Thalassophobia

Thalassophobia, fear of the ocean, is a common issue that most people go through. It is understandable how the eerie, deep, dark water can cause wonders and worries of what can be in that water. However, for Santiago, these fears are no match for him. Since he was ever a young boy, the old man had always been in love with the ocean. "He always thought of the sea as la mar which is what people call her in Spanish when they love her"(29). Though sometimes “she” is unfair to him, by disallowing him to catch the fish he needs or making fishing even harder, Santiago forever calls the sea la mar. "Sometimes those who love her say bad things of her but they are always said as though she were a woman...They spoke of her as a contestant or a place or even enemy. But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or whitheld great favours..."(30)

As a young boy, Santiago fell in love with the sea and Ernest Hemmingway describes that love very clearly. From his first trip on the water until the days of the present still going out on his boat, the old man never complains or talks poorly of the ocean. In every scene in the story, the author metaphorically explains how the old man is affected by the ocean. For example, on some days the ocean would be fairly serene and peaceful with a gentle rise and fall of the waves, or on others the weather would seem threatening and unfortunate for fishing. These different types of days on the ocean really played a role in Santiago’s life. Because of the vivid descriptions from the writer, the reader can really understand the hardships the weather could cause or even some hope for the old man. Ernest Hemmingway does a lot of describing to help clarify these feelings.

The author explains the sky, the salty water and the comments that the old man makes so concretely, that you could almost feel the same way as Santiago because the setting really affects the actions taken and the events that occur. An example of this happening would be a time when the weather was so bland and hot, and the old man would just talk to himself because there would be a silence surrounding him since it was a hot, sunny day and the ocean was so calm that his boat barely moved. From these portrayals that the ocean was so boring, the reader could almost feel as bored and visualize how the old man must seem so miserable.

Another way Ernest Hemmingway has described the setting and it has affected the story is when Santiago goes to catches the fierce fish. Like when he reels in the marlin, the author announces the waves crashing and the sun at its point in the sky. At one point he describes how it’s hot and the sweat drips from the old man’s face. With these descriptions, it is easy to visualize the scene and understand what is going on.

The ocean can be such a rough place but at the same time calm and relaxing. And by reading a book about times on an ocean during many different weather conditions, a reader can experience these times too. The setting is so important to a story that there would be no interest or really plot without it. Thus, because of the vivid descriptions from the author, it is possible that those with the fear can still be frightened from the ocean. However, since there were a few scenes where the ocean seemed so tranquil and enjoyable, there could be a chance that those people can realize the ocean isn’t as upsetting as it seems.

Third Quater Outside Reading Book Review

Total Constant Order by Crissa-Jean Chappell. Harper Collins Publishers, October 2007. Genre: Realistic Fiction

Fin, 15 year old freshman girl, has been forced into the life of living with divorced parents. After being moved from the town in Vermont where she had grown up, to southern Florida, her parents have decided to separate. With all these hard changes, Fin has developed obsessive compulsive disorder, a genetic disorder known as OCD. This problem of hers causes Fin to have voices in her head making her listen, count objects, and perform rituals to make sure she's "safe" from harm. While at her new school, Frances as she was born named, is sort of an outcast and has trouble making new friends. However, a secret pen pal she meets in the bathroom, named Thayer becomes her new mate. The two are both troubled from life and rely on each other for friendship and moral support.

"Plenty of kids, OCD or not, will...find the exploration of disorder and identity thought-provoking." ALA Book list

Fin goes to therapy since her mom has noticed her drastic changes in mood and activities. There, she is diagnosed with her disorder and her therapist teaches her to cope and eventually being able to cut out her rituals from her life. While seeing her therapist, Fin admits the troubles she and her mother have and comes to find out that her mother was the one who passed down OCD. Since the two living together brings out a lot of stress in the house, Fin goes to hang out with Thayer quite often where he gets her to smoke pot since he is a troubled kid himself. The two friends eventually grow to like each other.

""And how did you feel about that?" she asked.
"Stupid. I mean, what a waste of time. Why can't art mean different things to different people? It's like asking us to see the world the same way, which is impossible.""


This book was alright to me. It helped me understand more how people with OCD live a harder life and can relate to feeling how much of an outcast they feel. Also I liked how Chappell really got to the bare details of how much anxiety they have. Personally, I don't think I could ever live like those people. Meaning having the constant obsession of making sure everything is right in your mind. Though, I'm sure those people wouldn't like it either and it's just a thing they have to live with and get through. I also liked how the author really developed Fin in the book since she had to suffer through such changes in such short time.