The Breath of Angels: A True Story of Life and Death at Sea

One of the most understated of adventures I've read. Beattie just brushes the surface of emotions that most of us would feel under some of the circumstances he encountered. In fact, most of us would have given up long before ever setting out to sea. I am a sailor and know many hardcore sailors who would see this tale as complete foolishness. They would never have persevered as Beattie did. Likewise, they would not have felt the rapture and reward that John felt once his troubles were behind him. The amazing ending to this book is just too incredible for fiction. That Beattie only gives a one-page account of his life afterwards is testamant to how much of an impact it had on him.

If you're looking for a practical guide to sailing this is not the book to go for -- there are plenty of these around and most of them make dismal reading. Also, if you're after a "how-great-a-sailor-I-am" read, then give this a wide berth. However, if you want a rattling good story about long distance sailing, and all the ups and downs that this entails, then you'll be hard pressed to find anything much better or more honest than this. Funny and moving throughout with some beautifully written passages, it drives towards a terrific climax when the author comes across a shipwrecked, dying fisherman in the most amazing circumstances.

John Beattie has the 'Art' of telling a tale from a deep down spirit that combines some experience or the learning of it in a manner few can muster. In his first book, he is not trying to impress any one with the facts. Instead he feels he must share his experience so others may share and benefit from it. One must care profoundly about his experiences for the ability to discuss his inner most thoughts and mistakes in a very open way and not be concerned of others (readers) judgements. This cruising tale is a true account of John's adventures in a small sailboat through English Waters, down the coast of Europe and an eventfull Atlantic Crossing. The story builds into a once in a lifetime event that saves the life of another thu a chance meeting offshore of South America. This narrative deals with the most common problem of cruising sailors. That of selecting 'proper' crew. It shows the problems of various personalities and crew changes including a learn as you go upbeat additude of a sailor who pushes on reguardless of the puddles of boat ownership. Through all the problems, there is a maturity bent on from each leg of the voyage, and also thu each sail change to the judgement call of a true captain which results in the saving of a lost fisherman and a friendship only a fellow sailor can achieve.

John Beattie should write another book. I presume it is his first attempt at a book and by the end he was really in his stride as a great writer.A bit more technical than a landlubber cares for at the beginning, hence the "9" rating. A very absorbing tale full of plenty of harrowing adventures. A sure "10" part way through the book. I just hope he has more sailing or other adventures to write about soon.

John Beattie could not have scripted a better book; he had to live it. The story that rests on the surface of this book is at times funny, always fast moving, and just plain moving...all at once and all consuming; you do not want to put the book down. But as you read you come to a series of revelations. It is not just a narrative going on here, but a series of discoveries, for the reader that is. It is an evolution if you will, that culminates in '...life and death at sea.' The discoveries are profound, as the writing often is, and lays bare the author's many conflicts and struggles as he crosses the Atlantic Ocean in his 35' sail boat. But what is notable is that regardless of the number and degree of challenges he faces, many of them immediately life threatening, you never get the feeling that he will give up. From the first days sailing he has reason, and opportunity, to give up...but he does not and it is only about half-way through reading this book that you realize that giving up does not enter into his personal equation. The reason it takes so long for that message to dawn on you is that he stays well and thoroughly 'out of your face'. That is, his writing is honest and never presumptious. Though you are at times reading high-drama, he does not force the drama onto you. There is humility and sometimes great understatement that anyone, whether a sailor or not, can see is sincere. With the final 'episode' that relates most directly to the '...life and death at sea...' you realize that the point of the book, besides giving you a great read, is about vision, and goals, and fighting odds. There can be found inspiration in these pages but it's motivating with absolutely no trace of preaching. You will also find that John Beattie, while posessing a marvelous deterministic way of looking at life and nature, is blessed with analytical and descriptive skills that are nothing less than 'high prose'. So, 'high praise' for John Beattie's book.