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Behind Ocean Lines: The Invisible Price of Accommodating Luxury
An ex-yacht chef uncovers the dark reality of life at sea.
By the age of twenty-two, Melanie is ticking life’s boxes as if filling in a routine survey. Good grades at school? Check. Reliable university degree? Check. Steady graduate job? Check. Her two feet are planted firmly on solid ground; her life to date perfectly mirrors society’s expectations. That is until she finds herself plunged into the superyacht industry, like an ice cube thrown into a cut crystal glass of the finest whisky, having stepped foot on a boat just three times before.
Not only is she required to learn how to run, sail, and race a multi-million-pound yacht on the job, she is forced to adapt to a wholly unnatural life afloat, largely confined to a bunk bed, crammed galley, and live-in colleagues. Oh, and to devise, develop, and deliver fine dining menus for some of the wealthiest people on the planet. No biggie.
From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to the Arctic she cruises, visiting places many can only dream of, orienting herself in an environment few have the opportunity to observe. But while her culinary knowledge evolves and her on-board responsibilities grow, the world as she knows it begins to close in. The depth of the ocean no longer phases her; it’s the darkness inside which she fears.
Behind Ocean Lines is a deeply personal account of a deterioration in mental health against a backdrop of opulence. It is, shockingly, not an anomaly in the industry. It is about time the public is told.
By the age of twenty-two, Melanie is ticking life’s boxes as if filling in a routine survey. Good grades at school? Check. Reliable university degree? Check. Steady graduate job? Check. Her two feet are planted firmly on solid ground; her life to date perfectly mirrors society’s expectations. That is until she finds herself plunged into the superyacht industry, like an ice cube thrown into a cut crystal glass of the finest whisky, having stepped foot on a boat just three times before.
Not only is she required to learn how to run, sail, and race a multi-million-pound yacht on the job, she is forced to adapt to a wholly unnatural life afloat, largely confined to a bunk bed, crammed galley, and live-in colleagues. Oh, and to devise, develop, and deliver fine dining menus for some of the wealthiest people on the planet. No biggie.
From the Mediterranean to the Caribbean to the Arctic she cruises, visiting places many can only dream of, orienting herself in an environment few have the opportunity to observe. But while her culinary knowledge evolves and her on-board responsibilities grow, the world as she knows it begins to close in. The depth of the ocean no longer phases her; it’s the darkness inside which she fears.
Behind Ocean Lines is a deeply personal account of a deterioration in mental health against a backdrop of opulence. It is, shockingly, not an anomaly in the industry. It is about time the public is told.
- GenresBiography
362 pages, Hardcover
Published October 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 29, 2022
For many years I've had the dream of experiencing the delights of the ultimate luxury holiday on board a yacht sailing around the Med. One of my favourite films (despite film critics panning it) will always be Swept Away directed by Guy Richie and starring Madonna. Hilariously funny, who knew guests could be so rude! And a twist at the end which I would never have predicted. It's absolutely brilliant. Watch it and tell me otherwise.
So when I saw the proof of Behind Ocean Lines I just knew I had to read it. Was it insightful? Hell yes. Have I still got a desire to go on a luxury yachting holiday? Hell NO! 🤣
Melanie has shared a warts and all insightful memior charting her life in early 20's, her highs and lows of following loves young dream alongside her boyfriend and his maritime passions.
A job that guarantees you will travel the world, save money, and be amongst the world's richest. But at what cost? Mental health and the darker side of being a seafarer is what you will read about in Behind Ocean Lines.
People often ask me why or how I find time to read. It's simple really, for pleasure, for escapism and to learn something new. To experience life from somebody else's perspective either factually or fictionally. Behind Ocean Lines is a perfect example of why I chose to read for pleasure.
It's excellent, gripping and I have a new found respect for anyone who chooses a seafarering career. Thank you Melanie for sharing your story, bravely uncovering the harsh realities of life on Ocean Lines.
Another aspect of this book I particularly enjoyed was Melanie's passion for food and her journey into becoming a chef so not only does this memior uncovers harsh realities of yacht life Melanie also shares some recipes she's perfected for budding foodies like me.
So all in all I hope I've inspired you to pick it up.
Behind Ocean Lines by @cookinanook is out now. Thank you @lemonqrtz and @netgalley for my ARC.
#ReadWithSabs #BehindOceanLines
So when I saw the proof of Behind Ocean Lines I just knew I had to read it. Was it insightful? Hell yes. Have I still got a desire to go on a luxury yachting holiday? Hell NO! 🤣
Melanie has shared a warts and all insightful memior charting her life in early 20's, her highs and lows of following loves young dream alongside her boyfriend and his maritime passions.
A job that guarantees you will travel the world, save money, and be amongst the world's richest. But at what cost? Mental health and the darker side of being a seafarer is what you will read about in Behind Ocean Lines.
People often ask me why or how I find time to read. It's simple really, for pleasure, for escapism and to learn something new. To experience life from somebody else's perspective either factually or fictionally. Behind Ocean Lines is a perfect example of why I chose to read for pleasure.
It's excellent, gripping and I have a new found respect for anyone who chooses a seafarering career. Thank you Melanie for sharing your story, bravely uncovering the harsh realities of life on Ocean Lines.
Another aspect of this book I particularly enjoyed was Melanie's passion for food and her journey into becoming a chef so not only does this memior uncovers harsh realities of yacht life Melanie also shares some recipes she's perfected for budding foodies like me.
So all in all I hope I've inspired you to pick it up.
Behind Ocean Lines by @cookinanook is out now. Thank you @lemonqrtz and @netgalley for my ARC.
#ReadWithSabs #BehindOceanLines
October 17, 2022
This is a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I tried desperately to finish this book off in one afternoon but didn't get to finish it before bed time gutted. But I was up early to finish it off. This book was very interesting. There was so difficult moments for the author and I commend her for allowing us to read and learn from her story. She has definitely lived a very interesting life. I found it funny they way she became a yacht chef. Especially when she confesses not being the greatest cook. It was so interesting reading about cooking at sea and learing just how hard it is. I loved reading about all the interesting shopping trips and all the different foods. I thought it was great that this book contains a number of recipes with interesting means to measure the ingredients. I definitely learnt a fair bit from reading this book and would love to read more from this author. It was great that the yacht moved around warmer countries and then off season went to the Arctic so you got the best of both worlds. I definitely recommend reading this book if you love learning about being a chef on a yacht cooking for the rich and famous. Or those who love travelling the world through different jobs.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this brilliant story that was very hard to put down.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for bringing us this brilliant story that was very hard to put down.
November 8, 2022
Having read David Shalleck's excellent memoir Mediterranean Summer: A Season on France's Côte d'Azur and Italy's Costa Bella 4+ times, lol, I was all too excited to read _Behind Ocean Lines_. It lived up to (and in fact exceeded) my expectations, both the good and the, perhaps, less so.
White does a fantastic job at bringing the yachting culture to life, along with all its foibles. I learned so much here that hadn't been captured in _Mediterranean Summer_, whether how the law is (or isn't) applied to seafaring folk, or the struggles women experience in the industry and beyond. (And it's totally fine that _Mediterranean Summer_ didn't include it; different story/experience and not the author's end goal in writing his memoir.) Both elements are truly sad and disheartening--and I appreciated that White talked about them. I hope it sparks more conversation--something absolutely necessary!
White also shared about her struggles with depression, a powerful read.
The downsides for me were franker discussions of one's romantic life than I am really looking for in a read, along with a fair bit of language (including a number of f-bombs and a couple c--- uses).
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
White does a fantastic job at bringing the yachting culture to life, along with all its foibles. I learned so much here that hadn't been captured in _Mediterranean Summer_, whether how the law is (or isn't) applied to seafaring folk, or the struggles women experience in the industry and beyond. (And it's totally fine that _Mediterranean Summer_ didn't include it; different story/experience and not the author's end goal in writing his memoir.) Both elements are truly sad and disheartening--and I appreciated that White talked about them. I hope it sparks more conversation--something absolutely necessary!
White also shared about her struggles with depression, a powerful read.
The downsides for me were franker discussions of one's romantic life than I am really looking for in a read, along with a fair bit of language (including a number of f-bombs and a couple c--- uses).
I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
November 12, 2022
This was a great peek behind the curtain of life as a yatty. I love the below deck shows which are obviously salacious reality, this is the opposite of that. There is a very candid and vulnerable exploration of the mental health impacts of the job, but there is also wonder at the beauty, approachable recipes, and humor/comradery throughout. I found myself especially entranced and drawn into the descriptions of the sailing in the arctic circle and found myself fantasizing about climbing one of those gorgeous peaks (no avalanche death scares for me though, thank you very much). Part adventure, part healing journey, 100% a world I enjoyed spending time in with the author. Bravo!
October 30, 2023
I've heard of this book in Boat International Podcast, as a yacht broker I always read yachting books. I enjoyed reading Behind Ocean Lines, there were some insight jokes I liked. If you are a yachtie reading this will give you support by showing most people in the industry are facing the same problems. My only constructive critisicm would be to the editor. In my opinion its the editors job to shape the story telling and flow of the book, at the end of the day the writer is not an author. All in all I'd recommend this book.
September 23, 2022
This is a book that I think everyone needs to read.
Melanie has written something that while at times very humorous, is also very enlightening. (Mentioning greys anatomy means your mind kind of person!)
Taking a look at mental health and wellbeing when working at sea but I think it's a book that can actually help anyone suffering with with their own thoughts and anxieties.
Releasing on #worldmentalhealthday I'd encourage everyone to read it.
Melanie has written something that while at times very humorous, is also very enlightening. (Mentioning greys anatomy means your mind kind of person!)
Taking a look at mental health and wellbeing when working at sea but I think it's a book that can actually help anyone suffering with with their own thoughts and anxieties.
Releasing on #worldmentalhealthday I'd encourage everyone to read it.
October 16, 2022
Part memoir, part cook book, part mental health awareness book. I followed Mel as she made the decisions that led her to her life at sea, and then stayed with her as she raised herself to meet both the labour intensive challenge of working on a yacht and the mental challenge of keeping herself afloat when working in a crew that wasn't aligned. I regularly felt like she was in the room talking to me as opposed to between the pages. I'm not usually one for non fiction, but couldn't put this down.
March 4, 2023
This was a really interesting read about how Melanie became a yacht chef and her journey on the ocean which wasn’t always easy. The book deals with mental health and the wellbeing while working at the sea, it’s an important and eye opening book. The author did a great job at being humorous but also telling a moving and important story.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
November 14, 2022
I found Behind Oceans Lines to be a gripping read. The author was a chef in the luxury yachting industry and her memoir of her early 20s covers everything from how to cook in a kitchen that's constantly moving to how to survive a medical emergency in the Arctic. It's at times funny, at times really moving, but always eye-opening to a world most of us will never experience.
October 11, 2022
It was an OK book to read. It gives you and inside perspective of what it's like to live and work on luxury yachts. The parts in the book I enjoyed the most were the recipes.
October 14, 2022
This provides a rare insight into life working on a boat. This goes on a real journey- and not just the boat.
Engaging from the off and one of those books that I never knew I needed to read.
Itching to know more about what happens next.
Superb.
Engaging from the off and one of those books that I never knew I needed to read.
Itching to know more about what happens next.
Superb.
October 29, 2022
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very interesting personal account of working in the yachting business. It was a memoir with an emphasis on mental health and cooking recipes. I thought that although the beginning was slow and challenging to engage, the middle and end were quicker paced. I wanted to know what happened next when I finished the book.
This was a very interesting personal account of working in the yachting business. It was a memoir with an emphasis on mental health and cooking recipes. I thought that although the beginning was slow and challenging to engage, the middle and end were quicker paced. I wanted to know what happened next when I finished the book.
October 8, 2022
Really interesting look behind the scenes of working on a yacht of the super rich. I enjoyed learning about places I've never been, and how Melanie did the job. I had very little knowledge of this subject, and it was interesting to learn the training you need, and how people find jobs in this industry.
I thought it was very well done---against the backdrop of some fabulous places, the author gives a realistic portrayal of living a exciting life, but how not everything is wonderful. The isolation, the difficulties of being in such small quarters, how bad coworkers can be detrimental to your mental health---especially when you literally can not escape them!
Thank you Netgalley and Lemon Quartz Publishing for the ARC!
I thought it was very well done---against the backdrop of some fabulous places, the author gives a realistic portrayal of living a exciting life, but how not everything is wonderful. The isolation, the difficulties of being in such small quarters, how bad coworkers can be detrimental to your mental health---especially when you literally can not escape them!
Thank you Netgalley and Lemon Quartz Publishing for the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews