Book Review: “Whalefall: A Novel” by Daniel Kraus

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“Sleeper, arise!” – Daniel Kraus

I have read a lot of books in my life. I have re-read a lot of books in my life. I’m a reader, it’s what I do.

However, there are some books that feel… different. This is one of them. Whalefall: A Novel by Daniel Kraus is a beautifully haunting exploration of what it means to be human when faced with trauma, grief, and the overall notion of life and death.

When I first heard of this novel, all I focused on was the premise which is a teenager goes diving looking for his father’s remains and gets swallowed by an 80ft sperm whale.

Kid in a Whale. Cool.

I did not, however, expect this book about a kid in a whale to be probably my favourite book that I have read in the last ten years. Kraus took an epic concept and steeped it in powerful themes, and incredible characterization, and produced a work of fiction that broke my heart on purpose.

There is a lot to unpack here, so let’s get started.

I have a degree in writing and am working on a second one, and I can’t even properly articulate how deep this book goes into trauma and the complex relationships between families and hell, even the way humans treat the planet. Kraus nailed every aspect of this narrative, exploring every theme and idea to fully construct a story that I couldn’t put down.

Let’s talk about Jay Gardiner for a second, the main protagonist. The way that Kraus wrote him is so interesting. At only seventeen, he has had these experiences that have fully changed the way he sees life. It’s as if he sees it more clearly than the rest of the world. Written in a third-person POV, Kraus gives us such delicate insight into his character through Jay’s experience from beginning to end. I felt as if I was alongside him the entire way—a strong protagonist for an exceptional narrative.

Kraus’ use of imagery is one of the most beautiful aspects of this book. Every single centimeter of Jay’s world is examined through stunning visuals, metaphors, allusions, and more. I never felt lost, even when we were taken to the depths of the Pacific. Kraus has a gift for fully outlining an environment that is both familiar and alien. Everyone knows what the ocean looks like, but how does it look to a diver on the precipice of a drop-off while having an internal battle that dripping in numerous emotions?

You’re going to find out, trust me.

Something that I think is incredibly clever is the use of the chapter titles. Each chapter is either labeled with a PSI number (the amount of pressure Jay is currently under) or the year for when Kraus takes us back in time for flashbacks to explain Jay’s overall character and relationship with his family. I think we underestimate how important a simple chapter title can be and I thought it was an excellent device to use as it sowed suspense and also allowed for readers to keep track of Jay’s position in the narrative.

There is so much I want to talk about, but I promise to keep this pretty spoiler-free. How am I doing? Good so far? Good, let’s move on.

Kraus’ beautiful writing had me stopping every twenty or so pages to just sink deeper into my imposter syndrome. Writers, we all have it and it sucks, but sometimes certain books really amp it up. I can’t help it. There were times when I went, “Oh, well this is an absolutely stunning line and I am not worthy.”

You’ll get it once you’ve read the book. PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.

The use of science, too! Okay, so I know that it’s a science fiction novel, but there are some sci-fi’s where the science can become so overwhelming that it detracts from the narrative. However, this does not happen once. Similar to Andy Weir’s novels, Kraus seamlessly intertwines scientific facts alongside the plot, making the story more believable and vivid.

Did I know the scientific name for a giant squid before I read this? Nope. Did it make the book confusing? Double Nope. It did however make me think we need a “Whale Week” on Discovery and not just one about sharks, who’s with me?

Something that I wanted to touch on was how this novel made me feel personally. Jay’s story truly examines what it’s like to move through the world with familial trauma. I think everyone experiences certain things differently, but for me, I found myself connecting with many moments of Jay’s journey. Jay has his own demons to work through just as I have my own that I have neglected and without giving anything away about the plot, I hope to be able to make peace with many of mine as he has.

Kraus penned what I have been trying to articulate to myself for years and I think when a book can do that for someone, it becomes more than just a piece of fiction. It becomes so much more.

Yes, this is a book about a kid stuck in a whale. Yes, that is a very important part of the book. However, it is so much more.

I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the entire book: “Behold, a Universe,” – Daniel Kraus

-HMF

Synopsis:

Jay Gardiner has given himself a fool’s errand—to find the remains of his deceased father in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Monastery Beach. He knows it’s a long shot, but Jay feels it’s the only way for him to lift the weight of guilt he has carried since his dad’s death by suicide the previous year.

The dive begins well enough, but the sudden appearance of a giant squid puts Jay in very real jeopardy, made infinitely worse by the arrival of a sperm whale looking to feed. Suddenly, Jay is caught in the squid’s tentacles and drawn into the whale’s mouth where he is pulled into the first of its four stomachs. He quickly realizes he has only one hour before his oxygen tanks run out—one hour to defeat his demons and escape the belly of a whale.