief --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Hester Rumberg is an experienced ocean sailor, with thousands of nautical miles under her belt. After the tragedy of the Melinda Lee, together with Judith Sleavin, she established The Sleavin Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting maritime safety around the world. She was, and will always be, the godmother of Judith Sleavin's daughter, Annie Rose. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: UTD Press (November 11, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0973002778
• ISBN-13: 978-0973002775
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,856,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Story, November 24, 2007

By 

Peter Niland (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ten Degrees of Reckoning (Paperback)

Hester Rumberg tells the remarkable story of the adventurous Sleavin family. This extraordinary book will appeal to a wide range of readers, those looking for suspense and mystery. This book will hold your attention to the last page. An absolute page turner and without question, Hester Rumberg, in my opinion, is a very talented story teller. Because of the subject matter, I wondered if it would be difficult to read, but it was impossible to put down.
Another thing I might add: I grew up in New Zealand where a portion of this story takes place. The author has captured the culture of my birth country exceedingly well, and added an informative element, even for me.

I would highly recommend this mesmerizing book.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN !, November 14, 2007

By 

Judith Kimmerer "Lover of True Life Stories" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ten Degrees of Reckoning (Paperback)

This book is so captivating I read it page by page throughout the night. My eyes were burning, but I couldn't stop reading. The author has told a masterful saga of family love, living intentionally, and how to struggle with the uphill battles of our lives. This is more than a book. This is a tribute to 4 people who's story you must know. Thanks to the author for this gift. She must have crafted the book out of her own familiarity with life's turnings and an uncommon insight into the hearts of others.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterful, Compelling Work, December 29, 2007

By 

T. F. Welsh (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ten Degrees of Reckoning (Paperback)

This superb book succeeds on at least three levels. As an expository work, it plumbs the deep, rich traditions of works by Michener, or more recently, "A Perfect Storm". I felt supremely entertained, even as I learned a great deal about offshore sailing. It also tells a gripping story, and it draws us into the life of a family and its individual members. I cared deeply about these people, as the author presented them to me through a variety of "lenses."

You likely would not be reading my words unless you are a lover of books. As such, you no doubt have experienced the bittersweetness of a story's end.....you want to know how it comes out, but at the same time you don't want to turn that last page. This is one of those stories.

Readers seeking "magical justice," where all is resolved fairly and neatly, will be disappointed. This is part of the poignance of Dr. Rumberg's effort.

I have sent copies of this book to friends, and I am recommending it to all the booklovers I know. Finishing "Ten Degrees of Reckoning" was an exquisite ending to a year of fine reading, and I hope you will consider starting out on the right "literary foot" for 2008 by discovering the treasures within these pages.