Michael Hurley watched his world unravel in the wake of infidelity, divorce and failure. In August 2009, he was short of money, out of a job, and seeking to salvage a life that had foundered. Deeply in need of perspective, he took to the open seas in a 32-foot sailboat, Gypsy Moon. The story of his 2-year outward odyssey, deterred by rough weather and mechanical troubles, combines keen observation, poignant thoughts, and deeper introspection with glorious prose.
Once Upon a Gypsy Moon also presents a rare and much-needed point of view on the familiar spiritual-journey narrative. It offers a star-crossed love story wrapped inside a rollicking good sea tale, but it also has something important to say to the reader about relationships, faith and disbelief, life and death, love and marriage, and what really matters.
Goodreads Summary
This was an interesting memoir to read. The author came off as very honest without being overly preachy (though there were a few portions that could have come straight from a self-help book). I liked the author's style of writing right off the bat and enjoyed that he freely admitted his infidelity ended his marriage. I liked learning about what happened after the divorce and how his life shifted. There was an online dating component that felt relevant in today's "connected" world, but a little too soon for a divorced man.
I'm not sure I really connected to the author. I felt more like I was being told a story rather than looking through his eyes. It was nice to get to know someone who could be my neighbor, postal man, or teacher. On a certain level, the author felt familiar to me. I thought there might be a little more emotions in a book about divorce; instead, it seemed like actions were promoted rather than emotions. It also struck me as odd that the journey didn't include all that much of a boat trip. It didn't seriously harm the plot; it was just a little different than I expected. This book is recommended to adult readers who are interested in these topics.
3 Stars
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This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
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