Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sinbad, Part B

 

The Old Man of the Sea, Monro Scott Orr (1923)

The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang (1898).

Almost everyone who starts a journey with Sinbad ends up dead, it a wonder they don’t call him Sinbad the Cursed. I’m surprised he could find anyone to sail with him for the last 3 voyages. I’m honestly impressed it took him 6 terrible journeys to finally decide that he was done. It’s almost poetic justice that he unwillingly gets roped into a 7^th voyage. I can’t believe they call him “the Sailor”, you would think losing half of your ships would make you a bad sailor.

I really liked the story of the old man of the sea. It’s almost like emotional baggage tormenting him, but also keeping him alive. He gets rid of this baggage by drinking away him problems. Although this is a terrible way to deal with such issues, many people still deal with their problems with alcohol.

I’m not going to lie the name sequins for the coins keeps making me think of them trading modern day clothing sequins. I just imagine them trading sequins till they have enough for a sweet vest. It would be an interesting story to see a fairy from that time period demand sequins as payment receive modern day sequins and decide that they like them better. Just the thought of trading a magical favor for a lush sequined bed and in reality it is a sequined pillow from Walmart that cost like $5 is comical. 

I can’t believe people hear his stories and just accept everything as truth. These stories seem like something an old man at a tavern would tell to get free drinks.

Reading Notes: The Voyages of Sinbad, Part A

 

Sinbad the Entertainer 

The Arabian Nights' Entertainments by Andrew Lang (1898).

I think its better with him talking to another man Sinbad who is impoverished, it is almost like he is talking to the man he could have been.

Oh, a sailor we should have a lot in common, first sentence “I had inherited considerable wealth from my parents…” maybe in the next story.

Why didn’t the captain didn’t recognize him?

I really felt the opening paragraph of the Second Voyage, I would come back to Oklahoma on leave and within 2 weeks I was ready to get back to my Ship.

Pulling into a new liberty port is amazing but missing the boat and being left behind was probably my greatest fear.

I feel like this could all be an elaborate tale to avoid getting in trouble for missing the boat. I could probably adapt the story to a more modern-day US Navy sailor.

I like to imagine that the savages in the third story were just monkeys that liked to steal ships.

He met the captain from his second journey… the more I read, the more I think he is just a very talented grifter.

You think after all this he would stop sailing.