Gandalf

I literally did almost nothing but read! The worst is trying to explain the story to someone! It is hard to explain the main plot without touching on subplots then I am as buried as CJ became. My family and friends get sucked in just by my summary. If I life I can see another read someday. It really is as addictive to me as Tolkien once was. pax, Ste

It's now 20 years since I was in a full gale in the gulf stream and had kinda forgotten the noise from everything that could possibly bang or vibrate. As I mentioned above (ten years ago) this brought back memories of that time for me yet again. Powerful writing as always. I unfortunately don't remember how Trev saves the day so .... Pax Ste

Third time scaling this cliff. last time was ten years ago. I have used all my free time for the last two weeks. All my friends and family hate me and this story. Yet here I am, torn between constant rush to get it over with and the wish to slow down and enjoy the precipice that has never existed in our lamented author's works. Amazing that it has caught me up as much as ever although not having to suffer waiting for the next chapter is a small blessing. I'm wondering if I reread Dickens or other serial writers if I could find where the original chapters were written by the precipitous moments. Pax, Ste

Apparently ten years since i read this the second time. I am just as sucked in as the first two readings! I've done little but read this the last week and a half. I still am grateful that I no longer have to wait for the next cliff to be pushed off. What a ride. Pax all.

It was AWFUL waiting for that next chapter. Remember we didn't know it was going on forever then. I'm glad I had already crossed the atlantic by then.

I have been pretty much rereading non stop on this third time through and was thinking of how hard it was to wait for each of these chapters when they were first written. Our author was referred to as the goat as i remember due to his ability to hang on all these cliffhangers! I will try to remember that more as i continue to move through this tome .. pax Ste

Ok I started rereading 24 hours ago and am now here. I can see my summer is toast...again because of this novel. Unfortunately, several of my other favorite authors are also on a roll. I know this will be my priority jailer though. It may have been better first time when we were waiting for new chapters. I know i will enjoy the ride again! Pax, Ste

The picture of me here is taken on my 32'(10m) boat, Gandalf, in the Azores in 2005. I can't imagine him being able to leave the Azores without spending some time there after being alone that long. I really needed some time off the boat and with other people so bad and it is such a beautiful and friendly place as all sailors have gone at least 1000 miles to get there. I also remember being so happy to talk to other ships when they came near. I wish the earlier comments were still available as I was I think living on my boat in Seville when the book started. Pax Ste

I am pretty sure He must have written this way earlier and then redone it in 2013? Does anyone remember?

[ think I have read it three times. I was living on my boat in Spain as he was writing it and had sailed transatlantic so was really hooked. ugh. alright I'm gonna look at it again. ste

I remembered that I really enjoyed your writing in the past but now I remember how much. I really wanted to back out of this angst but you got me. Thanks for your work! Pax, Ste

One of your very best and most powerful depictions ever. A few days ago I was reading another of your stories on nifty and then the latest rewrite. As I've said in the past your improvements are always just that but this time I also realized how well done the old Nifty version was as well. When I sailed south from Maine in 2004-5 I really wanted to look you up and have always regretted chickening out from trying. I'm certainly enjoying this new activity on your part. Pax Steve

Much like Phil I spent most of my life working with youth and families and even now at 78 am not that interested in geezers. So getting as attracted to Phil and his life and all this transformation is somewhat surprising. I thank you again for sucking me into this world. I am of to my great granddaughters fifth birthday party.. my second foster son’s granddaughter. I suspect Phil will approach the life that I have had and am having. I love this. Pax. Steve

The window you have created! I now have a window into several of my favorite commentators /authors here. To throw out my two cents. I was in French class when JFK was shot and on the bus home when he died. I am the first year baby boomer my second foster son is the last year of Boomers, which makes him 60. Pax. Steve

I was in High School from 1961-65. At my 50th reunion the one boy I thought might have been gay said he had never admitted to himself that he might be gay. It was a weird amazing time. Like your window analogy for viewing the story. Suspect it will drag me in even more as most of your tales do. Thanks for your work. Pax. Steve