Book Review - Red Sky Morning by Andrew J Rafkin

Fast Moving True Life Non Stop AdventureI experienced a kinship with the fourteen members
Andrew Rafkin has a tremendous respect for theof the crew as Andy described their reaction to the
ocean and a love for sports fishing. In his new bookdelays in port, the thrill of the catch, the tropical rain
"Red Sky Morning" Rafkin relives the summer hestorms, the hurricane force winds, and the crashing
turned 17 in this coming of age fast moving true towaves battering against the ship. I learned that the
life adventure story of life on a commercial tunalife of a commercial fisherman is death-defying and is
fishing expedition.the most dangerous of all professions with more
Andrew relates his story in a first person narrative. Afatalities per year than any other vocation.
gifted story teller, Andy drew me into the storyI was especially touched as Andy told of the
taking me back to my own teen years, as a youngerimportance of the summer as a bonding experience
Andy relates the adventure from his viewpoint.with his father. "...one of the best things was the time
Interwoven throughout the story are interludes withI spend, with my father, who, prior to this summer, I
Rosa, Lauren, Nicole, and Erin. These liaisons add anonly saw a few days between fishing trips. Spending
element of romance to Andy's 17th summer. Thethe whole summer with him gave me the opportunity
climax of the story is set two years later in a sportsto get to know him in his domain...I gained a
fishing incident that turned a dream opportunity into atremendous amount of respect for my father, and
recurring nightmare.came to understand what an awesome amount of
Rich in information on the back ground of sportsresponsibility he had being captain."
fishing and the history of commercial fishing Andrew"Red Sky Morning" is a compelling seafaring adventure
takes the reader From Monterey to San Diego onstory that will be enjoyed by sports fishermen, by
the West Coast all along the East Coast from Floridaanyone who loves the ocean, and those who own or
to Massachusetts. He describes the Western Ace ashave dreams of owning their own catamaran, yacht,
a "Navy seagoing tug that was converted to aor boat.
modern day purse seiner. She was 176 feet long andOutskirts Press, 978-1432719425
cruised at 11 to 12 knots...she had the capacity ofAs review by Richard R.
800 tons of fish."