Joanne Fedler wrote The Whale’s Last Song, her fifteenth published book, as a children’s story before her editor urged her to rewrite it for adults. I think it works as both.
Written after Fedler’s mother’s death, this uplifting gem of a book retains the structure and narrative elements of a traditional fable and includes elements of literary fiction and magical realism.
In a long-ago time of plague, a young girl, Teo, sets out on a journey to find a cure for her dying sister. As she journeys further into the woods, a blue whale swims back to its birthplace to die.
In an unusual touch for a modern novel, the author’s voice is present for the reader throughout, offering commentary about the nature of human society and the wonders of the natural world. The characters are vivid and sympathetic, even the wicked marquis who imprisoned Teo’s father after he volunteered for experiments to help find a cure for the plague. We learn more about Teo’s history as she encounters many dangers in her quest and a wise woman from her past.
The prose of the novel sings, and a scatter of obscure English words add to its poetry (the meanings are included in a helpful list at the end of the book). Spanish is the language of these long-ago times and key phrases are translated at the end even though the meaning of the dialogue is usually clear from the context.
Another pleasure of the book is its physical feel and appearance. It was published by Fourth Estate as a small hardback with a delightful cover design. It also contains a handful of black and white sketches by the author.
The Whale’s Last Song contains many thoughtful reflections about life and death, the sacrifices people make for love, and our crucial links with other people and nature. The novel was so affecting and positive, I wondered if it might be included in the new genre of healing fiction. I’m not sure but reading this novel certainly lifted my mood.
Here is a link to a New York Times article on healing fiction: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/books/healing-fiction-japan-korea-before-the-coffee-gets-cold.html?unlocked_article_code=1.aE4.vvoR.-ZaRJw0W3T3e&smid=url-share
