The Eloquence of the Sardine

by Bill Francois

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Eloquence of the Sardine is a beautifully written and evocative ode to the sea and the life and drama to be found there, written by Bill François. Due out 17th Aug 2021 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

This is that rarest of beasts - carefully, scientifically correct, popular writing which is layman accessible, accurate, and lyrically pleasantly written. I was drawn in from the first, as the author describes his somewhat inauspicious start as a child who had a healthy fear of the ocean until an encounter with a sardine and early snorkeling experiences unlocked a lifelong fascination with the underwater world.

The author relays his fascination through vignettes and stories of different species and their environments. The chapters aren't annotated and there's no bibliography for further reading, but it was nice to be able to read about tuna, eels, dolphins, shellfish, and other creatures without any interruption or distractions chasing down references and sources.

This was a very relaxing and engaging read, with the perfect amount of science and information without the slightest difficulty understanding what's being said. The book was originally written in French, and for me the translation work in the English edition was seamless; it didn't read as though it had been translated.

Five stars. This would be a good selection for public or school library acquisition, for the home library, or for readers who enjoy popular science.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.