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Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary
Tropical waters turn tumultuous in this travel memoir, as a free-spirited woman jumps headfirst into a sailing adventure with a new man and his two dogs.
Join Liesbet as she faces a decision that sends her into a whirlwind of love, loss, and living in the moment. When she swaps life as she knows it for an uncertain future on a sailboat, she succumbs to seasickness and a growing desire to be alone.
Guided by impulsiveness and the joys of an alternative lifestyle, she must navigate personal storms, trouble with US immigration, adverse weather conditions, and doubts about her newfound love.
Does Liesbet find happiness? Will the dogs outlast the man? Or is this just another reality check on a dream to live at sea?
Join Liesbet as she faces a decision that sends her into a whirlwind of love, loss, and living in the moment. When she swaps life as she knows it for an uncertain future on a sailboat, she succumbs to seasickness and a growing desire to be alone.
Guided by impulsiveness and the joys of an alternative lifestyle, she must navigate personal storms, trouble with US immigration, adverse weather conditions, and doubts about her newfound love.
Does Liesbet find happiness? Will the dogs outlast the man? Or is this just another reality check on a dream to live at sea?
318 pages, Paperback
Published November 28, 2020
31 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Liesbet Collaert
5 books38 followersLiesbet Collaert is a bilingual freelance writer, translator, editor, and photographer from Belgium who has been writing and traveling her entire life.
Her work is published internationally in anthologies and magazines, including Cruising World, Blue Water Sailing, Ocean Navigator, Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book, Islands, Yachting World, Sailing Today, All At Sea, Caribbean Compass, and Zeilen. She also created walking tours for Marigot and Philipsburg in St. Martin.
The author has been interviewed about her alternative lifestyle by Multihull Sailor, Modern Day Nomads, Ocean Navigator, The Wayward Home, The Professional Hobo, and Grey Globetrotters among others. She contributed to extensive cruising surveys for All At Sea and Caribbean Compass and became an editorial assistant for Caribbean Compass in January 2019.
Liesbet loves animals, nature, and the promise of adventure. A nomad since 2003, she calls herself a world citizen and currently lives “on the road” in North America with her husband and rescue dog.
Find her stories and photos at www.itsirie.com and www.roamingabout.com. Plunge is her first book.
Her work is published internationally in anthologies and magazines, including Cruising World, Blue Water Sailing, Ocean Navigator, Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book, Islands, Yachting World, Sailing Today, All At Sea, Caribbean Compass, and Zeilen. She also created walking tours for Marigot and Philipsburg in St. Martin.
The author has been interviewed about her alternative lifestyle by Multihull Sailor, Modern Day Nomads, Ocean Navigator, The Wayward Home, The Professional Hobo, and Grey Globetrotters among others. She contributed to extensive cruising surveys for All At Sea and Caribbean Compass and became an editorial assistant for Caribbean Compass in January 2019.
Liesbet loves animals, nature, and the promise of adventure. A nomad since 2003, she calls herself a world citizen and currently lives “on the road” in North America with her husband and rescue dog.
Find her stories and photos at www.itsirie.com and www.roamingabout.com. Plunge is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
November 17, 2020
Liesbet Collaert's debut memoir, Plunge: One Woman's Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary, is one of those books I couldn't wait to read. Who hasn’t wanted to be a wanderer, go wherever life led them, bravely face new adventures with courage and aplomb, make new friends in dozens of countries, and conquer crises as though it were easy. Me, I think 'wandering' is part of man's DNA. There's a reason we are the only species that inhabits every corner of the planet. The issue: Most of us think living requires settling down.
Liesbet didn't--think it or do it.
She is that rare individual not afraid to explore any new country whether she speaks the language or not, no matter that she knows no one who lives there (because she'll just make new friends). In Plunge!, we see just the sailing part of her nomadic life (in a sailboat and then a catamaran) and mostly in the Americas.
"We trust our lives and future to Irie [her catamaran]. She’s our home, our transportation, our safe haven, our irritation, our support, our biggest curse, and our greatest treasure."
"We wake up with the sun, work in the morning, and snorkel, walk, or read in the afternoon. Then, we jump in the clear ocean to take a bath; we get wet, wash up with shampoo, and lower ourselves again to rinse off. We use our sun shower for a final freshwater rinse in the cockpit."
"We rise early in frigid temperatures, take the wheel, test the autopilot, follow day marks and buoys, look at charts, check our depth, observe the chart plotter, and shiver non-stop. We pay attention to the route, take photos, get in line for bridge openings, and stick to a schedule of eight to ten hours on the go."
Liesbet visits countless countries, discusses their immigration, their maritime laws, their culture of folks who sail fulltime. Liesbet and her friends are likable and interesting, the story unusual, and the settings authentic.
But as much as it is a travel story and an adventure, Plunge is a love story. Liesbet starts with a wonderful man and finds one even better but their shared life is not without problems. Of course there are problems! They live together on a small boat 24/7/365. They face issues on a daily basis most couples wouldn't in a lifetime. They sail multiple oceans, enter numerous countries, even cross the Equator (where I found out there is little/no wind). If you don’t follow her blog, Roaming About, you’ll want to. There, I found out that she wrote this debut novel (did I say it is #1 in the Amazon category Sailing) on the road, often between Internet services.
To give a sense of the book, I wanted to quote some of my favorite lines. That list got long. I tried to shorten it which proved an exercise in futility:
"Freedom to do what I want, go where I please, and be myself, no matter what, has always been more important to me than security, comfort, routine, and keeping up appearances."
"Most people follow a distinct path, set by social norms, dictated by society. I become antsy staying in a familiar area for months, following certain habits. It’s too restrictive."
"...plans are written in sand at low tide."
"...enjoy this plunge into my less than ordinary thirties."
"Ever since I chose travel over stuff, at age 17, people have wondered whether I’m rich. I’m not. And I never will be."
"Anything salty on a boat means trouble in the long run. It will always suck moisture from the air, acquiring a permanent state of dampness."
See what I mean?
For anyone who’s wanted to take the road less traveled, who wondered what was in the other side of a hill, who is happy with any answer when they flip a coin, this book is for you. I read it because of my lifelong desire to do that. By the time I'd finished, I felt like I had.
Liesbet didn't--think it or do it.
She is that rare individual not afraid to explore any new country whether she speaks the language or not, no matter that she knows no one who lives there (because she'll just make new friends). In Plunge!, we see just the sailing part of her nomadic life (in a sailboat and then a catamaran) and mostly in the Americas.
"We trust our lives and future to Irie [her catamaran]. She’s our home, our transportation, our safe haven, our irritation, our support, our biggest curse, and our greatest treasure."
"We wake up with the sun, work in the morning, and snorkel, walk, or read in the afternoon. Then, we jump in the clear ocean to take a bath; we get wet, wash up with shampoo, and lower ourselves again to rinse off. We use our sun shower for a final freshwater rinse in the cockpit."
"We rise early in frigid temperatures, take the wheel, test the autopilot, follow day marks and buoys, look at charts, check our depth, observe the chart plotter, and shiver non-stop. We pay attention to the route, take photos, get in line for bridge openings, and stick to a schedule of eight to ten hours on the go."
Liesbet visits countless countries, discusses their immigration, their maritime laws, their culture of folks who sail fulltime. Liesbet and her friends are likable and interesting, the story unusual, and the settings authentic.
But as much as it is a travel story and an adventure, Plunge is a love story. Liesbet starts with a wonderful man and finds one even better but their shared life is not without problems. Of course there are problems! They live together on a small boat 24/7/365. They face issues on a daily basis most couples wouldn't in a lifetime. They sail multiple oceans, enter numerous countries, even cross the Equator (where I found out there is little/no wind). If you don’t follow her blog, Roaming About, you’ll want to. There, I found out that she wrote this debut novel (did I say it is #1 in the Amazon category Sailing) on the road, often between Internet services.
To give a sense of the book, I wanted to quote some of my favorite lines. That list got long. I tried to shorten it which proved an exercise in futility:
"Freedom to do what I want, go where I please, and be myself, no matter what, has always been more important to me than security, comfort, routine, and keeping up appearances."
"Most people follow a distinct path, set by social norms, dictated by society. I become antsy staying in a familiar area for months, following certain habits. It’s too restrictive."
"...plans are written in sand at low tide."
"...enjoy this plunge into my less than ordinary thirties."
"Ever since I chose travel over stuff, at age 17, people have wondered whether I’m rich. I’m not. And I never will be."
"Anything salty on a boat means trouble in the long run. It will always suck moisture from the air, acquiring a permanent state of dampness."
See what I mean?
For anyone who’s wanted to take the road less traveled, who wondered what was in the other side of a hill, who is happy with any answer when they flip a coin, this book is for you. I read it because of my lifelong desire to do that. By the time I'd finished, I felt like I had.
December 1, 2020
As I was reading 'Plunge,' a friend asked me what it was about. I gave her a summary of the Amazon blurb, "It's a travel memoir of a young woman who trades life as she knows it for an uncertain future on a sailboat." In reality, this book is about so much more. With unflinching honesty, Liesbet Collaert describes the breathtaking highs and the gut-wrenching lows of living a life less ordinary. Her writing is intensely vivid and personal. It magically transported me to each of the scenes, making me feel that I was experiencing them first hand. Repeatedly, I was caught up in the elation of love and daring and the devastation of loss and longing. Liesbet's candid words made me reflect on my own life choices.
Liesbet Collaert is an immensely talented writer with incredible adventures and wisdom to share.
I devoured this book in under 24 hours. I recommend it highly.
Liesbet Collaert is an immensely talented writer with incredible adventures and wisdom to share.
I devoured this book in under 24 hours. I recommend it highly.
December 14, 2020
“I’d rather regret the things I did than the things I missed out on,” declares Liesbet Collaert. Readers will soon discover that the author doesn’t miss out on much, embracing the nomadic life on land and sea wholeheartedly. In her memoir Plunge, the author pursues a life less ordinary, just as her subtitle suggests.
As her story unfolds, we discover world-traveler extraordinaire Liesbet has earlier backpacked alone through Southeast Asia, has tripped in an RV with Mark through Mexico and Central America, and now, is navigating the Pacific on board a catamaran named Irie, which means “all good.”
A voyage of discovery, Plunge weaves both the psychological and physical strains of a life at sea: signing up for the sailing life but getting seasick and feeling ambivalent about living on board a boat 24/7 with boyfriend, later turned husband Mark.
The travelogue definitely reveals life up close and personal. The duo experience turbulent weather as they manage a business in the middle of the sea. Other turbulence is of the mental and emotional variety: tenuous electronic connection to the outside world, serious health problems, loss of family members far away, and through it all, the persistent questions, “Will my marriage survive? Will we make it to Fiji? What’s next?”
However, this memoir is not all stress and strain. The author treats the reader to humor: Trying to kill a squirmy fish with vodka and rum. To mystery: What about that hidden engagement ring? And, always, to keen observation: “Our waterproof tablet is my best friend when on solitary duty. I write my diary and blogs, read eBooks, and play Sudoku to exercise my mind. I listen. The boat slices through the water and the wind generator buzzes on and off sporadically. The sky explodes with bright stars. Our trail sparkles with phosphorescence . . .”
It is obvious the author has benefitted from keeping detailed diaries and journals of her travels; we are treated to marvelous description like one of her birthdays at sea, “When the light fades, we take Darwin to shore for his evening walk. His tail is wrapped with a new bandage, since he pulled the old one off during our snorkel expedition. He runs, rips coconut husks apart, and digs his head into the sand. His nose is covered. Mark and I sit together on a sarong. We watch the sun dip behind the horizon, illuminating the sky in 50 shades of orange and pink. I smile.”
I have met Liesbet and Mark in person and know that they are committed fully to the roaming life and to each other and now also to doggie daughter Maya. A woman as playful as the one on the cover, swimming with pet dogs and probably with dolphins, Liesbet is also brave enough to swim with reef sharks. In my view, the author has made a big splash with Plunge and is deserving of my five-star rating.
As her story unfolds, we discover world-traveler extraordinaire Liesbet has earlier backpacked alone through Southeast Asia, has tripped in an RV with Mark through Mexico and Central America, and now, is navigating the Pacific on board a catamaran named Irie, which means “all good.”
A voyage of discovery, Plunge weaves both the psychological and physical strains of a life at sea: signing up for the sailing life but getting seasick and feeling ambivalent about living on board a boat 24/7 with boyfriend, later turned husband Mark.
The travelogue definitely reveals life up close and personal. The duo experience turbulent weather as they manage a business in the middle of the sea. Other turbulence is of the mental and emotional variety: tenuous electronic connection to the outside world, serious health problems, loss of family members far away, and through it all, the persistent questions, “Will my marriage survive? Will we make it to Fiji? What’s next?”
However, this memoir is not all stress and strain. The author treats the reader to humor: Trying to kill a squirmy fish with vodka and rum. To mystery: What about that hidden engagement ring? And, always, to keen observation: “Our waterproof tablet is my best friend when on solitary duty. I write my diary and blogs, read eBooks, and play Sudoku to exercise my mind. I listen. The boat slices through the water and the wind generator buzzes on and off sporadically. The sky explodes with bright stars. Our trail sparkles with phosphorescence . . .”
It is obvious the author has benefitted from keeping detailed diaries and journals of her travels; we are treated to marvelous description like one of her birthdays at sea, “When the light fades, we take Darwin to shore for his evening walk. His tail is wrapped with a new bandage, since he pulled the old one off during our snorkel expedition. He runs, rips coconut husks apart, and digs his head into the sand. His nose is covered. Mark and I sit together on a sarong. We watch the sun dip behind the horizon, illuminating the sky in 50 shades of orange and pink. I smile.”
I have met Liesbet and Mark in person and know that they are committed fully to the roaming life and to each other and now also to doggie daughter Maya. A woman as playful as the one on the cover, swimming with pet dogs and probably with dolphins, Liesbet is also brave enough to swim with reef sharks. In my view, the author has made a big splash with Plunge and is deserving of my five-star rating.
November 19, 2020
I'm one of the lucky ones - I got to read the pre-order copy of Plunge by an author I've never met, and yet who I feel like I know so well. I've enjoyed Liesbet's blog posts about her life "Roaming About" for several years, and I've followed her plans as she's been writing her memoir about living without a plan, plunging into life instead, by sea and by RV. I am happy to say that PLUNGE - One Woman's Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary is fascinating, inspiring, honest, and touching. In a well-written tone that makes it seem as if Liesbet is across a café table talking about her life, her relationships with men and dogs, her philosophy and her hold-your-breath adventures, Liesbet Collaert writes a book that encourages her readers to stop and think about THEIR life. Are they living the best one they can? I highly recommend this excellent memoir.
September 14, 2021
An apt title in more ways than one, Plunge follows Liesbet Collaert as she sails the seas on a Catamaran. Always wanting to move on to the next place, forever travelling, forever a nomad, Liesbet is willing to take the plunge into the unknown on many occasions to keep her dream alive. Whether it’s choosing the unknown over the familiar, moving over settling down, or seasickness over staying put, Liesbet is always happiest travelling.
But this is more than a travelogue of places visited. From the first page, Liesbet shocks with her actions and innate honesty. She often questions her feelings, her decisions in love; “I’m sick of Mark. Sick of how I feel. Sick of not seeing a way out.” Her honesty on the page is surprising and refreshing and her insight into her actions enlightening. “I’m selfish. I’m rude.” she says with brutal honesty. It is this honesty which gives credence and a stark reality to her story and makes it truly worth reading.
I wish her many more happy nomadic days whether on the sea or land and look forward to reading more of her travels.
But this is more than a travelogue of places visited. From the first page, Liesbet shocks with her actions and innate honesty. She often questions her feelings, her decisions in love; “I’m sick of Mark. Sick of how I feel. Sick of not seeing a way out.” Her honesty on the page is surprising and refreshing and her insight into her actions enlightening. “I’m selfish. I’m rude.” she says with brutal honesty. It is this honesty which gives credence and a stark reality to her story and makes it truly worth reading.
I wish her many more happy nomadic days whether on the sea or land and look forward to reading more of her travels.
November 24, 2020
This memoir has it all - adventure, romance, fascinating characters, and travel!
The author takes us on a riveting tale of her life as a nomad, exploring the world from a sailboat and embracing the highs and lows of life at sea. This memoir will appeal to all sorts of readers, not just sailors, because, ultimately, it's a story about the choices one woman makes in search of love, fulfillment, and happiness - choices many of us can relate to.
For me, what sets this memoir apart is its unflinching honesty. The author bares her soul, exposes her innermost feelings, shares her hopes and fears, and reflects on the struggles she's experienced and the difficult choices she's had to make. This isn't a cheerful travelogue that takes the armchair voyager on a pleasant trip around the world, glossing over any unpleasant moments and difficulties. Instead, this is a fascinating and compelling account of a woman in pursuit of a life less ordinary that tells it like it is - the ups and the downs; the times of celebration and the times of sacrifice; the excitement of travel coupled with the challenges one can encounter when exploring new countries; and the joys and struggles of relationships.
Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. The author has a unique voice which will quickly draw you into the story of her unconventional life and the path she's taken.
NOTE: In addition to being a beta reader for the author, I also received an ARC of the final manuscript. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The author takes us on a riveting tale of her life as a nomad, exploring the world from a sailboat and embracing the highs and lows of life at sea. This memoir will appeal to all sorts of readers, not just sailors, because, ultimately, it's a story about the choices one woman makes in search of love, fulfillment, and happiness - choices many of us can relate to.
For me, what sets this memoir apart is its unflinching honesty. The author bares her soul, exposes her innermost feelings, shares her hopes and fears, and reflects on the struggles she's experienced and the difficult choices she's had to make. This isn't a cheerful travelogue that takes the armchair voyager on a pleasant trip around the world, glossing over any unpleasant moments and difficulties. Instead, this is a fascinating and compelling account of a woman in pursuit of a life less ordinary that tells it like it is - the ups and the downs; the times of celebration and the times of sacrifice; the excitement of travel coupled with the challenges one can encounter when exploring new countries; and the joys and struggles of relationships.
Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. The author has a unique voice which will quickly draw you into the story of her unconventional life and the path she's taken.
NOTE: In addition to being a beta reader for the author, I also received an ARC of the final manuscript. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 17, 2020
After I had downloaded ‘Plunge’ early one morning, I thought “I’ll just have a quick look at the first chapter before I start work.” By 9.30am I still hadn’t opened my laptop or even had breakfast and my kindle told me I had read 20%. ‘Plunge’ is a compelling read and I had finished it in 3 days. Liesbet takes us on two concurrent travelling journeys, an exciting voyage sailing through islands in the Caribbean and Pacific that, unless you have your own sailboat, you will never see. And in the second, parallel journey Liesbet wears her heart on her sleeve, big time, it is the journey through her mind and her soul. She lets us in to her innermost thoughts, the sections in italics were never meant for anyone else but her to know. Her relationships, both real and desired, her anxiety about her own and her companions’ medical concerns, business worries, money worries. I wish I could have been at some of the events described, her writing grounds the reader in the scenes. Sometimes, I laughed out loud, other times I had a lump in my throat. This book deserves to be on the shelves alongside such great sailing memoirs as ‘The Sea was our Village’ by Miles Smeeton and ‘Desperate Voyage’ by John Caldwell.
December 6, 2020
Where to begin with this book? I’ll start with the genre – travel and memoir, adventure and heart is the perfect description. This author takes us with her on her journey to follow her passion for travel. We are immersed into the story by tantalizing descriptions of locales, ensuing problems that arise when living on a boat, and the dilemmas, emotions and crises that occur along her travels. What could go wrong?
Liesbet is a world traveler with no desire for the 9-5 life. After Liesbet and Karl had finished their last sailing trip, they decide to stop in California. This is where she meets her husband to be, Mark. No spoilers in that transition, so moving forward, Liesbet decides to expand her travel visa to stay in Cali long enough for her and Mark to put together a new venture to sail the seas. But after testing out the sailboat life with their two dogs, they discover that Liesbet and the two dogs were constantly seasick, so plan B became to sail by catamaran, offering more room and more stability.
Collaert is a true rock. The one you want to be on your team if you were stranded on an island. Together she and her husband sail for 8 years, staying for months at a time on various islands from Mexico to the South Seas! If you think sailing is a luxurious and relaxing adventure, think again. A boat requires tons of work to maintain, especially when you live on one, and if you knew nothing about boating before, you’ll get a good education from this book.
Living life out in nature can be difficult despite the beauty of the surroundings. I think when most of us think about living on an island we picture fun and adventures, but when this is your lifestyle, it’s not all fun and sun. Despite the many obstacles and health issues taken in consideration, Collaert invites us in to her own thoughts and decisions, and isn’t shy about sharing her personal feelings about her marriage and other circumstances and conflict that arise, as she defines her decisions and indecisions bringing us into the love story embedded in this story.
Life on the water can be tricky when there are dips in the relationship, not just the water. We are peering into relationship and its ebbs and flows. Problems mount when loved ones back home aren’t well, when Liesbet goes back to Belgium for one of her visits and has grief once again as she has to enter back into the U.S. and when Liesbet shares her soul-searching and her struggles with indecision, weighing thoughts about if she should have children.
We learn how lonely this lifestyle can sometimes be, about self-doubt, following instinct, maturity and other life lessons we absorb through the journey. We get a feel for what’s it’s like to live with someone around the clock when tensions rise. When you’re living in nature and you’re also trying to run an internet business inside a sweltering cabin with dicey internet in a tropical storm or stifling heat, we learn how difficult it is to mix business with pleasure. Often there’s nowhere to go to blow off steam when emotions escalate and everything begins to get on our nerves. The author gets an award for that one!
I admire the author for bearing her raw honesty in her story. I loved this book as it encompassed so many aspects of life – desires and passions, determination, love, fragility, travel, and heart.
Three (of many) favorite quotes: “Word storm.”, “You can’t escape your struggles. You can only carry them elsewhere.” When asked by an old friend she encountered, where she lives, Liesbet replies, “Nowhere and everywhere.”
Liesbet is a world traveler with no desire for the 9-5 life. After Liesbet and Karl had finished their last sailing trip, they decide to stop in California. This is where she meets her husband to be, Mark. No spoilers in that transition, so moving forward, Liesbet decides to expand her travel visa to stay in Cali long enough for her and Mark to put together a new venture to sail the seas. But after testing out the sailboat life with their two dogs, they discover that Liesbet and the two dogs were constantly seasick, so plan B became to sail by catamaran, offering more room and more stability.
Collaert is a true rock. The one you want to be on your team if you were stranded on an island. Together she and her husband sail for 8 years, staying for months at a time on various islands from Mexico to the South Seas! If you think sailing is a luxurious and relaxing adventure, think again. A boat requires tons of work to maintain, especially when you live on one, and if you knew nothing about boating before, you’ll get a good education from this book.
Living life out in nature can be difficult despite the beauty of the surroundings. I think when most of us think about living on an island we picture fun and adventures, but when this is your lifestyle, it’s not all fun and sun. Despite the many obstacles and health issues taken in consideration, Collaert invites us in to her own thoughts and decisions, and isn’t shy about sharing her personal feelings about her marriage and other circumstances and conflict that arise, as she defines her decisions and indecisions bringing us into the love story embedded in this story.
Life on the water can be tricky when there are dips in the relationship, not just the water. We are peering into relationship and its ebbs and flows. Problems mount when loved ones back home aren’t well, when Liesbet goes back to Belgium for one of her visits and has grief once again as she has to enter back into the U.S. and when Liesbet shares her soul-searching and her struggles with indecision, weighing thoughts about if she should have children.
We learn how lonely this lifestyle can sometimes be, about self-doubt, following instinct, maturity and other life lessons we absorb through the journey. We get a feel for what’s it’s like to live with someone around the clock when tensions rise. When you’re living in nature and you’re also trying to run an internet business inside a sweltering cabin with dicey internet in a tropical storm or stifling heat, we learn how difficult it is to mix business with pleasure. Often there’s nowhere to go to blow off steam when emotions escalate and everything begins to get on our nerves. The author gets an award for that one!
I admire the author for bearing her raw honesty in her story. I loved this book as it encompassed so many aspects of life – desires and passions, determination, love, fragility, travel, and heart.
Three (of many) favorite quotes: “Word storm.”, “You can’t escape your struggles. You can only carry them elsewhere.” When asked by an old friend she encountered, where she lives, Liesbet replies, “Nowhere and everywhere.”
May 1, 2022
This was a fun but challenging book for me to read. Never the avid reader of nonfiction, I found this memoir very approachable and would definitely read more from this author. The reason this book was such a challenge for me was due to the authenticity of it. It is difficult not to become overwhelmed by emotional and personal judgments when reading the imitate details of someone’s life. Because you know it’s a true story, you can’t write certain things off as shock value or drama inducing, it’s just what really happened.
In the beginning of this memoir I didn’t love nor hate the author. I spent a large portion of my reading experience trying to decide if I liked her or not. At some point, I decided it didn’t matter. I was so consumed with exploring her alternative lifestyle and discovering cultural differences I’d never considered, I began to have an immense appreciation for her. I didn’t always agree with the choices she made, but they were her choices to make. I often found myself wanting to pass judgment against her for daring to be honest about the things she was saying, thinking, feeling, and doing. I had to be honest with myself a few times and stop pointing my finger.
The most relatable moments, unfortunately, were those moments of great sorrow. Experiencing the losses she describes in this book was uncomfortable yet empowering. I have nothing but respect for writers who are able to share their pain and journeys to recovery with others so openingly. I too have had pet challenges in my life and have lost loved ones to cancer. While I haven’t experienced the bullying of a customs agent, I have had negative experiences with law enforcement because of the color of my skin.
My ultimate take away from this book, is the message of travel it promotes. While I don’t plan on taking up the nomadic life any time soon, I want to travel and experience new places and things. I also want to encourage others to live a life of meaning based on what they want, not what society tells them they should want.
I thoroughly enjoyed discussing this book with the IWSG Book Club and highly recommend this memoir to anyone who likes travel, nature, and adventures.
In the beginning of this memoir I didn’t love nor hate the author. I spent a large portion of my reading experience trying to decide if I liked her or not. At some point, I decided it didn’t matter. I was so consumed with exploring her alternative lifestyle and discovering cultural differences I’d never considered, I began to have an immense appreciation for her. I didn’t always agree with the choices she made, but they were her choices to make. I often found myself wanting to pass judgment against her for daring to be honest about the things she was saying, thinking, feeling, and doing. I had to be honest with myself a few times and stop pointing my finger.
The most relatable moments, unfortunately, were those moments of great sorrow. Experiencing the losses she describes in this book was uncomfortable yet empowering. I have nothing but respect for writers who are able to share their pain and journeys to recovery with others so openingly. I too have had pet challenges in my life and have lost loved ones to cancer. While I haven’t experienced the bullying of a customs agent, I have had negative experiences with law enforcement because of the color of my skin.
My ultimate take away from this book, is the message of travel it promotes. While I don’t plan on taking up the nomadic life any time soon, I want to travel and experience new places and things. I also want to encourage others to live a life of meaning based on what they want, not what society tells them they should want.
I thoroughly enjoyed discussing this book with the IWSG Book Club and highly recommend this memoir to anyone who likes travel, nature, and adventures.
January 2, 2021
My sea sickness has finally subsided after being in the middle of the ocean, hanging over the side of the boat next to the author. Plunge left me ‘feeling all the feels’. I have read some of the amazing reviews of Liesbet Collaert's book. However my review may be different than the others.
Through the pandemic I could not settle my mind to actually read a book. Call it anxiety or being unsettled, my mind refused to still itself enough to concentrate on more than a page or two. That is until I began reading Plunge. So intriguing and honest in its telling, for the first time in 10 months I enjoyed reading again.
Looking at the glorious photo cover of turquoise water, white sand beaches and the author swimming blissfully with her dogs, one might assume the book will tell tales of paradise woven together like a mural of travel ecstasy. Instead Liesbet vividly shares the challenges of her insatiable quest for adventure along with the joy and freedom of nomadic life.
I am thankful to have been on a journey with Liesbet and her husband Mark and grateful that Plunge brought back the pleasure of a book I could not put down.
Through the pandemic I could not settle my mind to actually read a book. Call it anxiety or being unsettled, my mind refused to still itself enough to concentrate on more than a page or two. That is until I began reading Plunge. So intriguing and honest in its telling, for the first time in 10 months I enjoyed reading again.
Looking at the glorious photo cover of turquoise water, white sand beaches and the author swimming blissfully with her dogs, one might assume the book will tell tales of paradise woven together like a mural of travel ecstasy. Instead Liesbet vividly shares the challenges of her insatiable quest for adventure along with the joy and freedom of nomadic life.
I am thankful to have been on a journey with Liesbet and her husband Mark and grateful that Plunge brought back the pleasure of a book I could not put down.
December 2, 2020
I have been a reader of Liesbet’s blog "Roaming About" for years now and was so excited to see her memoir published. Through the years she mentioned certain things about her sailing life but I didn’t know what an amazing adventure it really was until I read her book “Plunge”. Liesbet truly walks-her-talk when she says she seeks out a life less ordinary because I can barely imagine the quest she experienced for eight years while undertaking this quest.
This book is for all those people who have ever thought about buying a boat and then sailing around the world. Through the years I’ve met quite a few but until I encountered Liesbet, I never knew anyone who had actually done it. Now we all can (in a way) by reading her book.
I must confess that I never once put myself in the category of wanting to tackle this experience. But I certainly appreciate the courage and dedication that Liesbet (and her husband Mark) possessed in order to set out on an adventure with so many unknowns. This book describes both the awesome beauty, the exciting details, and the difficult challenges that such a choice requires. Plus, Liesbet loves animals and her encounters with wildlife as well as her deep attachment to their beloved dogs makes the book even more special.
I also found this book entertaining during these times of the pandemic because it took me out my world and returned me to experiencing travel. I could easily picture some of the beaches, tropical landscapes and quaint towns that Liesbet describes on the voyage. Liesbet also doesn’t sugar coat the difficulties that she faces and honestly describes the exhilaration, frustrations, and choices she experiences along the way.
My favorite line in the “How do you decide what not enough fun is?” because it points out that we all face these sorts of choices when we decide to travel and/or invest our lives in a project. Obviously Liesbet and Mark dedicated a significant number of years pursuing just that.
I was a happy to be one of Liesbet’s beta readers and received a free copy of this book in return for this review.
This book is for all those people who have ever thought about buying a boat and then sailing around the world. Through the years I’ve met quite a few but until I encountered Liesbet, I never knew anyone who had actually done it. Now we all can (in a way) by reading her book.
I must confess that I never once put myself in the category of wanting to tackle this experience. But I certainly appreciate the courage and dedication that Liesbet (and her husband Mark) possessed in order to set out on an adventure with so many unknowns. This book describes both the awesome beauty, the exciting details, and the difficult challenges that such a choice requires. Plus, Liesbet loves animals and her encounters with wildlife as well as her deep attachment to their beloved dogs makes the book even more special.
I also found this book entertaining during these times of the pandemic because it took me out my world and returned me to experiencing travel. I could easily picture some of the beaches, tropical landscapes and quaint towns that Liesbet describes on the voyage. Liesbet also doesn’t sugar coat the difficulties that she faces and honestly describes the exhilaration, frustrations, and choices she experiences along the way.
My favorite line in the “How do you decide what not enough fun is?” because it points out that we all face these sorts of choices when we decide to travel and/or invest our lives in a project. Obviously Liesbet and Mark dedicated a significant number of years pursuing just that.
I was a happy to be one of Liesbet’s beta readers and received a free copy of this book in return for this review.
December 17, 2020
For several years, I’ve been a follower of Liesbet Collaert’s blog “Roaming About” where she shares the nomadic lifestyle she lives with her husband Mark. When I learned she was writing a memoir, I waited patiently, knowing it would be fantastic. Liesbet did not disappoint. From the first page of PLUNGE - One Woman's Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary, I was immediately drawn into their unique way of living. Most people would think they’d hit the lottery if they were able to do whatever they wanted, or go anywhere they desired. Life on a catamaran or traveling the US by RV would be a dream come true for many. But despite the beautiful surroundings, life as a nomad comes with challenges and stress those living a routine 9 to 5 lifestyle could never imagine. Liesbet’s honesty and openness throughout the book is to be commended. She reveals her heart to the reader, making her story so much more than a travel memoir. It’s about questioning the choices we’ve made in life and what’s truly important to us. This inspiring memoir is one you won’t be able to put down until you’ve reached the end. Of course, if you follow her blog, the story doesn’t end as she and Mark continue to share their adventures.
May 26, 2021
A tale of the sea, about a life on the move, about someone trying to figure out her own life.
What motivates people? What pushes people to make life-changing decisions? Liesbert's life is one led by her heart. She has a need to travel and discover what is out there and she appears to have endless energy, fearlessness and excitement. The book commences with overland travels but after ditching her boyfriend and meeting another, a boat is bought and there follows a life at sea. I know nothing about sailing but despite this I sensed Liesbert's passion for the sea and all it can offer. Reading her memoir there were times when I could not understand why she did not give up. A life of freedom comes at a cost and there were so many hardships and disappointments that anyone else would have returned to land. In the end, personal circumstances force a change in plan. But some people are wanderers by nature and not content to settle for anything 'normal'. Liesbert is one of these. The places she visited, the beautiful islands, wonderful sea creatures, were all what she was seeking. Her relationship struggle but as Liesbert began to question her own actions, her own words, her own demands, she manages to better understand things. An interesting and amazing story.
What motivates people? What pushes people to make life-changing decisions? Liesbert's life is one led by her heart. She has a need to travel and discover what is out there and she appears to have endless energy, fearlessness and excitement. The book commences with overland travels but after ditching her boyfriend and meeting another, a boat is bought and there follows a life at sea. I know nothing about sailing but despite this I sensed Liesbert's passion for the sea and all it can offer. Reading her memoir there were times when I could not understand why she did not give up. A life of freedom comes at a cost and there were so many hardships and disappointments that anyone else would have returned to land. In the end, personal circumstances force a change in plan. But some people are wanderers by nature and not content to settle for anything 'normal'. Liesbert is one of these. The places she visited, the beautiful islands, wonderful sea creatures, were all what she was seeking. Her relationship struggle but as Liesbert began to question her own actions, her own words, her own demands, she manages to better understand things. An interesting and amazing story.
June 3, 2021
It is not often I have the pleasure of not only reading a truly exciting memoir but also enjoy a friendship with the author and her husband. I have followed Ms. Collaert on her blog “Roaming About” for years and grew to expect impeccable writing and lovely photography. Through her blog, she shared her memoir snippets describing her experiences living on a catamaran, all while seeking to live a life less ordinary. When she was ready to publish Plunge, I couldn’t wait to jump in with her!
While the seemingly glamorous life of cruising is an attractive lifestyle, Liesbet takes us on her journey that involves emotional decisions, painful truths, and adventures that must be read to be believed. I prefer to read fiction and shy away from memoirs as a rule, but Plunge reads like a novel with crazy plot twists, daring adventures, and unbelievable outcomes that may leave some readers emotionally drained. Her refreshingly honest perspectives of life on and off the seas, along with her engaging writing style, will give readers pause to wonder if this lifestyle could work for them. Her detailed accounts of stormy seas, humid doldrums, heartbreaking losses, and run-ins with immigration may leave you breathless, but in the end, you will cheer her on as she gets through each event.
Better get a good night’s sleep before you plunge into this book because you won’t be able to put it down. Trust me when I tell you her adventures are far from over. Could this be part 1 in a series of travel memoirs?
While the seemingly glamorous life of cruising is an attractive lifestyle, Liesbet takes us on her journey that involves emotional decisions, painful truths, and adventures that must be read to be believed. I prefer to read fiction and shy away from memoirs as a rule, but Plunge reads like a novel with crazy plot twists, daring adventures, and unbelievable outcomes that may leave some readers emotionally drained. Her refreshingly honest perspectives of life on and off the seas, along with her engaging writing style, will give readers pause to wonder if this lifestyle could work for them. Her detailed accounts of stormy seas, humid doldrums, heartbreaking losses, and run-ins with immigration may leave you breathless, but in the end, you will cheer her on as she gets through each event.
Better get a good night’s sleep before you plunge into this book because you won’t be able to put it down. Trust me when I tell you her adventures are far from over. Could this be part 1 in a series of travel memoirs?
July 2, 2021
Plunge is so much more than just a travel memoir. It describes the whole process
from the wish to travel - the plan - the practical things and the necessary decisions
to be made.
I admire Liesbet very much because she always makes the choice to follow her
freedom.
I recommend this book to all who like to read travel memoirs and personal
stories.
With lots of pleasure I give Plunge a 5 star rating.
from the wish to travel - the plan - the practical things and the necessary decisions
to be made.
I admire Liesbet very much because she always makes the choice to follow her
freedom.
I recommend this book to all who like to read travel memoirs and personal
stories.
With lots of pleasure I give Plunge a 5 star rating.
November 16, 2020
Strap on your self-inflating life jacket. Make sure you are secured to the jacklines. Is your pet close by? OK, now you have already planned farther ahead than Liesbet did before taking the '"Plunge". Open to new horizons and new relationships, she has explored our world, taking the less-traveled land and sea routes. If you enjoy her story, invite her over. Like all good nomads she'd love to borrow your shower.
May 18, 2021
I've always been fascinated by the idea of sailing the Southern Seas, and living on a desert island. But as I'm scared of boats and get seasick, I stick to reading books about them. Liesbet and Mark's story is fascinating: deciding to travel with two dogs doesn't make for an easy life! Starting in the Caribbean, and then sailing the Pacific Ocean, the book is filled with blue seas, blue skies, and coral reefs. But life isn't always pleasure, and there's a lot of introspection and sadness too. I'm hoping there's going to be a follow-up to this, as I really want to find out what happens next.
January 28, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The perfect escape during January and it includes dogs! Right up my street.
April 17, 2022
Well-written. Love the cover!
At one point, I wanted to slap some sense into the Homeland Security guy who wanted to keep Liesbet out of the USA. I also love the dogs, Kali and Darwin. I might like them more than Mark, but that might have more to do with what happened in Central America than with him personally. Though, of course, taking his frustrations out on Liesbet instead of getting help isn’t counting in his favour. I think the wedding was as much as a surprise to Liesbet as to the reader. LOL.
Loads of fun to read. From the different travels, to relationship dynamics, to Liesbet’s growth, the story captivates.
The chapters about the dogs were heart wrenching. Every dog owner goes through that at some point and it never gets easier. So many ups and downs. I enjoyed the descriptive tours of the various islands and sailing life. Eight years! The average lifetime of a dog. I enjoyed this memoir and the photos of their island adventures.
At one point, I wanted to slap some sense into the Homeland Security guy who wanted to keep Liesbet out of the USA. I also love the dogs, Kali and Darwin. I might like them more than Mark, but that might have more to do with what happened in Central America than with him personally. Though, of course, taking his frustrations out on Liesbet instead of getting help isn’t counting in his favour. I think the wedding was as much as a surprise to Liesbet as to the reader. LOL.
Loads of fun to read. From the different travels, to relationship dynamics, to Liesbet’s growth, the story captivates.
The chapters about the dogs were heart wrenching. Every dog owner goes through that at some point and it never gets easier. So many ups and downs. I enjoyed the descriptive tours of the various islands and sailing life. Eight years! The average lifetime of a dog. I enjoyed this memoir and the photos of their island adventures.
January 22, 2021
I plunged into this memoir and sailed happily away, living out my own fantasy life through Liesbet’s travels around the globe on land and sea. The adventures were amazing although not everything is moonbeams and smooth sailing. She candidly explores life and death along with the daily challenges of relationships and marriage. Artfully written, the author creates transitions that seamlessly flow from one period of time to another, making it a joy to read. I look forward to vicariously embarking on more adventures via her blog and future publications.
February 1, 2021
I like to read about other people’s travel experiences and the story of Belgium native, Liesbet Collaert, particularly intrigued me. Not many young women find the man of their dreams and venture off on lengthy road trips and sailing adventures, but this is what Liesbet did and has been doing for over twenty years.
Her descriptions of the Caribbean Islands and French Polynesia are captivating, and her account of crossing a turbulent Pacific Ocean in their catamaran was intense and vivid. With each chapter I never knew what would happen next, which was part of the fun.
A few transitions regarding place and time left me a little confused, although not for long. Aside from the descriptions, what I loved best about this book is Liesbet’s candidness in describing the ups and downs of her relationship with her husband, Mark, the death of their two dogs, and worries about the health of other family members. Frustrations, disappointments, and obstacles make Plunge far from a fairy tale read, but a realistic portrayal of a lifestyle that has both pitfalls and lovely moments. It’s a welcome, balanced approach to storytelling, and well worth the read, especially for those who dream of this lifestyle.
Her descriptions of the Caribbean Islands and French Polynesia are captivating, and her account of crossing a turbulent Pacific Ocean in their catamaran was intense and vivid. With each chapter I never knew what would happen next, which was part of the fun.
A few transitions regarding place and time left me a little confused, although not for long. Aside from the descriptions, what I loved best about this book is Liesbet’s candidness in describing the ups and downs of her relationship with her husband, Mark, the death of their two dogs, and worries about the health of other family members. Frustrations, disappointments, and obstacles make Plunge far from a fairy tale read, but a realistic portrayal of a lifestyle that has both pitfalls and lovely moments. It’s a welcome, balanced approach to storytelling, and well worth the read, especially for those who dream of this lifestyle.
February 2, 2023
Een (Engelstalig) boek dat je moeilijk kan weg leggen ! De Belgische Liesbet gaat haar dromen achterna en koopt samen met haar Amerikaanse man een catamaran voor een avontuurlijk leven op het water. Ze beschrijft het ganse proces, de moeilijke keuzes die ze moeten maken, de vele ups en downs. Ook de persoonlijke struggles komen aan bod. Liesbet geeft een zeer genuanceerd beeld van het leven aan boord. Lang niet altijd rozengeur en maneschijn. 24/7 met 2 personen op een kleine ruimte wonen, leven en werken is ook verre van evident. Een (h)eerlijk waargebeurd verhaal om bij weg te dromen. Ik miste nog wat getekende kaarten van de onooglijke eilanden en ankerplaatsen, je kan die natuurlijk via Google Maps opzoeken.
November 25, 2020
Liesbet is the consummate vagabond: from camper vans to hitchhiking and backpacking to sailboats. This memoir explores her life aboard Irie with her husband Mark, from 2007 to 2015: eight years of adventure sailing a catamaran from the east coast of the US to French Polynesia.
As a sailor myself, having made the same path, Liesbet's approach is brutally honest. She's seasick, doubts herself and her husband, and often times is frustrated by the reality of cruising or the nomadic lifestyle.
But Plunge is beyond a cruising memoir. It's also about loss and love, about two people who live together 24/7 and struggle to feel satisfaction despite living their dreams. At times, the reader will be frustrated with Liesbet or Mark or crying in sorrow over Kali and Darwin.
I've read many cruising memoirs, and this is a top ten read for me. It's realistic, thoughtful, and introspective, just as a memoir should be.
I received an advanced copy of the book, and this is an honest review.
As a sailor myself, having made the same path, Liesbet's approach is brutally honest. She's seasick, doubts herself and her husband, and often times is frustrated by the reality of cruising or the nomadic lifestyle.
But Plunge is beyond a cruising memoir. It's also about loss and love, about two people who live together 24/7 and struggle to feel satisfaction despite living their dreams. At times, the reader will be frustrated with Liesbet or Mark or crying in sorrow over Kali and Darwin.
I've read many cruising memoirs, and this is a top ten read for me. It's realistic, thoughtful, and introspective, just as a memoir should be.
I received an advanced copy of the book, and this is an honest review.
January 18, 2021
Liesbet Collaert captures the frustrations and rewards, the sacrifices and benefits of choosing a life that isn’t rooted in a home on land. A life that requires constant, close-quartered companionship with a spouse is not easy, even in tropical paradise. Independent people can find themselves being very dependent upon the needs of the partner. You need not be a sailor to appreciate this memoir.
December 18, 2020
Such an inspiring story with honesty, and love throughout. I have followed Liesbet's blog and always enjoyed reading her posts. This book tied everything together and I often felt se sick with her as she and Mark sailed around the seas!! If I couldn't travel this year then at least I could travel with Liesbet!!
A great action packed book to finish my 2020 reading challenge on with it being my 100th book read this year and the goal I had set for myself!
A great action packed book to finish my 2020 reading challenge on with it being my 100th book read this year and the goal I had set for myself!
May 31, 2022
Loved this book. I was pretty much glued to every page. Collaert knows how to write and she knows how to create a page-turner. I loved the way she wove in her relationships, her honesty with her self-reflection and life in general, the unbelievable hardships associated with living on a boat for nearly a decade, and the excitement she felt with each new adventure. Great book.
April 20, 2021
This was an interesting book to read. It's sprinkled with sailing lingo (such as mooring balls). Anyone planning on taking up sailing, or going on long-term travels across continents, should certainly read this book first. It's realistic and honest, a behind-the-scenes that shows the grit, not just the glory. I rarely read travel memoirs.
I feel it was brave of Liesbet to share so much with the audience. Parts of this are like reading a diary. There are some relationship ups and downs that not everyone would be so comfortable sharing. And there are worrisome parts, like some of her descriptions of Mark. She talks about his habit of criticizing her in public in front of their friends. "When Mark is in these frustrated moods... I feel their anxiety... we all lower our heads." He was willing to wear a ring in his previous marriage, but argues (though caves) about doing it for this one. "Fact is, each time he yells or boils over with frustration, I can't focus on things I enjoy, like writing. All I do is cower."
I interviewed this debut author at Operation Awesome, and was given a free copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased review. We are both members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, which is thanked in the acknowledgments.
There are a lot of great excerpts I could share. And the pictures at the end of the book are absolutely stunning. "Happiness comes from within. It's presented in fleeting moments; it's found when you feel at peace with the decision you've made." That's a really profound quote.
"When we arrive in (spoiler location), we're homeless." That's something to really take in, something people don't really think about. It matches chapter 18, where she mentions the difference between buying things for enjoyment instead of things to survive and prevent sinking.
"I chose travel over stuff."
"What does luck have to do with making decisions or shaking responsibilities to pursue freedom?" The author has such a strong and unique mindset, it's very inspiring.
Mayonnaise with fries... I've never had that.
The scene with the sea lions was my favorite. I read the whole book to see how it would turn out. Having interviewed the author, I know where she was and how she was living in 2020, so I wanted to know why she "got off the boat" so to say. The book is tragic at times (cancer, cancer, more cancer, freaking cancer again, oh look- it's cancer). Mini-spoiler but also trigger warning: the dogs do not survive in this book. The book has as many plot twists as life can throw at a person. But it's inspirational and entertaining, and makes one think about travel and all the places there are to go on our "blue marble." The author is certainly an authority on the subject, having lived it and getting magazines to publish her articles about her various adventures. The book is well-edited and the author's voice is strong.
"The Pan-American highway does not connect the American continents." I never knew that. Or really thought about it. I always assumed that it was possible to travel directly to South America from North America- but apparently, it is not simple. (The highway ends in Yaviza. I just looked it up on Google Maps.)
Liesbet briefly mentions that being from a socialist country is the reason she wasn't broke and could travel. And how it saves her country money. Fascinating. It doesn't cover everything, but it certainly helps.
The book is hard to put down because the chapters each end with a reason to need the next one. Good suspense! If Liesbet ever gets into writing mystery novels, they'll be excellent.
I couldn't relate to sailing, as I've never done that on this scale. But I've dumped and been dumped, I've traveled, and I've lost loved ones. The animals and wildlife were the best parts of the settings. There's a scene in the book where they make a friend who has the same name as my spouse! That was fun for me, "Hey, what are you doing in this book? Sailing without me?" Haha.
The book is beneficial to society because it gives the reader a reason to think about how a different mindset and choices can result in an entirely different life. Not an easier one, but certainly a different one.
I feel it was brave of Liesbet to share so much with the audience. Parts of this are like reading a diary. There are some relationship ups and downs that not everyone would be so comfortable sharing. And there are worrisome parts, like some of her descriptions of Mark. She talks about his habit of criticizing her in public in front of their friends. "When Mark is in these frustrated moods... I feel their anxiety... we all lower our heads." He was willing to wear a ring in his previous marriage, but argues (though caves) about doing it for this one. "Fact is, each time he yells or boils over with frustration, I can't focus on things I enjoy, like writing. All I do is cower."
I interviewed this debut author at Operation Awesome, and was given a free copy of this book. This is my honest and unbiased review. We are both members of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, which is thanked in the acknowledgments.
There are a lot of great excerpts I could share. And the pictures at the end of the book are absolutely stunning. "Happiness comes from within. It's presented in fleeting moments; it's found when you feel at peace with the decision you've made." That's a really profound quote.
"When we arrive in (spoiler location), we're homeless." That's something to really take in, something people don't really think about. It matches chapter 18, where she mentions the difference between buying things for enjoyment instead of things to survive and prevent sinking.
"I chose travel over stuff."
"What does luck have to do with making decisions or shaking responsibilities to pursue freedom?" The author has such a strong and unique mindset, it's very inspiring.
Mayonnaise with fries... I've never had that.
The scene with the sea lions was my favorite. I read the whole book to see how it would turn out. Having interviewed the author, I know where she was and how she was living in 2020, so I wanted to know why she "got off the boat" so to say. The book is tragic at times (cancer, cancer, more cancer, freaking cancer again, oh look- it's cancer). Mini-spoiler but also trigger warning: the dogs do not survive in this book. The book has as many plot twists as life can throw at a person. But it's inspirational and entertaining, and makes one think about travel and all the places there are to go on our "blue marble." The author is certainly an authority on the subject, having lived it and getting magazines to publish her articles about her various adventures. The book is well-edited and the author's voice is strong.
"The Pan-American highway does not connect the American continents." I never knew that. Or really thought about it. I always assumed that it was possible to travel directly to South America from North America- but apparently, it is not simple. (The highway ends in Yaviza. I just looked it up on Google Maps.)
Liesbet briefly mentions that being from a socialist country is the reason she wasn't broke and could travel. And how it saves her country money. Fascinating. It doesn't cover everything, but it certainly helps.
The book is hard to put down because the chapters each end with a reason to need the next one. Good suspense! If Liesbet ever gets into writing mystery novels, they'll be excellent.
I couldn't relate to sailing, as I've never done that on this scale. But I've dumped and been dumped, I've traveled, and I've lost loved ones. The animals and wildlife were the best parts of the settings. There's a scene in the book where they make a friend who has the same name as my spouse! That was fun for me, "Hey, what are you doing in this book? Sailing without me?" Haha.
The book is beneficial to society because it gives the reader a reason to think about how a different mindset and choices can result in an entirely different life. Not an easier one, but certainly a different one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2020
We are sailors and adventurers, just like Liesbet and Mark, and we remember as we started our travels, seeing her blog and reading it *now and then*. One day we sailed past a boat named Irie, the name ringed a bell. Then we bought The Wirie, and enjoyed WiFi on our boat, while at anchor, in one of the Caribbean Islands. So their names were familiar to us, but we were just never in the same place at the same time, so never got to meet this couple or enjoy each other’s company for more than a dinner, or a day.
I am most happy and grateful that somehow our virtual friendship developed and we did end up sharing Christmas dinner at their housesit, while we were in our RV in San Diego, and then they sheltered in their RV through a Hurricane, at our work-site, in Canada!
It feels like ages ago now that I volunteered to be the beta-reader of her then idea: to write her memoir! You GO girl, I echoed. When I first read her story on screen, I immediately emailed her to let her know how much her words had touched me. And as asked for, offered up just *a few* suggestions for some rewording *here and there*.
And then I got the final version, and OhWOW. Liesbet, first of all, congratulations!! What a road you’ve travelled {{ literally !! }} to get to here! But most importantly, your honest words, your take on life, your passion for truly, a life less ordinary, reads through loud and clear. The you that started this journey evolved with time, distance, love and loss and experiences, into a new you. A you fashioned by the choices you had to make every day, choices fuelled by desire and your zesty approach to life. They may not be everyone’s choices, but they’re yours and you tell it like it is, and that’s refreshing! Even though I knew the story, I couldn’t stop swiping the pages. I read this new, and most awesome and final version, in two days.
LIfe is all about the choices we make. These are Liesbet’s, and she truly owns them. It’s the real deal, and is not just another sunny story about the sand, the surf and the seas. It’s inspiring and empowering. There’s laughs, and there’s tears, but I don’t want to give it all away. Read the book. It’ll touch your soul!
I am most happy and grateful that somehow our virtual friendship developed and we did end up sharing Christmas dinner at their housesit, while we were in our RV in San Diego, and then they sheltered in their RV through a Hurricane, at our work-site, in Canada!
It feels like ages ago now that I volunteered to be the beta-reader of her then idea: to write her memoir! You GO girl, I echoed. When I first read her story on screen, I immediately emailed her to let her know how much her words had touched me. And as asked for, offered up just *a few* suggestions for some rewording *here and there*.
And then I got the final version, and OhWOW. Liesbet, first of all, congratulations!! What a road you’ve travelled {{ literally !! }} to get to here! But most importantly, your honest words, your take on life, your passion for truly, a life less ordinary, reads through loud and clear. The you that started this journey evolved with time, distance, love and loss and experiences, into a new you. A you fashioned by the choices you had to make every day, choices fuelled by desire and your zesty approach to life. They may not be everyone’s choices, but they’re yours and you tell it like it is, and that’s refreshing! Even though I knew the story, I couldn’t stop swiping the pages. I read this new, and most awesome and final version, in two days.
LIfe is all about the choices we make. These are Liesbet’s, and she truly owns them. It’s the real deal, and is not just another sunny story about the sand, the surf and the seas. It’s inspiring and empowering. There’s laughs, and there’s tears, but I don’t want to give it all away. Read the book. It’ll touch your soul!
December 4, 2020
Liesbet Collaert is a Belgian woman living in the United States and this book recounts the story of how she and her boyfriend decided to cut loose from the demands and restrictions of a standard and routine lifestyle to go sailing with their two dogs. I received an ARC copy of the book from the author and am happy to report that it is a really gripping, compelling and exciting read.
My own home is on a canal boat and I have no desire to go sailing at all, but I'm fascinated by sailing memoirs. Like many other sailing women, Liesbet started out with no experience and I take my hat off to her for her gutsy stoicism in bravely tackling whatever the seas could throw at her, and that was sometimes horrific. I was frequently holding my breath while I was reading.
However, this is not only a travel adventure; it is also about breaking free, learning to be independent of life's usual trappings and dealing with all the emotions living with one person in a very confined space can bring. Liesbet's open honesty is sometimes heart-rending and sometimes even a little shocking, but she is always totally candid about her feelings. There were plenty of issues to deal with on both the health and financial fronts, and these could hurt deeply, especially when it came to their beloved dogs.
In the book, Liesbet goes through the whole gamut of emotions and courageously bares her soul to the reader in this well-written roller-coaster ride of a book. I felt totally involved in her life and when I finished, I felt as if I’d travelled the world with her. A really super read and highly recommended for all those who love travel, sailing and personal explorations.
My own home is on a canal boat and I have no desire to go sailing at all, but I'm fascinated by sailing memoirs. Like many other sailing women, Liesbet started out with no experience and I take my hat off to her for her gutsy stoicism in bravely tackling whatever the seas could throw at her, and that was sometimes horrific. I was frequently holding my breath while I was reading.
However, this is not only a travel adventure; it is also about breaking free, learning to be independent of life's usual trappings and dealing with all the emotions living with one person in a very confined space can bring. Liesbet's open honesty is sometimes heart-rending and sometimes even a little shocking, but she is always totally candid about her feelings. There were plenty of issues to deal with on both the health and financial fronts, and these could hurt deeply, especially when it came to their beloved dogs.
In the book, Liesbet goes through the whole gamut of emotions and courageously bares her soul to the reader in this well-written roller-coaster ride of a book. I felt totally involved in her life and when I finished, I felt as if I’d travelled the world with her. A really super read and highly recommended for all those who love travel, sailing and personal explorations.
January 28, 2021
Just when you thought living a sailor’s life was about endless summer days, sipping rum punch under swaying palm trees, and swimming with manta rays, along comes Plunge, a straightforward memoir about an unconventional life, written by an unconventional young woman.
From the Introductory pages, the ride this new author takes us on is bumpy, gritty, and real. We learn in the first chapter that Liesbet is an impulsive, adventure junkie with a mind of her own. Written more like a suspense novel than a memoir, Plunge drops you into the deep end of the ocean and exposes the underbelly of living life on your own terms.
“We only live once. It’s up to us to pursue a life that suits us, tickles our senses, and shapes us into balanced, complete, and satisfied humans” is just one of the many quotable quotes applicable to our own lives.
Brutally honest, and at times, ‘cringeworthy’ revelations about marriage, compromise, trust, and commitment frame recurring themes throughout the book as we follow her journey of heartache, loss, adventure, longing, learning, and happiness. Torn between love and adventure, Liesbet’s struggle is poignant and relatable. Is it possible to have both? Does she even want both?
The backdrop of this ‘real-life’ tale is the Caribbean Sea and the South Pacific. The book covers a period of eight years on a 35-foot catamaran, named Irie (it’s all good in Jamaican) – I couldn't agree more.
From the Introductory pages, the ride this new author takes us on is bumpy, gritty, and real. We learn in the first chapter that Liesbet is an impulsive, adventure junkie with a mind of her own. Written more like a suspense novel than a memoir, Plunge drops you into the deep end of the ocean and exposes the underbelly of living life on your own terms.
“We only live once. It’s up to us to pursue a life that suits us, tickles our senses, and shapes us into balanced, complete, and satisfied humans” is just one of the many quotable quotes applicable to our own lives.
Brutally honest, and at times, ‘cringeworthy’ revelations about marriage, compromise, trust, and commitment frame recurring themes throughout the book as we follow her journey of heartache, loss, adventure, longing, learning, and happiness. Torn between love and adventure, Liesbet’s struggle is poignant and relatable. Is it possible to have both? Does she even want both?
The backdrop of this ‘real-life’ tale is the Caribbean Sea and the South Pacific. The book covers a period of eight years on a 35-foot catamaran, named Irie (it’s all good in Jamaican) – I couldn't agree more.
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