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When I was a kid, I had a huge map of the world next to my bed. I used to stare at it for hours and dream of all the faraway places I hoped to visit. Which, if you know me should come as no surprise!
I still love to stare at a map, this time with intentional “where should we go next” wanderlust. During our recent cruise, I actually spent a crazy amount of time with the Holland America cruise view book they left in our stateroom, dreaming of all the sea adventures I hope to take someday (113-day around the world trip anyone?).
I also follow several families, through their websites, who are traveling around the world – with kids in tow. So when Bloomsbury approached me to check out an advanced copy of their new book, Where the Magic Happens: How a Young Family Changed Their Lives and Sailed Around the World, I was intrigued by the title alone!
Today I’m excited to share my review of this autobiography, and keep reading for your chance to snag an autographed copy!
Momma To Go would like to thank Bloomsbury Publishing for an advance copy of this book. As always all opinions are my own.
Where the Magic Happens: How a Young Family Changed Their Lives and Sailed Around the World.
I’m going to start this review by saying this book isn’t the next Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It’s not the most well written piece I have ever read, but it’s an HONEST and RAW account of real life, and one family’s VERY REAL journey.
When I first picked up Where the Magic Happens, I figured it would start with “On this day we left our first port… then we went to X, Y, Z and yada yada happened and then we returned home a year later.”
But the narrative is so much more.
The book is written by Caspar Craven, who I would consider a regular English guy. And I think that is why he is so relatable! He has sailed before, but in his younger, pre-kid days. In the late 2000’s he finds himself where many of us do. Just plugging along with his business, wife, and family of two young kids (which expands to three before sailing). Like many of us, the routine of life has him feeling both trapped AND longing for more quality time with his children.
Can anyone else relate?
He thinks fondly of his previous time at sea, and inspired by a sense of wanderlust and adventure, he hatches a plan to sail around the world with his wife and two kids. Again, he has sailed in his younger days, but sailing is not something his family has every really done! The Craven’s know it’s the right move, and they set their eyes on a departure date almost FIVE years into the future!
The first half/two-thirds of the book chronicle the five years Casper, and his wife, Nichola, spend preparing and planning for this big adventure. The story kind of drags on through this part, but I do like how Casper highlights how their determination to stick to their departure date can be translated to so many goals that we all have in our own lives – big or small. He also gives concrete advice (in the form of sidebars in the book) of how we can use this family as our muse to help see our own dreams into fruition.
The second half/one-third of the book reads differently. That is where we get the log of their circumnavigation of the globe. I also very much enjoyed this part. I loved reading about the different ports and places the family stopped. I was so intrigued by the vast stretches of sailing across oceans! I can’t imagine weeks without land in sight. I’m not a sailor so some of the nautical jargon was lost on me, but this story will remind you of the difficulties, solitude, and rewards an adventure like this brings.
In addition to being a travel-junkie and travel blogger, I am a big reader. So I don’t want to give away any spoilers here… but the Craven family does embark on their journey, and they make it home safely to pen this tale!
I highly recommend this book if you love adventure, real and honest stories, and to help you think about family travel in a different way. If you love reading travel blogs, you will love this book.
As far as family goes, I love the re-definition of “education” and thinking about where travel fits into my own children’s schooling. I doubt you could read this book and not be inspired to take on a new challenge. I know hubby and I have floated some pretty crazy ideas in the recent weeks and stories like these make you feel like fulfilling your dreams is possible!
Pick up your copy of Where the Magic Happens on Amazon!
BUT… you can also enter to win a copy of Where the Magic Happens!
UPDATE: The Giveaway has ended, Congrats to Lisa W. for winning and thanks to all who entered. BUT you can still pick up a copy of Where the Magic Happens on amazon!
Giveaway Rules:
1- Open to US and Canadian Residents (excluding US Island territories—Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa)
2- No purchase Necessary
3- Giveaway winner will be selected at random
4- Winner will receive prize directly from Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
5- Winner’s name may be used for promotional purposes
6 – Giveaway ends Friday, April 20 at 11:59 PM EST.
PLANNING A BIG ADVENTURE? THEN CHECK OUT:
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Please share:
WOW. This is an interesting read, I’m sure. I’m thinking of Treasure Island right now for some reason. lol I would love to win. 🙂
Sailing around the world with a young family sounds like a movie premise!
Wow, that sounds intriguing! We love to travel with our family, too. 🙂
Oh this sounds like a dream come true – especially for someone who hates to fly, what better way to see the world than by boat?! Giveaway entered!
What a fun adventure for a family. I know nothing about sailing, but talk about gorgeous views everyday!!
Oooh! I’d love to move my family into a tiny house and work remotely. That’s my dream!
Hole mole, I was afraid to go to Costco with my baby in tow, I can’t even wrap my head around sailing with kids! But the story does sound pretty darn inspirational. Thanks so much for sharing!
its so true! But sometimes when we think big – yeah…
Yada, yada, yada
Sounds like a great book! Wish I lived in the right part of the world to be able to do the competition!!
I’ve always been obsessed with their type of story. It’s doing something so different than the typical suburban – or urban – life. Would love to read this.
That sounds like such an awesome book! Definitely one I might add to my reading list this summer!
What a great book! I will have to check it out. You did amazing reviewing it.
Where the magic happens sounds awesome!! Great book review! Thank you!!!
I really like travel memoirs too, especially adventures that last several months. It still amazes me that people can do that. But it also inspires me to push past some of my limits.
I love reading travel memoirs, like that’s all I ever read anymore 😄 Whether or not I win the contest I’ll check this one out! Thanks for the honest review.
This sounds like such a great book. Thank you so much for reviewing it for us!
Sounds really interesting and fun to read!
What a fun book! We’re ALL about family travel!
How cool! I love how this is all about family and travel, my two favorite things.
We are not sailing people especially since we live in the midwest. Still would love to read about their lifestyle change and what happened during their year of sailing together.
What a fun inspiring read!
This looks like an incredible read, really generous to giveaway a copy
I am looking forward to finding this book and giving it a read. It sounds so interesting and also dangerous! It might tempt to me to plan to pack up and leave!
Like Amanda said above, this sounds like it needs to be a movie! I can’t imagine sailing across the world with my kids. What an amazing journey!
thats a really cool idea!
This book sounds like a real winner. It has setting goals and achieving them and so much more! I can’t wait to read it. We are going our our first cruise in December, I know this is not a sailboat trip with family, around the world. But it will be our first adventure at sea. We will see if a sailboat adventure is in the future after the cruise.
we just did a cruise, and there is something universal about life at sea!
Wow! I have never heard of this book but I cant wait to start turning pages. Sounds like this should’ve been a movie or documentary
Since it’s running parrallel with “into the wild” 180 degrees south
Or even kombilife.
This is a wonderful write up, and would love to get some guidance on how you crafted your wordsmithing skills.
Great post and book review! I think just spending a month together as a family traveling Europe by train would be amazing. We love camp and are soon to be finishing visiting every US State so would love to go overseas.
This is cool. My cousins ex girlfriend actually grew up on a sailboat and was “home schooled”. I always thought it was weird but kind of awesome. Looks like this would be a great read to inspire some adventure!
What a cool adventure! I’m not sure if I could sail as they did, but it also inspires me to incorporate more adventures and experience into my family’s life.
same! I’ve never really been on a boat for long term!
Thanks for the review! Sounds like a great adventure!
I love coming across new books to renew wanderlust. I don’t have any children, but I’ve been desiring to travel with my mother and 2-year-old niece, so I’d love to check the book out. It sounds like a read that I would enjoy.
This is something you and I share!! I have such a lust for seeing the world and just recently booked a trip to Italy!!! I am already thinking… what after that!!
Wow! It sounds like an awesome book! I love traveling with our kids, it is exhausting but so much fun to discover new places as a family.
This sounds like a great book! I love the quote about making conscious decisions about what you want for your family.
This sounds like an amazing book filled with inspiration. Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh my goodness what a neat concept! I will have to go purchase this book. I am such a lover of traveling.
I want to travel the world so this book sounds perfect for me. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like a great book! I love to travel with my family too. But, I could never imagine sailing around the world with young children!!
I appreciate your honest review. I bet this adventure was a lot of things to the family, including amazing. I have one to read where a family from Maine who did the same thing. Now I want to read it even more!
Great review. How fascinating to travel the world via sail.