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Varuna - a Thames Barge that was Home
Caroline Havord, contributor
The gripping story of a fascinating, witty lady and her love affair with an old Thames Barge.
Caroline Nicholl and her new husband Bryn give up high-flying media lives in London's famous Fleet Street to make a home on an old Thames Barge lying in the mud in Essex. Life on the Varuna turns out to be a long way from 'cocktails on deck at sundown', in both negative and positive ways, and Caroline writes about it all with a distinctively dry and laconic wit. Even the tragic ending fails to dim her ability to 'keep on keeping on' - Read it, and see why it has been called "Riveting", "A great read" and "Recommended!"
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.25 out of 10
Assessment:
Idea/Concept: This wholly charming memoir details the author’s unconventional experience of making her home on a Thames barge.
Prose: Havord shows a strong grasp on narrative storytelling, and writes about the evolution and ultimate demise of the barge with flair and attention to detail.
Originality: Havord breathes fresh air into the memoir genre with her story of risk taking, adventure, and chasing uncommon dreams.
Execution: To use a cliche, the Varuna itself emerges as the most distinctive and compelling character in Havord’s work. Through descriptions of the barge, readers will also come to understand the author, her motivations, and her emotional arc.
Date Submitted: January 13, 2020
