The Half Bird
by Susan Smillie

There's something so joyful about finding a kindred spirit in memoir. I was immediately drawn to this book because of the idea of a spontaneous sailing challenge turning into a life affirming journey, and was held by the voice that feels so familiar to me and the truths that resonate.

In a mostly linear arc, Smillie reveals the way sailing became her obsession and the sea became her refuge. Studded with observations about the nature, references to mythology and poetry, transcripts of messages with the people who were her circle of support and creative soliloquy from her beloved boat Isean who becomes a natural extension of herself as her skills evolve and her understanding of the elements become second nature.

Deeply reflective and often vulnerable to the extreme, this is an exploration of grief, a search for a meaningful existence, full of insights about how strangers are greeted warmly and with kindness in some places, and feared, mistrusted and disdained in others. Its also about learning to trust your instincts and being true to yourself.

I was thrilled to explore the coastlines of Cornwall and Devon, the rocky shores of Brittany, the roiling waters of the Bay of Biscay and along the Portuguese harbours, the sparkly Spanish costas, the impossibly beautiful rugged Italian cliffs and the magnificence of the Greek Islands with Suse and Isean.

For anyone that always has their eye on the horizon, or who find themselves wondering what's around the next corner, this will be nothing short of delightful. Perfect for lovers of The Salt Path, The Wild Silence, Landlines by Raynor Winn.

Publication date: 21st March 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley and #MichaelJoseph for the ARC