Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader's Reviews > Whale Fall

I love love love a novella that packs so much in to a slim volume, especially when it is ultimately a quiet, peaceful story like Whale Fall. A portion of my family has been traced back to Wales, and over the years, I’ve been especially drawn to books set there. Whale Fall delivers all the Welsh atmosphere I was looking for with sparse, but magnificent, prose.

Set in 1938, just as a whale washes up on the shores of a remote island in Wales, Whale Fall is the story of Manod and her father and younger sister, Llinos, as well as the other island inhabitants. The island is small with a stark few inhabitants.

Two English ethnographers arrive shortly after the whale, to study the island and its people. They employ Manod as a Welsh to English interpreter and an assistant. While they may have had good intentions, they are clearly there for a book and not necessarily to gather the most truthful information. During this time, Manod truly finds her voice.

As mentioned, this is a quiet story about the daily life of these people. The beauty is in the writing, atmosphere, and the authentic, whole, clear characters. Sometimes the most cherished reading experiences are with a book like this. I adored this one.

Thanks to Beth (@bibiobeth) for another great buddy read.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader