"River Horse"

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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
 
potter water":3rmt89fv said:
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.
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I like his book, his boat, and his politics. For the record, both Dotty and I were in Washington in 1963 for MLK"s "I have a Dream " speech. Shortly after, our friend Michael Schwerner, one of the Mississippi three, was murdered in Philadelphia Mississippi. Lots of good people marched with MLK, in spirit and in fact.
 
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.
 
potter water":38rsg39t said:
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.
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What evidence are you looking for, dog bites, bullet wounds? Just what is a "typical elitist liberal sorta hippy from back in the day" anyhow?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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 :moon
 
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.
 
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.
 
potter water":1d617x0h said:
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.
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I agree, Potter Water! A good read for me and my family. Have enjoyed Least Heat's work ever since Blue Highways.
 
I agree with Pat and 416rigby. I have the book and forced myself to read it thinking "it will get better and more interesting". I probably went through half of the book and finally gave up.
 
Pat Anderson":3e7v22ba said:
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.
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Pat, yours is my most favorite review yet of this book. I bought the book in 2003 due to a very positive review from the previous owner of our Hunkydory & due to buying the boat in the middle of winter here in Wyoming had not had a chance to use it before reading the book. That book about had me selling the C-Dory before ever putting it on the water. Sure glad I didn't.

Jay
 
Interesting how people either seem to either really like it or hate it, for the most part - or maybe "middle of the road" people just don't bother commenting on it.

I enjoyed it. But then I'm a sucker for a boating/journey book, and (along with Bill and El's website and seeing one locally cruising) it was my introduction to the C-Dory back in the late 90's :thup I did have to look up a lot of words in the dictionary (I had thought I possessed a good vocabulary, but nooooo), but I enjoy that sort of thing. I still remember the vivid feeling of two different descriptions: As I remember them, one was a paragraph long sentence describing being in a lock, and the other was curse-whining about the long, Long, LONG days of paddling on the Misssouri (which deserve it!).

Anyway, very interesting to read the various reviews and (strong) opinions.
 
I thought it was a really, really good book. I read it several years ago, but my memory is a great description of rivers across the US, and how it was done. I must of missed the political part, or agreed and forgot about it.

I read another of his books ( Blue Highways?) and went through one chapter and quit. I guess that marks me as a cruiser, reading about anything going places in boats.

Judy insisted on the C-dory, but she didn't read the book.

Boris
 
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