Sailing

by Susan Kenney

Sara and Phil Boyd struggle, together and apart, to find hope and meaning in their lives as Phil battles a life-threatening illness

Genres: Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 18, 1988

Reviews

[James Wilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time reading this great book. First was 11 or 12 years ago, I think. A well-crafted, realistic feeling, sometimes funny, sometimes heart-wrenching story of a couple working through their foibles and tendencies, then through his cancer, remissions, returns. He yearns to, then learns to, sail, as she did growing up. She buys him a beautiful boat early on to help him recover. His love is to sail on the Ocean; she comes to fear the Ocean, and so he sails alone. They have two children too, who play ever more important roles through the story. 1st time through this book I was struck by certain things. 2nd time, the story was so much more powerful, because cancer and its treatments ravaged our lives for a few years. We came through, hardly unscathed, but wiser, more mature, and, I hope, more thoughtful and careful of our relationship. One cover blurb likens Susan Kenney to Anne Tyler; I'm reminded of the careful, precise, wonderful, and tough prose of Wallace Stegner. "Sailing" is a very human and humane work. I think she gets men, and women, just right.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised to be the first reviewer of this fine book, which I've read twice. It features a loving and durable marriage tested by illness deemed untreatable. Good on sailing. Shelved under sea stories, but it's more about the marriage.

[Mr. Wakiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting book... hard for me to read since lots of people in my family have died of cancer.

I didn't like the open-ended ending.. felt a little cliché

[Eileen Granfors]

One of my favorite books. The analogy of living with illness and sailing is strengthened by Kenney's artful use of characters and flashback. I have read this book 5 times.

[Belle Meade School]

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