Floating: A Return to Roger Deakin's Waterlog

(Paperback)

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This is one man 's journey, swimming across Britain 's countryside and immersing in the sometimes icy waters while coming to terms with something more challenging than the choppy waters of the English Channel. As Joe Minihane comes up for air, he discovers that swimming is both a joyous activity and a voyage into oneself. Minihane became obsessed with wild swimming and its restorative qualities, developing a new-found passion by following the example of naturalist Roger Deakin in his classic Waterlog. While fighting the currents, sometimes treading water, Minihane begins to confront the buried issues in his life. Along the way, he rekindles old friendships and forges new ones, and after an unexpected setback discovers that he has already gained enough strength to continue his recovery on dry land. Both strange and beautiful, the wild water puts him in touch with nature and himself. Floating is a remarkable memoir about a passion for swimming and nature. Moving from darkness into light, it is as intense and moving as it is lyrical and generous. It captures in memorable detail Minihane 's struggle to understand his life, to move forward and, steeped in the anti-authoritarian and naturalistic spirit of Deakin, celebrates the joy of taking time to enjoy life. From Hampstead to Yorkshire, and Dorset to Jura, from the Isles of Scilly to Wales, Minihane has written a love letter to wild stretches of water. We swim with him through ponds and lakes, rivers and canals, lodes and marshes, even the ice-cold sea and come out of the water healthier.

Reviews

'Lovely, lively, passionate... a celebration of nature's ability to inspire healing and joy'Robert MacFarlane

Minihane writes with refreshing candour... a transformative emotional journeyObserver

'Roger Deakins Waterlog journey, rebooted for the 21st century, Floating is a delicious slice of nature writing with a truly human heart'Alexandra Heminsley, author of Leap In

Minihane writes cleanly and with honesty, and never misses a factual or stylistic strokeTLS

'A gem... so thoughtful. Prose as clean and beautiful as a good swim'Jessica Lee, author of Turning

An ode to the joys of wild swimming in BritainLonely Planet

I love this book... this has to sit next toWaterlogin every swimmers libraryJenny Landreth, author of Swell: A Waterbiography

'Minihane finds in swimming a rare moment of being free from anxiety and learns that it can be integral in overcoming depression'Wanderlust

A string of immersive green dreams, from still, pollen-dusted ponds of warm days to the cold churning power of the sea... this is an effortless, absorbing read.Floatinghighlights the beautiful variety of outdoor swims possible in Britain and the great positive impact they can haveCaught by the River

Minihane writes with a compulsive honesty and clarity that draws you into its stream as beguiling as any river Deakin ever swam a wonderful read. Highly recommended!Kate Rew founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society

Engaging and enjoyable... as much a commentary on the changing nature of Britain as a celebration of wild swimmingThe Idler

A wonderful book: a love letter to wild swimming, a hate letter to anxiety and a story of how we can learn to live with ourselves, our overclocked minds, even after we climb out of the waterJoe Dunthorne, author of Submarine

Author Bio

JOE MINIHANE is a journalist based in Brighton. He trained at the Cardiff Journalism School and went on to work for lifestyle magazines in London before striking out on his own in 2009. The author writes on a broad list of subjects for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, but this is his first book.