The Ritual Master The first novel I ever read in Spanish was his. El amor en los tiempos des colera. It was before I even took a Spanish class and the fact that I understood what I was reading, as if by a miracle, decided my fate. As much as I love his novels, today I am bringing to you one of his lesser known writings, a non-fiction book based on a true event and the interviews that Gabriel García Márquez conducted as a journalist. An intense story, best described by its full original title :
The story in one phrase : The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor: Who Drifted on a Liferaft for Ten Days Without Food or Water, Was Proclaimed a National Hero, Kissed by Beauty Queens, Made Rich Through Publicity, and Then Spurned by the Government and Forgotten for All Time.
How does it make me feel : It starts with anxiety. Fear of the unknown, real danger, and my old insecurities of not being a good swimmer. But I keep going, page after page, and somehow, I start to embrace the adversity. The water keeps me afloat, my thoughts calm down, and I begin noticing the signs around me. This book makes me long for loneliness at sea…
Top 3 details
Number one : a storytelling masterclass. The facts were simple. He went overboard, he drifted for ten days, he reached land. And yet, without embellishing the facts, Gabriel García Márquez tells a thrilling story. The choice of writing it in the first person, taking us right there on the liferaft with him, the narration of the ten days, each one with its own set of drama, and the simple words to describe the emotions of a man not used to talk feelings : these are only a few elements that make up a wonderfully constructed story.
Number two : balance. When to fight and when to let go ? Is letting go a mistake ? Are you giving up on life ? These questions keep turning as an undertone of the storyline. Balance between action and reflection seems to be the key to survival. If you look at this man’s story from a distance, it speaks not only of his drama and endurance, but of human nature, of life lessons worth considering before getting into trouble, and of choices in borderline conditions.
Number three : waking up the senses. It’s fascinating how you can start salivating when someone describes cuting a lemon in two. The same thing happens while reading this adventure, as you find yourself thirsty and willing to drink some salty water even though you know you shouldn’t, you’re burning up in the midday sun, you’re shivering in the pitch dark night, you hear the water against your raft, you hear the lonely seagulls cry. You are there !
Yin/Yang : It is a story of resilience and strenght, both physical and mental. A book that takes you through strong emotions, and ultimately inspires you to keep going, as the answers are always there. For me, it has a Yang energy, motivating and inspiring.
Favourite Quote : The shark’s presence diverted me from my intentions; discouraged, I lay down at the side of the raft. But after a few moments I was filled with glee; seven sea gulls flew over the raft. To a hungry sailor alone at sea, gulls are a message of hope. Ordinarily, a flock of sea gulls will accompany a ship out of port, but only up to the second day of the voyage. Seven sea gulls over the raft meant land was nearby. If I had had the strength, I would have started to row. But I was too weak. I could barely stay on my feet for a few seconds at a time. Convinced that I was less than two days from land, I drank a little more sea water from the palm of my hand and again lay down at the side of the raft, face upward so the sun wouldn’t burn my lungs. I didn’t cover my face with my shirt because I wanted to go on looking at the sea gulls, which were flying slowly, swooping down at an acute angle to the sea. It was one o’clock in the afternoon on the fifth day.
Life Lesson : Even though the sailor is not presented as a philosopher, his adventure comprises many lessons. The one I choose is befriending your thoughts. I so often hear people say they want to escape their obsessive thoughts but cannot do it. And if they aren’t obsessive, then making them stop for a change would be ideal. While I do agree with the idea that we are not our thoughts, I also believe that the thinking mind and the consciousness of having these thoughts are not always a bad thing. Maybe the possibility of being stranded at sea for 10 days is not likely, but we do live similar situations in our every day life. The time spent on buses and trains, being stuck in traffic, waiting in line for something, we often get confrunted with our thoughts. And even if nowadays we take refuge in our smartphones, there are times when real solitude is the only way. Having the ability to turn your attention to positive or constructive thoughts, rather than anxiety and anger, is one of the most precious skills I know. So next time you are in a traffic jam, think of our sailor and ask yourself how would you pass time, alone, at sea, for 10 days ?
Why you should read it : It’s real, it’s intense, and you can almoast smell the sea. Gabriel García Márquez said “It is my favourite book, and the first one I ever wrote !” And for a first, it is spectacular. You can sense the storyteller preparing himself for history !
A short yet intense book, that transports and moves you along with the waves. We shall continue our sea exploration, with a ritual of simplicity and reflection. Until then, enjoy your reading !
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