A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean by Tori Murden McClure
Publisher: Collins (April 7, 2009)
ISBN-13: 9780061718861
I love reading about other people's adventures, especially adventures that I would never consider taking myself. And this is definitely one of those stories.
My rowing experience is limited to about five minutes on a rowing machine in the gym, so the idea of rowing across an ocean is mind-boggling. McClure does a wonderful job of making rowing accessible and interesting, even though I have no desire to take up the sport. She does a great job of describing the Pearl, and I can easily picture the boat. However, I think a few photographs of exactly how small the Pearl is would have added to the story.
I was afraid the story might be a little dry, but that was never the case. McClure's writing is very engaging and flows well. The story of her time in the Atlantic is interspersed with stories of her family and growing up. This is a great way to get to know her, and the stories are often tied to what she was experiencing on the ocean.
I would recommend this exciting book to those who love adventure stories like Into Thin Air. 4.5 stars
About the author:
Tori Murden McClure is the vice president for external relations, enrollment management, and student affairs at Spalding University. Her firsts include being the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic and to ski overland to the South Pole. She has an AB from Smith College, where she currently serves on the board of trustees, a Master's in Divinity from Harvard University, a JD from the University of Louisville School of Law, and an MFA in Writing from Spalding University. She has worked as a chaplain at Boston City Hospital and for Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. She lives in Louisville with her husband.
5 comments:
Wow! I am going to have to read this...it sounds really exciting...and its a true story, which makes it even more special. Thanks for the great review!
I love empowering, true stories. I like them even better when there are pictures (I know, very childish!) but it just makes it more real to me. When you read things like this, it generally shakes me up a bit, in the sense that I need to stop making excuses for why I don't to the things I've always wanted to do!
I like reading stories like this because these are the kinds of things I would just never do!
She sounds like an amazing woman.
Tori Murden McClure rocks, i would love to read her memoirs
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