When novels lead to a new passion…
I read and learn a lot from the books I travel with for The Booktrail. It’s not only the places which transport me but immersing myself in new worlds. I’ve worked in the silk industry in London’s Covent Garden, found myself at the heart of the American Civil War and am currently embroiled in the Battle of the Roses with my latest read.
But there’s one book that really inspired me to find more about what I was reading and a subject which is very dear to me still….
Lucy Atkins – The Missing One
In it, one of the characters works in remote Vancouver – Broughton Archipelago and was partly inspired by the very real and renowned Alexandra Morton who studied and listened to Orca whales. She was an expert in her field and wrote a book entitled ‘Listening to Whales’.
It was when reading this book and remembering the time I spotted these stunning creatures (from a distance but still) when travelling on a boat near Vancouver. Reading the book took me back there and inspired me to look into Killer Whales more. They do feature in the novel of course but the story really is about how far a mother will go to protect her child and secrets about a postcard sent to a woman each year on the same day. It’s a trail towards finding the truth. Having said that – a mother protecting her child is exactly the same no matter what the species as I found out.
The Independent Article about Tilikum
Having read the book I then discovered the documentary BlackFish which was made to illustrate the cruelty of keeping these majestic creatures in captivity. Imagine being kept in a container no bigger than a bath, having to do whatever is asked of you in order to be fed, having no freedom and being kept away from your family. The film is passionate in telling you just how killer whales live in pod families and that separating them, imprisoning them is not natural. SeaWorld of course tell a different story. I’ve never liked animals in captivity. Animals dressed up or made to perform for humans is just wrong on so many levels.
Anyway, what made me want to write this post is that the whale mentioned in the documentary Blackfish, accused of killing its trainer, has died today.
I would love to think that Tilikum didn’t die in vain and that more people realise that these creatures should not be in ‘circuses’. I watched a documentary last night – BBC 4 Natural World – and it’s a lovely homage to these wonderful creatures. RIP Tilikum
And one book started my fascination with these creatures. A book which highlights and honours a woman who did so much for the Orcas. And introduced me to a world which has fascinated me ever since. To me, that’s the power of reading.
Susan Booktrailer
