The Cruel Sea Read-Along Continues: The Moment of Balance!

[@battybibliophile-Clare]

I loved this book so much that I tore ahead. It revealed to me why my regular RN veteran dad had such difficulty in settling down in "civvy" life. Such a moving, yet exciting book to read. My dad served as a Petty Officer gunner, he started the war as a Leading Seaman. I think he missed the sea and the companionship. He explained to me once that naval life was boring interspersed with periods of fear and excitement. My dad certainly had some fearsome memories, but didn't talk about them. He would engage, if I mentioned I was reading a book about the war. Like he told me he was moored alongside of HMS Hood in Valetta just before she was sunk. He told me about his experiences on the Russian, Atlantic an Mediterranean convoys, and how the groups of destroyers were organised to hunt U-boats later on in the war, but no details of actions. He had errected a carapace around his emotions like Ericsson. As a child I thought him hard, yet as I age I have come to some understanding.

[@DDB168]

Great to hear your thoughts on it.

[@leopercara3477]

I finished it this morning. Amazing. It's weird to think that Lockehart was kinda sorta the main character. I only realized it when he met Julia. All the characters are really well balanced, so when the worst happens the feeling of helplessness is pretty intense. And yes the Julia stuff is pretty cheesy, it becomes a silly soap opera for those few pages. I still like it, though. Monserrat, and I hate saying this, but he's better at insulting women than making them human, but whatta ya gonna do?