"River Horse"

[Barry Rietz]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/River-Horse-A-Voyage-across-America-by-William-Least-Heat-Moon-Travel-Adventure-/331237743383?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item4d1f4edb17

[ssobol]

And?

As someone posted sometime ago, this book is not about boating and is not about C-Dory's. IMO, it is kind of an ok story about going from the east coast to the west coast by boat, but it is not an easy read. I gave up about 3/4 through. The fact that a C-Dory was used is incidental to the story. A number of other boats were used in the process.

You can have my copy for the cost of postage.

[thataway]

I enjoyed the book. Yes the author does use some unusual words, and his writing style leaves something to be desired. He is not much of a waterman. Some seaman ship skills were lacking. But he made his goal, and as I recollect he used the same C Dory with a couple of portages for the entire voyage.

I think it is a good read for any new C Dory owner--and for things not to do as was as to do. It also shows the capability of the boat. It is about people, history, His views on culture, and a story. Certainly not a Bill and El Travelog about being in a C Dory. If I was reviewing, I would have given it 4 stars, for interest. 3 for story telling and 2 for boating.

[potter water]

An excellent book that is THE reason I bought my C-Dory. It took a terrible pounding at the hands of an inexperienced guy and survived. It had twin Carbed Hondas that made the whole distance. There were very few other boats used and those were only used as necessary. The Dory was portaged at times, but was used over 80% of the time by my estimate. It began and ended the voyage which was a truly amazing trip across the U.S. Least Heat is a liberal author who loves to use big words to impress. If you've read any classic literature, his writing style will not seem unusual. If you are a boat techno-nerd, then the book will drag a bit. He does lots of history of what he's passing along the way and I found that bit fascinating.

In short, it is an excellent read and the only literary book featuring the C-dory 22. (and it does feature the C-dory).

For the price you won't regret getting and reading the book. I don't like Least Heat's politics, but he is a good writer. His writers name is not his real name, but one he adopted for writing claiming to be part native american. I'm sure he marched with Martin Luther King too, but then, who hasn't.

[BrentB]

I recieved a copy from a Brat then sent it to others. (free)

As far as I know it is still circulating and free for just for asking for it .


I liked it and found it informative but the style and prose drug it down, again, m2cw

[Jake B]

I am currently reading this book and it is good/ok hard to get into at first. I was given this copy by a guy I had never meet in Friday harbor last summer who stopped by our slip and dropped it off. He had been given from another c-dory owner and asked to pass along. He had moved up and was cruising in a tug last summer. The inside has been signed by some familiar names on here R-matey and C-Cakes. I plan to pass it along in travel this summer. Agree it’s worth a read

[dotnmarty]

[potter water]

My comment about marching with MLK wasn't meant to be snarky. It is just that I've run into so many people who've claimed they marched with MLK during the BIG march with little evidence to prove it.

Moon is a typical elitist liberal sorta hippy from back in the day, but an excellent writer and adventurer. I loved his book Prairie Earth. He is amazing at how much story he can write about a piece of concrete or a hunk of wood lying on the ground.

[dotnmarty]

[potter water]

I thought we were talking about River Horse. It's a great book and I think any C-dory owner will learn something about these boats and will enjoy the observations that Moon makes about the historical locations he passes along the way. I'm pretty sure that there are no other 22's that have gone through the grind that Moon's boat did. It is on display in a park, but I don't remember the location. I have searched it on the internet and it was fun to look at the actual boat having read about the beating that it took.

[dotnmarty]

You were no more talking about the book than the author was talking about marlinspike seamanship. I was just quoting you. As I told someone in a PM, I am not comfortable or brave responding to your comments. But they are your comments. Now I'm done.

[hardee]

I have the book, and have had it for a couple of years. Tried to start it a few times, and just could not get very far into it. Yup, some big words, and his seamanship leaves some to be desired. I have not finished it, not because I did not like it but because I read very slowly and just could not take the time to get on with it. It will stay, and I will read it after I retire and have time to sit in the cockpit under the shade and while way a few hundred pages.

Harvey
SleepyC

[Pat Anderson]

Everyone's taste in books is different. I call Least Heat Moon's writing style flatulent. It is pompous and self-inflated. No good writers send you to the dictionary three times per sentence. It is kind of "showing off" and it gets in the way of the story. Not good writing, not a good story well told. All it has to offer for this group is that it - somewhat - involves a C-Dory. Sorry, folks, I call it the way I see it.

[416rigby]

You're bang on, Pat. I'll be blunt: I'd say the book is just plain awful but I didn't make it very far into the book for the very reasons Pat mentioned. It's like the guy's goal is to show you how many obscure words he can use.

On second thought, I'll say it. It is just plain awful.

[mdoug]