Sailing in a Spoonful of Water

by Joe Coomer

Joe Coomer whose fiction includes the beloved New England novel Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God , is a writer of rare warmth, generosity, and insight. Sailing in a Spoongful of Water is his memior of your years spent aboard his vintage motorsailor, Yonder, off the coast of Maine.

This is a book that will entrance lovers of the sea, yet more deeply is it's abook about In prose rich with humor and awe, Coomer revisits the signal moments in his life and finds in his wife and their parents and grandparents his own safest harbor. The work of a writer whose powers grow with each book, Sailing in a Spoonful of Water is that uncommon thing--a book full of welcome and joy.

Genres: Fiction

255 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Joe Coomer is a fiction and nonfiction writer who lives outside of Fort Worth, Texas, and on the coast of Maine. He "spends his winters in Springtown, Texas, where he runs a pair of large antique malls. He lives in a fairly new Victorian house that he spent a year and a half building in the late eighties, a project he wrote about in Dream House [1991]. His wife, Isabelle Tokumaru, runs her paintings conservation practice in the third story, while he writes novels in the kitchen, where the food is close. Summers, they live in Stonington, Maine, an active fishing village on the coast. When the weather's nice, he takes his old motor sailer, "Yonder", on day sails and cruises down east. He chronicled her purchase, restoration, and his stupidities at sea in Sailing in a Spoonful of Water [1997]."

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT!!!! This is my 5th book by Joe Coomer. His writing style keeps me turning the pages without wanting to stop. His characters come to life in such a vivid way and I often find myself laughing out loud at the stories he tells. This novel is about a vintage wooden boat he buys and his love for the boat itself and cruising off the coast of Maine. It's packed full of heartwarming stories of his father, grandfather and others as well as the many lessons he learned as a new boat owner. I don't want it to end!!!

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

On acquiring and sailing a *wooden* boat in the age of fiberglass. "Yonder" was 60 years old when he purchased her. Definitely a "hole in the water, into which you pour money." But a treasure, nevertheless. Part autobiography from long before, part log of sailing. Great turns of phrase: "Fog, dense as cold oatmeal." Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Blaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I like this book even better than Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God. Part of it is that I really like the man; he has a terrific narrative voice. Part of it is that I know and love the milieu he's describing.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for sailors or would-be sailors. Lots of humor ;-)

[Lidia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard of Joe Coomer when I picked up this book at a little book-exchange post in a leafy Duluth GA neighborhood. It interested me because I've been getting into sailing more recently. Coomer writes well, even poetically, if sometimes a bit chaotically in terms of chronology and topic. The story of how he and his reluctant wife, both at that point living in Texas, acquired a beautiful old motor sailer and fixed it up and the adventures Coomer had trying it out around Portland, Maine. Coomer comes up with some of the most delightful metaphors and images, really more like a poet than a prose writer. For anyone interested in sailing, boats and the Atlantic coast, this is a great little book.

[Stephen Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

You can enjoy this book as a love letter to wooden sailing boats.

It’s fun to read as a travelogue of the Maine coast.

It’s worth reading as a master class in writerly technique.

But it’s REALLY about family - parents, grandparents, spouses and the passing of time and the inevitable losses of loved ones like water in a channel out to the sea.

Highly recommended.

[Tony Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprised I liked it because it is autobiographical.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarous and emotional, makes you feel like your at sea.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Coomer's Pocketful of Names so I'm trying another of his books.

Not as good as Pocketful, but is an interesting account of buying a sailboat.

[Luanne Ripley]

To be read for SHBS's Do Drop In Book Group. Discuss on March 1, 2011.

[John Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read. I enjoyed this one. Light humor set in a nautical theme... What a nice combination!

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK book about a motor-sailor.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

the fishing trip episode with his brother-in-law was hysterical