A review by bookishwendy
The Whale: In Search of the Giants of the Sea by Philip Hoare

4.0

This was a fascinating follow-up to my latest re-read of [b:Moby-Dick, or, the Whale|153747|Moby-Dick, or, the Whale|Herman Melville|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327940656l/153747._SY75_.jpg|2409320]--a book that seems to only get better each time--and provides some much-appreciated background to Melville, whaling history, and as if I wasn't already saturated in it already, updated cetology for the modern reader. Hoare balances cold hard facts with ethereal imagery and evocative prose. He's present in his narrative, but not overwhelmingly so, which I much appreciate. The Whale would pair well with [b:The Search for the Giant Squid: The Biology and Mythology of the World's Most Elusive Sea Creature|325168|The Search for the Giant Squid The Biology and Mythology of the World's Most Elusive Sea Creature|Richard Ellis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348582514l/325168._SY75_.jpg|315833] for any other readers who aren't quite ready to leave the watery realm.