Walking on Ocean Floors
Adult; Memoir; (Market)
This book is based on the life of a commercial diver working in the oil and gas industry from the cowboy days of the early 1980s around Asia, India, Australasia, and Africa to the safety-orientated twenty-first century in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico. You will travel with the characters that work in this world and see the countries that they visit. It’s a wild and dangerous job, and most people would struggle to get their head around the fact that people actually do this for a living. But that’s not all. You also get to travel with a traveller, who, when not submerged under the water building or fixing oil fields, is sitting on a surfboard riding the waves that he dreamt about when he was growing up. This is proof that dreams can turn into reality if you want to push yourself over the edge of your safety zone. Dreams become reality if you work on it and face your fears. Give it a shot and see how you go.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 5 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6.50 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: The concept at the core of this memoir is refreshing and intriguing. Few readers will be familiar with the niche profession the author describes so vividly.
Prose: The writing, which somewhat resembles stream-of-consciousness, can muddle the storytelling and deflect from the sense of excitement and urgency. A degree of tightening and editing for clarity would benefit the prose.
Originality: Mcgettigan's subject matter and focus are undoubtedly unique. Armchair travelers and diving enthusiasts alike will value this narrative.
Character Development/Execution: The divers introduced throughout are quirky, of many nationalities, and temperaments. Mcgettigan creates a bright and lively portrait of his and others' experiences both in and out of the water.
Date Submitted: December 06, 2021
