I'm waiting for my copy to arrive, I'm looking forward to the start of the discussion.

I've read about half of the book as of this afternoon.

I have finished reading this book. When I got it, I was surprised to learn that the one "alone" in the sea was so young.

Has anyone heard or read in the news about the 16 year old girl from Australia who sailed around the globe. It took her seven months, and, she did it solo. I heard of this, this morning, and the strenthg of character this young girl has is quite amazing.

It really put me in the mood to read "Alone", although one story is a happy one, and the other is tragic.

Yes, Jessica Watson has been hailed as a hero. Ten thousand people met her when she sailed in to Sydney Harbour. She didn't go far enough into the northern hemisphere to get recognised in the official record though. I am planning to do something similarly audacious by towing a ball of fresh water from New Zealand to Australia. I will have to read Alone. The cruel sea.

See http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/

Thanks for posting this site Robert, this is from one of Jessica Watson's blog posts:

I don't normally bother addressing critics because someone's always going to be saying something, no matter what I say or do. But I thought I'd have my 2 bobs worth on these claims that I haven't 'officially' sailed around the world.

Call me immature but I've actually been having a bit of a giggle over the whole thing. If I haven't been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I've been doing out here all this time! Yes it's a shame that my voyage won't be recognized by a few organizations because I'm under 18, but it really doesn't worry me.

I mean there's millions, properly billions of people who still don't believe in global warming, so I'm more than happy to settle for a few people going against the tide and declaring that mine hasn't been an official circumnavigation. Well I think I've wasted more than enough time on the whole petty debate - so moving on!

Have you known about this all along? I wish I did, I would have kept track of her. This is unbelievable.

Off topic, sorry.

I've just finished reading "Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean" and want to encourage those of you sitting on the fence to get a copy and join the discussion. This book kept me mesmerized from start to finish. I finished it in two days which is fast for me.

Arthur Duperrault had such good intentions when he planned the sailing vacation with his family. To think something so good and wholesome could turn so evil is just horrifying. This could have happened to anyone. It could have been you or me on the boat....or in a similar situation. How the heck could Arthur have known the hidden nature of Julian Harvey. Few did. This sort of stuff scares me. Any of us at any time could draw a bad hand in life and meet the wrong person. There are sociopaths and psychopaths walking amongst us everyday and statistically some of us are going to get hurt by them.

I have ordered my copy and should be receiving it any day. Sounds like it is a fast read.

Yes, it is a fast. I couldn't put it down once I started. In fact I read about half of the book out loud to my wife. She loved it too.

Good idea, Chris, maybe I'll read it out loud to my husband, though that will take me a little longer to get through, unless I get the book today as we're heading out to the quiet wilderness for the weekend where reading has few interruptions.

I look forward to discussing our book with the members of this forum. I worked on this incredible true story for over twenty years, having first met Tere Duperrault in the late 1980s. Meeting her was one of the most powerful coincidences of my life: I had been studying the psychology of solitary ordeals for several years and had met and read the accounts of many survivors by the time I happened to learn that the most amazing story of all was right there under my nose on my own campus! (Tere was a returning adult student there.) I could relate to Tere's story on several levels, having had the experience of studying survival but also being a developmental psychologist with some clinical training. And as a sailor myself who had myself dreamed of sailing tropical seas I could also relate to the "sailing dreams" of her good father. Finally, having lived in Tere's hometown of Green Bay for thirty years, I can also vouch for the strength of character of the people of that iconic mid-American town.

Certainly a big part of the horror of the story is the randomness of the terrible things that happened to an innocent family and a girl at an innocent age in an age of innocence for our country-- this was before we had become numbed to mass murders and the targeting of innocents by terrorists. Incidentally,once people have read the book (not before!) I recommend that you read the following reaction to the story. It is quite powerful and it involves someone who had a somewhat personal connection to the story: http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_15167419

Something that struck me while reading this book is the strength of Tere, not only the strength to survive on the open sea, but the strength to continue with her life afterwards.

So many people would have crumbled after this tragedy. I don't know if Tere was insulated a bit because of her youth, or was affected that much more because of her young age. Tere's story of survival continues after she is rescued, and in a way, her true survival story begins after she is rescued. Just the fact that she decided to change her name to feel less of a victim shows maturity and a strong will to live. Not to just survive, but to live.

The story of "Alone" is so compelling, and I do hope that the writing of her story has helped in some way in her healing. Tere survived this tragedy at the tender age of 11, she had her whole life in front of her. And I would think that it would take a life time to heal from it. For Tere to attend college and to try to have a life of quality is truly awe inspiring.

I do hope many members take the opportunity to read Tere's story. It is a story that everyone can learn from, and it is a story that will be unforgetable. I know I feel a connection with her, and her spirit will stay with me for a long time.

Few books stick with me like this one is. I've found myself telling Tere's story to family and friends on several occasions.

Tere's youth helped her survive, as did her faith, optimism, and unflappable temperament. But she continued alone for many years and had to continue to be strong. Telling her story has helped her gain closure where closure was forever unreachable.