The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger- A Book Review.

I spent the last few nights reading the bestseller novel by Sebastian Junger and by far it's among the most beautiful true-story novels I've ever read. It's called "The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea." It's the story of ordinary fishermen living their rather dangerous lives in extraordinary circumstances. Their tragic story makes you look into your own life and ponder if you value it the way the fishermen did. The fishermen loved their sea lives too much to the point wherein it already borders within obsession. It's ironic that their love for life on the sea was the one to tragically end their lives. The story maybe familiar because of the blockbuster Hollywood movie of the same title released by Warner Brothers and starring George Clooney, John C. Reilly, Mark Wahlberg among other A-list actors. The movie adopted from the novel was directed by celebrated director Wolfgang Petersen.

Anyway, the novel is a worthy read in every way. It is thrilling from beginning to end. Even if you have never been to sea, the detailed narrative will show everything there is to know. It is a wild ride that brilliantly captures the awesome power of the raging sea and the often futile attempts of humans to withstand it.

As with all novels, there are a few weak points like the painstakingly detailed technical discussions. If you know nothing about fishing, sailing or you are simply a sea-know-nothing, you may find yourself getting lost and confused. But such weaknesses are not enough to lessen the grandeur and complication of the story. It's a great story notwithstanding the fact that it's based on true events. So don't miss to read it and of course watch the movie too on DVD.

Among my favorite parts of the novel were the qoutes that the author placed at the start of every chapter. The qoutes are a great feed for the mind that I couldn't help it but share them with you. So here are a few of them.

"It's no fish ye're buying, it's men's lives."

Sir Walter Scott

"Going to sea is going to prison with a chance at drowning besides."

Samuel Johnson

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire."

Revelation 15

"The men could only look at each other through the falling snow, from land to sea, from

sea to land, and realize how unimportant they all were."

Sidney Perley

"All collapsed, and the great shroud of the sea rolled on as it had five thousand years ago."

Herman Melville