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Theodore Carl Soderberg, click here
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| Category: |
Memoir |
Publisher: |
Publish America |
ISBN-10: |
1424182514 |
Type: |
Non-Fiction |
| Pages: |
230 |
Copyright: |
July 16 2007 |
ISBN-13: |
9781424182510 |
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Uncharted Waters
Now available on Amazon Kindle $2.99-Uncharted Waters is about a ship that slammed into an underwater seamount 9 miles off the coast of Oman during Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm, and the men aboard that overcame adverse conditions.
This is a non fictional story that takes the reader to the apex of his imagination and drops him into the abyss of reality. What does that mean? Most people have a romantic view of going to sea, but Uncharted waters provides the mix of going to exotic seaports with the reality of hiting a reef, and the conflicts of differing personalities.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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 Uncharted and Unlimited Laughs, April 23, 2008
The cast of characters are all individuals who remind me of someone I know, or should have known from my past. They cover the gambit: Sweethearts,to Sticklers,to Slobs to Saints and a cross section of misfits for good measure. All with a lot of hilarity and good humor as we follow their adventures across the Pacific and beyond.
This is a Sea Story with a lot of irony, and I learned a bit about what Merchant Marine Sea Life is like in reading it. There is the usual amount of Sailor's exagerrated telling and explaining of certain events which transpire, but it doesn't matter if you are reading first or second hand blarney...you will find a lot of humor and catch yourself chuckling as you read page after page. Some of the events which the characters encounter are to funny to attempt a description. I savored each chapter and read it during my stationery bike ride at the gym. It took my mind off that monotous task and entertained me, To Boot!.
Ovedrall, I highly recommend this fast and easy story.
To the author I ask, What happened to our Hero "Ted" and the Femme Fatale, "Blaze" in Brazil? Saving the answer for part two of an ongoing Seagoing Saga???....I hope so!
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Awesome Book!!, April 22, 2008
I sure would like to have an inside look at this guys brain. He must be full of stories that are both adventurous as well as exciting. I must say it almost makes me want to go out and work on the open sea. It makes for a different type of life than I have, but one I sure would like to explore. Thanks for writing the book and sharing one of your many (I am sure, you have more) amazing tales.
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Uncharted Waters is very good!, December 4, 2007
There is no literary tradition stronger than the sea change. From "The Odyssey" to "Moby Dick," it's almost a genre of its own and certainly is not "uncharted waters." Perhaps that explains my initial disappointment with this book. There's a cocky narrator (who introduces himself to a woman waiting at an airport as "Bond. Jack Bond."), the requisite cast of wacky shipboard characters, description of foreign ports for horny sailors, etc., but what seems missing is any internal conflict that could lead to personal development and the obligatory epiphany.
Then I decided to loosen up a bit and just enjoy this cavorting tale for what it is. I love the short chapters and authenticating nautical protocol (such as, Navy ships having a breakaway song they play when separating from another ship, for example, "Load Up an' Truck'n," by Jerry Reed of Smokey and the Bandit fame). When I thought back on my own service days--the camaraderie and those "war stories" we tried to top each other with around the bar--I thanked Theodore Carl Soderberg. Life is "a journey" rather than a destination.
I would have given the cover a more human face. Blaze, the short-order cook who purportedly is a mob leader's mol--helping her means death for any guy, like the narrator, who tries--stretches credibility but does add an ongoing sense of peril. Here and there we get a guy perspective on the world: "The Middle East has conditions similar to a ship's engine room, and it isn't an exaggeration to say these people (the ones in the engine room) are volatile and exhibit bizarre behavior... The Mideast has sand storms, lack of water, no food and then just when it cools down and you think its going to be okay in come the flies... I think we should all be grateful that there is no engine room noise and vibration and oily fumes in the Middle East, because (then) the world would certainly have detonated long ago..."
But what I really liked was Farley's chapter describing why he went into rehab and the ominous turn the book takes when their ship is sent to the war in Iraq. Then there is Murray the K, a cross dressing, loose cannon obsessed with cleaning supplies. Ishmael, you had it easy. |
Excerpt
Alcatraz is on our port beam,Angel Island is on our starboard quarter, and I can see Harding rock as we shape up for the Golden Gate Bridge. I am the bow look out on a high speed container ship, and I have the best job in the world. As I look up I can see people waving from the bridge...
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Paperback
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Professional Reviews
Uncharted Waters, is very good!
By BookReview.com
There is no literary tradition stronger than the sea change. From "The Odyssey" to "Moby Dick," it's almost a genre of its own and certainly is not "uncharted waters." Perhaps that explains my initial disappointment with this book. There's a cocky narrator (who introduces himself to a woman waiting at an airport as "Bond. Jack Bond."), the requisite cast of wacky shipboard characters, description of foreign ports for horny sailors, etc., but what seems missing is any internal conflict that could lead to personal development and the obligatory epiphany.
Then I decided to loosen up a bit and just enjoy this cavorting tale for what it is. I love the short chapters and authenticating nautical protocol (such as, Navy ships having a breakaway song they play when separating from another ship, for example, "Load Up an' Truck'n," by Jerry Reed of Smokey and the Bandit fame). When I thought back on my own service days--the camaraderie and those "war stories" we tried to top each other with around the bar--I thanked Theodore Carl Soderberg. Life is "a journey" rather than a destination.
I would have given the cover a more human face. Blaze, the short-order cook who purportedly is a mob leader's mol--helping her means death for any guy, like the narrator, who tries--stretches credibility but does add an ongoing sense of peril. Here and there we get a guy perspective on the world: "The Middle East has conditions similar to a ship's engine room, and it isn't an exaggeration to say these people (the ones in the engine room) are volatile and exhibit bizarre behavior... The Mideast has sand storms, lack of water, no food and then just when it cools down and you think its going to be okay in come the flies... I think we should all be grateful that there is no engine room noise and vibration and oily fumes in the Middle East, because (then) the world would certainly have detonated long ago..."
But what I really liked was Farley's chapter describing why he went into rehab and the ominous turn the book takes when their ship is sent to the war in Iraq. Then there is Murray the K, a cross dressing, loose cannon obsessed with cleaning supplies. Ishmael, you had it easy.
Books a Riot
Hysterical Fun!, April 28, 2008
By Shayna (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
This book is a riot!
A fun read full of colorful characters that become friends. His descriptions make you feel like you're right there on the ship with these burly, smell guys (and a few hot chicks.) Makes you want to sign up for the Merchant Marines just for the adventure of it!
Awesome book
I sure would like to have an inside look at this guys brain. He must be full of stories that are both adventurous as well as exciting. I must say it almost makes me want to go out and work on the open sea. It makes for a different type of life than I have, but one I sure would like to explore. Thanks for writing the book and sharing one of your many (I am sure, you have more) amazing tales.
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Reader
Reviews for "Uncharted Waters"
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| Reviewed by Ginger Harman (Reader) |
8/13/2011 |
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Merchant Marine Sea Life with all the Drama!
I have to admit that after reading this book, I feel like I have not only traveled all over the world but have fallen in love with an amazingly funny cast of characters! Seinfeld meet the Merchant Marines! This book is a easy, smooth flowing read with lots of adventure. The characters are not only plausible but I have become deeply connected with each of them. Blaze is not your typical female sailor, while being chased by the mafia lover she is able to steer all sea worthy off course with her quick pick-up lies to playing helpless to get help for her escape. Joe Bones and Shanghai Cid have a story for everyone and My favorite is Murry the K. I could write a whole book on just "Murry the K" alone. He is your OCD, drive everyone crazy, mommas boy Merchant Marine. I loved how Ted constantly played with Murry psychologically. Between the water spots to diving for sea sponges, Murry is the guy that we all hate but couldn't live without.
There are also tender moments such as the authors personal love for the sea as a young boy with friends Dickey and Bobby, or fishing with his father in New York, at Lake Carmel. The tense moment of the Iraq war while trying to stay on task with a Sea Goddess and Yosemite Sam at the helm. Truth is, I laughed so hard with the "sailor talk" that I learned all sorts of new phrases like FUBAR and you just have to read the book to find out about Mongo's contest on the Diego Garcia!
I highly recommend this book to everyone! It truly is the author's mind who has flair for the wacky, or as he is described by the back of his book, "an eye for the good life and the ladies". This novel is a true treasure of the sea! |
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| Reviewed by Shayna Thatcher (Reader) |
4/28/2008 |
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| This book cracked me up! He writes so well you feel like you're at sea with a bunch of wacky characters. I almost found it sad to finish the story -- I wanted to keep turning pages and keep laughing! |
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| Reviewed by Terry Rizzuti |
4/22/2008 |
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| Sounds like a pretty good read, but when I hit the button for all your reviews it took me to other books on Amazon. It's possible I missunderstood which review I was trying to look up. Terry |
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