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Title:  Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent

Author:  Bill Peet

Genre:  Animals / Children's / Sea / Adventure / Pirates / Traveling

Year Published: 1975

Year Read:  1994

Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company

Source:  Purchased

Content Rating:  Ages 7+  (Some Intense Scenes)

“Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent” is an adventurous book from Bill Peet about how a friendly sea serpent who at first wanted to wreck a ship to have fun, ends up trying to protect a ship full of passengers looking for a new land. “Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent” may be tough for smaller children to read but older children would most likely enjoy the adventurous scenes contained in this book. 

Bill Peet’s writing is extremely inventive and exciting as he writes the story about a sea serpent that is willing to risk his life to protect the people on a voyage for a new life. Bill Peet is extremely inventive whenever he uses various words such as “doldrums” and “bedraggled” to make the story more clever and dramatic. Also, the idea that Cyrus is more like a friendly sea serpent rather than a vicious one makes the story more creative as people usually believe that sea monsters are meant to be scary. Bill Peet’s illustrations are beautiful and colorful, especially of the scenes where he illustrates the sea as a calm ocean for the water is beautifully blue and during the storm scenes, he makes the sky dark and the ocean smashing viciously at the Primrose. 



Parents should know that there are many advanced words in this book and that this book may be a bit too long for younger children to handle. Some of the advanced words mentioned are “pilings,” “doldrums,” and “bedraggled” and young children may not understand what those words mean. Parents should write down the advanced words down on a piece of paper and define them so that the younger children would understand what the word means and therefore, it would make it easier for them to read this book. Also, the length of this book is a bit too long than any normal children’s book and that may be a bit too tiresome for some small children to handle, so parents should read at least a few pages a day so that children would not get too tired of this book. 

“Cyrus the Unsinkable Sea Serpent” is a wonderful story about the power of friendship and how it is better to help people rather than be cruel towards them and children would easily enjoy this book for ages. I would recommend this book to children ages seven and up since the advanced words and the length of the book may be a bit too challenging for smaller children.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

Nach der Lektüre der Trilogie „Die Seiten der Welt“ von Kai Meyer hatte ich das Gefühl, unbedingt ein Buch für Erwachsene lesen zu müssen. Ich wollte ein Leseerlebnis, das mich fordert. Die Wahl, die mein Bauch für uns traf, überraschte mich allerdings: „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ von Dietmar Dath. Ich zögerte. Ich wusste, dass dieses Werk eines der anspruchsvollsten ist, die mein Regal zu bieten hat, auch, weil ich irrtümlich annahm, es handele sich dabei um ein Sachbuch. Als ich es in der Hand hielt, klärte sich diese Fehleinschätzung natürlich auf, doch meine Skrupel blieben. Ich stritt mit mir selbst, entschied dann aber, mich darauf einzulassen. Normalerweise weiß mein Bauch sehr genau, wann ich für eine bestimmte Lektüre bereit bin – ich vertraute ihm und stürzte mich in „Die Abschaffung der Arten“.

Die Zeit der Menschen auf Erden ist abgelaufen. Nun regieren Tiere eine Welt, die nur noch bedingt an die Errungenschaften der Menschheit erinnert. Unter der Führung des Löwen Cyrus Golden erreichte die Gesellschaft der Gente Frieden, Wohlstand und Intellektualität. Die Evolution auf dem Zenit ihrer Macht. Doch die Evolution ist eine wankelmütige Göttin ohne Gewissen. In den Wäldern Südamerikas entsteht eine neue Lebensform, die alles bedroht, was der Löwe einst als wahrgewordene Utopie erschuf. Der Gefahr ins Auge blickend entsendet er den Wolf und Diplomaten Dmitri, um einen alten Verbündeten aufzusuchen. Auf seiner Reise sammelt Dmitri Eindrücke und Erkenntnisse und beginnt zu verstehen, warum den Menschen die Ewigkeit verwehrt wurde. Die neuen Besitzer der Erde müssen wählen: haben sie wahrhaft aus den Fehlern ihrer Vorgänger gelernt und sind bereit, sich der Evolution demütig zu beugen oder wird ihnen Hybris zum Verhängnis?

Ich denke nicht, dass ich „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ vollständig verstanden habe, das möchte ich von vorneherein klarstellen. Ich schäme mich nicht, das zuzugeben, denn ich glaube, es gibt wenige Menschen auf der Welt, die dieses Buch voll und ganz zu deuten verstehen. Die Lektüre ist ein Kampf mit den Grenzen der menschlichen Intellektualität und überstieg definitiv hin und wieder meinen Horizont. Dietmar Dath stellt hochabstrakte Spekulationen auf wissenschaftlicher Ebene an. Philosophie, Biologie, Genetik, Physik, Chemie – man müsste schon in all diesen Gebieten gleichermaßen bewandert sein, um das volle Gewicht von „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ wertschätzen zu können. Es wäre gelogen, würde ich das von mir behaupten und doch empfinde ich dieses Buch als Bereicherung, weil die Botschaft unverkennbar ist. Ob Mensch, ob Tier, wir alle sind Sklaven der Evolution. Sie ist die eine Konstante, der wir uns nicht widersetzen können, unabhängig davon, wie nachdrücklich wir es versuchen. Der Löwe wollte der Welt eine neue Geschichte nach seinem idealistischen Design geben. Er erschuf technisch weiterentwickelte, biologische Hybride, die jede Artenzuordnung ad absurdum führen. Er wollte der Evolution durch die uneingeschränkte Förderung von Individualität ein Schnippchen schlagen und ihr gleichkommen. Es sollte so viele Arten wie Einzelwesen geben. Darauf spielt der Titel an. Ein Wolf mit Bocksbeinen, eine grüne Dachsin, eine Schwarmintelligenz mit der Fähigkeit der Autotomie – jeder Wunsch kann erfüllt werden. Mich erinnerte der Löwe an den Zauberer von Oz. Er tritt als omnipotenter Herrscher auf, ein wohlwollender Magier, der milde Gaben verteilt und sein Volk mit Tricks regiert und manipuliert. In diesem Bild ist die neue Lebensform im südamerikanischen Dschungel die böse Hexe des Westens, eine Bedrohung, die sich völlig seiner Kontrolle entzieht. Die unbestrittene Fortschrittlichkeit der Gesellschaft, ihre Verehrung der Evolution, schützt sie nicht vor den unberechenbaren Spielarten selbiger. Vielleicht ist es Karma, vielleicht einfach der Lauf der Welt. Vielleicht steht jeder Zivilisation nur eine vergleichsweise kurze Zeit auf Erden zu, bevor sie der Erneuerung weichen muss. Der Vorteil der Gente gegenüber der Evolution besteht in ihrer Unabhängigkeit von sterblichen Hüllen. Die gesamte Gesellschaft gründet sich auf einem ungemein weitgefassten Verständnis von Körperlichkeit. Individualität ist eine Eigenschaft des Geistes, nicht des Körpers. Somit ist es der Geist, nicht der Körper, der bewahrt werden muss, um wahre Unsterblichkeit zu erreichen. Die Gente haben Möglichkeiten gefunden, Erinnerungen, ja ganze Persönlichkeiten zu speichern und zu transferieren. Die Tragweite dieser Erkenntnis und des daraus resultierenden Handlungsstrangs wurde mir erst in der zweiten Hälfte des Buches bewusst. Dietmar Dath arbeitete mit einem äußerst heftigen inhaltlichen Bruch, führt seine Leser_innen in der zweiten Hälfte von „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ ohne Vorwarnung in ein völlig neues Setting weit in der Zukunft und stellt (scheinbar) völlig neue Figuren vor. Obwohl ich von diesem Sprung anfangs extrem irritiert war, erkenne ich nun die Notwendigkeit. Ohne ihn wären die Konsequenzen der Entwicklungen der ersten Hälfte nicht sichtbar gewesen. Die Pläne, die von den Gente zu Zeiten des Löwen vorbereitet wurden, waren auf Jahrhunderte ausgelegt. Dath brauchte die zeitliche sowie räumliche Trennung, um deutlich zu machen, worauf er hinauswollte: das Bewahren von Individualität ist der einzige Weg, die Evolution zu umgehen.

Vielleicht begreife ich erst in vielen Jahren, was mir die Lektüre von „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ auf lange Sicht gebracht hat. Das Lesen war anstrengend und anspruchsvoll; ich bewundere Dietmar Dath für seinen Mut, erfolgreich ein Buch in diesem Schreibstil zu veröffentlichen. Trotzdem fühlte sich die Lektüre nicht nach durchquälen an. Es war ein Kampf, ja, aber keine Qual, weil die Geschichte in all ihrer Abstraktheit eben auch fesselnd ist. Fraglos ist die Tatsache, dass es mich intensiv zum Nachdenken angeregt hat, vielleicht so sehr wie noch kein Buch zuvor. Das Leben findet immer einen Weg und dieses Leben ist in seiner Essenz immer von den gleichen Themen bestimmt, unabhängig davon, wie fortschrittlich eine Lebensform ist. Gefühle sind eine Ebene, die die Evolution nicht erreicht.
Ich werde euch „Die Abschaffung der Arten“ nicht empfehlen. Es fiel mir bereits schwer, das Buch mit einer konkreten Anzahl von Sternen zu bewerten, weil es selbst völlig wertungsfrei ist. Es ist eine objektive Schilderung einer möglichen Zukunft, nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Meiner Ansicht nach muss man eine bewusste Entscheidung treffen, wenn man mit dem Gedanken spielt, dieses Werk zu lesen. Halbherzigkeit ist absolut fehl am Platz. Entweder man hat den Willen, sich mit diesem Buch auseinander zu setzen, komme was da wolle, oder man hat ihn nicht.

By: Bette Lee Crosby 

Wyattsville Series #4

ASIN: B01E4MQ4JK

Publisher: Bent Pine

Publication Date: 6/15/2016

Format: e-book

My Rating: 5 Stars  

A special thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. What a great read for a rainy Friday (read in one sitting) Love this series!

Southern, much loved storyteller, Bette Lee Crosby returns following Passing Through Perfect (2015), landing on myTop 50 Books of 2015 - Best Southern Fiction” and “Best Southern Storyteller of 2015”, continuing with heart-warming #4 Wyattsville Series, with THE REGRETS OF CYRUS DODD.

A complex life of one man. A story worthy of telling. But to appreciate the end you have to go back to the beginning. A long dark road of misery.

“Love and sorrow come into your life hand in hand. I’m an old man now and over these many years I have seen more than my share of sorrows, some so great they brought me to my knees. But I have also loved with such passion that it set my soul afire. Were you to ask me would I give up one to avoid the other, I would turn away.”

Elk Bend, West Virginia 1930, Cyrus Dodd’s life in the rural country on a farm. He and his wife Ruth own land, a home, and a farm. Everything a man wants in this era. He takes pride in protecting his family. They may not have riches; however, live comfortable.

However, Virgil Jackson, a neighbor (not friends), has them over a barrel. Virgil of course took every opportunity to remind Cyrus of this, daily. An evil man with greed and hate in his heart and soul.

The Dodd’s source of water was from the pond on Virgil’s land. It had an underground spring that offered an endless stream of fresh water, and fed the brooks running across three different farms. One being Dodd’s cornfield. It enabled Cyrus to irrigate the bottomland and water the livestock as well as their crops. Unfortunately, Cyrus had no alternative other than to remain neighborly with Virgil.

Until . . . .

The spring they each had piglets. Virgil seven and one stillborn, and Cyrus nine (all alive and well). A week later a tornado, and his pig wound up at Virgil’s farm. Cyrus knew where his missing pig was and tried to attain it from him. It was branded, so he knew. Virgil said it was his. Refused to return it. Cyrus goes back later and takes his pig.

This started the feud of a lifetime.

Virgil goes to the sheriff, they go to court, and ultimately case dismissed. However, worried about the water, his wife wants him to make peace. Virgil would not accept pigs, animals or apologies. Soon he built a dam, and Cyrus' water supply was cut off.

Virgil was not a forgiving man. Virgil desired nothing more than to see Cyrus fail.

Pretty soon, tragedy hits the Dodd’s household. From his crops, animals, and his livelihood. Cyrus is stubborn and will not leave his land. Ruth knows he cannot make a living on a farm without water. What kind of life would they have if they stayed? When they think matters cannot get any worse, they lose their baby. Almost as bad as "Job from the Bible", everything is taken away. They buried their baby boy and planted a small elderberry bush.

Who is to blame? The anger Cyrus feels toward Virgil is hatred. Ruth saw it coming; however, he did not listen. He will make it up to her. He cannot change the past, but he will not let Ruth pay for his mistakes.

A feud is not forgotten, regardless of how well-intentioned a man is, once hatred settles in his heart, it remains there forever. With every hardship he suffered the hatred grew stronger, until eventually it became so powerful, not even his prayers could overcome it.

More tragedy and sorrow. Even rain flooded his cornfield. Day after day, Cyrus' anger swelled. Ruth wants them to sell the farm. Cyrus is proud and says it is his home and he will never leave. Ruth reminded him it was "their" home. A man's pride. Another cold winter, and no money, and once again another sorrow. This time, a loss so painful, Ruth may never recover.

Cyrus, is at his lowest when he sees the light go out in Ruth’s eyes. She is bedridden and has lost her will, to even get out of bed with her sadness. She has lost her will to live. It is his fault.

In the meantime, Cyrus does not know, Virgil has problems, of his own. His wife cannot handle his anger. Their oldest son is holly terror. He is bullying his younger brother and baby sister. Things get so bad his wife takes their daughter to live with her sister in fear of their lives. She has to guard her younger son and carries a gun to protect for their own son. The oldest son is out of control. Virgil cannot see he is following in his path. Bad things start happening to Virgil.Karma is a bitch…

“A man’s pride will cause him to do things you never dreamed possible. When being right was most important, and all other things were blocked out.”

Cyrus was a strong man who could deal with many things—from flooded land, failed crops, hard winters, even humbling himself to a man like Virgil. But the one thing he couldn’t deal with was seeing Ruth so weary. He thinks of killing Virgil, he is so angry. Will his hatred get the better of him?

However, he thinks about what Ruth said.

He learns of a job in Virginia outside a small town of Wyattsville, working for a railroad. A man loves his land, but he loves his wife more. She gets a flicker of light back in her eyes. They make plans to leave; however, they have not been able to sell the land, due to Virgil, cutting off the water supply. No one could afford to get on the bad side of Virgil.

They are afraid of staying, and equally frightened of going. They begin selling off everything they con to get enough money to make the trip. Cyrus will never stop trying. Ruth deserved better. With little money they leave and take a train.

From here to the end of the book, things start changing for them. When all seemed gloom and stuck on the side of the road, with nowhere to go, they meet a stranger. Fate steps in.A right decision.

A woman, (angel) Prudence Greenly all alone and her husband, Arnold is deceased. She offers them a room for a few days, and they wind up staying. They love the town, and Ruth soon gets her strength back, and she and Prudence become best friends. Life is good.

“Having regrets ain’t good for the soul.” Some are irreversible.

Cyrus is doing well on the job and now they are saving money. However, Cyrus is a proud man and wants a place of their own; however, he helps out Prudence and they wind up staying until Prudence’s death years later. Even a healthy daughter.

“The thing about regrets is that no matter how many you’ve got, you just keep adding more.”

Cyrus still has regrets and thinks of his land and everything in his life. However, they begin to start taking trips and vacations (one to the Greenbrier Hotel, VA). Been there many times. They try to appreciate one another, their time, and good fortune. They try enjoy life without the worries of money-with new neighbors and friends.

Cyrus never forgets Virgil – he stole his life, but decides he has all he can get. He is giving him too much power over his life.

As they get older, their daughter Joy goes off to school and starts her own life; they become empty nesters. Another tragedy. Another storm. This time the neighbors rally around to help them. This is when we get to revisit with Olivia, and some of the folks from previous books at the Wyattsville Apartment. (love it)

“I keep thinking surely to God, I have already done everything there is to regret, but every time I’ve thought that I discover another regret waiting on the horizon.”

In the meantime, little does Cyrus know, Virgil has lost almost everything important in his life. There was a murder, and his family is gone. He was a hateful evil man.

Cyrus has a long list of regrets. The problem is you never know exactly what it is you’re going to regret until it’s too late to change what you’ve already done.

“A man cannot change who he is. He can only hope that with age comes the wisdom to see his folly.”

Flashing back and forth from Ruth and Cyrus, and get the updates happening back at Elk Bend from Virgil Jackson.

From the house on Harrison Street. Young Married to Empty Nesters. Retirement. Wyattsville Arms Apartments. Full circle. The cycles of life. The regrets. The memories.

A former life. They revisit their land they lost, and their home they loved years ago . . and the man who took it away. Landing where they are today. Sometimes we have to reach our lowest in order to receive what awaits around the corner. One flicker of fate can change your whole life. Memories:Some sweet. Some painful.

“As I grow ever closer to the end of my time, I look back at this life and tell you that the only thing I would wish to give up is the regret I’ve carried in my heart for all these years. At long last I have come to realize the things I once counted as regrets were indeed blessings that I was too blind to see.”

What a heart-warming series!

Bette is a master designer with her quirky gritty southern storytelling. She bridges the gap from young to old, so eloquently.  

Reading her stories is like sitting in a cozy kitchen- with some homemade goodies, a fire, and a cup of tea or coffee with a wise grandmother, telling tales to her grandchildren. (Southern Comfort) Glued to the fascinating history with eyes dazzling. It is amazing how stories of our grandparents relate to today’s top headlines.

When we think of regrets, I recently read an article in Forbes: The 25 Biggest Regrets In Life. What Are Yours? 5 Choices You'll Regret Forever.

We are all busy. Life happens. There’s always something to distract us from getting around to certain things we know we should do. We regret our decisions and second guess our past parenting, financial, career, education, friends and family choices we have made. Things we did, or did not do with our time here on earth. Sometimes life passes us by, while dwelling on things we cannot change.

With today’s social media and smartphones, we are neglecting some stuff we should do. But we never get around to it. Then, something happens. We begin to think about what our biggest regrets would be, if we were suddenly sitting on our death bed.

In light of the recent Orlando’s tragic shootings, we see firsthand what hatred does. From terrorists, evil, greed, jealousy, lies, shootings, bullying, and more. The lives it destroys. Not so different in the thirties, when people used their own weapons in different ways to drive others out of their lives. From the early Bible days of Cain and Abel. Man's hatred.

As always, Bette delivers a wise message, metaphors of life storms, and plenty of life’s essential lessons. A cautionary tale.

"Sometimes regrets are not mistakes. The difference is some keep hanging on to the memory of them. Some regrets Cyrus carried around, weren’t really regrets after all. Just life’s heartaches. It is imperative we learn to discover the differences."

Some decisions have repercussions that can last a lifetime. Most of these decisions are made daily, and they require focus and perspective to keep them from haunting you.

Highly Recommend The Wyattsville Series (All 5 Starred)!

Passing Through Perfect (Wyattsville, #3)
Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville, #2)
Spare Change (Wyattsville, #1)

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” –Stephen Covey