Muted yet interesting
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This book has its fair share of notoriety. In all honesty I found it hard to understand why. There is no suggestion of a sexual or even romantic relationship between the two men unlike "King and King" where the two Princes overtly fall in love and marry. This book can be simply read as being about a strong enduring friendship between men. It is not a straightforward happy-ever-after tale either as the sceptical abandoned friends stay behind to keep watch for Sailor and Matt.
The action and dialogue is disarming simple, almost plain. The artwork is reminiscent of North Sea dunes and seascapes: washed blues, light-grey, wind-pushed clouds and occasional tints of distant colour. I certainly think that the title could have been rendered better. The original Dutch title is 'Wachten op Matroos' (Waiting for Sailor) which is more muted than the jaunty sauciness of 'Hello, Sailor', a title at odds with the soft hues of the pictures and the pace of the story.
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Touching story may be a little boring for younger listenters
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I am a gay father of two little boys, and I was delighted with this book. My older son (5 years old) picked it out at the library, and I had no idea of the theme until I was reading it to him. I nearly cried when I realized that this is a sweet little love story about two men, and I loved the illustrations. My son, however, thought it was "boring" and that the pictures were "too dark." I can see how a five-year-old would think this, but I will be adding this book to my permanent collection. How refreshing to see a love story about two gay men that doesn't focus on their sexuality, but instead on their commitment to one another. I think this is an important children's story for any family with gay parents or straight parents.
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Hello Sailor
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I liked the idea behind this book as it portrays the potential for deep friendship and love between two men in a sensitive way. However I thought the pictures were not appealing to young children and there is a lot of negativity within the book: the lighthouse keeper's friends keep telling him that Sailor won't return and that he's possibly dead; and the fact that the central character then rejects all his friends when Sailor returns. Having said that, Sailor is obviously a faithful partner as he does return (contrary to what the lighthouse keeper's friends have been predicting) and the two men do live out their dream.
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Danger at sea
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Living by the sea, I know only too well the dangers that shipping and other sea craft face on a daily basis. The Coastguard, volunanteers like lifeboat crews and indeed lighthouse staff put themselves at incredible peril for all our safety and well being. I just hope hope they don't read this outrageous book. Imagine your local lighthouse keeper reading it and following the implied advice.."my lover has returned from afar, I'll abandon my duty now and stuff all the seafarers trusting their lives in me.." Unbelievable. I would have given this book one star but I thought the bit about the lighthouse keeper being gay was pretty cool.
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Gross sterotyping
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I find the central character in this otherwise charming children's book quite, quite offensive. I also fear what warped notions this book will bring into the heads of child readers. The central figure is a one-dimensional portrayal of a media stereotype with very little accuracy or research, and is not grounded in fact in any way. This book can do nothing but increase the predjudiced and unfair perceptions of lighthouse keepers in the media, and I urge all readers who care about the maritime coastal protection infrastructure not to buy it.
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