The Sinking of the Sarah Diamond

I'm all for overlooked books. "The Sinking of the Sarah Diamond" is a treasure. Halfway between young adult and adult (some rather adult jokes keep the out-loud reader amused) this tale of a boy on the edge of adulthood who's love affair with his dead father's bad luck boat goes beyond all expectation. Well written, fast paced, this is a book that deserves a reprint.

I may not have ever read this book except for the happy circumstance that Mr. Jennings (Dale) was a neighbor who lived across the street from me in the late 1980's in Glendale, California. We became good friends and talked about books and movies frequently. He has been gone about ten years now. He was one of the most intelligent people I have had the privilege of associating with. Now about the book. The Sinking of The Sarah Diamond is a great adventure story that I always thought would make an excellent movie along the lines of Master and Commander. It should appeal to the early teen on up. For those who are fans of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, The Sinking of The Sarah Diamond is definitely on par. Since Mr. Jennings was also a screenwriter, his descriptive skills in setting the scenes one is reading are excellent. Character development is as good as you will find anywhere - a comparison to Steinbeck would not be an exaggeration. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will hold onto my copy for a lifetime.