Posted by Frank Denton on May 14, 1998 at 15:34:03:
There has been a lot of discussion concerning the lack of plot in Ports of Call. As I read the novel it occurred to me that this was probably very much the sort of life that Jack led during his merchant marine days, moving from port to port, picking up and leaving off cargo, having brief shore leaves in communities whose cultures might be far removed from that of the U.S., perhaps seeing unusual or unique events. Just a thought.