Colum McCann's 6 favorite books that take place at sea

When you make a purchase using links on our site, The Week may earn a commission. All reviews are written independently by our editorial team.Colum McCann's new novel, Twist, tracks a group at sea tasked with repairing the underwater cables through which we all communicate. Below, the National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin recommends six other ocean tales.'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway (1952)I read this novel to my father when he was sick and lay dying in his hospital bed in Dublin. It was a profoundly cathartic experience for both of us. He understood perfectly the metaphors at hand: Sometimes he was the old man and sometimes it was me. I think the grand search at sea was gorgeously entwined with his journey to come. And we were both dreaming of lions. Buy it here.Subscribe to The WeekEscape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.Sign up for The Week's Free NewslettersFrom our morning news brief...