Thursday, April 26, 2012

(A) Whale for the Killing

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!
A Whale for the Killing

This is the last Farley Mowat book on my list. As you can tell, his work really impacted me. This is another true tale – this time of a whale that gets trapped by the tides. This book shows us all sides of the human experience. On the one hand we have people working desperately to save this poor, scared creature. On the other, we have people having fun with their guns using it for target practice. Details of whaling practices are interspersed with the narrative – sometimes enough to make you ill. Another powerful read. Another powerful message that we’re not nearly the species we should be.
Any favourite reads of yours have environmental/social messages?

27 comments:

Beth Zimmerman said...

Another one I haven't read! Where are you finding these books? Or maybe it's more that I have very commercialized literary tastes! Closest I've come to this one is Jaws! And I really wish I could say Moby Dick!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

This one does sound like a powerful read. It's upsetting how much good we could do, but so often don't. It sometimes feels like goodness and kindness has become the minority.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

There's so many good books going around the blogging site how on earth are we going to get through them all.

Yvonne.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Sounds like a very moving book! It might be one that's an upsetting read, I think...

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sounds sad.
Not really an environmental message, but I read The Perfect Storm after seeing the movie. The book was excellent and the movie very lame in comparison.

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - lol :) He is a Canadian author - may be why you don't know his work!

Lynda - and that's so scary! We really do need to improve our kindness!

Yvonne - I know! My wishlist is HUGE!!!

Elizabeth - it is. I'm glad I read it when I was younger. Mowat influenced me a lot.

Alex - I'll add the book to my list - the movie really wasn't for me either!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I haven't heard of this. Thanks for sharing about it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Natalie - you're welcome - it's a good one! :)

Yvonne Osborne said...

Whales are such gentle animals, so caring, protective, and accepting of all others in their pod. There was a story on NPR last night about a white orca whale. Rather than being ostracized by the pod, this albino whale is usually found in the center of the group. Maybe they are color blind. Maybe we could learn from them rather than kill them.

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - we really could learn a lot from them. That caring is awesome!!! :)

Unknown said...

I haven't read a lot of environmental books but this one does look good.

Old Kitty said...

Tarka the Otter totally traumatised me! :-(

Take care
x

Julie Dao said...

This sounds like such a moving story. I cry too much when I read books about animals, but they're just so heartwarming and inspiring. Thanks for sharing this one :)

Jack said...

I always enjoy true stories, and admire anyone who can write them.

Shelley Sly said...

I like how you put it, "Another powerful message that we're not nearly the species we should be." So true. This book might be too sad for me, but it sounds profound and moving.

Lynn Proctor said...

i don't think i could read this one--it sounds too sad for me--:(

S. L. Hennessy said...

Crap, another book to add to my TBR list. Could you PLEASE stop giving me good suggestions? I'm gonna go broke here.

Caryn Caldwell said...

What a great theme for your A to Z blogging challenge! I haven't read any by Farley Mowat, but have heard great things about his books. Must try one!

Mary said...

I'm really going to have to read this author who's affected you so much!

Leslie S. Rose said...

You are turning me into a Farley Mowat fan. Do you think his work would be appropriate for 5th graders? I'd love to do an author study with his work and tie it in to science.

Jemi Fraser said...

Clarissa - it really is - the whale is such a sympathetic character - so sad.

Old Kitty - I don't know Tarka - I'll have to add that to my ever-growing list!

Julie - me too! I was stronger when I was younger, but I'm becoming more of a sap these days! :)

Jack - it really does take a special skill to write a true story that impacts people!

Shelley - it is sad - and frustrating. Seeing how people treat this animal so badly is horrific.

Lynn - it is. Mowat makes your heart break. It's so well done.

SL - sorry! :P I know how you feel - there are so many great books I've added this month!

Caryn - thanks! Mowat has so many great books to choose from! I love his work.

Mary - he really did. I spent a lot of my teen years reading his stuff - and I still remember them so well :)

Leslie - sadly, I think it's too intense. It's aimed at adults and he doesn't pull any punches!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I haven't read any nonfiction books with environment themes but this one sounds interesting. What kind of person would shoot at a beached whale?

Arlee Bird said...

Sinclair Lewis The Jungle I guess has kind of a social message and I liked that book.


Lee
Places I Remember
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - I don't think I've read any Sinclair Lewis. I'll have to check on that! :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

You know, I can't think of any of my favorite reads with an environmental message. But I do live in Alaska so I'm all about the wilderness.

Come to think of it, Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey had a pretty snazzy environmental setting (Alaska). It was a great read!

Anonymous said...

I haven't read this, but tales of whale hunting and beached whales always make me sad.

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - I haven't read Snow Child yet. I'll have to check it out :)

Medeia - me too. Whales are such magnificient creatures - don't understand how people could be so cruel.