"Deep Water Passage... A Spiritual Journey at Midlife" by Ann Linnea was recommended to me by a friend/business associate who knows some of my interests and happens to know the author of this book.  She thought I might enjoy the account of a woman who sets out to paddle around the rim of Lake Superior... a daunting challenge by any paddler's standard.

I guess I DID enjoy the book, at times.  Man vs Nature books/films/videos tend to grab me more often than not.  I love Survivorman, enjoy Man vs. Wild, & have done my own rugged wilderness trips (scaled back to a level challenging for somebody who doesn't really make a living at it).  I figured to enjoy this book, much like I enjoyed Eric Sevareid's "Paddling With the Cree", etc..

It didn't quite work out that way.

In another forum in another thread where I happened to reference this particular book, Mr. Bubble hit the nail on the head.  This woman burns way too much sage... for my personal taste.  It may very well be a "guy" thing.

At times, I found the book engaging.  Put to trial by Superior's winds, waves, fickleness, cold, rugged & ragged edges, etc. & so on, ANYBODY would be humbled &, very likely, broken.  I sort of got into those challenges as described by Linnea.  I also enjoyed the travelogue aspects of the book.  You know, perspectives on the coastline, people she met along the way, towns she visited, so on & so forth.  I also enjoyed when she discussed "planning" re: how to deal with rugged sections of coastline, chaotic paddling conditions, crossing dangerous shipping lanes, etc..  This is probably when the book is at its best.

HOWEVER, in my humble opinion, the account falls apart when Linnea narrates her travels "within" (ie. spiritual journey & what's happening in her brain).  All the stuff she describes going on there MAY, in fact, be happening but I guess I just don't want to go there.  This woman is way too much into symbology, grieving over folks LONG deceased, burning sage & incense, rationalizing her summer getaway while absolving herself of on-going family responsibilities (ie. leaves the kids at home with the dad while she paddles over the horizon & away from her reality/responsibilities; moans to us about how sterile her marriage is; interprets every which breeze or animal she encounters en route as some sort of sign re: her future; then proceeds to leave said dud dad/husband when she - very reluctantly - returns from her summer sojourn).  Bottom line: we're supposed to believe she is taught en route something mystical/spiritual by what Linnea lovingly refers to as "She-Who-Is-Biggest" (ie. Lake Superior) that "frees" her to begin the next chapter of her life.

Excuse me but I can stomach but only so much happy horseshit.

I'm not saying this stuff doesn't happen; it probably DOES for LOTS of folks.  Some of them work it out while toiling away in slaughterhouses or in call centers or as mindless dweebs pushing paper in mirrored skyscrapers downtown.  This lady happens to work it all out while paddling her summer away on Lake Superior while her husband & kids wonder what the heck is going on with her.  She is "in touch with Nature", she's burning loads of sage, and otters come swimming out to her to whisper the meaning of Life.  Sorry, folks, but this is a bit much of a saccharin overload for my taste.  I guess I just don't want to know how she rationalizes all this crap in her head.  I guess I just don't want to hear about the mystical lights she sees & presences she feels.

I just don't buy it as justification for what she ultimately does.

She runs away from her problems, then conveniently interprets the events she encounters along the way in a manner that occurs to me as quite self-serving.

Not a GUY book (in the traditional sense).  This lady needs to be running "encounter groups" & touchy-feely experiences for folks who are trying to flush their past lives down the toilet.  In fact, I think she may be doing that now out on the west coast.

I don't normally get "agitated" by a book like I did by this one.  

It is quite possible I am being unfair to a writer who was quite sincere in everything she wrote.  As I have said, I DID like parts of it.  If you happen to be going through relationship issues, have at it.  You may find something of value in the way this woman interprets the universe that she puts around herself.  On the other hand, if you are a guy looking for an adventure read, you'll find yourself gagging in spots & laughing with incredulity at others.

I do not mean to minimize this woman's physical accomplishment.  What I object to in this book are the mind games which I sense are being played with herself, her friends, her paddling partners, & her readers.  Frankly, WHATEVER was going on in her brain, this was her business & I found myself not wishing to get ANY deeper into it.

This is a book you will either love or hate.

Jimbo  

Thanks, AP!  You're right; seems the "tone" was primarily what got under my skin.  DWP wasn't necessarily a bad book.  However, I DID find it to be self-delusional and irritating.  It might well be somebody else's cup of tea.

I appreciate the recommendation!

Jimbo  

Jimbo, I read it too, and agree.

I had a somewhat similar reaction to "Bridges Of Madison County". What is everybody thinking? She's cheating, and we're suppose to feel sympathy for her??? Sorry, trash is trash.