Who Would Like This Book:
If you're up for something delightfully odd, this one's for you! 'And the Ocean Was Our Sky' flips Moby Dick on its head, telling a haunting, thought-provoking tale from the whales' perspective as they become hunters rather than the hunted. The world-building is wildly creative - imagine an ocean sky, ships built by whales, and a society mirrored against our own. The evocative, dreamy illustrations by Rovina Cai really elevate the experience. Readers who love fairy-tale logic, gorgeous art, and quirky retellings of classics - especially fans of Patrick Ness’s other offbeat stories - will find a lot to enjoy here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer your stories to make strict logical sense or struggle with suspending disbelief, this book might frustrate you. Some readers found the premise hard to swallow (whales building ships and wielding harpoons!), and the world’s flipped reality can be confusing. The story is also intentionally ambiguous and stylized, which may not suit those who like clear, grounded narratives. If you’re looking for a deep emotional connection or expect a straightforward adventure, you might leave underwhelmed.
About:
'And the Ocean Was Our Sky' by Patrick Ness is a reimagining of the classic 'Moby Dick' told from the perspective of whales. The story follows a hunting pod of whales led by Basheba as they track down their devil known as Toby Wick, an evil entity that has caused chaos within the whale community. The book explores themes of obsession, madness, good vs. evil, and the true cost of fear and rumors passed down through generations. The narrative is unique in its portrayal of the whales' culture and their interactions with the human world, all while questioning traditional notions of morality.
The writing style in 'And the Ocean Was Our Sky' is described as beautiful and creative, with illustrations by Rovina Cai adding depth to the story. The book is a quick and easy read, yet thought-provoking, as it challenges readers to consider the complexities of good and evil, destiny, and the consequences of one's actions. While some readers found it to be a departure from Ness's other works, they appreciated the inventive concept and the way it made them reflect long after finishing the book.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of violence related to hunting and the existential reflections on good versus evil.
From The Publisher:
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Monster Calls comes a richly illustrated and lyrical tale, one that asks harrowing questions about power, loyalty, obsession, and the monsters we make of others.
With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself...
As their relentless Captain leads the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.
With the lush, atmospheric art of Rovina Cai woven in throughout, this remarkable work by Patrick Ness turns the familiar tale of Moby Dick upside down and tells a story all its own with epic triumph and devastating fate.
Ratings (2)
Incredible (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (6):
Read It (2) | |
Want To Read (3) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
i love this book so much, both as a story and as an object
it's a beautiful book, heavy with thick pages and beautiful typesetting, and the illustrations are evocative of the fear, bravery, and doubt felt by the narrator throughout the book
i'll be honest, i could not figure out which way is up, literally; diving into the ocean is describing as diving up by the whales, and they call the sky the abyss. there seems to be a different gravity than the one we know, but i just let that go after a while
this inverse retelling of moby dick is a beautiful parable about the monsters we make, the monsters we are, and the importance of interrogating our myths
so fucking smart
What can you read after
And the Ocean Was Our Sky?
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