Chaney Kwak Books

In March 2019, the Viking Sky cruise ship was hit by a bomb cyclone in the Arctic Sea, facing 50-foot swells and 40-knot gales. As the ship lost power and drifted toward the treacherous Hustadvika coast in Norway, one passenger, Chaney Kwak, a seasoned travel writer, found himself confronting mortality. Amidst the chaos, he tucked his passport into his underwear, preparing for the worst. While the ship swayed perilously, Kwak followed the unfolding disaster on Twitter, where nearly 1,400 passengers received "thoughts and prayers." More introspective than adventurous, Kwak used his twenty-seven hours aboard the ship to reflect on his family history, maritime tragedies, and his long-term relationship with a man he loved for nearly two decades. He realized that the Viking Sky might not be the only sinking ship in his life. This narrative takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the Norwegian coast to the South China Sea, and from post-WWII Korea to pandemic-struck San Francisco. Kwak skillfully intertwines his personal experiences with broader historical events, exploring the serendipity and connections that shape human lives—ideal for those who appreciate a perceptive and humorous perspective on the world.