A beautiful memoir. As the title suggests this book is all about the shipping forecast areas. But it is also so much more. Toby, a keen and experienced kayaker, had an ambition to kayak in all of the shipping areas and, after much planning, his challenge begins. His story is inspirational and very moving and as he described his adventures I felt like I was with him. Katie, his sister, has done an incredible job putting his story together. Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I initially gravitated towards it because of the soft comfort the shipping forecast brings me, like it does so many other people. The mystical but methodical nature of it has always interested me, and I loved reading 'The Shipping Forecast: A Miscellany' a few years ago, so the idea of learning more about the places behind the forecast really appealed to me. I also enjoy kayaking myself and love to read other people's stories about their adventures, so this seemed like the perfect book! I hadn't, however, heard Toby Carr's story before I picked up this book, so didn't realise how heart-wrenching this was going to be at first.

Simply put, wow. This is a beautiful book that tells multiple stories and teaches many lessons. I particularly enjoyed reading about the sea-kayaking itself, and the places Toby went and people he met. It's written in a way that I felt like I was along for the journey as well.

'Moderate Becoming Good Later' is full of life and wonder, it's exciting and funny but also poignant and heartbreaking. I'll always remember this book and recommend to others.

Thank you to Netgalley and Summersdale for the eARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

A lovely book, following Toby attempting to sea kayak all of the areas of the Shipping Forecast.
For those not familiar this is a radio broadcast of weather conditions for those on the sea but has become over time a rather calming British institution that people listen to even if they aren't near the sea.
The history of the areas is interesting as well as the people he meets and the funny moments.
The ending is moving even though I knew it was coming I was rooting for a different ending for Toby.
A unique and inspiring book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the authors and publishers for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who has had a serious illness in the past but not quite got her confidence back this book was a great reminder that things have only changed - not stopped, a message I needed to hear.
However as someone who gets seasick on the cliffs at Dover I won't be taking up sea kayaking - however appealing Carr makes it sound at times.

I had my heart in my mouth reading a lot of this but it was a wonderful read - and thanks to Katie Carr for being brave enough to finish the book

This brave beautiful book has become one of my most favorite memoirs. Written in gorgeous prose that makes you feel you are right with Toby Carr in a kayak on the sea. A compelling tale of adventure, coming to terms with life's end, and profound grief, finished magnificently after his death by sister Katie Carr. I will never forget this tragic, hopeful, and inspiring story--nor will any reader. Highly recommended!

First off, I’m not a sea kayaker, so don’t have much knowledge of the sport. (My husband is, so I witness second hand his love of being out on the water.) I will also admit to being drawn to the book because it was written following the death of Toby Carr - had it not been for that, I probably wouldn’t have looked at it.

There is something special about people experiencing loss who decide to make the most of life while they still have the opportunity. At the beginning of this adventure Toby didn’t know that he would die before he completed it, but the death of his brother and having a life limiting condition drove him to grab life by the proverbial horns. They chapters about the kayaking were interesting, particularly in terms of the people he met along the way, but for me, the most interesting chapters were at the beginning and end.

At the beginning, in chapters Toby managed to complete before his death, he describes his upbringing, family life and reasons for taking on the challenge. The other outstanding chapters were those written by his sister about events following his death. Katie has managed to beautifully and sensitively describe the aftermath of his death. Sprinkling his ashes and some of the memories shared was particularly poignant.

As a non-kayaker I found the actual kayaking accounts a bit too long, but someone who is at home on the water might think differently.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a persons enjoyment of sea kayaking and his drive to overcome things, started as an idea to the Churchill foundation to sea kayaking around the shipping forecast areas and this book is his and his sisters attempt to recreate his journey as we experience through pages of the book his journey travelling from Iceland, Faroes, Norway, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands, Channel islands, Spain , Portugal and the most of the British areas of the shipping forecast. The book itself has humour and sadness too in it but overall people would enjoy the journey through the pages.