Captains Courageous

I have long loved the Spenser Tracy, Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney, Lionel Barrymore movie loosely based on this book. And, it's a decent enough movie, and expertly performed, but the story is rather syrupy. If, like me, you think you know the story because you saw the movie - you too are wrong. The book has no such syrup. There are important things about the book that cannot translate to the screen, but additionally, the book is so much more powerful and gritty. And the story is very different. This book should be a must read for every Jr High School student, especially boys. It is not only important literature, it teaches important lessons in character development within ones self, and a lot about the value of work and family. As a father of boys, I enjoyed it also from their minds eye as well as reliving my own boyhood.

Kipling is very courageous in how he deals honestly in a book for children with issues of life and death, personal integrity, religious tolerance, cross-cultural understanding, and what it means to a boy learning what it means to be a man.

A steam liner is cutting across the fishing channel in the night fog and Harvey is frantically ringing the boat's bell praying to save his life and the lives of his friends when he flashes back to a time when he was aboard a luxury steam-liner cutting through fishing waters and he wished to see the spectacle of a fishing boat crushed under the bigger boat. He is tormented to his very soul for his callous disregard of human life and regrets the arrogant boy he used to be.

Yes.

I chose this book because I've become such a fan of Guidall's reading that I search now for books read by him. His abilities to bring a book to life are especially highlighted in such a book as this. I have come to think of him as a good friend though he doesn't know I exist.

George Guidall. He brings the story of a spoiled brat becoming a level headed young man to life in a way few could. This is the great version of a great book.

The book has already been made into a film, and it was good as well. My tag line might be "a brat's journey to manhood".

Well worth your money or your credit.

Although written at the turn of the century, Kipling still captivates the reader (and listener) with morals and issues that continue to be important in today's society. A must read short novel that gets better when narrated by George Guidall! Guidall brings out the characters like no one else can. A wonderful audio book that I recommend for kids ages 1 to 100!

I have had the pleasure of listening to Guidall's narration of "Typhoon" by Joseph Conrad. Guidall has the rare ability to bring the story to life as if you were there walking the deck with the characters in the book! His talents have never let me down yet and I actively look for his name as narrator of an audio book - he's that good.

There were times that I would find myself laughing with the story and yes, a damp eye for the sad parts. This story has the ability to move you emotionally!

As each generation passes, I think we loose the realization of just how every day life has changed along with our language usage. This short novel is a great bridge to our past and forces us to remember the sacrifices people made to "put bread on the table".