Shark Drunk

Starred review from April 10, 2017
An epic fishing trip reels in fascinating sea lore in this briny eco-adventure. Norwegian journalist Strøksnes recounts his sporadic, year-long quest with artist pal Hugo Aasjord to catch a Greenland shark, a huge creature. Many specimens are blind from eye-worms and spectacularly long-lived (one clocked in at 400 years old). Their flesh contains a toxin that renders those who eat it “shark drunk”: incoherent, hallucinatory, unsteady on their feet. Baiting their hooks with shark delicacies such as rotting beef and cod liver, Strøksnes and Aasjord pass long days with nary a strike while they weather storms and view stunning scenery in Norway’s Lofoten archipelago, vividly rendered by Strøksnes’s prose in Nunnally’s vigorous translation. (“The sun isn’t visible to us, but it casts its light around and in between the rain... like gigantic spotlights slowly sweeping across the surface of the water.”) Meanwhile, the author ponders everything related to the ocean, including bizarre luminous squids of the inky depths, frolicking orca pods and sperm whales, ancient disquisitions on maritime monsters, flinty islanders who live off the sea, and the close, testy relationships between fishing friends. Strøksnes’s erudition, salty humor, and unfussy prose yield a fresh, engrossing natural history.

May 1, 2017
Accomplished Norwegian historian, journalist, and photographer Stroksnes invites readers into the fantastical ocean environment of his quest to capture a Greenland shark.More than just a chronicle of two men (the author and his artist friend, Hugo Aasjord) discussing their surroundings as they drift along off the coast of Norway, the narrative follows the pair's lofty goal of snaring one of the world's largest beasts from their small rubber boat. A few of the strange qualities of their prey include its ability to dive to more than 4,000 feet, "sawblade teeth" and "suctioning lips that 'glue' larger prey to its mouth while chewing," and poisonous flesh that smells like urine. They can also live to be 400 years old and weigh more than a ton. During their endeavor, whether on the ocean or sidelined on the rugged land due to inhospitable weather, Stroksnes and Aasjord tackled a variety of existential questions while contemplating the magnificent, complex mysteries of the ocean. Their conversations range over subjects as diverse as mythology, poetry, history, literature, and science, all interspersed with their observations. In the hands of a less skilled storyteller, readers may have felt burdened by the amount of information, but Stroksnes handles it well. Following the philosophical proclamation that "life cannot exist without death, and the cycle of life is what keeps the planet in harmony," the author explains how the men planned to use the decomposed carcass of a Scottish bull as bait, after which he provides an enlightening vignette on the history of that hardy breed. While tracking down the rotting carcass, the author also describes the surrounding countryside, including the ancient sacrificial altars he encountered. Whether the author is opining on mass extinctions, the importance of plankton, the history of lighthouses, or the epicurean treat of boiled cod tongues, readers will happily devour this smorgasbord of delights.

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May 15, 2017

Is it a good idea to chum water with various rotting animal carcasses in an attempt to catch a massive Greenland shark using a single manual fishing line? StrOksnes and his friend Hugo set out on a rigid-inflatable boat from Skrova, an island in Northern Norway, to find out. Waiting for ideal conditions for their perilous adventure allows for Moby-Dick-esque reflections of sharks, whaling, and the region's natural and cultural history, though in much more digestible segments and relatable language. Interspersed throughout are vibrant, suspenseful, and at times nearly unbelievable, anecdotes from Hugo's long tenure with the sea. The result is a well-rounded narrative of the region and its vital relationship to the water, from time immemorial to present day. The authors also reflect on the changes of our knowledge of the deep unknown and the impact we have on it--and it on us. VERDICT This book will be of interest to those drawn to the sea, exploration, and adventure.--Zebulin Evelhoch, Central Washington Univ. Lib., Ellensburg, WAInspired by and inspiring a master; overcoming prejudices against poetry; Luther in multiple contexts

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
Ostensibly about an adventure to catch a Greenland shark off Norway's Lofoten Islands, Shark Drunk is in truth a beguiling mash-up of road trip (albeit partly on the water), buddy story, philosophical meditation on economic development in remote locations, and study of a fish. The author, a Norwegian historian and journalist, accomplishes all this while tossing out asides about Rimbaud, Thoreau, cartographer Olaus Magnus, polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen, the lighthouse-building legacy of Robert Louis Stevenson's family, and (to no one's surprise) Herman Melville. With his artist friend Hugo, who has fishing experience, Strksnes was determined to catch the fascinating and rather mysterious Greenland shark because few people have. But this is one-hundred percent a journey is the destination sort of book, in which catching the shark is not nearly as much fun as trying to catch the shark. On the slenderest of literary ideas, the author manages to be equally funny, heartfelt, and insightful on dozens of topics. Utterly unique (quirky seems too trite), Shark Drunk is a gem.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)