A sickly killer whale is rescued from a run down amusement park in another country and brought to a zoo in Seattle to be rehabilitated. The strory is a continuation of Hannah's Dream by the same author. Full of quirky characters and well paced. ( )

A sickly killer whale is rescued from a run down amusement park in another country and brought to a zoo in Seattle to be rehabilitated. The strory is a continuation of Hannah's Dream by the same author. Full of quirky characters and well paced. ( )

{ I received an ARC for free through Early Reviewers. }

I did an internship a few years ago which educated people about animals and conservation. A lot of the other interns were on their way to careers as zookeepers, and I found their knowledge and passion really inspiring. I knew very little about animals, but I loved being around these people who had decided to make their lives all about animals, and part of me wished I had joined them.

So I was delighted to find that Friday's Harbor invited me into their world. It gave me a behind-the-scenes peek at life in a zoo/aquarium, where the focus is completely on the animals. Killer whale behavior and care was detailed with a great balance, I thought, between making it feel realistic and in depth without going so advanced that a reader like myself with little knowledge of zookeeping felt alienated. Instead, I felt welcomed; I felt like Hammond was making me a part of that elusive other world I had glimpsed on the internship.

I didn't feel like I truly missed anything by reading Friday's Harbor before reading the book that comes before it, Hannah's Dream. Plenty of events from the previous book were alluded to, but Hammond's recaps brought me up to speed. However, Friday's Harbor has made me quite a fan of Hammond's, so I'll be reading Hannah's Dream as soon as I can get my hands on it! ( )

I thought this was a pretty sweet book. It was really interesting and all of the characters were really likable, especially Friday. ( )

Title: Friday’s Harbor
Author: Diane Hammond
Pages: 352
Year: 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
When reading works of fiction, I sometimes find myself laughing at the way a character is crafted. For instance, there is a middle-aged woman in the tale who believes she can communicate with animals. The reason I laughed when the character was first introduced was how this idea conveys that animals and mankind are on the same plane so to speak. However, for those who believe and confess Jesus as Lord we know the Word says that God made humans in His image and to care for his creatures. For the sake of the novel I found this character to be lost, believing she was talking to animals, lonely without human interaction and without a doubt sometimes comical.
Then there is the zoo’s major donor who has money to pour into saving animal lives, but also assists in any way people who need all sorts of different help. Another character in the novel is the zoo’s director who owns a pot-bellied pig. The pig is a hoot and acts more like a dog than a pig. The zoo’s founder is a lone extravagant woman, Maxine L. Beidelman, who, before her death, gives her exotic animals, property and money to the zoo.
As I continued reading, I got the impression that some of the main characters were from earlier novels by the author though I can’t be sure as this was the first one I read by Diane Hammond. For a secular book in some ways it was interesting when the storyline centered on a whale named Friday. I love animals and think they are amazing creations and a testimony to our astounding God who created them. I believe we are entrusted with their care which one aspect the book brings out along with those who fight for animals being held captive. Friday was rescued from a zoo that didn’t have the means to care for such a large mammal though in the novel the citizens adorned the whale.
Part of me would love to suggest you read it, enjoying the peculiar characters as well as the scenes with interaction between the mammal and caretakers. On the other hand, the language is one aspect that does disrupt the adventure found within the pages. As a Christian reading it, there are times when characters seemed to be mirrors of real human beings with all the brokenness and baggage. Also, there is a scene where an older woman contemplates yet doesn’t act upon homosexuality because of her experiences with men. There is a couple living together, but they are not married. This work of fiction is written with a total worldview focus. There is no spiritual context whatsoever, so don’t look for it.
My rating is 3 stars.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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