Along the Edge of America

I have read all of Peter Jenkins books. This one is different in certain ways, that took some thought on my part to understand.Almost everyone is guaranteed to suffer loss, defeat, prejudice and so on. Hard times come. Well hard times, defeat, loss, maybe even some type of drepression befell Peter. He begins ALONG THE EDGE OF AMERICA attempting, subconsciously and consciously, to break free of the low down blues. At first there seemed a loss of that fantastic optimism gained by Peter's travels. As this book moves on and Peter gains back his confidence in himself and meets inspiring people; people who have had much tougher times than he; I could see the power returning to him. This is a book for anyone, maybe especially for men, that have lost a job dear to them, lost a family, lost their health, just plain lost and are in pain.....we all have or will be there....Give it to someone you know who needs a lift....read it for yourself... I have given countless to friends and family, they know not what they get until they are to the end.

Approaching a mid-life crisis myself, what Peter experiences on this soul searching really hits home. I just finished reading his new book "Looking for Alaska" and immediately sought out this book. I was not disappointed, makes me want to pack a bag, get a dog, hop on my boat and sail to Nova Scotia - maybe Australia!

In his book,ALONG THE EDGE OF AMERICA, Peter Jenkins tells us he has bought a boat. He and Warren Norville, a retired naval commander, stare at the 25-foot Grady White tied up at the dock. We can read their thoughts. Peter looks at the boat and wonders what in the world he is getting into. Warren, who is to be his teacher, has the same thought as he sees the bewildered look on Peter's face. Casting aside their fears and doubts, Norville grabs the wheel and heads out to sea. Peter, quite pale, stares at the horizon.Later, much later, Peter feels comfortable at the helm. He takes us with him as he and his boat,the Cooper, takes us along the Gulf Coast. We explore uninhabited islands, little-known bays and inlets. We look over his shoulder as he guides the Cooper up quiet rivers, where the only sounds are those of sea and shore birds calling to each other. They are quiet, exciting trips.Page after page, we get to know the people Peter meets. He expores relationships between islanders and off-islanders, villagers and city dwellers, husbands and wives. A personal relationship is also explored when Peter's father joins him for a week of cruising. That relationship changes, like a Gulf weather report, from "cloudy and cool" to "warm and sunny", The week that began with the obligatory handshake ended with a warm embrace. Both of them agreed that the bright sun makes your eyes water.....Exciting and always thought-provoking the book teaches us much about our country and the people that are its foundation. We become their friends. Peter and his boat, the Cooper, become our friends as well. As we near the end of the book, we slow our reading. We savor each word and phrase. Before we close the book, we reach out and embrace the people we have met along the watery way. We wave good-bye to them. We will remember them as a friend should, with love and respect.

Without leaving your favorite reading chair, you can once again experience real travels and real people with Peter Jenkins in his latest book, "Along the Edge of America". In addition to believing that you could recognize the rather stooped Daisy Durrant, or Diane Wilson mending her nets. and Larry the commercial fisherman on the street, Peter has a unique way of weaving in his own past, his family, and his emotions almost making himself a character. Daring to be real has probably cost him criticm but to me Mr. Jenkin's transparency made me identify even more with him than in any of his other books. "Along the Edge of America" dares to present people the way they really are and does not moralize away the bad or attempt to make the people something they are not. One begins to realize that the book's characters each have special significance in forming a living human quilt which we might entitle "Americana" Once again characterization and setting predominate in "Along the Edge of America". When I reached the last page I could only ask Mr. Jenkins where he is going next and who I will meet as I vicariously travel with him. Isn't it about time that we take the time to get to know our neighbors, to sit a spell, and reflect on the great variety of "us" there are in the USA? Thanks, Peter, for getting across the message that we are participants connected to one another, not just spectators as we move through our daily routines.

This is a real story about real places and real people. I know because Chapters 30-33 are about my hometown and my family. I am forever grateful to Peter Jenkins for preserving part of my family history. I got to know my great uncle Esten that died before I was born. Several weeks ago my family said goodbye to sweet Daisy Durante who passed away in her sleep. She was loved not only by my family, but now by the multitudes that read this book. I highly recommend this book as a way of getting to know a part of the real South and the real people who live there.