Captain Rum: A Wondrous Adventure

This is a challenging story, yet at the same time it has a real joy about the plot, particularly in the latter stages. It begins with the sailor, Fintan McAdam, stocking and preparing his ship for a journey. The realism of the descriptions, and the side cast of historical figures and places, have you wondering if this is biographical rather than fictional. However once the captain sets sail, the fictional side of the story unfolds, and you are taken on an up and down journey across the seas. Without giving away the plot, which has a few unexpected turns, he befriends not only a few humans on his travels, but some animals as well. This book really drew me in, and by the time I was finished I was inwardly cheering. I give this book 5/5 stars.

"Captain Rum" is a compelling tale. Don't expect to get straight "historical fiction' however; this book contains elements that stretch the bounds of truth so much that they are almost mystical, but I managed to cling to them as fact all the same. The story begins in London in 1821. The writer evokes the period nicely, and includes a host of real historical figures which add to the realistic sense of setting. The protagonist is Fintan McAdam (i.e. Captain Rum) who, after a series of tragedies, decides to sail over the oceans to help him forget his troubles. On his journey he encounters a host of fascinating situations that I wont divulge here, but that I found very entertaining. I also enjoyed his internal struggles, particularly with the haunting memories of his Beth, his departed wife. If you like adventure, particularly that set in the past, and can let your mind go so that reality slides seamlessly into fiction, then you will thoroughly enjoy this book. It is a ripping yarn in the best tradition of old sailors' stories.

This book drew me in, and the longer I read, the more I wanted to read. It starts off at a steady pace, but has a few sub plots that keep you guessing. I haven't read many journal-style novels before, and I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it, but this was very worthwhile.