Wild Dark Shore: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel)

I would say 10 but perfection does not exist. Loved the setting. Enjoyed learning about whales, seals and plants. Good story, I cared for the characters and their situations.

I enjoyed the edge and intensity of this read. And i enjoyed the gentle allegories.

thenextgoodbook.com


What’s it about?

Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers on an island off the coast of Antarctica named Shearwater. The island was once full of researchers, but with the rising waters, they have all left. The Salts are now tasked with bundling up as many species of seeds stored on the island as possible before the navy picks them up. One night, there is a terrible storm and a woman washes up on the shore. The Salts carefully nurse her back to health, but what is she doing there?

What did it make me think about?

Charlotte McConaghy writes convincingly about the environment, parenting, and grief. And of course, I was wondering- what is Rowan doing washing ashore on this island? The mystery of it all keeps you reading.

Should I read it?

I highly recommend this novel. Charlotte McConaghy creates such a vivid picture of this remote island that you can’t help but get immersed in the story. I felt like I knew each character and cared about what was going to happen to them. This story is full of mystery, and much like a tangle of yarn, it is very slowly pulled apart until all is clear. The author also illustrates what climate change might bring. This is masterful storytelling!

Quote-

“What I miss most is not any of things I expected. It’s having someone to talk to about our children. The hilarious things they say and do, the insights with which they blow my mind and the ways they change frequently and without mercy. I need her to help me process and deliberate and delight in. I want to laugh with her. To be awestruck with her. I want her to look at me in wonder, acknowledging what profound creations we have made.

What I miss is having someone to look at in moments like these, someone who understands not just the talent or the cleverness of our children but the wisdom, the immensity of feeling they hold within. Instead I marvel at them alone.”

In extreme isolation, a family resides on a small island off the coast of Antarctica, overseeing a lighthouse that protects the world's largest seed bank. Dominic, a single father, and his three children are the remaining inhabitants after scientific researchers evacuated due to rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms. During one such storm, Dominic's daughter rescues a woman from the sea. The questions arise: who is she, and how did she end up on such a remote island? As they care for her, Dominic's family and the woman discover that their lives are intricately connected by deeply held secrets and emotions on both sides.

The compelling plot and intricate characters rendered this an immersive experience. Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveld, and Steve West delivered exceptional narration, bringing this vivid and emotional story to life.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley and McMillian Audio for providing the advanced audio copy of *Wild Dark Shore*. Additionally, I commend Charlotte McConaghy for crafting an excellent story.

Wild Dark Shore really surprised me. Rowan’s death hit hard and stayed with me, while Hank proved himself to be a world-class narcissist from start to finish. Dom’s journey as a father on his own balancing grief, responsibility, and those lingering spirits around him added so much emotional weight. I also loved how the story kept folding in details about the sea, the wildlife, and Tasmania. Those pieces grounded everything, almost like the environment itself was another character guiding the plot. Overall, it was a gripping, atmospheric read that kept me guessing and caught me off guard more than once.