Overall: buy this book if you are a hiker, want to hike or just like to read about an adventure. If you like the writings of the likes of Jon KrakauerOverall: buy this book if you are a hiker, want to hike or just like to read about an adventure. If you like the writings of the likes of Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air or Into the Wild you will enjoy this book.
Now... for the long winded review I can't help but write.
Of course this review is a bit biased since Kevin is a friend but I 100000% swear that I'd have written this review regardless if I knew Kevin or not. Knowing Kevin just gave me more insight into the human writing and walking the trail.
While Kevin was always looking to better himself in his trade, there was a whole new light to him when he decided to conquer The Trail. The Trail being the Appalachian Trail. My Dad had always talked about doing it with his best friend but sadly it was one of the things he never got to accomplish before his death (they did do parts though). Needless to say, I was rooting for Kevin from the beginning.
I followed along with Kevin from before day one, excited to watch a friend conquer something that is so unfathomable to most of us. I turned on notifications (sorry Kevin, I was a creeper) so that I didn't miss an update and his You Tube channel was and still is one of the very few I subscribe to. Every time he posted I was laughing alongside him as Kevin has a way with words and of thinking that even makes a shitty day (even literally when posting about bidets) seem amusing.
So... all of this long winded crap to say - I was invested. BUT because I was following along so closely I assumed that the book would be somewhat of a 'been there, done that' experience since I assumed it was just going to all be rehashed. I was excited to read it but I was concerned that I wouldn't be as invested. I was so very wrong.
While some of the same topics were covered, the stories still seemed fresh and I was engaged right from the opening page. I tore through the book within a few days despite having end-of-year stuff to do and not as much time as I wanted to dedicate to it! I even read through many meals... which I may not recommend during the whole "how do you poop in the woods" section LOL.
This book is an engaging, smart and hilarious journey along with Kevin. I'm not a hiker at all and I still enjoyed it and I immediately bought it for friends who actually do the hiking thing.
After reading the book make sure to go back and watch his You Tube videos. Some are just so much funnier than he portrays in his book.
When perusing upcoming books by some of my favorite authors to put on my "to be read" shelf so I remember to pick them up as they become available, SwWhen perusing upcoming books by some of my favorite authors to put on my "to be read" shelf so I remember to pick them up as they become available, Sweet Salt Air was recommended to me on Amazon because of what I'd been adding. Immediately the book's name piqued my interest because there are fewer smells in this world that I love more than salt air. I then realized it is written by Barbara Delinsky and I was excited as I'd read other books of hers in the past and enjoyed them. When I then read the synopsis and saw that it was set in my beloved Maine I couldn't wait for the release date! I was super stoked when I saw this book in my offerings for Amazon Vine and jumped at the chance to read it before it came out.
Sweet Salt Air takes place on a small island in Maine (sadly I believe it is fictitious) where two friends come together for the first time in many years for a summer. Together they write a cookbook while sorting through the house and getting it ready for sale. Each friend is in a different place in life - Nicole is hiding a secret about her husband while putting a brave face on for the world to see while Charlotte is a freelance writer traveling the world but has a secret she's kept from Nicole since their last summer on the island.
I was expecting your usual fluffy beach read but I should have known to know more was to come from Ms Delinsky and she didn't disappoint. She brought Maine to life quite vividly and captured the essence of what I adore about that state. The prominent relationship in the book, the friendship between Nicole and Charlotte was well written and I enjoyed the journey with them. I had a feeling how the book would end up but I still was pleasantly surprised by a few things and especially enjoyed the romance side of the story. Finally I congratulate the author for NOT including recipes. I don't know why all of the sudden authors keep adding in recipes whenever food is involved but for some reason it isn't my cup of tea so I liked that this novel talks about food and recipes but didn't include a bagillion (or even one) of them.
Overall I enjoyed my stay on Quinnipeague and think that many others will as well. ...more
Loading...
