Ahab’s Wife

I just read a book that is so good I am not just applauding it, I’m giving it a standing ovation! Truly one of the top five books I have ever read, Ahab’s Wife, or The Star-Gazer is an epic, fictional book by Sena Jeter Naslund who uses Moby Dick’s small mention of Ahab’s young wife as her inspiration to develop the character into her protagonist. The reader experiences life through the eyes of Una — from her unbelievable whaling journey to meeting historical figures (like Margaret Fuller and Ralph Waldo Emerson) to wrestling with human rights issues. Naslund writes passionately, creatively and uses language artfully to develop unforgettable characters and relationships. You know that feeling when you want to finish a book but you don’t want it to ever end? Ahab’s Wife is just that. Brava Ms. Naslund!