Kijana: The Real Story
By Jesse Martin
241 pages, $11.53
2005
After Australian Jesse Martin became the youngest solo circumnavigator, he embarked on a different type of journey, which he describes in Kijana. This time Martin is joined by his brother, a friend, and an ever-changing female crew on a year-long cruise from Melbourne to Phuket, Thailand. Months go by, crew come and go, and constant discord ultimately ends the trip. Martin’s bare and unembellished style can be refreshing, though not always. Aside from having to slow down to puzzle out Australian colloquialisms, I found Kijana to be a fast-paced book full of adventure. It’s sure to inspire daydreams in anyone with even the slightest desire to sail or travel.