Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings (Today Show Book Club #25)
7 journalers for this copy...
This is the first of Moore's books I've ever read, but I am now searching for more of them! He is hysterical!
The story revolves around marine behaviorists in Maui, mostly Nate Quinn and his crew, seeking to answer the question "why do humpback whales sing?" Followed quickly by Nate's despondant question 'who the hell cares about our research anyway?"
While out whale-watching, Nate sees a humpback with BITE ME written on its tail. Somehow, this seems odd to him, and no one else has seen it. Things get stranger and stranger in Maui. Nate's crew, including the mysterious Amy [her identity is a scream!], Kona [fake rasta-man, ne Preston Applebaum] and the Old Broad, who finances nearly everything.
I just read a Kinky Friedman set in Hawaii, and this is everything that book was not - funny, magical, strange, sweet, and interesting! way to go with fluke!
and I LOVE this part, at a funeral:
"Can I get an amen!" shouted Kona. All the biologists and grad students looked at each other, eyes wide, confused, wondering if any of them had actually brought an amen that they could give up. No one had told them they were going to need an amen, or they would have packed one.
The story revolves around marine behaviorists in Maui, mostly Nate Quinn and his crew, seeking to answer the question "why do humpback whales sing?" Followed quickly by Nate's despondant question 'who the hell cares about our research anyway?"
While out whale-watching, Nate sees a humpback with BITE ME written on its tail. Somehow, this seems odd to him, and no one else has seen it. Things get stranger and stranger in Maui. Nate's crew, including the mysterious Amy [her identity is a scream!], Kona [fake rasta-man, ne Preston Applebaum] and the Old Broad, who finances nearly everything.
I just read a Kinky Friedman set in Hawaii, and this is everything that book was not - funny, magical, strange, sweet, and interesting! way to go with fluke!
and I LOVE this part, at a funeral:
"Can I get an amen!" shouted Kona. All the biologists and grad students looked at each other, eyes wide, confused, wondering if any of them had actually brought an amen that they could give up. No one had told them they were going to need an amen, or they would have packed one.
going off in a book-ray. first to cheriepie.
cheriepie
and in a strange twist, it goes up to Canada, then back to US. Thanks for doing that for me, Cheriepie.
Jebbie74 from Canada back to:
Jengifin Virginia
mumugrrl Oregon I consider this book lost at mumugrrl. She says that she has it and will [or has] sent it off to ghaweyn but refuses to journal any action. All of this is July/Aug. 2005, so I hope that the book will just surface in Colorado!
ghaweyn It did surface in Colorado!!
affinity4books Texas
sarradee Texas again
back to me in California
cheriepie
and in a strange twist, it goes up to Canada, then back to US. Thanks for doing that for me, Cheriepie.
Jebbie74 from Canada back to:
Jengifin Virginia
mumugrrl Oregon I consider this book lost at mumugrrl. She says that she has it and will [or has] sent it off to ghaweyn but refuses to journal any action. All of this is July/Aug. 2005, so I hope that the book will just surface in Colorado!
ghaweyn It did surface in Colorado!!
affinity4books Texas
sarradee Texas again
back to me in California
Received this one today. I should be able to get to it fairly soon, like within the next couple days. :)
A fairly good read, though definitely not my favorite Moore book. It didn't seem as satirical as his other books, perhaps because the subject matter was a bit more serious, and I didn't find myself laughing out loud as much as I have in previous Moore stories. It got off to a slow start and it wasn't until really part 2, about page 100 or so, that it became more like a typical Moore book.
That said, I did like the book overall, and in a strange twist of fate, I actually learned a thing or two about whales in the process. (Moore includes some notes at the back stating which parts of the story were and were not based on truth and fact.) As I mentioned above, it became more zany and typical Moore in part 2, and I found myself liking the book a lot more after having reached that point. :)
The quote that BlueAmazon pulled out about "can I get an amen"... that was pretty funny! BlueAmazon, if you liked this book, you'll LOVE Moore's other stuff! He's definitely one of the most zany, satirical authors of our time.
This will be on it's way to Jebbie74 in Canada in the next couple days.
UPDATE 12-May-2005: Mailed to jebbie74 on 12-May-2005 via Airmail.
That said, I did like the book overall, and in a strange twist of fate, I actually learned a thing or two about whales in the process. (Moore includes some notes at the back stating which parts of the story were and were not based on truth and fact.) As I mentioned above, it became more zany and typical Moore in part 2, and I found myself liking the book a lot more after having reached that point. :)
The quote that BlueAmazon pulled out about "can I get an amen"... that was pretty funny! BlueAmazon, if you liked this book, you'll LOVE Moore's other stuff! He's definitely one of the most zany, satirical authors of our time.
This will be on it's way to Jebbie74 in Canada in the next couple days.
UPDATE 12-May-2005: Mailed to jebbie74 on 12-May-2005 via Airmail.
Received in my mail today....thanks bunches! I'll be starting it shortly.
There were parts of this that were very funny, and while I thought it was much funnier than Blue Coyote, it wasn't quite up to par with Lamb or Sequined Love Nun. I did like some of the strange twists that Christopher Moore always puts in his books, but unfortunately I was waiting to see the end faster than I thought I would.
I think possibly I thought this book was a little to sci-fi for my likings, but I couldn't give it a bad rating as Christopher Moore still "rocks"! LOL
PMing jengif for her address :)
I think possibly I thought this book was a little to sci-fi for my likings, but I couldn't give it a bad rating as Christopher Moore still "rocks"! LOL
PMing jengif for her address :)
Journal Entry 7 by Jebbie74 at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Released 18 yrs ago (6/1/2005 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed off today to jengif :)
Mailed off today to jengif :)
Fluke has arrived safely in Virginia!
Fluke was a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was laugh out-loud and just weird enough for me to really get into the storyline. Loved the whales!
I’d love to say more but I’m overwhelmed with stuff to do at the moment! I actually finished this book last week but we just moved into a new house, and I just managed to get Internet hooked up on my computer again. I already have Mumugrrl’s address so I plan on locating our new post office on Saturday and mailing it to her then.
I’d love to say more but I’m overwhelmed with stuff to do at the moment! I actually finished this book last week but we just moved into a new house, and I just managed to get Internet hooked up on my computer again. I already have Mumugrrl’s address so I plan on locating our new post office on Saturday and mailing it to her then.
Mailed to Mumugrrl in Oregon yesterday
I got this is the mail last week and am slowly working on it around many other projects.
I really enjoyed this book. I got through it fast once I could spend some quality time with it.
I love the way Christopher Moore looks at things. It is fun to look at something we don't understand and write a funny book about our theories to explain it. He works with a whole new mythology genre.
I especially love the addition of Amelia Earhart in the end. That is so funny.
Anyway, I really loved the book and will send it on as soon as I have the next address. This is one of the author's best.
I love the way Christopher Moore looks at things. It is fun to look at something we don't understand and write a funny book about our theories to explain it. He works with a whole new mythology genre.
I especially love the addition of Amelia Earhart in the end. That is so funny.
Anyway, I really loved the book and will send it on as soon as I have the next address. This is one of the author's best.
Fluke Arrived safely in Texas today. I am currently reading a ring and then this is next!
I didn't think Moore could top Lamb, but this is just as good in my opinion. I honeymooned in Maui two years ago, so I could picture the places he was talking about perfectly. I am so jealous Moore actually got to go out with whale researchers. How cool is that!
I am also a sci-fi fan so I loved the out-there twists he threw in involving biology, evolution, sentience, and the aging process. Like all good sci-fi, the events he describes follow their own logic and so help the reader suspend belief. His portrayal of the scientific/research community's rivalries, friendships, and sell-outs to business or military was dead-on. I also liked how all the relationships and loose threads worked out in the end. I was especially happy for the Old Broad! I'd like to learn more about Gooville and what happens next- maybe there'll be a sequel? One nitpick- could he get over the fascination with Amy's bottom!?!?
Thanks for sharing! Will be mailed out this week.
I am also a sci-fi fan so I loved the out-there twists he threw in involving biology, evolution, sentience, and the aging process. Like all good sci-fi, the events he describes follow their own logic and so help the reader suspend belief. His portrayal of the scientific/research community's rivalries, friendships, and sell-outs to business or military was dead-on. I also liked how all the relationships and loose threads worked out in the end. I was especially happy for the Old Broad! I'd like to learn more about Gooville and what happens next- maybe there'll be a sequel? One nitpick- could he get over the fascination with Amy's bottom!?!?
Thanks for sharing! Will be mailed out this week.
Released 18 yrs ago (9/21/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
mailed off today
mailed off today
Picked up from the post office today. Have to finish the book I'm reading first, but can't wait to dive in. Hope to have it read and mailed back to BlueAmazon within the next two weeks. Will journal again when sending out.
Hilarious and absorbing. I just couldn't put the book down, thank goodness it's fairly thin or I wouldn't have gotten any sleep at all. I loved Moore's characters, particularly the "native" Hawaiian from New Jersey. I do wonder what happened to Gooville, perhaps it will come up in another book?
In the mail back to BlueAmazon this morning, thank you for making this into a ring!
In the mail back to BlueAmazon this morning, thank you for making this into a ring!
HOME! and none the worse for the wear....
now that I've read ALL the other Moore books, maybe I can start this one again.....
now that I've read ALL the other Moore books, maybe I can start this one again.....
handing it over at work to a new friend...