It’s unfortunate for all the little libraries around North Berkeley that I live close by. They say “take one leave one,” but I simply like to keep books on my shelf. There is something appealing about having a text to go back to, to reference at convenience. So those little libraries often come up short during their weekly audits. “Sorry.”
But in the case of the little library on the 300 block of Jackson, I’m not sorry, I’ll return your trash book titled Maiden Voyage. You, as a matter of opinion, should apologize to me.
What grown man would pick up a 1980’s book written by a 19 year old girl who just sailed solo around the globe for any reason other than the anticipation of juicy sex scenes? And that’s what I did. In the matter of 5 page-turning days I devoured Tania Aebe’s book awaiting the point where she lost her virginity, banged the Tahitian pilot, or was religiously raped by the scary inhabitants of the Red Sea. But, no. Nothing. The book carried on for 200 plus pages with little more than one naked strange man (the author doesn’t even describe his member for us). Other than that possible turgid phallus, we are left with a bunch of “mommy” and “daddy” ramblings, naïve prayers, and amazingly adventures, fears, and suffering.
So, if you want to read a book about how easy it is for 18 year girls, in the age before GPS, to sail around the world on their own and not have juicy sex, this book is for you.
Tania cast off from New York in 1985 at the age of 18. She was a beginner in the world of sailing, and she was alone. She learned as she went. She was 21 when she made it back home, after a complete circumnavigation. Very cool story! She never made the Official World Record Books (what ever that means) because she helped some dude transit 50 miles in the Souther Pacific, which in effect prevented her from claiming “solo” navigation.
