B.D. BrunsRezensionen

For a last-minute Kindle read, this filled the bill. Author is not a particularly good writer (often used the wrong word and was unnecessarily obtuse) but he does have a remarkable story. For anyone who's ever cruised or river-cruised or been part of some group expedition, this is a window into the crazy, wild world of the servants, er, service people who make it possible. Lots o' sex and alcohol and crazy long working hours = all part of the ship life. Little wonder, Bruns is the first American to ever work on a major cruise ship (Carnival) as a waiter. Most of his colleagues are Asian (Indian, Phillipino) or Eastern European (Romanian).

Kind of amusing tales of living the life of a cruise ship worker. Makes me never want to go on a cruise. Ever.

If you like history (with a tiny bit of cruise ship) and the drama that passengers don't see then consider reading this book. But at least read the first book in the series for this book to make sense.

Two notes: (1) I received this title through a Goodreads giveaway. (2) I have not read any of Bruns' prior titles, particularly in the series to which this title is related, so am reacting to just one piece of his body of work on cruise ships.

The story in Bruns' travel memoir UNSINKABLE MISTER BROWN stuck with me much longer than I expected it would. The plot revolves around the relationship of Brian and Bianca. Brian is a hopeless romantic who gives up his life as a techie in the U.S. to follow Romanian Bianca onto cruise ships so they can maybe... hopefully... perhaps someday be together. That is harder than it looks, as the pair is constantly shuffled from ship to ship with different vacation times, friends and responsibilities.

The major piece of interest I had in this memoir comes through the fact that Brian's situation as an employee of a cruise ship is a unique one, and an exciting way to experience a travel book. The romance between the two main characters with different locales around the world serving as backdrop adds some spice (and a touch of history) to their experiences. What makes this memoir different (and more accessible, in my opinion) is the conflict provided between personal life and ship life. While the characters are able to travel the world, they are given very little freedom outside "work breaks" and struggle with the difficulties of their career paths. These careers bring Brian and Bianca down to earth and make their emotional struggles understandable to a world of readers who feel torn between their careers and their loved ones. Of course, Brian is the author of this memoir and the perspective of this story is his own, though you can tell he tries to be fair and balanced with himself.

When I picked this up I expected it to be overloaded with details of ship life from start to finish--not so. The ship provides a setting for the story and a plot device to propel the characters forward, but it takes some time to reach a cruise ship. From what I've gathered, Bruns' other titles probably attend to the ins and outs of ship life a bit better. This is a memoir about romance and if you are typically a very practical person you won't "get" the hopeless romanticism of these characters.

Overall, I give this title 3/5 stars because of its ease in reading and its goal of teaching me something new while giving me a pair of characters to root for. If the TV networks are looking for a new workplace comedy to fill a hole in their schedules I think ship life might be an area that has some freshness left in it.

Entertaining in parts. Opened my eyes to crew working conditions, hierarchies, etc. A bit self serving and whiny sometimes but maybe that's because I am so much older. Life is so unfair. Yet I could never endure what these people endure and smile at rude passengers for so little money. My last cruise i made sure to tip not only over and above but also other people I don't normally think to tip.

I have never been on a cruise ship, but I have worked with ESL folks from many different cultures, so I regard this narrative as less reality than wishful thinking. That being said, by regarding it as a fanciful tale full of ego and testosterone, I enjoyed it and laughed myself silly! I mean, come on, he is the best at everything? And everyone is constantly bedhopping? Really, he is NOT James Bond! And no one ever gets mal de mer or Traveller's Revenge? But if you take it as humor, it is hard not to enjoy it. Even if only 10% is based in reality, it is still a smudged window into a workplace that many of us never are aware of.
Maybe I just enjoyed it more because it was performed with such agility by Gary Furlong who made it even more fun.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is less about the bike trip, and more about the people you meet along the road. A wonderful story about a journey that we won't soon forget.



*** I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

A true love story!

How many men would take a vacation and travel thousands of miles to another country to visit a woman he only knew for three days? How many men would give up their job to begin a new life on a cruise ship? That’s what Brian Brown did. Bianca lives in Romania but works on a cruise ship where life is hard work and long hours. Brian fell in love with her and was willing to give up everything to be with her. Unfortunately for him, things don’t always go as planned, and he could never have imagined how hard it would be to work on a cruise ship. But true love conquers all, and through every obstacle thrown at him, Brian was determined to be with Bianca. Cruise ship after cruise ship, he kept on going, waiting for the time when they could be together for more than just their vacation time.

Excellent descriptions of numerous places around the world, you can imagine being there with them. Great cast of characters of all sorts, family, friends, co-workers and those determined to make life difficult. You’ll be rooting for Brian all throughout the story. But you’ll need to read it yourself to see if love conquers all and they finally end up together or not.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is written in a very relaxed, humorous and friendly way. Quick read (8 hours). It was an entertaining read. A well written eye-opener to how hard the staff really works, and makes you remember there really is a "dark side" in every industry.

After reading this book, I don't know if I can ever go on a cruise. I certainly hope that the way the staff is treated has changed, if it hasn't, well, then, modern slavery is alive and well. It is fun to read about how all the different nationalities got along (or didn't) and the debauchery that takes place behind the scenes. I was also very amused at the nonAmericans view of America.

The way the staff is treated, not only by the cruise line but by the guests on board, is absolutely abhorrent. Please, everyone promise me that you will be nice to your waiters!

One American man becomes the first ever American to finish a contract in the dining room of Carnival Cruise line...and all for a woman. Is he crazy or just stupid?

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author makes you feel as though you are right along side him working, sweating, swearing through his shift in the dinning room. I wanted to read more and didn't want the story to end. I wrote the author and thankfully he is working on a sequal.½

I received this book for free as part of a first reads promotion