Grayson

oddsandhens.wordpress.comIs it really a book about a baby whale? Sure, if you judge it by its cover. Lynne has shared with us a personal memory of swimming with a baby whale separated from its mother. She describes all of the vibrant sea life and the swimming experience in a way that almost transports you there (why yes, how could I forget how annoying sand in my suit is...). The total time spanned in the book is just less than a few hours of one morning, and probably takes less to read, but Lynne grows and experiences years of lessons. A notable characteristic of this book that at times felt rather cloying, especially if you took it in context, are the plentiful life lessons presented right in the text as part of her seventeen year old stream of consciousness. However, just take a pause and move below the surface (as Lynne often does in this tale) and reflect for just a bit longer. I want to share with you some of thought capsules to be consumed. Capsule # 1: Be patient. Wait. Nothing is all good or all bad. As a problem develops, so does the solution. [p. 133] Capsule # 2: Waiting is as important as the doing . . . it's painting the subject and the space in between; is the reading and the thinking about what you've read; it's the written words, what is said and what is left unsaid; it's the space between thoughts on the pages, that makes the story and it's the space between the notes, the intervals between fast and slow, that makes the music. . . [p.103] Capsule # 3: Use your heart. it is love that surpasses all boarders and barriers. It is a constant and endless sea. Speak ... with your heart and ... will hear you. [p.82] Capsule # 4: It's always difficult to swim against the tide . . . because the ideas that could result might cause something to change. . . if I didn't move outside my comfort level, how would I ever experience anything new, how would I ever learn or see or explore. [p 80] Capsule # 5: Sometimes ... the important things take time, sometimes they don't happen all at once, sometimes answers come out of time and struggle and learning. [p.73] Capsule # 6: ... it's the process of doing that makes things clear. If we don't start, we never know what could have been. Sometimes the answers we find while searching are better or more creative than anything we could have imagined before. [p.56] Capsule # 7: a thought is energy and as it is transmitted it is multiplied. Thoughts can can be either positive, negative or neutral ..... affecting ht way other people think. If I thought negatively, I would put out negative energy. But if I thought positively, I would put out positive energy, expanding the possibilities of what could happen. It is very much like actors improvising. If they work together.... respond to one another in a positive way they keep their skit ... moving forward..... as soon as someone puts forth soothing negative, the improvisation shuts down. [pp 47-48]Is this really a book a about a whale? That is for you to decide. Be patient, it will be the space between the words on the page. Take from here what you will but use your heart, find the tide to challenge and by doing find clarity, maybe where you least expect it.

I literally always have a small stash of copies of this memoir because I love it so much, I no want everyone to read it. It’s the perfect gift book — particularly for mothers, or ocean 🌊 lovers. It’s not a particulary long book - which is nice because most of my friends have said they read it in one sittting. I did, because I couldn’t put it down! I’m a writer myself and this is among my top favorite memoirs of all time. I left a copy as a gift to the relatives who let us use their beach condo, have given it as unexpected baby shower gift, birthdays— my sister named her son “Grayson” and that was the reason I decided to originally buy and read the book. Absolutely compelling!!! Gah!

What a thoughtful story. Beautifully written. So much was covered in a morning adventure. I am not a swimmer of the ocean, nor will I be. This book gave me a wonderful appreciation of the deep blue sea. Thank you!

This was an incredible story and with a surprisingly emotional ending! Loved the author’s descriptions, insight and passion for this little whale.

This is a story I will read to my granddaughters. It is written by Lynn Cox, who I so admire and expresses such an appreciation for ocean life and all that dwell there. While training off the coast of California early one morning. Lynn Cox experienced a strange sensation. She was swimming in the predawn hours, getting her miles in swimming and after experiencing the sensation of a huge disturbance in the water, she started hearing sounds that were new to her. After a while, she realized it was a baby gray whale and he was staying close to her. She talked to a friend who was watching her and told him what was going on. It was during the grey whale migration and she did not want Greyson, as she dubbed him, to stay lost and become prey.She started to swim to a buoy which was close to the grey whale route. Hoping that Greyson would hear his mother and reunite with her. Lynn swam for miles, while her friend contacted whale watch and rescue groups to look for Greyson's mother.

This is a story that will appeal to readers who lead with their emotions and believe in "happily ever after" endings. It is written by Lynne Cox, (a long-distance ocean swimmer of considerable fame) based on the chance encounter she had (at age 17) with a baby whale while swimming in the Pacific ocean off the coast of California. The whale had apparently separated from its mother and Lynne Cox is determined to help the baby reunite with its mother. The whole incident took perhaps 2 hours, and although the book is already rather short, I felt as though there were a lot of filler pages to make this into a novel. (I think it actually better classified as a short story that was "filled" with miscellaneous details to make a short novel). I write that it appeals to those who believe in happily ever after endings, because her writing implies this belief. It makes a very good children's story, and if I still had young children, I'd read them a chapter each night. She attributes human emotions to both the baby and mother whale, and believes that she called the mother whale with "thought" energy. In frank reality, the baby and mother might have been reunited with or without the help of Lynne Cox, but of course this sort of cynicism spoils the purpose of the book.Ms. Cox wrote a much better book, "Swimming to Antarctica" before this book, and I heartily recommend this book over the "Grayson" book. Save "Grayson" for the kids, for it is more a fairy tale for young minds than reality.kone

The book cover was dirty all over

Great book - beautifully written. Plus excellent customer service from London Bridge Books.

This is a most delightful read for all ages.

Ein Buch über eine Freundschaft zwischen einem Wal und einem Menschen, welche sich immer wieder im Meer schwimmend begegnen. Einfach aus dem Leben gegriffen und berührend.

LOVED IT.