A Voyage of Heart and Song by Liza Farrow-Gillespie
I would love to read all of the books people have gifted me throughout the years. Sadly, most are still sitting on my shelf. Like most people, reading time is precious and limited, and I like to spend my time reading books that attract me, not those people think I would enjoy. When I started looking at the gifted books I haven’t touched, I wondered who people think I really am. Why do some people think I love personal finance while others recommend thrillers?
This challenge is always nudging me late at night, and sometimes I listen to the voice goading me and grab one off the shelf. “A Voyage of Heart and Song” by Liza Farrow-Gillespie” is an adventure book, a memoir, and a romance that spurred me to see this challenge more positively. I enjoyed this book so much. I now don’t dread browsing the never-ending shelf of gifted books. This book taught me you don’t know what beautiful stories are sitting there waiting for you to discover.
When I was given the book, the giver said, “Ignore the cover art.” Yes, the cover art needs improvement. But when I discovered that everyone, men included, enjoyed this read, I decided to give it a try. Sadly, I read this book at the end of 2019, and the author, Liza Farrow-Gillespie, passed away from cancer in July of 2020. But, her adventure and legacy live on with this book.
Gillespie was an attorney, who at 38-years-old, was diagnosed with breast cancer. With the support of her husband, Alan C. Farrow-Gillespie, M.D, or “the redhead”, the couple decide to sell most of their belongings and leave work for a year to sail around the world.
The book follows the couple’s journey through sea waves and ports, oceans and seas. The adventures include pirates, sleep deprivation, bribes, storms, and sharks, all covering over 50 countries. A hefty dose of humor is used to cover the trying times, and friendship and love win throughout the book.
The author doesn’t write purely in a captain’s log style. Although Farrow-Gillespie includes the specific locations of their journey, the history of the places they visit, and weather conditions, she also uses their adventures and humor to craft a book that is hard to put down.
What I was thinking was silly. It was not possible. I wasn’t even sure If I really wanted it – that is, if I really enjoyed it to actually happen instead of just fantasizing about it regularly. I had mentioned it once in an offhand way to friends under the influence of extreme margarita, but otherwise, I had never talked about it, never said it out loud. Of all the things that had flitted through my mind as possibilities when he asked his question, though, this was what had stuck. “Well,” I still hesitated. Oh, what the hell. I spit it out, almost as an apology. “I’ve always wanted to sail around the world.”
You don’t have to be a sailor to like this adventure. I get seasick, and the one time I went sailing, I got hit on the head by the boom. But my brave and adventurous spirit enjoyed the book. There are some points where I skimmed over the sailing jargon, but overall, it kept my interest.
The book’s messages will sail you through this engaging, fast read.
- take time to live your dreams
- don’t take life too seriously (but prepare your boat if you are sailing across the world)
- enjoy the company of strangers
- live like you were dying
- love wins
I highly recommend putting your money and time into “A Voyage of Heart and Song”.
Check out the book’s website at http://heartsongiii.com/. This is like finding money in the dryer. The website is filled with pictures, maps, and videos of the voyages. It’s a bonus for readers like me who didn’t want the book to end.
You can purchase this book at: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ALiza+Farrow-Gillespie
If you are an independent or first-time author, I’d love to review your book. Please email me at susan@rivetservice.com to start a conversation.
