Albatross

by Deborah Scaling Kiley

Paper Book, 1994

Status

Available

Call number

910.45

Genres

Biography & Memoir

Biography

Nonfiction

Collection

Adventures, Explorations, Expeditions, Survival

Publication

Houghton Mifflin (1994), Edition: First Edition, 224 pages

Description

In 1982 Debbie Scaling and her four companions got caught in a storm in a yacht off the coast of North Carolina. For five days they stayed alive without food or water in a dinghy. By the time Debbie was picked up by a Russian freighter, three of her companions were dead. This is her story.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Stbalbach

This is a great read. The first third is 'before the storm' and I actually liked it as much as the main event since it gave a personal insight into what it's like crewing yachts on the east coast Main to Florida run. I am familiar with places in the book (Portland, Annapolis) even the bar in

Annapolis, and have friends who have crewed. Once the wreck happens it turns into a modern day wreck of the Méduse, in which some of the crew quickly loose their minds. It's a story about personal resilience, alcoholism, and being prepared. The book is in the genre of American adrenaline literature that became popular in the late 80s and 90s, unique in that it was written by women. A gripping page turner. Her story became famous with two TV movies, countless mentions and retellings in books, magazines and TV, motivational speaker and so on. She died age 54 in 2012 (cause unknown) and appears to have lived a difficult but full life.

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LibraryThing member gaillamontagne

This is the true story of a woman's survival from a shipwreck in the Alantic Ocean in October of 1982. Story read by Karen Allen, (Raiders of the Lost Ark) added a haunting lilt to the narration. I was riveted by the writing style with vivid metaphores and descripions which made it easy to live

through the event with the author. Chilling, thrilling, and very scary.

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