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Books : Leviathan
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Rating: 
- Hubris
This is a serious, and understatedly well written work on a sentinel species* whose majesty and mystery humans have only glimpsed at, hence our arrogant and criminally sad attempts to bottle the Beluga whale genie in fresh water in the nineteenth century.
* sentinel because if/when the last whale expires or is harpooned for cat food, humans will really be staring into the abyss.
Rating:
- A Leviathan of a Book (boom, boom)
Superb. Not being a fan of whales, I picked this up on a whim. But Hoare brings his topic to life like noone else. We are treated to a succession of regional histories, some personal reflections, a running treatment of Melville's Moby Dick and its context, several beautifully reproduced etchings and statistics that amaze and confound. Inevitably, given the size of the book, there are narrative sags and occasional repetitions. But this is a beautiful book that repays revisiting, not to mention dipping in and out of simply to be reminded of how awesome Leviathans really are.
Rating: - A whaley good book - sorry!
This is a heartfelt and poignant book that details the authors deep respect for these giants of the sea. Part scientific description, part history of whaling, part travelogue and with several diversions to Moby Dick, this book shatters myths yet manages to divulge loads of new facts and interesting stories. Beautifully illustrated, this an extremely well laid out book, and for a hardback, remarkably light, which I think is important as it can be read on the train.
Well worth a look for any nature lover, anyone with even a passing interest in the sea, and anyone who just wants to read a darn fine history and travel book, this must encourage you to read and help you understand Moby Dick a book I have never read but certainly intend to do so now.
- Hubris This is a serious, and understatedly well written work on a sentinel species* whose majesty and mystery humans have only glimpsed at, hence our arrogant and criminally sad attempts to bottle the Beluga whale genie in fresh water in the nineteenth century.
* sentinel because if/when the last whale expires or is harpooned for cat food, humans will really be staring into the abyss.
Rating:
- A Leviathan of a Book (boom, boom)Superb. Not being a fan of whales, I picked this up on a whim. But Hoare brings his topic to life like noone else. We are treated to a succession of regional histories, some personal reflections, a running treatment of Melville's Moby Dick and its context, several beautifully reproduced etchings and statistics that amaze and confound. Inevitably, given the size of the book, there are narrative sags and occasional repetitions. But this is a beautiful book that repays revisiting, not to mention dipping in and out of simply to be reminded of how awesome Leviathans really are.
Rating:
- A whaley good book - sorry!This is a heartfelt and poignant book that details the authors deep respect for these giants of the sea. Part scientific description, part history of whaling, part travelogue and with several diversions to Moby Dick, this book shatters myths yet manages to divulge loads of new facts and interesting stories. Beautifully illustrated, this an extremely well laid out book, and for a hardback, remarkably light, which I think is important as it can be read on the train.
Well worth a look for any nature lover, anyone with even a passing interest in the sea, and anyone who just wants to read a darn fine history and travel book, this must encourage you to read and help you understand Moby Dick a book I have never read but certainly intend to do so now.