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bronte1816's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Part natural history, part memoir. A mother and son follow the whale migration journey along the west coast of America. Learnt so much about whales, especially mothers and calves, and the early climate change warnings, ignored by most of the world.. And the Inuit peoples’ deep understanding of nature - their mythology interwoven with the author’s journey. Beautiful insightful book.
jorrit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
exuberant_crow's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
ladylegerwood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.75
what are we doing to our earth? we are spoiling the world with our greed.
an excellent book. flawed protagonist but utterly human
an excellent book. flawed protagonist but utterly human
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
2.0
I've read a number of books about whales, as well as books about the Arctic, and that may have done this book a disservice: I had too much with which to compare it. Soundings weaves two threads of time together: it opens with an older Doreen and her young son Max, who are travelling the coast of the United States and Canada, following the great migration of the grey whales, the longest migration of any mammal. The book also meets a younger, childless Doreen who is Utqiagvik in Alaska, learning about bowhead whales, and joining Inupiaq people on their traditional whale hunt. Both of these stories are full of potential: there is space for the reader to learn about two fascinating species of whale, about migratory journeys, and about Inupiaq people and their relationship with whales. And Cunningham does touch on these subjects -- she writes in an interesting and persuasive way about how the Inupiaq, as subsistence hunters, understand the bowhead whales better than anyone else, and how their insight into, and respect for, the whale, is one of our more important examples of living alongside whales without destroying their habitats. However, everything in the book is filtered from Cunningham's perspective: we never learn about the whales without discovering what the whales mean to her, or learn a fact about climate change without it being filtered through a memory of Cunningham's own childhood. I was also frustrated by the emotional weight Cunningham places on the whales: she seems to expect their presence to heal her from a traumatic relationship and a difficult childhood, and looks to them for compassion and tenderness. It's important to resist the urge to anthropomorphize animals, and while studies have shown whales' complex language, societies and abilities, I do not believe they form special bonds with humans, or have a particular connection to us. Also, in most cases, the best thing we can do is leave the whales alone, and not try to pet them in their birthing lagoons or follow them in boots. If we truly loved them, we wouldn't follow them: Cunningham doesn't seem to understand that. I compared this to Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey by Brenda Peterson and Linda Hogan, which taught me much more about grey whales; to Fathoms by Rebecca Giggs, which is a careful, thoughtful study of whales and their history, and This Cold Heaven by Gretel Ehrlich, the most considered and thorough study of the arctic I've read, and found that Soundings was wanting every time. Too much of Cunningham's life is in this book, and she loses sight of the whales and of the Arctic culture she's writing about. It was nice to learn more about the bowhead though.
chamilton3396's review against another edition
2.0
From the perspective of someone who reads a lot of memoirs, I would not recommend.
From the perspective of someone who is fascinated by whales, I would not recommend.
From the perspective of someone who is intrigued about indigenous traditions and stories - I would maybe recommend?? If you are alright with reading "Whales mummy!" a few hundred times, give it a go.
The best parts were her reflections back to her time in Alaska living among the locals and learning about their culture and the whales.
Unfortunately there was much more about the (self acknowledged) poorly planned chase of grays during their migration north. Visas aside - you can't expect a 4th of July firework show when you show up in early September.
Everything about the pony? Slightly weird and depressing and not all that interesting.
I also needed to know how we ended the memoir with more children while still fully wrapped up in the fantasy of a former lover. Huh??
From the perspective of someone who is fascinated by whales, I would not recommend.
From the perspective of someone who is intrigued about indigenous traditions and stories - I would maybe recommend?? If you are alright with reading "Whales mummy!" a few hundred times, give it a go.
The best parts were her reflections back to her time in Alaska living among the locals and learning about their culture and the whales.
Unfortunately there was much more about the (self acknowledged) poorly planned chase of grays during their migration north. Visas aside - you can't expect a 4th of July firework show when you show up in early September.
Everything about the pony? Slightly weird and depressing and not all that interesting.
I also needed to know how we ended the memoir with more children while still fully wrapped up in the fantasy of a former lover. Huh??
wetmillk's review against another edition
5.0
wasnt sure at first but ended up being the most beautiful story about motherhood, heartbreak, hope and the importance of indigenous perspective and life. absolutely amazing
bethd2828's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.5