Thinking Up A Hurricane - Martinique Stilwell

I tend to avoid memoirs as they frequently feel like they're following a template of having to hit certain ‘moments in the person’s life (and as I write this I realise the next review is an autobiography, and I have another one waiting on my desk, so not sure I really am avoiding them…).

As a brief description, the story is about the Stilwell family who, in 1977, buy a yacht and proceed to go sailing (with little experience) around the world for what amounts to almost a decade. The family, made up of the author's parents, her twin brother and their Maltese poodle end up becoming part of a community of sailing families who spend more time on the ocean than they do on dry land.

The book is such a fascinating insight into a lifestyle so removed from most of our experiences. The writing itself tends to mimic that of a sea trip, with long, language sections where little happens and life flows by, only to have the experience alter dramatically over a few pages and changing the entire course of the story.

As the world feels increasingly smaller, it’s a nice reminder of just how different every destination can be.