Feeling the summer heat? Whether or not you can actually escape to a far off beach, these novels set at sea will help keep you cool and escape your summer doldrums, regardless of your preferred genre.
For Those Looking for Wartime Grit and Endurance
The Cruel Sea
By Nicholas Monsarrat
Fiction
A powerful novel of the north Atlantic in World War II, this is the story of the British ships Compass Rose and Saltash and their desperate cat-and-mouse game with Nazi U-boats. First published to great acclaim in 1951, The Cruel Sea remains a classic novel of courage and daring.
For Those Looking for a Little Mystery on the High Seas
The Devil and the Dark Water
By Stuart Turton
Fiction
A murder on the high seas. A detective duo. A demon who may or may not exist. Curious yet?
For Those Looking for Beautiful Writing and Something That Might Make You Cry Just a Little
The Light Between Oceans
By M.L. Stedman
Fiction
Let’s face it—any story involving a childless couple, a lighthouse, and a baby that washes ashore may have tears involved. Reviewers tend to start using words like “mesmerizing” and “beautiful” when describing the novel, so if you’re in the mood for high emotions and gorgeous writing, look no further.
For Those Looking to Find Love Somewhere across the Waves
Float Plan
By Trish Doller
Fiction
Since the loss of her fiancé, Anna has been shipwrecked by grief—until a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take together. Impulsively, Anna goes to sea in their sailboat, intending to complete the voyage alone.
But after a treacherous night’s sail, she realizes she can’t do it by herself and hires Keane, a professional sailor, to help. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned. As romance rises with the tide, they discover that it’s never too late to chart a new course.
For Those Looking to be Lost at Sea in a 20-Volume Historical Epic
Master and Commander
By Patrick O’Brian
Fiction
If you’re looking for a 20-volume commitment, Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander is a most excellent place to start. The novels follow daring Captain Jack Aubrey and ship surgeon and intelligence agent Stephen Maturin as they navigate danger and intrigue in the 19th century British Navy. Aubrey and Maturin have been called one of the most enduring friendships in literature, and you’ll likely agree, once you’ve read the whole series.
For Those Looking to Try a Piece of Classic Literature
The Old Man and the Sea
By Ernest Hemingway
Fiction
Hemingway’s last novel published in his lifetime, The Old Man and the Sea was the book that finally gained Hemingway worldwide recognition and was cited in both his Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize. The plight of Santiago, an old fisherman who’s caught more than he can handle, is unlikely to leave any usually stoic man completely dry-eyed.
For Those Looking for Something a Little Strange
Life of Pi
By Yann Martel
Fiction
The young Pi Patel finds himself lost at sea in a tiny boat with a very large tiger for a companion. Things get weird. Don’t let anyone ruin the ending for you!
For Those Looking for Loneliness, Madness, and some Homoeroticism
The Lighthouse
DVD
Bonus Entry! A movie to give you a break between novels.
Two lighthouse keepers try to maintain their sanity while living on a remote and mysterious New England island in the 1890s. Just watch the trailer and try to resist it.
Written by Anthony, Library Division Manager
