Coasting: A Private Voyage (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

?A lively, intensely personal recounting of a voyage into a gifted writer's country and self.? ?The New York Times Book Review

?Coasting is a glorious book, written with energy, wit and a melancholy lyricism . . . There's something wonderful on every page of this book.? ?The Seattle Times Post-Intelligencer

?Marvelously written and superbly constructed. . . . The sort of book you put among those favorite books you keep on your desk or table . . . the sort you wish you had written yourself.? ? Beryl Bainbridge, The Spectator

?Raban is . . . one of our most gifted observers.? ?Newsday -- Review

Review

“A lively, intensely personal recounting of a voyage into a gifted writer's country and self.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Coasting is a glorious book, written with energy, wit and a melancholy lyricism . . . There's something wonderful on every page of this book.” —The Seattle Times Post-Intelligencer

“Marvelously written and superbly constructed. . . . The sort of book you put among those favorite books you keep on your desk or table . . . the sort you wish you had written yourself.” — Beryl Bainbridge, The Spectator

“Raban is . . . one of our most gifted observers.” —Newsday

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (February 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375725938
• ISBN-13: 978-0375725937
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,731 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read - for an 80's anglophile...., December 9, 2005

By	Andrew C. Kirby (MA,USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this when it was first published and it is probably the least American of Raban's books. It is thoughtful, incisive and pretty much spot on with how the country was split during the Falklands conflict and for me it gives a wonderful, if now a little dated insight into my own country and people, I love Raban's eclectic style of collecting up a whole series of people, books and charts and then introducing them to the reader as 'characters' along the way. Probably also the most autobiographical of books to date by this author but then I was in England at the time and British to boot.

Andy

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An early memoir by one of our best contemporary writers, April 17, 2004

By	R. Stout (Big Sky Country, Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Hearing Raban read an excerpt from this book at Seattle's Folklife Festival last year, I "took the bait". At nearby bookstore, I bought copy, read it on the plane-ride back home, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
For years I've been hooked (sorry) on Raban's books, such as "Old Glory", "Bad Land", and "Voyage to Juneau". "Coasting", is apparently a recently-published version of an early work by the author.
It is a memoir of a literal voyage, of a more personal introspective voyage, and of a voyage in the turbulent political waters of M. Thatcher's Britain.
It would be a shame for readers to pass on "Coasting" due to an unfavorable review, apparently based primarily on political differences with the author. I urge readers - and indeed the negative reviewer - to read (re-read?) the chapter, toward the end of the book, regarding Philip Larkin. This recollection of an evening spent with Larkin, apparently one of Raban's mentors, is written with such heartfelt fondness and melancholy that it sincerely moved this reader. It was this excerpt from "Coasting" that charmed a rapt audience at the reading in Seattle. Based on this section, alone, I would recommend this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great view of England during the Thatcher years, October 30, 2005

By	Mr. C. Doyle (St. George's, Grenada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Raban, to move himself from his own country, goes offshore in a small boat to look back towards the land and his own past. This book is beautifully written and full of humor and insights. It is a few years since I last read it (it is a good investment because you can enjoy reading it several times). When I saw the low ratings it got from people who don't like his politics I felt inspired to give it a little boost. I do not agree with many of Raban's views, but I cannot imagine letting that spoil this wonderful read.