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Soundings
Journeying North in the Company of Whales - the award-winning memoir
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See moreA prize-winning author's memoir about a mother and son following the migration of grey whales to Alaska
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Description
Beautiful . . . Justifies its place alongside nature writing classics such as H is for Hawk — NEW STATESMAN
Wonderful ... both frank and fearless — TELEGRAPH BEST TRAVEL BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Fascinating — GUARDIAN TOP TEN NATURE MEMOIRS
From Mexico to the Arctic ice, grey whale mothers swim with their calves. Following them, by bus, train and ferry, are Doreen and her toddler Max, in pursuit of a wild hope.
Doreen first visited Alaska as a young BBC journalist reporting on climate change among indigenous whaling communities. There, drawn deeply into an Inupiaq family and an ill-fated love affair, she joined the bowhead whale hunt out on the sea ice.
Years later, now a single mother living in a hostel, Doreen embarks on this extraordinary journey: following the grey whale migration back to the Arctic, where greys and bowheads meet at the melting apex of our planet.
As compelling as any novel... A human story of resilience, loss and immense bravery. It becomes not just a book about mother and son, whales, the climate, but a book about power and what happens when power is abused. It is a rallying call for love — Alice Kinsella, IRISH TIMES In this melodic memoir, the climate researcher turned journalist parallels the whales' journey with her own through parenthood — Shreya Chattopadhyay, NEW YORK TIMES Soundings got under my skin. I finished it in tears — AMY LIPTROT What a voice! What a book! — CHARLES FOSTER Soulful, honest, insightful, humane and propulsive — JINI REDDY Thrilling, passionate and tender-hearted — HELEN JUKESWINNER OF THE RSL GILES ST AUBYN AWARD
LONGLISTED FOR THE SNHN NATURAL HISTORY BOOK PRIZE
ONE OF SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE'S TEN BEST BOOKS ABOUT TRAVEL OF 2022
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Soundings by Doreen Cunningham is praised for its beautiful and brave storytelling, blending nature writing with profound personal memoir. Reviewers highlight its emotional honesty, compelling narrative of resilience, and the deep connection between the author, her son, and the whales she studies. The book is seen as a moving, lyrical journey that captures the interconnectedness of environmental and human trauma, earning comparisons to modern nature writing classics.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780349014937
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 02 February 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Virago Press Ltd
Illustration: Black and white map + black and white illustration on chapter title pages
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 22.0mm
Width: 126.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 320
About the Author
Doreen Cunningham is an Irish-British writer born in Wales. After studying engineering she worked briefly in climate related research at NERC and in storm modelling at Newcastle University, before turning to journalism. She has worked for the BBC World Service variously as a international news presenter, editor, producer and reporter, since 2000. She won the RSL Giles St Aubyn Award 2020 and was shortlisted for the Eccles Centre and Hay Festival Writers Award 2021 for Soundings, her first book.
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