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This ending was a reminder that it can also be the beginning of a new story. What a powerful read. It touched on climate change, family, grief, loss, and the grind of moving forward. Dom tries his hardest to give each of his kids what they need to survive on a desolate island. Rowan‘s arrival sparks a change in the family dynamics as time runs out for the seeds they‘re protecting.

June #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

Zuhkeeyah I burned through the last half of the book after this morning‘s #camplitsy25 discussions 16h

GatheringBooks I loved this book. Agree with all you said. 🥰 14h

18 likes2 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

Welcome to our second book of #camplitsy25! We hope you‘re enjoying Wild Dark Shore and we look forward to 2 weekends of discussions.

Don‘t forget, this week we are discussing the first part of the book only so, if you have read on to the end, please take care not to post spoilers for everyone else!

Also, we‘re not tagging on every post, so please scroll down for the other questions for this week.

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

squirrelbrain @Addison_Reads @AmyG @amiable @BarbaraJean @Bkclubcare @BooksandCoffee4me @Bookbuyingaddict @booknaround @BookwormAHN @Bookwormjillk @Butterfinger @Cariashley @Caroline2 @CarolynM 21h

squirrelbrain @catgusmax @cbee @ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole @Christine @CogsOfEncouragement @Cseydel @Cuilin @Dabbe @Daisey @Debinhawaii @Deblovestoread @DGRachel @ErikasMindfulshelf 21h

squirrelbrain @flaneurette @fredthemoose @Gatheringbooks @gissy @Graciouswarriorprincess @Hooked_on_books 21h

See All 75 Comments

squirrelbrain @ImperfectCJ @JamieArc @Jas16 @Jenniferw88 @JenP @Jenreadsalot @Jess @Jhod @JoyBlue @JulesG @julieclair @KarenUK 21h

squirrelbrain @karisa @Kitta @Kristy-K @Kspenmoll @kwmg40 @Larkken @Laughterhp @LeeRHarry @Leniverse @Lesliereadsalot @maggie4483 @maich @Mcctrish @MeganAnn @Merelybookish @Meshell1313 @Monalyisha @Oryx 21h

squirrelbrain @peaknit @peanutnine @Prairiegirl_reading @PuddleJumper @quietjenn @Read4Life @RaeLovesToRead @reggie @rockpools @Roary47 @Ruthiella @Sace @Sapphire @Sarahbarnes @Soubhiville 21h

DGRachel This has been a bit of A Week, so I haven‘t started yet. I have a bit of catching up to do. 🙃 21h

squirrelbrain @skygoddess1 @Suet624 @Susanita @TheBookHippie @Thekidupstairs @Triplem80 @TrishB @Vonnie862 @Well-ReadNeck @willaful @youneverarrived @zuhkeeyah 21h

Kitta I think Dom needed control over his life due to grief and moving to the island was one way to make things manageable for him. But I‘m not sure it‘s what‘s best for the children. They need to socialize with other kids their own age and develop friendships etc. It sounds like Raff especially needs extra support with learning and he‘s not getting that. They‘re so isolated. 21h

Lesliereadsalot The situation in which the kids have been raised seems nearly impossible. So inter-dependent, no friends except for the sea life, such a limited childhood! It‘s all they know, but still, how does a parent do this to his kids? Very selfish. 21h

Bookwormjillk Gosh, it's part loving family and part hostage situation. I don't see it going well when/if they get off the island. 21h

TEArificbooks I think the family is grieving and the world is suffering from climate change disasters and there is no perfect way to deal with all that. But people do tend to hold the ones they love closer after such a big loss and they become more codependent. And just because it was not a typical upbringing doesn‘t mean it was wrong or damaging. It might have been what they all needed. 21h

TEArificbooks It even reminds me little of The Light Pirate. The main character was young when Florida began to sink and everyone left it. But she stayed with an old lady and her brother left her. And by growing up in a new climate world she adapted in ways adults couldn‘t and lead to her survival. So maybe the isolation in a rough environment would help them learn how to survive on their own in such a challenging new world. 21h

Chelsea.Poole I really feel for Dom. He‘s lost and grieving. He wants to protect his children but I‘m not sure he‘s doing that in such a remote location. This wildness might be what he needs but it may not be what the children need at this point in their lives. 21h

Suet624 Just a reminder: Don wasn‘t always there with just his kids. There were others on the island at some point. It‘s funny because I never thought to be critical of Dom. His kids, while grieving, seem to be doing pretty well - much like any isolated family in a rural area would. (edited) 21h

TEArificbooks No matter how the dad chose how to raise his kids people would judge them. And he judges himself. He is always questioning himself and regretting word choices and his own parenting. Regretting the things he said or things he didn‘t do. Even questioning if coming to the island was a good idea. Just like every parent. 20h

Kitta @Suet624 that‘s true, I forgot there were others at one point, but now it‘s very isolated and his reluctance to leave and the broken radio equipment worries me. 20h

TrishB Always very difficult to be a parent- because everyone has an opinion on how you do it. I think he made a decision for good reasons for himself and the family at that point in time. 20h

AmyG They were a family in pain after such a loss. Dom did what he thought was best as he deeply loves his children, though he is a very the damaged man. What @TrishB said….he made a decision he thought was best. As for family dynamic…they all deeply love each other and, even with all their issues, I felt they were a close family and very dependent on each other. BUT…wow, there is so much pain there together and separately. (edited) 20h

KarenUK Totally agree @TrishB I think that that opinion of others parenting is often in comparison to what is they consider the ‘normal‘ way. More isolated communities exist all over the world. There isn‘t one way to live. And as @Suet624 said, there were other people there at first. They are grieving as a family. And the kids seem to be empathetic, kind and loving, and developing interpersonal skills even though they are fairly isolated. 20h

BarbaraBB I find Dom‘s parenting both heartbreaking and deeply human. He‘s trying to raise strong, capable children in a world that‘s falling apart, but in doing so, he passes on some of his own pain. He protects them fiercely—but at a cost. 20h

Susanita What @Bookwormjillk said! 19h

LeeRHarry I agree @KarenUK - people live in isolation in many different places and the children share a solid and caring relationship. The grief is palpable and seriously needs to addressed though. 19h

squirrelbrain @DGRachel - it‘s a fast read once you get going - enjoy! 19h

squirrelbrain @kitta -I felt that about Raff, too. Out of all of them I felt he was struggling the most. 19h

squirrelbrain @Bookwormjillk @Susanita - that‘s a perfect way of looking at it! 19h

Zuhkeeyah I think Dom is doing his best. He knows he's not a warm and fuzzy but he loves those children with his whole being. The distance we see in the book is recent because he does mention before times where they sought him out for comfort. 19h

squirrelbrain @TEArificbooks @TrishB @AmyG @KarenUK - great point that parents are criticised whatever they do. Dom, like all parents, is doing what he thinks best in the circumstances he found himself in. 19h

Zuhkeeyah @BarbaraBB Exactly. This is seen in how he helps Raff channel his anger. 19h

squirrelbrain @Suet624 @BarbaraBB @Zuhkeeyah - he certainly does love his children fiercely, and is trying to protect them from (perceived) threats, but in doing so, has he exposed them to different dangers? 19h

BkClubCare For me, the fact (whatever incident HAS happened that I don‘t yet know because I have only read to half 😊) that something horrific has recently happened and Dom is all calm, “yep, power out, it‘s only 6 weeks left, carry on” with NO dealing with it all besides, “let‘s not talk about it, shall we?” Seems a bit weird. There is no conversation of what next, no prepping for any new life elsewhere. Just washing the salt off the windows as needs must. 19h

Bookwormjillk @BkClubCare I stopped at halfway too and have the same frustrations. 19h

jenniferw88 I think Dom's children are coping better with their grief than Dom is, and the relationships between them is OK. Raff might be struggling slightly more as he's dealing with 2 losses (his mum & Alex), but they're trying to work as a unit to help their Dad, who doesn't know how to go about restoring their relationships. 18h

Zuhkeeyah @squirrelbrain Hmmm yes and no. The kids know more about the natural world than most adults. The problem is that they're not part of the human portion, which is going to be hard when they go back to the mainland. Also, no one talks about their feelings but Orly. 18h

Karisa Nodding along with your voices. The complexity of the situation that McConaghy builds in this cold world of work, nature, and family is sublime. I admired Dom‘s strength in carrying on when leading his family while also worrying that the noncommunication is putting them all at risk. They are in survival mode. It‘s both sad and beautiful this place. 18h

sarahbarnes Agree with many of the thoughts here. Dom seems to be doing what he believes is best for his children. The future of the planet also factors into that for him - I think he feels a heavy obligation to protect the seeds until they are picked up. And on top of all that, he is immersed in grief. His kids are experiencing some incredible things. And in many ways it still feels like any childhood - joking about how their dad makes them do chores etc. 18h

mcctrish I agree with all that has been said - I do question moving to an isolated place with the kids after they lost their mom preventing them from having friend supports but global warming ramping up negates that luxury?@TEArificbooks I had The Light Pirate vibes too with the kids being able to negotiate this new world better. I haven‘t read ahead & I feel like whatever has transpired has rocked them & caused the riff between dad & daughter 18h

Susanita @BkClubCare Yes! The family had things barely under control or at least at some kind of equilibrium…then Rowan comes along and upsets the apple cart. It was funny to me that Dom was mad at her for lying, when they‘re obviously lying about SOME BIG THING. And yeah, let‘s just get to it already. 18h

Karisa Random but…. Does any one else love that she made their last name Salt? 😍 17h

JamieArc I haven‘t thought a lot about criticizing Dom, like @Suet624 I feel like there is a lot we don‘t know yet. What does the world actually look like? How bad is it? I‘m not sure how to balance how much the kids‘ situation will hold them back or put them ahead once they get into “the real world.” And - they are leaving with the next boat, so there‘s that. 17h

Zuhkeeyah @Karisa Lol I didn‘t catch that. A lot of earth themes throughout. 17h

peaKnit @Bookwormjillk I like how you said that - part loving family, part hostage situation. I think the kids may be flourishing in some interesting ways, ways that wouldn‘t make sense anywhere else but while suffering and missing so much socialization. I understand why but don‘t agree with it as a long term situation for everyone‘s mental health. 17h

kspenmoll I have just read the first part also. The lush descriptions of the land, its sea creatures, traveling seed on the albatross, birds, light & darkness are captivating. It‘s heartbreaking to feel the grief-it‘s palpable like a character in itself. I think Dom is doing his best to- he is not a man to explore feelings in words which does short change the children - he does not seem to understand that one word will bring his daughter back to him. 16h

Deblovestoread Loved @Bookwormjillk comment and agree with the comments about the deep love this family shares although shattered by the loss of their mom/life. It is so easy to judge parenting from the outside looking in and Dom could communicate more but he‘s doing his best. 16h

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare @Bookwormjillk @Susanita @kspenmoll - this halfway split was just perfect.👌 Things really start to happen soon, although it takes a while to build! 16h

squirrelbrain @Karisa @sarahbarnes @jamiearc @peaKnit @deblovestoread - I agree that Dom is doing what he feels best, and also that they‘re in survival mode. But surviving on the island and surviving in the real world are two entirely different things. 16h

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk hostage situation is the word I was looking for. I think he loves them but is controlling them in a very negative way, too. 16h

Megabooks @TEArificbooks that is a really good comparison to TLP!! I loved the MC in that book. 16h

MeganAnn I actually think that a lot of the grief/ pain the kids are experiencing stems from the big thing that happened before Rowan arrived on the island. They‘ve been on this island for 9 years & their mom died before they came so while they still miss her, they are more worried that Dom cannot seem to find a way through his grief over losing her. Raff is struggling because of the loss of Alex. We don‘t know what happened with Fen yet but something did. 16h

Megabooks @Suet624 idk if I agree that kind of isolation is good for any kid. I found myself wondering why didn‘t he leave when the other people did. It just bothers me that Fen sees more communion with animals than other people. 16h

MeganAnn @TEArificbooks yes this is reminding me a lot of The Light Pirate also! One of my favorites. @mcctrish I agree that whatever big thing happened has caused the rift between Dom and Fen. 16h

MeganAnn While the kids may not be socializing with children their own ages, they were clearly still social with the scientists who were on the island until recently. So while it may not be ideal and they will probably struggle at first to join a new community, I think they have the skills to adapt. And they have learned a lot from nature. Dom‘s refusal to deal with his grief and talk about his feelings is harder for the kids than anything. 16h

vonnie862 It is not healthy. Dom is going through grief and is doing his best to raise his kids in this deserted island. But...what happened? They are obviously hiding something. 16h

MeganAnn @Megabooks I see Fen‘s need to stay with the seals as a result of her dealing with whatever big thing happened that we don‘t know yet. Something clearly happened to her that caused her to pull away and feel uncomfortable in their home which is why she wants to stay out with the seals. Every time she is at the house she says something about not wanting to be there that feels like a trauma response to whatever happened. 16h

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain yes it was quite the cliffhanger! 16h

ChaoticMissAdventures @Suet624 I agree, there mostly seemed a constant flow of scientists on the island until we get to the point where we the reader join them. I do think though that kids need to socialize (more than whatever virtual school they were doing) with other children their own age. They miss so many mile stones and are going to find it difficult to make friends, which I feel they will need when they eventually skater off the island. 15h

ChaoticMissAdventures @BarbaraBB I agree, McConaghy in the end writes the children in general to be well adjusted and rational, even mature for their ages, I think she was trying to show the situation in a good light because though there is something going on with the kids in the middle we see that they are mostly okay. Even with Fen sleeping with the animals. It isn't much different than the scientists they grew up with. 15h

JamieArc @Megabooks I‘m not convinced they did leave. It‘s probably a big jump to say they didn‘t, but with Hank‘s passport left behind, I‘m now wondering. At least the circumstances under which they left. 15h

GatheringBooks I love @BarbaraBB‘s take on this question along with @Zuhkeeyah‘s thoughts that Dom is doing his best. I also agree with @TrishB that it is easy for an outsider to have opinions about how you raise your own children. As @TEArificbooks noted Dom has sufficient self-awareness that he also second-guesses his choices. More than anything, I find this to be an admirable undertaking - the sense that one has purpose & doing something valuable - what ⬇️ 15h

GatheringBooks (Cont) what a remarkable opportunity for the kids to be surrounded by nature and be mentored by passionate scientists and be raised by a loving parent. I don‘t see what they miss in the regular sense - but marvel at what they have instead. Normalcy is overrated. This is something else altogether that not everyone will ever get to experience in their lifetime. If mainlanders don‘t get them, it‘s on them - not the kids‘. 14h

Hooked_on_books I think he‘s doing his best. Plus, in this changing world, they‘re learning resilience and how to interface with the natural world, which are vital skills they likely wouldn‘t be learning in another setting. And with the rapid sea level rise, what is going on on the mainland? Is it chaos and violence? Probably. So they could well be better off where they are. 14h

Larkken A little late to the party, but chiming in to say that to some degree the parenting seems to be a bit of commentary by the author on the breakdown of society at the end of the world. The undertone is : everything will be tribal & insular & the only people you can depend on is family. So Dom‘s parenting, I guess I would argue, is somewhat a result of the world-wide crisis itself? But maybe I‘m being cynical bc I find McConaghy rather dire/dismal 12h

BookwormAHN I think it's clear Dom is hiding but I also think it would be fascinating to grow up like that. 12h

squirrelbrain @Megabooks - aren‘t all children controlled by their parent(s) though? Although, the kids here have no chance of breaking away from Dom. 12h

squirrelbrain @MeganAnn @vonnie862 @ChaoticMissAdventures I agree, the kids seem really well-adjusted, considering. They almost seem to be parenting their father. 12h

squirrelbrain I love this @gatheringbooks - ‘normalcy is overrated‘ ❤️ 12h

squirrelbrain @Larkken - not cynical at all, and a well-made point that no-one else has yet made. 12h

Jas16 I think parenting is hard enough when you aren‘t dealing with everything on Dom‘s plate. I agree with others that he is doing the best he can Oftentimes that might not be enough but he clearly loves his kids and they seem to know that he loves him despite it all which is half the battle. 11h

Jas16 @Larkken interesting point. 11h

Lesliereadsalot It‘s really hard for me to discuss this book only discussing the first half! Really looking forward to next week. 9h

BarbaraBB @TEArificbooks I now really want to read that book! 8h

BarbaraBB @Karisa I wasn‘t aware of their last name but it‘s well chosen! 8h

willaful @BarbaraBB Well put. 6h

willaful @Megabooks I'm by no means sure that any of the other people actually “left.“ 5h

squirrelbrain @Jas16 - I can‘t imagine how Dom is feeling with everything that is going on, and how guilty he must feel for his kids and the situation they‘re in. 3h

46 likes75 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

The author has addressed climate change in all of her novels – how do you find the portrayal of the climate crisis in this book, through the medium of the seed bank and other factors?

Do you think fiction is a good way of calling for action on this and other similar issues?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Kitta I think fiction is a good way to engage people about climate change and the devastating consequences if we don‘t act now. I like thinking about the island and its environment as a character going through a tough time. It‘s like the ocean is angry and reclaiming land that we humans have destroyed. The closing of the seed bank and Hank having to make the decision of what to save is depressing and stressful. Orly‘s thoughts add to it well. 21h

Bookwormjillk My main volunteer gig has to do with the environment so I am always happy to see people treating climate change like something that actually exists. (Although I admit I have tried to read one of this author's books before and bailed.) 21h

Chelsea.Poole I agree with @kitta —introducing/exposing people to some of these concepts with fiction is a way to get messages out to many who would not otherwise consider reading or learning about climate change. Picking up “a story” that reflects our current struggles is often the way to expose people to these climate disasters to wake them up. Love the author‘s use of nature/environmental concepts in her books. 21h

See All 62 Comments

Suet624 I appreciate how she writes about the consequences of climate change. Her descriptions of nature have always put me right in the spot she‘s talking about. 20h

TEArificbooks I think it is an excellent way to expose people to the fact that climate change is real and just around the corner and our grandchildren will be dealing with the things this family is dealing with. I have noticed a huge uptick in climate change fiction. I hope it inspires people to try to fix it and our next generation does better than us. 20h

TrishB I enjoy learning via fiction, if you‘re interested you go away and find out more. I love the way she portrays nature as a character. 20h

KarenUK I love her writing because of this. So evocative. It‘s very immersive, moving and thought provoking. 20h

AmyG I loved the climate and descriptions of the land and sea. Her writing gave me such a clear picture of where they lived. I think it‘s a great way to get across to people the situation we are in as a world. I found myself googling seed bank etc. I now have a better understanding of that…which I didn‘t have before I read this book. 20h

rockpools I think she writes the environment wonderfully! And seeing the island (and Rowan‘s lost home) through both Rowan and Orly‘s eyes is really effective. It feels very real, and very close. I haven‘t read her before, but am loving her ability to transport you to this place. 20h

BarbaraBB You could argue the strength lies in its balance: the book doesn‘t just highlight ecological catastrophe—it delves into personal grief, survival, and moral choice. I regard the seed bank both a literal and symbolic heart of the story, representing what we value—or risk losing. fiction like this delivers more than facts alone, by bringing climate change into our emotional and moral worlds. 20h

Susanita Fiction can drive home the emotional impact of a situation in a way that just reporting facts and figures can‘t really do. We feel the loss of Rowan‘s home to the fires and the loss of the island because we see those losses on an individual and immediate level. 19h

squirrelbrain @rockpools - you should definitely read the other books by this author! 19h

squirrelbrain Playing devil‘s advocate here - do you think the people who *should* read and do the research around a book like this, will do? Or will they just see it as pure fiction and not rooted in fact? @Kitta @Bookwormjillk @Chelsea.Poole @Suet624 @TEArificbooks @TrishB @KarenUK @AmyG @rockpools @BarbaraBB @Susanita 19h

squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB - I was only seeing the seed bank in a very literal way. 🤔 19h

Zuhkeeyah The island and Rowan's house are themselves characters in the book. The island shows what is still there, while Rowan's home represents how fast it can all disappear. This is mirrored with the seed bank and the need to protect it. Fiction reaches a wider audience than nonfiction. I'm glad to see authors making an effort to highlight the imminent dangers of climate change. Once you relate to a character's struggle, it's harder to ignore the issue. 19h

rockpools @squirrelbrain The people who ‘need‘ to read around this - maybe they will see it as fiction. But it builds. They will hear about wildfires. And floods. And maybe even seed banks (or biodiversity loss). And the impact of those things will become more real, more relevant and the stories more human through having read fiction. 19h

Chelsea.Poole @BarbaraBB excellent point about the seed bank! I thought often about what I would protect at all costs in my own life while reading. It‘s the seeds for the future —my children and the environment for them and all living beings. Seems to be a deeply ingrained drive for humans: preparing for the future. 19h

Chelsea.Poole Well put @rockpools !! I‘m not sure those who need this will be willing to pick it up on their own but this author sure is gaining popularity and perhaps that will help propel her message…plus, as mentioned above all the other cli-fi out there. It‘s going to become more and more difficult to avoid. 19h

Bookwormjillk @squirrelbrain good point- on the whole probably not, but maybe someone will. 19h

BkClubCare Oooo! Does anyone have any NF suggestions to pair with this? I definitely looked up snow gums and buzzy burrs, amongst other stuff. Great comments here. 👏 18h

Karisa @BarbaraBB Ooooh, the seed vault as the heart is beautiful (after all, seeds and hearts can be transplanted). Their home is the lighthouse—the eyes? Both are failing with the people/lifeblood/brain trying to keep it all running while time is running out. They are hoping but unsure if help is on the way and if so, will the help make it in time? A microcosm of the larger, ailing world. 18h

KarenUK @squirrelbrain Good point! Probably not is the sad answer… 18h

mcctrish @Karisa I love your description of the island I love fiction that teaches me something and @rockpools that connections people who stumble across this book make in real life is enough to propel them to make changes ( or be loud enough to get the people in charge to) I loved reading the descriptions of this island - I continually wavered between wanting to be there and absolutely not wanting to be there 😆 18h

JamieArc I really like that she makes it something really tangible and personal. It‘s not some big thing that has turned us into a dystopian planet. But it‘s affected the island, their home, their work. 17h

AmyG @BarbaraBB Spot on. I viewed the seed bank as the future. Dom was saving the seeds so his children, and basically humans, could have a future. 17h

Ruthiella I pretty much hated the book. But I do agree the writing is good and the environment, the weather, the atmosphere of the island is beautifully rendered. 17h

peaKnit @BarbaraBB yes, I also appreciate your thoughts about the seedbank, now I can see it as the heart more - I‘m learning I might read too literally. 17h

kspenmoll The author‘s descriptions of the land, sea, & its creatures were mesmerizing. I I loved the chapter that featured the truss from the seat on the back circling the Earth. I agree with @rockpools that seeing the island through the eyes of Rowan & Orly is effective- Rowan‘s eyes are new, so you feel her wonder & Orly‘s joy at sharing his world with her. @Karisa I love your view/ ideas about the novel as a “microcosm of the larger, -ailing world.” (edited) 16h

Deblovestoread I love how I know exactly where I‘m at with her writing. Her descriptions are vivid. And yes I think novels can open our eyes to something we should be paying attention to and can spur you on to learn more. 16h

squirrelbrain I agree with @chelsea.poole - that was beautifully put @rockpools , and so hopeful! 16h

squirrelbrain @Karisa @JamieArc - this author is so good at linking large, expansive issues with more personal challenges, giving them so much more heart and meaning in the process. 16h

squirrelbrain @mcctrish - maybe a short visit?! 😜 16h

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - I‘m sorry you didn‘t like it 😞 but glad you could see past that to some of the positives. 16h

squirrelbrain @peaKnit - I read too literally too! A book like Audition *makes* you look for metaphors / analogies / whatevers but with books like this one that are so immersive and ‘easy‘ I tend to take them at surface value. 16h

Megabooks @Kitta that‘s a good point. I feel like some folks feel lectured at with nonfiction or news in the way they don‘t with fiction. It opens us to new worlds even if they‘re scary. @Chelsea.Poole 16h

Megabooks @BarbaraBB wow!!! Great thought/observation!! 💜💜💜 16h

Megabooks @Suet624 @KarenUK @AmyG she is one of the best descriptive writers I‘ve read recently!! 16h

Christine Great points, @BarbaraBB and @Zuhkeeyah ! And 🤣 @Ruthiella , I‘m enjoying the book but am eager to learn more about your hate! 16h

vonnie862 The description of the island really helps portray the situation the characters are in. 16h

ChaoticMissAdventures @squirrelbrain I think the people who should read it, will never be changed, until something very drastic happens to them, and even then it is a 50/50 chance they will “believe“ in climate change. I think they would read this book as a dystopian thing that cannot happen like Mad Max or other wild tales. 15h

ChaoticMissAdventures I will begrudgingly admit (I did not like this book) she writes a scene/landscape well. I can visualize the island, and the cottages in my mind even now weeks after I have finished the book. I think she selects in all her books the harshest climates, the places that feel like they want to drive humans away by the force of nature. 15h

JamieArc @Megabooks I was also thinking of the lecturing point. I feel like I‘ve seen people say that even with fiction books. But climate change is woven into the story in a way that doesn‘t feel like…I‘m not sure how to say it. It‘s all interconnected - the land, the climate, the characters and their grief. The climate doesn‘t overshadow the other parts. 15h

Hooked_on_books I love how the environment is portrayed here. Especially the ocean, which here and in reality is relentless, unstoppable, and untamable. And she shows that so well. And I do think fiction is a good medium to explore things like climate change, since it allows an author to reach forward into what is to come and create characters people can relate to so they can see what it might be like for themselves. Plus, so many people just don‘t read NF. 14h

Hooked_on_books @BkClubCare It‘s less about climate change specifically, but looks at human damage to locations and what nature has done to reclaim those places from human injury. It‘s fantastic and I think would pair well with this:

Islands of Abandonment: Nature Rebounding in the Post-Human Landscape

13h

TEArificbooks @Hooked__on__books thanks for the suggestion. As for if I think the people need to read the book would read it and change their opinion on climate change? I hope so. I think if they can be empathic to a character then they can be empathetic to the environment too. However, I know that there are people that never believe no matter how much logic and evidence there is. There are still people that think the earth is flat for Pete‘s sake. 13h

GatheringBooks Great follow up question by @squirrelbrain - that is the rub, isn‘t it? Whether those who need to read it manage to do so in the first place - but at least it IS there. You are right in noting how the setting is very much a character here. The sense of aliveness of the place and the evocative way it was described is lovingly detailed. Like @JamieArc noted, i never felt the climate change aspect was heavy handed or prescriptive, it simply is. 13h

BkClubCare @Hooked_on_books - Thank you 🙏 12h

BookwormAHN I was a little torn on the climate change aspect. On one hand I can see the need to find a way to convey the need for everyone to take it more seriously but I think that she almost pushed it in to a dystopian novel. Or we are a lot more screwed than I was previously aware if. 12h

squirrelbrain @jamiearc @Megabooks - I don‘t think that this book felt like a lecture at all. Conversely, while I really enjoy Barbara Kingsolver, sometimes she gets on her soapbox and becomes really didactic. 12h

squirrelbrain @Hooked_on_books - you‘re right, so many people shy away from NF for fear of it being ‘dry‘. 12h

LeeRHarry @Hooked_on_books great NF book suggestion - I loved that one. The way that nature writing is woven into this book is my favourite part about it. Living in a country that regularly has bushfires, I thought the sense of devastatingly loss for all things as a result of fires was done really well. (edited) 11h

Jas16 @BarbaraBB I love that so much. I didn‘t think of that while reading the book but you are so right 11h

Jas16 @rockpools I agree with you. People may not do a deep dive into climate change after reading this but stories like this enter people‘s consciousness which is a way to get them thinking and empathizing outside of their usual bubbles. 11h

rockpools @Hooked_on_books Thanks for the recommendation- I‘d wanted to read that when it came out, but it somehow fell off my radar… (or got buried under other things). 9h

rockpools @squirrelbrain Yes re how she wove in climate change elements. And I agree re Kingsolver - I‘ve loved her books for years. But you can feel lectured! 9h

Lesliereadsalot @Ruthiella You hated this book?!? Can‘t wait for next week to find out why. 9h

Ruthiella @Lesliereadsalot Pretty much! 😂 9h

rockpools @BarbaraBB I love your thoughts on the seedbank. For some reason, the decisions Hank was forced to make made me think of the UK education system (go figure!). ‘Useful‘ subjects only, none of that artsy, wild, beautiful stuff we need to thrive, just the crops we need to exist. 9h

Lesliereadsalot @BarbaraBB What smart observations! You really got the best out of this book. 9h

rockpools @squirrelbrain I will definitely read more by this author. Are camp sessions finished for today? Can I go back to my tent and read the second half now??! Can‘t wait to get back to it 😁 9h

Hooked_on_books @rockpools I know we can all relate to that! 😂 9h

squirrelbrain @rockpools - yes you can read more! At least you don‘t have to be secretive about it - at this camp we encourage reading after lights out! 😜 I have both other books if you can‘t get hold of them - I can bring them to Gladstone‘s and you could post them back to me, or I‘ll post them to you beforehand 2h

30 likes62 comments

squirrelbrain

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25

There are two polarised views about the island, from Fen and her father. Orly also seems to love the island, although he knows nothing else. What about Raff?

Who do you think is more correct in their views?

Could you live (or even thrive!) in such an environment?

Megabooks, BarbaraBB

Kitta I think Fen says it‘s killing them but she clearly loves it too. The animals there, especially the seals, have a real acceptance of her if not a bond. But I think she‘s right and it‘s not sustainable forever to live there. Dom‘s grief is clouding his judgement imo. Maybe it was a good idea for a short period of time but 9 years? Orly‘s whole life? Only knowing the island? Idk. But I grew up in a city. I can‘t imagine growing up so isolated. 21h

Bookwormjillk I would love to live on an island like that by myself for a year just to see if I could. That is assuming it wasn't trying to kill me.

I think this is one of those situations where everyone is right. It's such an extreme environment that it may kill some people and others may thrive. I think Raff is so deep in his grief that he's not really feeling anything at all. 21h

Lesliereadsalot I don‘t think Dom can see straight in this life where he has placed his family. He has his single minded focus on saving the seeds, and the kids come second. Of course he loves them, and he sees who they are, but he‘s sort of helpless to nurture them. Fen knows they need a different life, even though she has grown to love the sea. Raff and Orly go along, but only the reader can be objective enough to know how much they could grow elsewhere. 21h

See All 48 Comments

Lesliereadsalot I could never live like this for even a week. 21h

Chelsea.Poole Maybe how each character feels about the island symbolizes their feelings/grief of losing their mother/wife? Fen is angry, Dom cannot let go, Raff is adrift, Orly doesn‘t know what he‘s missing out on. 20h

Suet624 Oh gosh. Honestly, I‘m sad they will have to leave. While the conditions are harsh, moving to civilization feels scary to me for this group. The outside world will be hard to get used to and the conditions experienced living among other people could be as harsh as the island. 20h

TEArificbooks I agree with @Chelsea.Poole there is a connection between their grief and how they feel about the island. But there is no wrong way to grieve and everyone has a different experience even when they are having the exact same experience. So I don‘t think anyone is wrong or right. You feel what you feel. 20h

TrishB No way I could live this life. There is some attraction to isolation for short periods. But not forever. Their life there is not sustainable, which is sort of a sub plot about nature and life! 20h

rockpools I‘m intrigued by Fen‘s view. Of everyone, she seems the most a part of the environment, and yet the most realistic about leaving. Her need to leave seems to be based on the mental health of the others, particularly Dom. She comes across as so capable… but possibly more aware that they need support. I do wonder what happened, why she won‘t sleep in the house. 20h

rockpools And no. Much as I would love to live this kind of life, and have lived in some differently isolated places (never this extreme!), turns out I quite need to be around people, or at least have decent transport links back to civilisation, to stay sane. Annoying, really! 20h

KarenUK I‘m definitely attracted to the idea of isolation in small doses, but long term… eek! I love what @Chelsea.poole said about their grief and their feelings about the island being intertwined. 20h

AmyG I, too, agree with @Chelsea.Poole about the island and grief/loss. Fen comes to the island after her loss of her home, her husband and the family after the loss of their Mom/wife. I understand Dom wanting to desperately save the seeds…he couldn‘t save his wife so maybe he can help save the future for his kids. I think Fen believes this island is killing them. I also think Dom is afraid to leave…he may (in his mind) “lose” his kids to the world. 20h

BarbaraBB I think the book pushes us toward a synthesis: the island isn‘t just wild or dear—it is both, and only by acknowledging both can the characters (and we) truly connect to it. I think island doesn‘t fit into a single box. 20h

squirrelbrain @Lesliereadsalot @rockpools - Fen seems to be the most mature of everyone doesn‘t she? 19h

Zuhkeeyah Fen is more self-aware than Dom, who is completely committed to protecting the seeds and keeping his kids close. The island was what they needed when drowning in grief but it's time the kids got to stretch their wings. Dom is afraid of them flying away from him because he's not ready for another loss. 19h

Zuhkeeyah I don't think I'd mind the isolation of the island back when the researchers were there too. As it is now... no way. 19h

Lesliereadsalot I think Fen expresses the most thoughts, so we clearly see how she has evolved. Her life should get better and better off the island. I did love Orly though, such a cool kid! 18h

jenniferw88 I agree with @Suet624 . 18h

squirrelbrain @Chelsea.Poole @TEArificbooks @AmyG - there‘s definitely some link to grief there, in all of them, isn‘t there? Hopefully, we‘ll explore that a bit more next week. 🤔 18h

Karisa Totally agree with @Suet624 and @jenniferw88 there‘s no guarantees that the outside world seems unsafe too. @Lesliereadsalot I admire Dom‘s family and the place so much but wouldn‘t last a week either! 😅 18h

mcctrish I think the island trying to kill them is 2 fold - the extreme weather is one making it hard to do anything and it‘s getting worse - plus whatever happened has scarred not only them but the island making them not function together. I could maybe handle it for a period of time but not to live and work for years. I don‘t even like the idea of not being able to walk somewhere and having to rely on a car for everything 18h

Susanita Isolation sounds good in some ways…until it‘s not. And they are REALLY isolated now with whatever happened to the comms. Also, like @rockpools I really want to know the story with Fen and Dom. 18h

Ruthiella I think they are both correct and the author means this to be a microcosmic portrayal of the planet and our relationship to it. Nature owes humans nothing. We are killing the Earth and so it defends itself - Earth abides. 17h

peaKnit I imagine this family with a hard shell and squishy insides. They are so damaged but maybe stay distracted and build walls by the work of living on this island? Fen seems to have taken on a more adult role out of necessity but also protects herself by staying isolated much of the time. 16h

kspenmoll I agree with @Suet624 as well. This family is so poorly equipped to deal with the real world- I have this gnawing feeling it would kill them. Also agree with @mcctrish in that the mysterious tragedy is eating them alive in different ways. I could visit an isolated spot but only as a visit, not to live & with the assurance I can leave. 16h

mcctrish @Ruthiella YES!!!!! 16h

kspenmoll I love these discussions for the different views and insights that I gain (edited) 16h

kspenmoll @Ruthiella Perfect statement! 16h

squirrelbrain @Ruthiella - that‘s a wonderful way of seeing / understanding the portrayal of both the family and the island. 16h

vonnie862 I can see how they love the island but the island is not sustainable to live in. Maybe if they move to the middle of the woods instead? 16h

ChaoticMissAdventures @Lesliereadsalot I am right there with you. Absolutely not. I could never live in this environment! But I am a sunny warm person, cold make me so unhappy. 15h

ChaoticMissAdventures @Chelsea.Poole I think this is a great way to look at the characters and their attachment to the island. That is a wonderful way to look at them. 15h

ChaoticMissAdventures I think Fen is seeing the island the way I do in question 2, it is like the elements are getting harsher and creeping in and trying to literally kill them. Fen sees that the world they build is not in their control, and is becoming to dangerous to hang onto. I agree with others she seems like the only rational person of the bunch. I personally am a city rat and could never live like this I would be bored out of my mind. 15h

Hooked_on_books I‘m apparently one of the few (appropriately!), but yeah, I could totally live in that environment. 😂 I do pretty well with isolation. @Chelsea.Poole I love this take on each character‘s feelings for the island mirroring their grief. And @Ruthiella , you took the words out of my mouth! The island as microcosm for the planet is exactly how I see it. 13h

Megabooks @Lesliereadsalot I think Dom is blinded by grief and needs to save something — his children, the seeds, the planet — because he lost something monumental. 13h

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole count me as another fan of your interpretation! 13h

Megabooks I don‘t even want to live on a well inhabited island (even up to the size of the British isles — sorry @squirrelbrain ), so yeah, this doesn‘t sound good to me at all! 13h

GatheringBooks @BarbaraBB loving the non-binary and more complex ideation of The Island: the same thing that we are most attached to can also be slowly killing us - a truth in most other situations too. The Island has become a sort of family to them, notwithstanding whether it is dysfunctional or otherwise. I think we would not really know what we are capable of unless we are in a situation where we have limited choices in the matter, which is why I admire Dom. 12h

BookwormAHN I was kind of surprised by Fen's view since she seemed more attracted than any of them. But I also think it would be scary to like on a place that is so harsh and disappearing in front of them. 12h

LeeRHarry I think Fen out of the three children has the most interest in the outside world even though she clearly loves the animals on the island, there is some contradictory resentment there about being stuck on an island. I‘d like to visit Macquarie Island - just visit mind - but then I‘m a bit of an islophile. 😊 11h

BkClubCare Gosh, no one has even mentioned the ghosts. The island / nature might be both “wild and dear”, but what about the voices and sense of an otherworldly presence? 11h

TEArificbooks @BkClubCare I think the ghosts/spirits of the dead people and animals have a greater role to play in I haven‘t read ahead, but there are so many hints (the story orly tells). I think maybe Hank went mad from the ghosts on the island and killed everyone and maybe Dom took him out. Or maybe there was mass hysteria cause Alex also was hung and it‘s not clear if he did it or he was executed 9h

rockpools @LeeRHarry *googles Macquarie Island* Is this where this is based on then? I assumed it must be a real place when Orly mentions it as the only breeding ground for ?royal penguins - too specific a fact to make up (maybe). I‘ll fall down that rabbithole when I‘ve finished the book 🙂. But I‘d like to join you on your visit! 9h

rockpools @BkClubCare @TEArificbooks And the footsteps Rowan hears behind her in the fog. Was that just her getting creeped out, ghosts, or is there someone else on the island? (edited) 9h

LeeRHarry @rockpools oops is that a spoiler? 🫣hopefully not. I think you can definitely visit from here so the more the merrier I say. 😊 8h

squirrelbrain @BookwormAHN @leerharry - there‘s clearly something else going on with Fen, despite the fact that she loves the island. 🤔 (edited) 2h

squirrelbrain @BkClubCare @TEArificbooks - we were going to ask a question about the ghosts / voices but there were so many questions we had to cut some out. I do think this will come out more in one of the second-half questions though. 2h

squirrelbrain No spoilers there! @LeeRHarry 😉 2h

29 likes1 stack add48 comments

Chelsea.Poole

Camping: A Mr. and Mrs. Green Adventure | Keith Baker

A doodle because I forgot the order of events 🏕️
#CampLitsy25

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

Suet624 This is so helpful. Thanks! 22h

squirrelbrain Love this! And I notice and fully appreciate your colour-coding! 💛🧡🤎🩷💚💜 21h

Bookwormjillk Love it! 21h

Megabooks Fantastic doodle!! 18h

Ruthiella Beautiful! 🤩 16h

48 likes5 comments

Chelsea.Poole

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

pick

I‘m so behind on reviews and my reading life has been slower than usual (hi, anxiety! 👋) but I did manage to get this #CampLitsy25 read in before this weekend. While I did love most of it, one central theme throughout had me spiraling. I‘m looking forward to discussing tomorrow with fellow campers! McConaghy is one of my favorite authors ever (big fan of the way she weaves nature in her stories) but I must say this is my least favorite of hers.

AnnCrystal 🙏🏼🫂🤩🌸😍🐈. 1d

squirrelbrain Sorry to hear you‘re struggling. 😘 Looking forward to the discussions this weekend. 1d

Chelsea.Poole @AnnCrystal @squirrelbrain 🤍 thank you both! Looking forward to your questions Helen! 24h

61 likes2 stack adds3 comments

kspenmoll

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

#camplitsy25 #adventuresinphilosophy #philosophyfightssocialinjustice #familymemoir #ColdWarNovel

rachelsbrittain

34 likes

BarbaraJean

Audition | Katie Kitamura

Late to camp, starting my homework today 🤪 #CampLitsy25

Now if only I could get a skip-the-line copy of Wild Dark Shore…

Megabooks, squirrelbrain, BarbaraBB

BarbaraBB That would be great, WDS is so good! 2d

squirrelbrain That‘s a long line - congrats on skipping! 2d

Megabooks It‘s so frustrating when the library doesn‘t come through at the right time!! Enjoy Audition! 13h

34 likes1 stack add3 comments

Suet624

Wild Dark Shore | Charlotte McConaghy

I‘ve been going through a crappy reading phase. None of the books I‘m picking up are keeping my attention. Leave it to McConaghy to reinvigorate my love for reading.

Stopped reading at the midpoint so I can stick with the #CampLitsy25 schedule. @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Megabooks

kspenmoll I am really loving this- the prose, the descriptive imagery, the mysterious atmosphere, the angst. 2d

squirrelbrain Yay! I‘m glad it got you out of the reading slump! 2d

Christine I accidentally listened a bit past the midpoint and have had a hard time resisting it since then! 2d

See All 11 Comments

BarbaraBB So glad she does the job! 🧡 2d

AmyG She is a HUGE favorite. Favorite book of the year for me. 2d

Suet624 @kspenmoll All of this, yes!
1d

Suet624 @squirrelbrain Thanks! 1d

Suet624 @Christine Go for it!!! 1d

Suet624 @BarbaraBB Me too! 1d

Suet624 @AmyG Great to hear. 1d

Megabooks She‘s so fantastic!! Queen of description!! 12h

45 likes11 comments

Lesliereadsalot

Tilt | Emma Pattee

pick

One day in the life of extremely pregnant Annie, who has the bad luck to be shopping at IKEA on the day of a major earthquake in Oregon. We follow her all day, interspersed with chapters describing her past, as she speaks constantly to the unborn child she‘s carrying. I liked this book and it made me think about what I would do in a devastating circumstance like this one. Very provocative for #camplitsy25

squirrelbrain I really appreciated this, if that‘s the right word! 🤔 3d

Lesliereadsalot Yes, we don‘t know what it‘s really like for someone who finds themselves in such a tragedy. @squirrelbrain 3d

BarbaraBB This is the first review I read about this book. Excited to read it. 3d

See All 6 Comments

Reggie It‘s funny how audition had an actress in it and this one also has an actor. I laughed so hard when they‘re in that pregnancy class and he monologues. Also I loved how her and the IKEA woman had that rough initial interaction but really pulled through for each other in the face of danger. Great review. 3d

Lesliereadsalot My daughter is an actress and I could really relate to the husband with all his auditions and waiting for his big break. I‘m onto Woodworking and of course there‘s a theatre group! 🤣. @Reggie 3d

Lesliereadsalot It‘s an easy read and an interesting story. You‘ll like it! @BarbaraBB 3d

24 likes1 stack add6 comments

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