Bandersnatch Hardcover – 1969

I skimmed through portions of this book in the public library many moons ago and it stuck with me all these years. For whatever reason, I decided to track this book down and read it. In some ways, it struck me that this book does have analogies to The Whale, in other ways, more modern-recognized themes such as PTSD and how one dealt with it (alkyhol). The main character has his own "Captain-Ahab" demons to deal with. Supporting characters have their own developments (and personal demons), dropped here and there throughout the book, making me read and re-read the book for snippets I read over previously. I felt I got my $$ worth from this book, including paying for the expedited fee, which cost much more than the actual book did, hahaha.

Enjoyed re-reading an old friend.

Ex-British Royal Navy Commander Sheldon has turned his MTB (Motor Torpedo Boat) into a pleasure yacht, and 20 years after WW2 his luck has gone from good, bad, to worse. He’s broke, can’t make repairs on his boat, can’t hire a crew, and can’t feed his girlfriend. Just when he thinks he’s hit rock bottom he’s told the harbor master in Palma, Spain is confiscating his boat to make up for the money he owes half the town.But when he see’s a multi-million dollar yacht owned by a Greek ship builder with more money he can ever spend in a single life, Sheldon comes up with a plan designed to turn his fortunes for the better.... and if all goes well, he’ll spend the remainder of his life a wealthy man..... If only he can keep himself from drinking himself into oblivion.With his former crew members he served with in the War, Captain Sheldon gets his MTB back into ship-shape battle condition. They train for a rendezvous at sea with a millionaire’s yacht that might net them the score of a lifetime..... But Captain Sheldon and crew soon learn that like in wartime, even the best laid plans don’t go the way one wants.This book cover caught my attention in a thrift store. It was written in 1969 and proves how books remain timeless gifts to be read over and over. I thought it’d be a one-time read, but I soon realized I enjoyed it so much I’m now keeping it in my personal library to be read again.