A lot of love and care very clearly went into this book, and it shows.

Would recommend if you want a relatable read and love music.

Save Me from the Waves is an inspirational story of physical and mental endurance which starts on the streets of London and culminates on top of the world, fuelled by song. It explores the redemptive power of music and mountains. How family and friends can be lost and found in the most unusual places. And encourages everyone to live big and bravely when life doesn’t go to plan. Because sometimes we all need saving from the waves. And whether it’s high and far away or closer to home and in your head, an adventure will always change your life for the better.

Save Me from the Waves : An adventure from sea to summit. This is an unusual book for a memoir. It is based around the Desert Island Disc podcasts that the author listened to during her adventures. There are lots of playlists and selected songs from famous people interviewed on the program, and a lot of discussion around that. For me I would have preferred much more detail on the adventures and gruelling physical challenges she took on. Some of it is brushed over in a very quick matter of fact way and to me the adventures were epic. One sentence in the book contained three outstanding achievements brushed over in a list, "I crossed a steel ladder over a crevasse, ascended a rope on a jumar, abseiled down on a figure of eight." These are the things I wanted to read more about. The author has had an interesting life with relatives connected to famous people, amazing things happen, and also awful tragedies. I know it is a personal thing but I found all the adventuring much more interesting than the song choices of famous people. A unique and individual book that so many people will love.

I don't have enough praise for this journal-memoir of an Adventure Activist. . .before opening the book, I'd never heard of her, or her quest (Pond to Peak Challenge) or the subject of her mighty obsession (Desert Island Discs - BBC's Radio 4). And here I am putting off committing my review to print because I want reasons to keep reading over sections. . . .but the time has come. . .

Jessica Hepburn starts out explaining her purpose in writing - her love of lists, and keeping track of things. She's had a rough road, but there are two major life loves that have helped her through it all: Adventuring and Music - and the best of all her worlds are the combining of both. She explains that she's not the one you'd think of as the athlete, but that she is the only woman to have completed the "Pond to Peak Challenge," which is to say English Chanel swum, London Marathon run, and the Sherpa's Chomolungma (you may know it as Mt Everest) climbed. In addition, she walks and walks and walks and walks - throughout the world. Getting through the sad, the happy, the worry, the warp and the weft one foot in front of the other. She's claimed the title of Adventure Activist - and her main point to you, dear Reader, is to become one, too. That therein lies the way through this life.

But wait, there's more! That's only half of her message - the other is AMAZING - MUSIC! Remember she loves lists? All of that stuff she did (and still does) in the previous paragraph? She did them as she listened to MUSIC! She's got 8 of her playlists for your review (as your homework is to think about building your own):

* Songs of Childhood
* Songs of Home
* (If You Still Believe In) Love Songs
* Sad Songs
* Happy Songs
* Songs for a Wonderful World
* Songs of Faith and Survival
* Songs to Die to

I wish I could list them all for you, but then you might not have all the fun I did as I went through and found every one and added them to my lists (or didn't if they didn't hit my spots). I cried as I listened through the sad songs, and a few of the songs to die to. . .others had me up dancing, bouncing around and startling all my home mates. It was a blast! ("?did she just samba through the kitchen?!" "yep, she's doing laundry to the Girl from Ipanema, just clear the way through.")

The author's passion for music has been fed over the years by a world treasure that I (a music person) had never heard of: BBC's program, running since 1942 - every week - 3000+ programs to listen to, called Desert Island Discs wherein guests are invited to be interviewed and respond to a scenario, always the same for all these people famous and not, professional and not, in all walks of life - the list is impressive. The scenario is this - If you were sent off to a desert island, never to return and could take 8 pieces of music to listen to, 1 book, and 1 luxury (an inanimate luxury) - what would you take with you? This scenario sparks the most surprising interviews, weaving in the reasons why they make the choices they do - and the final question, which is the reason for the title of this book - of the 8 choices if you had to save only one of those pieces of music from the waves - which would it be and why? I've found the program and am now a new fan and listen every day (the archives have my favorite Jimmy Stewart - so lovely to hear him and others who've already gone to their Islands. . . .)

I will indeed save Jessica from the waves. . .this book is a delight. One of those that you can take in bits and pieces - to help you get to that new place you want to go for a long walk, or swim across, or climb near or far. Her words may trigger for you the right tune to soothe, amplify and acknowledge the hireath that's overcome you of late. She may not have exactly what you like, but she's got the wisdom to point you in the right direction. Adventuring with Music is her recipe for getting through this life. . .(I actually have images of you all out there moving, dancing, bouncing as you read this. . .it's quite nice. . . )

Lastly, a note for those who only go by genre tags. This book is tagged with nonfiction and Autobiography & Biography genres. It's so much more than that, in my opinion - this is also Music / Art / Outdoor Recreation / Performing Arts / Sports & Recreations / Travel / Women's Health (she talks about her IVF struggles and the grief of leaving that battlefield unwon).

With my wand I grant more than 5 stars. Probably 8 with a couple of luxuries thrown in for good measure.

*A sincere thank you to Jessica Hepburn, Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, Aurum, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #SaveMefromtheWaves #NetGalley

Non-athlete Jessica Hepburn goes from midlife despair to world champion, as the first woman in the world to finish the Pond to Peak Challenge ... running the London Marathon, climbing Mount Everest, and swimming the English Channel. An inspiring, compelling memoir!