Sailing to Hemingway's Cuba

I was looking for a second book to include in my stocking stuffers for Dad and liked the write up on this one as he has been to Cuba (at the end of WWII), wanted to make the inland waterway trip down the East Coast and spent a lot of vacation time in the keys. A week and a half after Xmas I asked if he had had a chance to start either book. He is not much of a talker over the phone but this time he would not hang up! He informed me that he may never finish the book as he has to reread every page at least once as they are so full of adventures he has experienced while boating. I kept hearing, "do you remember the time ...". Later, he repeated the enthusiasm at work to anyone who would listen and made a special trip to the book store to see if it was available in hard back with photos (sadly, it is not). Unfortunately, the Dave Schaefer has not yet written another book but my father is anxiously waiting for the next one (and I am afraid I will have to buy my own copy as he refuses to loan this one out).

The author tries to do a number of things in this book: write about sailing, Cuba, Hemingway, and fulfilling lifelong dreams. It's a tall order, but he makes it work. He weaves the disparate elements well, while his sparce prose (like his literary idol Papa) and strong narrative drive take the reader on an easy, informative, and ultimately pleasureable armchair cruise.

Dave Schaefer had the urge to see Cuba and track down Hemingway's old haunters, and used his 32-foot sloop to sail from Berlington, Vermont south through the Champlain Canal to the Hudson, the Keys, and beyond. This armchair read will delight any with an interest in sailing experiences.

I recommend this book to people curious about Hemingway, Cuba and the perils of navigating the inland waterway. Schaefer succeds by capturing both the hard truths and the enigmatic character of his three subjects--sailing, Hemingway and Cuba.

If you're interested in Hemingway or Cuba, or if you're a sailor, you'll find something here. Schaefer writes interestingly and authoritatively about all three. What's best is his easy, warm, natural writing style that I find particularly reader-friendly. He makes it seem effortless. It's a great read.