FATHOMS The World in the Whale

Shiromi Arserio's voice conveys sadness and grief as she relates the author's experience with the vigil for a dying humpback whale on an Australian beach. The sadness returns elsewhere in Giggs's meditation on whales, especially when her thoughts turn to the plastic and other human objects found inside the massive sea animals. When Giggs tells of the one time she tasted whale flesh, a note of shock comes into her voice, reflecting her reluctance. Giggs's reflections on how to stay constructively engaged in helping whales survive have a gentle grace, whether she's recounting the joy of seeing a whale swimming at sea or expressing her nostalgia for a childhood museum trip. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2021]