Book Review: The Sea Traveler’s Companion
The Sea Traveler’s Companion by Mark Mazziotti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
On the surface level, it’s the saga a beautiful young woman captured by pirates, and her friends desperate attempts to rescue her. Yarr! You’ll soon start discovering deeper levels. Lydia may have been captured, but she’s certainly not just a weak girl playing damsel in distress, waiting for rescue. There’s another woman on board, the captain’s lover, Mary. The two women come to an understanding and work together for their mutual benefit.
I was intrigued to learn that the captain expected Lydia to train with Mary and join the pirate crew. He knew she could be of value and benefit them all in a way that only a woman could. No, not THAT way. He wanted his enemies to see two competent women during pillaging raids, as that would send a startling message to all that he was a captain to be reckoned with since even women would become fierce warriors under his leadership.
Another layer of this adventure deals with personal relationships. Romance and yearning for that happily ever after. The loyalty of friends. The companionship of a beloved dog. Quite often the story turns inward and ponders the people that populate it. Sometimes it ruminates on the nature of humanity, good and evil, motivations, goals, and more. It’s an extremely thoughtful book.
Mark Mazziotti has done his research and writes with a solid understanding of the Golden Age of Piracy (1650ish to 1730ish). From the first page to the last, you’ll be immersed in the storytelling style of the 17th century.
I have one small nitpick with the mechanics of the storytelling. It’s mostly told from a first-person point of view by Bob, the best friend of the man who loves the captured Lydia. A few chapters in, Bob explains to the reader that whenever the narrative is focused on characters that he isn’t with, he’s telling us what they relayed to him later, or he’s embellishing to make the story better. This explanation opens up a can of worms. For example, Lydia sneakily peeks into a room and witnesses the captain and Mary making love. We get a graphic description of the goings-on. I can’t see a 17th century woman telling her fiancé’s best friend about that at a later date, especially in such detail. The author should simply trust his readers to go along with the switching between first-person and third-person. Having said that, just breeze over the explanation when you get there, blame it on the rum, and enjoy the story as it unfolds.
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
4 Comments
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I do appreciate your thorough dive into *The Sea Traveler’s Companion*! However, must we discuss the pirate captains rather… *unique* strategy for recruitment? Send a startling message? I suspect his enemies might have had a slightly different interpretation. And honestly, Bobs narrative switching feels a bit like admitting he maybe got a story *or two* too many at the tavern. But I suppose we should just blame the rum and enjoy the ride, as you say. Overall, sounds like a thoughtful adventure, even if the details are occasionally best left to the imagination (or the rum). Cheers!
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I nearly gave *The Sea Traveler’s Companion* 5 stars until I hit that Bob explanation bit! What was that, 17th-century narrative reliability training? Oh, just trust me, I embellished! Right. As if Chives and I wouldnt notice the rum barrel is looking suspiciously full. But hey, maybe thats just the pirates way of keeping things spicy? Overall, though, sounds like a rip-roaring adventure with some surprisingly competent women – exactly the kind of thoughtful story we need, especially when the dogs probably judging everyone involved. Just dont blame me if I *do* peek later!
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Ah, Bobs little confession! Honestly, I think Mark Mazziotti is just giving his readers a *very* advanced preview of the rum supply chain aboard that ship. Blame it on the rum is my new favorite literary device! And while I appreciate the research into 17th-century female gossip protocols, Im more than willing to suspend my disbelief for a thrilling tale. Besides, if Lydia *is* reporting that encounter months later, perhaps she just developed a unique, *ahem*, narrative embellishment skill? Cheers to immersive storytelling, even if our narrators reliability is as fluid as his drink!
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Youve certainly given *The Sea Travelers Companion* a thorough nautical review! I especially enjoyed your witty take on Bobs storytelling techniques – blame it on the rum is a fine course of action indeed when dealing with 17th-century graphic descriptions! Mazziotti clearly has a knack for creating a shipshape world, even if the perspective occasionally needs adjusting. And who wouldnt want to read about fierce female pirates sending startling messages during pillaging raids? Its a high-seas adventure with enough depth to make even the most discerning landlubber appreciate the art of the narrative. Yarr-harr!