A review by moj8668
The Pirate Queen: In Search of Grace O'Malley and Other Legendary Women of the Sea by Barbara Sjoholm

3.0

I did enjoy reading about the women seafarers whose lives the author sought to learn about. However, so much of the book was wrapped up in detailed descriptions of the weather and the landscape that reading became tedious. And while I enjoy a certain level of vulnerability when authors are writing about their own experiences, the authors angst over changing her name was completely irrelevant to the overall intent of the book.

One last little thing - the author makes a comment about everyone being drawn to the sea which is a HUGE overreach. I, personally, am far more drawn to wooded or mountainous areas and have never felt the inextricable tug of the sea that the author obviously feels. While I admire her passion - and can completely understand it, having my own "favorite places" - it's a fallacy for her to assume that everyone feels as she does.

If it weren't for the fact that I've learned more about women who "bucked the norms", I would have rated the book far lower.