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  • Challenging the Pacific

  • The First Woman to Row the Kon-Tiki Route
  • By: Maud Fontenoy
  • Narrated by: Eliza Foss
  • Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (37 ratings)
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Challenging the Pacific cover art

Challenging the Pacific

By: Maud Fontenoy
Narrated by: Eliza Foss
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Editor reviews

After becoming the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Maud Fontenoy needed a new challenge, so she set out on a route across the Pacific made famous by Thor Heyerdahl, departing from Peru in a journey to Hiva Oa in French Polynesia's Marquesas Islands. In a fantastic performance, Eliza Floss captures all the thrilling nuance in Fontenoy's tale, from her palpable awe when describing the high seas to the creeping anxiety during Fontenoy's moments of self-doubt. Challenging the Pacific is a memorable adventure, and a great testament to the determination and strength of an incredible woman.

Summary

Named one of Time Magazine International's 30 most important people of 2005, Maud Fontenoy presents us with a terrific, entertaining adventure story on the high seas as she challenges the Pacific Ocean - a feat no woman before her ever accomplished. Already the first woman to row alone across the North Atlantic, Maud raised the bar to defy the elements, the daunting solitude, and the circling sharks of the South Pacific on her second solo voyage. She overcame all the odds as well as her personal doubts and fears, demonstrating not only her indomitable courage and strength but proving once again that women can conquer the most difficult and treacherous obstacles.

©2005, 2011 Editions Robert Laffont (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

  • AudioFile Earphones Award 2014


"With hushed tones, Foss describes magical moments that Fontenoy encounters, such as a mighty whale eyeing her tiny rowboat, Océor, before diving deep underneath it. During a sequence in which a vicious storm nearly ends the voyage, Foss adds a raw vitality to her voice that makes one ache for Fontenoy. In a fleeting four hours, Foss makes one believe that truly anything is possible."

(AudioFile)

What listeners say about Challenging the Pacific

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

gripping and beautiful

Finished it in two days, would have been in day if I didn't just have evenings to read in! Beautiful imagery, exciting tale and very inspiring.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting listen

Interesting story. Narration became slightly annoying after I couldn’t get out of my head that it sounded like Hal from 2001 a space odyssey!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

She puts you right there

Great use of language in the description of both the physical and emotional journey. Fascinating insight into how Maud acutely aware of her emotional and physical state, everyday stayed the course, stayed motivated and kept it together during this incredible achievement. I was left feeling there was much more in the journey that didn’t make the book but at the same time I had plenty to keep my wild imagination streaming with the visualisation of her narration and truly felt I was there with her on that tiny wobbly little boat, and savoured our experience. Truly enjoyable and inspiring.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful and inspiring.

Absolutely beautiful. Very inspiring. Highly recommended if you ever feel sorry for yourself. A candid account of one young woman who had the courage to pursue her dream.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One woman's inspiring journey across the pacific

Inspiring story of one woman's journey through an unforgiving ocean in a tiny wooden rowing boat. A triumph of courage over fear and the power of belief.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Well done Maude you're a champion 🏆

Enjoyable on the plus catalogue, I thought the choice of narrator a bit odd though, she sounds like a very capable woman but her style made me think of a romantic novel.

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