This was a fascinating story. 17-year-old scuba diver Jay has given himself the task of finding his estranged father’s body at sea. Partly to ease his mother’s and sister’s grief and partly to assuage his own guilt. Heading out into the deep off the coast of California, a startling interaction with a giant squid soon turns to terror as a giant sperm whale arrives to feed, accidentally including Jay in its enormous mouthful. Swallowed fully into the first of the whale’s four stomachs with only an hour of air remaining, is it even possible for Jay to escape?
It seems ridiculous and completely farfetched, yet at the same time, almost possible. Kraus has researched all aspects extensively and tried to write a book about something that could actually happen.
Interwoven with the present challenges of biology, chemistry, and whale physiology, is Jay's psychological turmoil and memories. The story switches back and forth, with the chapters named by the numbers counting down on his air supply (1306PSI), and his memories of his father over the years (2014, 2008, etc). Reading it now as a newly published book is ideal, because 2014 is indeed 10 years earlier in Jay’s life - so it feels even more real.
This was a gripping read, I couldn’t put it down, and I genuinely wasn’t sure how it would end. Interesting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking.
Interwoven with the present challenges of biology, chemistry, and whale physiology, is Jay's psychological turmoil and memories. The story switches back and forth, with the chapters named by the numbers counting down on his air supply (1306PSI), and his memories of his father over the years (2014, 2008, etc). Reading it now as a newly published book is ideal, because 2014 is indeed 10 years earlier in Jay’s life - so it feels even more real.
This was a gripping read, I couldn’t put it down, and I genuinely wasn’t sure how it would end. Interesting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking.
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