Soundings

A prize-winning author's memoir about a mother and son following the migration of grey whales to Alaska 'Justifies its place alongside nature writing classics such as H is for Hawk' New StatesmanDoreen first visited Utqiagvik as a young journalist reporting on climate change among indigenous whaling communities. There, she joined the spring whale hunt under the never-ending Arctic light, watching for bowhead whales and polar bears, drawn deeply into an Iñupiaq family and their culture amid the disappearing ice. 'Years later, plunged into sudden poverty and isolation after becoming a single parent, her career and life in tatters, Doreen embarks on an extraordinary journey: following the grey whale migration all the way back to the Iñupiaq family that took her in, where grey and bowhead whales meet at the melting apex of our planet 'What a voice! What a book!' Charles Foster'Soundings got under my skin. I finished it in tears' Amy Liptrot'Stunning - fresh, brave and unique' Damian le Bas'Beautifully written, insightful and gripping' Daniel LavelleLONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZEWINNER OF THE RSL GILES ST AUBYN AWARD '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 MEMOIRSFrom 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 Iñupiaq 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' ShreyaChattopadhyay, 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 JUKES WINNER OF THE RSL GILES ST AUBYN AWARDLONGLISTED FOR THE SNHN NATURAL HISTORY BOOK PRIZEONE OF SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE'S TEN BEST BOOKS ABOUT TRAVEL OF 2022