Another Great Day at Sea: Life Aboard the USS George H.W. Bush

39. Another Great Day at Sea: Life Aboard the USS George H.W. Bush by Geoff Dyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you're a fan of Dyer's previous works and are wondering what the heck he's doing writing about an aircraft carrier, you're in for a treat.

Another Great Day at Sea is more in the vein of his books Out of Sheer Rage and Yoga for People Who Can't Be Bother to Do It, which means it was right up my alley.

He spent two weeks on the carrier talking to crew members about their various jobs, experiences, and backgrounds. In that sense, the book is a bit less about him than the other titles I mentioned. However, he is still an integral character in the stories. It's his quirky, outsider viewpoint that makes his descriptions of the carrier and life aboard it accessible to non-military readers.

Though I've seen episodes of NCIS that take place on aircraft carriers, it never quite conveys the huge size of the boat and the loudness of the planes landing and taking off.

The chapters are generally just a few pages long, so you could read it in short spurts but I found myself engrossed and wanting to know more.

There was only one chapter that put me off which had nothing to do with the writing but rather the injustice in the story relayed to Dyer.


SPOILER ALERT:


If a recruiter entices you to join the military by saying the Navy will pay off your college loans, be sure you see that in writing before you agree or sign anything.

Navy Recruiters, that bait and switch tactic is disgraceful whether due to your error or laziness. You should keep your promises instead of insuring someone is indentured to you.

I'm rooting for you, Leesa Zilempe.

And Geoff Dyer, I hope you at least followed up with the person you did know at Chez Panisse on her behalf. Just admitting you overstated your connection doesn't cut it.


A year ago on TTaT: Life of Art SitRep #177 Topsy! Turvy!