What remains of a man once the sea takes away everything but his memories?
This question follows Captain David Carter, a sailor whose life is shaped by orphanhood, war, and two women who crossed his life at different times. The novel begins with his haunting recollection of one, a memory that feels both sweet and rotten beneath the surface.
Later, the calm but powerful presence of another, an Egyptian artist, brings a different kind of longing. Between these two anchors, David keeps drifting, and the sea becomes both his escape and his mirror.
Four things stood out strongly for me.
First, the way the sea itself feels like a character, sometimes a lover, sometimes a thief.
Second, David’s memories are written with melancholy and saudade, showing how the past never truly leaves. His short poetic diary entries felt personal as I too used to write my feelings in the form of poems in my journal once.
Third, the contrast between the two women highlights two different shades of love: one that breaks and one that heals.
And fourth, the philosophical undertone sprinkled here and there in the story about time, loneliness and self makes the story linger far beyond the page. Those were the best part, that I truly loved.
This is not a fast-paced story. The writing is slow, almost like a meditation upon reading, and deeply metaphorical. And I love metaphorical presentations.
The prose is decorated with lyrical images, painting silence and longing against the crashing noise of waves. Life in the sea can be long, and silence of the heart speaks louder than any crashing tides. You come face to face with your inner wars. Thats what I observed in David too while he sailed through different timelines in his memory.
Quotes around love, change, and identity appear throughout, like whispers of truth hidden in the tide.
But truly this is not a love story. I wont even say its more than that. But its different. Its a quest to find answers deeper than the eyes can meet but soul requires.
For me, it felt calming and almost like a song, something I especially valued during my postpartum weeks when I needed stillness more than speed.
But where will the ocean and his inner tides land him? Will he find his answers? Will he find himself?
Readers who enjoy introspective books, where atmosphere and inner conflict matter more than external action, will truly appreciate this novel.
If you love poetic writing, meditations on solitude, and stories that explore deeper truths beneath everyday life, this one will speak to you.
The Sea and The Self is available now on Amazon.