Fish Out of Water is a must-read for anyone who has ever lived, laughed, loved, lied, or lost, and I cannot recommend it enough.
349466
It's only recently that I've come to enjoy realistic fiction, books without superpowers or imaginary worlds with great battles; I like to submerge myself in science fiction and fantasy novels, and part of the reason why is that I rarely found a realistic novel that, well, felt real to me. Even books like Hold Still, 13 Reasons Why, and The Fault in Our Stars (all of which I loved, by the way) are stories that don't belong to the everyday; yes, they happen, but I don't consider these types of stories as things that occur on a regular basis to the average person; they are exceptions, and, yes, they are real and heartbreaking and wonderful.

But what Natalie Whipple has delivered is a moment of truth.

Mika (and that's Meeka, not Micah) finally gets the opportunity to work at the Aquarium with her marine biologist parents when two strangers bring all her plans crashing down. Dylan is the new guy at work, but he's also the boss's hot troubled nephew with more than a few issues, but Dylan's not even the worst of Mika's problems. When an old woman she's never seen before shows up on her doorstep, Mika thinks she must have the wrong address, but Betty Arlington turns out to be Mika's estranged grandmother who has no money, no home, and a developing case of Alzheimer's. Torn from her summer internship and caught between the two people she wants nothing to do with, Mika's life becomes an emotional roller-coaster that feels all too familiar.

I wanted to read this book because I have followed Natalie Whipple's journey online for years and have become a huge fan of all her work, and I wasn't the slightest bit disappointed when I cracked this book open; of course, it doesn't hurt that she references The Princess Bride, like, a lot.

While I don't have a relative with Alzheimer's and I haven't fallen in love with a bad boy, I connected with this story so much more than I thought possible. From fights with parents and the fear of falling in love for the first time to quoting movies with best friends and hating the way the world works, this book nails what it is to be human, to have family, to struggle with why people are the way they are. It is real, and it is raw, and it is a great story about acceptance in a world with far too little of it. Whipple shows us what it is to keep swimming when all we want to do is give in, to fight for the things and the people we love and believe in rather than living a life of regrets, and to never give up on anyone, especially those we call family.
3857117
I ordered this book on a whim.  It's not usually my sort of fare but Callahan had me from the start and I had a hard time putting it down.  Day by day, struggle by struggle, every new experience gave you either a sense of tremendous triumph or total despair.  I was rooting for Callahan through out the book.  I caught my self laughing out loud several times and twitching my feet nervously at others.

Steven Callahan did one of the best jobs in all of adventure writing at bringing the reader into his little life-raft world.  It was amazing to see an entire eco-system develop around his orange raft and how he interacted with it.

Truly an amazing book and an amazing journey.  Be forewarned, you'll feel lost at sea with Callahan!
65258
This is an absolutely fabulous book filled with one story after another that are amazing, but true.  The stories will make you die laughing, bring you to tears, and cause you to reflect on the beauty of life in general.  The writing style is candid and creative beyond words.  The author shares a lifetimes of incredible hardships, beautiful blessings, and deep love both given and received.
The story takes you all over the world and gives a rare glimpse of cultures and adventures most of us will never know in person, although once you've read it, you feel like you've been right by his side the whole way.  The writing style is top notch and the only drawback I found was how I felt when the book ended.
This book changed my life, and I highly recommend it to everyone!  Thank you, Mr. Pat Gillum... Keep writing!
2793698
For everyone who's ever asked a question about God, or faith, or church, or grace. Not since "Blue Like Jazz" have I read a book that reassured me God is madly in love with me, even with all my questions and doubts, and my failures. Michelle DeRusha writes beautifully about her journey away from church and God, and all the questions thatmuch to her surpriseled her to a deep, joyful, and real relationship with God. Michelle tells the story in a voice that is both sincere and funny. I laughed and cried and sat awestruck at the lovely way her writing transported me to revel in the beauty of nature right outside her back door, and also to the crazy and hilarious chaos experienced by any mom of two lively and delightful boys. Finding grace in the everyday experiences of life is a gift, and Michelle teaches us well in this book. It's the book we've been waiting for, and it's the book we need.
988672
What a hilarious book of an exciting adventure. I laughed from page 1. I bought this book for my iPad to take on a fishing trip and planned on reading it during the evenings around the campfire, but I am half way through the book and have 6 days before I leave on my trip. I recommend anyone who wants a good laugh at a real lfe true story and adventure to buy this book.
4090629
Have you ever read a book so great that you immediately buy every other book that the author has ever written? WELCOME TO MY LIFE AFTER FINISHING SALT TO THE SEA.

I had intended to buddy read this book with a few of my friends who had also gotten early copies of it but after reading the first chapter, I literally could not put it down. Before I knew it, I was 150 pages in with no signs of stopping or letting my friends catch up. The story is told from the POV of 4 different teenagers, offering up each persons heartache on a platter; allowing you to become attached to *most* of them and learning to love their companions as well. What initially drew me to this story is that it takes place during WWII which is a time period that I often study. Even as someone who is familiar with the horrors of this particular war, I was unprepared for the feelings this book evoked. The stories of Florian, Emilia, Joana, and Alfred are not uncommon during this grim time period and realizing that something similar to what I was reading had happened to so many innocent people really leveled me.

Ruta shines a light on an event in history that goes largely unrecognized and does it in a way that felt well researched but not overly laden with information.  Salt To The Sea is a forever book; so perfectly intriguing that it will stay with me forever. Ruta knocked it out of the park in every way imaginable with this one it truly grabs you by the heartstrings and doesnt let you go until its coup de grce. A must read.

*I was provided a copy of this book by Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review

**IM SORRY I TRIED TO REMAIN CALM WHILE WRITING THIS REVIEW BUT HONESTLY I COULDNT. I CRIED SO MUCH AND I NEED EVERY SINGLE PERSON TO READ THIS BOOK. ITS PERFECT AND HEARTBREAKING IN ALL THE BEST WAYS. PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
4789019
I admit I read this book because it was about fly-fishing and traveling through Russia, a country I have never been to but have always been intrigued by. What I found in this book was a heart-rendering journey  through a land ravaged by corruption, hunger and politics, tempered with  humor and the determination of a people determined to survive. This is not  just a travelogue on fly--fishing, it is a book that takes you through a  country that few outsiders will ever see . At times gripping or sad, then  funny or heartwarming, sometimes all at the same time! Whether you fly-fish  or not, you won't want to put this book down!
3124600
I first read this book in the mid '90's, after checking it out from the library. I know own 3 copies of it, and have given it to many friends as a gift. I first camped at Kofa Nat'l Wildlife Refuge in 1990 and return at least once a year. What a joy to find a book that details all the wonders of this magical place. I have read Skywater more times than I can count, and ALWAYS laugh and cry, each and every time! I highly recommend this book to all people searching for a moving story of love, courage and adventure.
4607282
This book is a historical fiction masterpiece. I generally tend to stick to a lot of memoirs and non-fiction, but this book has brought me back around to the joys of reading fiction. I simply cannot put this book down. It's better than a TV show or movie. The words are written so poetically and with such wonderful direction and flow - I am blown away. I did have to consult my dictionary app on my iPhone tons of times, but that was also wonderful as I learned many new words. I won't give away the plot or any details, but I highly recommend this book. I mean, it won the Pulitzer Prize, it's one of the best book's I've ever read so far in my life. Thank you to the author for this wonderful gift!
1000382
I've read many books, but this one really connected with me.  I was laughing, crying, and really feeling for Antwone throughout this book.  His treatment by the Picketts was unbelievable.  I was so shocked that I could not put this book down.  It's wonderful to see that good can come from bad with the right determination.  I'm a bit upset that the upcoming movie will not focus on his childhood but his life in the Navy.  This would be a powerful movie, much like "There are no Children Here," with Oprah if they did it that way.  In conclusion, thank you Mr. Fisher for this wonderful book.  I must read it again soon.
2844234
Maarten Troost's The Sex Lives of Cannibals is many things:  educational, poignant, unbelievable at times, and always hilarious.  Troost tells his tale of moving to a very remote island in the Pacific when his girlfriend accepts an aid job on Kiribati; to say they didn't precisely know what they were getting into is a bit of an understatement.  Maarten goes along, planning on writing the world's greatest novel and instead finding out how the twentieth century has dumped on this beautiful atoll, leaving its citizens trying to make lives out of very little and making the incredible the norm.  Along the way he experiences pigs on runways, sharks, sailing between islands amid 25 foot swells, native dancing, an abundance of dogs, World War 2 relics, fish to eat everyday, body surfing, and the Macarena.

Troost has a wonderful way with words, and he pulls you in immediately.  His style makes you feel as though you're sitting in the room with him as he recounts stories sometimes so fantastic you find yourself not believing them.  He intersperses the book with chapters of actual facts about Kiribati, an area of the world that apparently I'm not alone in knowing almost nothing about.  I found myself laughing out loud so often at his descriptions that I know I was bothering my husband as he tried to sleep.

This is a relatively short, fun book that is way more than just a memoir or a piece of non-fiction.  While it is indeed hilarious, it's also packed with situations that are just unbelievable for the twentieth and twenty first centuries.  In the last few chapters, Troost and his girlfriend move back to the States and have trouble readjusting to the fast-paced life, and I'm afraid I'm going to have trouble readjusting to my narrower view of the world since Troost has introduced me to the gorgeous culture of an isolated Pacific island.  Give yourself a treat and indulge in this one.  Highly recommended!
2072962
I just finished this absolutely mesmerizing tale (or really two tales in one) and have come back to order kamikaze cowboy.  Not everyone could open up his or her lives like this, but this is a life worth sharing.  It is so  refreshing and exhilarating to see such a fine actor have such other  admirable qualities and the ability to articulate them to the world.  I  spent my afternoon curled up with this book, and read it cover to cover in  one sitting.  After all the books I've been required to read by higher  education, by the so-called best writers, they all pale in comparison to  And Then We Went Fishing: A Story of Fatherhood, Fate and Forgiveness.  I  recommend this book to everyone and anyone!
1478964
I first read this book when I was learning how to flyfish, thinking that this would be a fun fishing book.  What I discovered instead was a book which revealed how families relate and provided me with a greater understanding of my own family, how we relate to each other and dealing with, or rather accepting the disfunction, joy and sorrows present in every family.  Norman Maclean's prose, reminiscent of Steinbeck, is beautiful and to the point.  His narrative draws the reader in to the relatonship of a father and his two very different sons as they wrestle with these differences.  Norman Maclean's gift is evident from the opening line,"In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing" to the last few pages which bring the entire book into sharp focus.  Personally, I feel the most memorable line of the book appears on the last page when the author writes "It is those we live with and love and should know who elude us."

It is unfortunate that this book is thought of as a book about fishing.  Fishing is merely the vehicle which allows the reader to better understand how each member of this troubled yet loving family relates to each other and reveals the mysteries of every family's struggle.

I strongly recommend this book to everyone, especially to those who do not fish. It is truly one of the rare books that transcends the ink and paper on which it is printed to weave itself indelibly into the lives of its reader.
2094181
Banville's "The Sea" is the best book I've read ... and I read for a living.

His prose is a siren song, luring you ever closer to the edge of the cliff ... and you go willingly, ready to fall into its abyss of perfectly crafted sentences .... Banville's brillance blinds you to all other fiction and lingers long after the last word.

I've read the book 3 times and am about 3/4 of the way through the audio and, still, its perfection takes my breath away. Bravo!
951065
I have never reviewed a book before but feel compelled to do so with this one.  Michael Bassin's "I Am Not A Spy" is a terrific read and takes the reader on a multicultural journey.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from beginning to end.  The story of Michael's travels and experiences is one of an incredible adventure.  The author does a great job of vividly explaining his surroundings to the reader:  The people, The places, The things.  This is a very well-written "Fish out of Water" story and an eye-opening learning experience that keeps the reader captivated throughout.  I came across this book by accident while searching for something to read on my Kindle and am glad that I did.  I highly recommend this book.
3474349
You don't know what a donkey, an on board duck, a near miss with a shark and an audience with the Pope have in common? Then you must read Fishing for Compliments. The author's lust for life sparkles in every paragraph. With exciting locations, larger than life situations and players this true story of Ms Annett Brown's years at sea will have you wondering why nobody has made a film of it yet. Fishing for Compliments is an ocean of surprises. Definitely a 5 star read.
3132654
This book is one that everyone should read, regardless of sexual orientation or military status.  It is refreshingly honest and open, a real story that will make you laugh and cry and experience every range of human emotions.  Stephen Snyder-Hill tells it like it is.  There is no sugar coating in this book.  So many times as I read this book I just wanted to hug him.  Through his words I was able to feel his pain and his joy as he recounted his life story as a gay soldier serving under DADT.  I really cannot say enough good things about this book, but I don't want to give it away.  So read it for yourself!  Trust me, this book is well worth the read.  I finished it yesterday and I already want to read it again!