Five Weeks to Jamaica: A Novel
Doug Oudin, 2015
iuniverse
353 pp.
ISBN-13: 9781491763025
Summary
When four friends discovered a "luxury" five-week cruise to Jamaica being offered for a mere five-hundred dollars, they considered the offer too good to pass up. On first sight of the vessel, their expectations diminished to the point where they questioned the logic of going through with the voyage.
Larry, always the optimist, persuaded Kurt, Madison, and Marcos to stick it out. Their adventure would turn into much more than they could have ever imagined, and ultimately changed their lives forever.
Joining a group of thirty eclectic souls aboard the 147 ft. Explorer, the friends departed Ensenada, Mexico, bound for Jamaica. From the beginning, it soon became obvious that the cruise would not be luxurious, and in fact, it was doubtful that it could even reach their intended destination. As they became acquainted with their shipmates, and began the journey down the coast of Mexico and Central America, through the Panama Canal, and on to Jamaica, friendships emerged, as did romances.
It soon became obvious to all that the five-week time-frame could not be realized, and several passengers departed at various ports along the way. Those who remained aboard began to discover a multitude of unique and interesting pastimes to immerse themselves in, inspiring laughter, tears, danger, and drama; and always, the sea buoyed their spirits, and carried them on its majestic presence.
When the ship did finally reach Jamaica, another odd twist to the journey developed. Kurt, Madison, and Larry agreed to set sail with a crusty Englishman on an old steel-hulled sailboat bound for Florida. Although the Englishman, Jeffrey Smythe knew the sea well, they had no idea what dangers and personal interactions lie ahead.
For those who love the ocean, know or wonder about tropical destinations, or merely enjoy the colorful interactions of a lively set of characters, Five Weeks to Jamaica is a story that will pique your curiosity, captivate your imagination, and entertain from its uncertain beginning, right through to its rather surprising end.
It's a great read for anyone with a yearning for wanderlust, a passion for adventure, or a glimpse into the very human relationships that bond men, women, and the ocean.
Author Bio
Charles Douglas (Doug) Oudin, author of Between Two Harbors, Reflections of a Catalina Island Harbormaster (a memoir) and Five Weeks to Jamaica (a novel), is a former harbormaster on Catalina Island. He wrote a column for the Catalina Islander Newspaper for twenty-one years, prior to beginning his career as an author.
Now living in Grants Pass, Oregon, he has been married to the love of his life, Maureen, for thirty-seven years. They have two sons, Trevor and Troy.
Doug Oudin lived and worked on an island, and spent much time on the Pacific Coast and parts of the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, his love of the sea serves him well for creating colorful seafaring adventures.
His first book, Between Two Harbors, Reflections of a Catalina Island Harbormaster, chronicles his thirty-two years living and working on Catalina Island, and includes his involvement and perceptions concerning the tragic death of actress Natalie Wood. (From the author.)
Visit the author's website.
Follow Doug on Facebook.
Book Reviews
Five Weeks to Jamaica by Doug Oudin is a book in the fiction section. It traces the journey of the passengers from the coast of Mexico to Jamaica, aboard the cruise ship, Explorer.
Five weeks of non-stop fun and adventuring at the sea? Definitely yes! ... The book is written in third person, covering the individual stories of the passengers which are effortlessly intertwined with the central theme of their tumultuous but exciting journey across the ocean. The author has penned down a story with rich and colorful descriptions, which leave a strong visual imprint on the reader’s mind....
The characters display the complex human emotions fairly well. The emotional turmoil faced by some of the characters and their ensuing troubled romances, are captured nicely by the author. There is an air of believability about the characters, especially how they slowly come to trust each other and overcome their inhibitions. The struggles of the group and their determination to enjoy the trip, despite the troubles, dangers and a few mishaps, have been portrayed very well by the author.
This book will appeal to all the readers who love the sea. It will also appeal to those readers who love travelling, if not the ocean (like me). I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars, for its believable characters and wondrous scenes.
Online Bookclub, a professional review
I found Five weeks to Jamaica to be a great read! I was hooked just from reading the Preface. I have been a licensed Yacht Delivery Captain for almost thirty years and have been to many of the locations described in the book (very accurately by Doug Oudin). The whole premise of a group of people from many different walks of life, willing to take that leap of faith on a far from pristine yacht, with a questionable crew and ship on a dangerous and uncertain journey staggers the imagination! This cruise would be filled with possible problems and mishaps with the best of ships and crews and to venture out of the harbor on that ship was obviously going to be the start of a wild and uncertain ride. All aspects of this voyage was masterfully written by Doug Oudin. He brought all the characters to life and put you in the middle of this wild ride. I read the book in two days and cannot wait for his next one! (Five stars.)
Robert Murcott
Loved the story so much. It gave me an awesome look into the lives of those who love the sea, and spend their life on it. I thought the ending was poignant, and thought provoking. Thank you for sharing this adventure! (Five stars.)
Monica Murphy, Amazon Customer
A fascinating read with a new adventure on almost every page; author Doug Oudin describes, in intimate detail, the lives of his characters, fishing, surfing, the beauty and mishaps while aboard a yacht and sailboat, as well as capturing the beauty of the lands and cultures from Mexico, through Central America, and on to the Caribbean. (Four stars.)
Doranne Long, Goodreads
Discussion Questions
1. How do you like the character development, particularly the four main characters, but also the supporting characters like Captain Ellis, Tiona, Guillermo, Sanford, and Jeffrey Smythe?
2. Do the scene and setting descriptions enhance the storyline? Are the ports and harbors visited along the way described in a manner that helps you visualize the tropical beauty and cultural depictions?
3. Is Tiona's flirtatious personality and promiscuity merely a quest for her to get attention, or might she have deeper rooted personal issues?
4. When Jeffrey Smythe joins the cruise, does his arrival immediately arouse Kurt's ire, or is it Smythe's infatuation with Madison that creates tension and distrust from Kurt?
5. What is the cause of Captain Ellis' gradual transformation? Is his personality change due to some form of substance abuse, or is it merely the pressure from having to constantly try to hold things together aboard a ship that is obviously falling to pieces?
6. How well do the plot twists and turns enhance the story? Does the ending fit well with the storyline?
(Questions courtesy of the author.)