As my readers know, I like to relax over the summer and enjoy the water. Previous blogs have focused on the friendly octopus and innovations, shipping stories across the oceans, and the value of slowing down to think to inspire innovation. Those earlier blogs had a more meditative mindset. This one may cause a spike in your blood pressure – along the lines of the movie JAWS.
This summer’s book recommendation is Michael Capuzzo’s Close to Shore. This historical nonfiction narrative plunges readers into the terrifying summer of 1916 when a great white shark wrought havoc along the Jersey Shore. The book gives us a sense of what life was like in pre-World War I America and takes us into the mind of the shark as he goes after his prey, which, of course, are humans.
Capuzzo adeptly combines history, science and suspense as we wonder what the shark will do next — and how humans will fare.
Perfect Storm for Society and Shark
At this point in American history, people summered without air conditioning. It became a common practice to go swim in the ocean. Long-distance open swimming was novel. The focus was on rules around bathing suits. Awareness of the predators lurking beneath the waves was slim.
Capuzzo’s writing takes us to Jersey’s bustling hotels and boardwalks, then shows us how this novel new pastime (and tourist draw) was shattered by shark attacks.
The book’s strength lies in the breadth of experiences it shares. Capuzzo describes the lives of the victims (young men and children) and survivors of the attacks as well as the local townspeople, reporters and scientists who had little idea about sharks. It is interesting to see the confusion in the scientific community over what was happening. At the time, many experts believed that sharks couldn’t possibly be dangerous to humans! This finally changes with the evidence of “death by shark.”
Summer Horror Story Suspense
Why do I recommend this book? I recognize this is not an easy summertime read. It’s a true-to-life beach horror story. Yet Capuzzo’s research into marine biology and sharks, and the relationship of journalism to science, and between humans and mother nature is intriguing. Written by an author nominated for the Pulitzer Prize four times, this book reminds us of nature’s unpredictability and the thin line between leisure and danger.
Closer to Shore pulls readers in like an undertow and doesn’t let go. Enjoy the ocean and see you after the summer — I hope….