One Song, Many Verses

Songs of the Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult

"If a whale is a member of a specific population, he will sing a certain song. Thus if the songs of each whale population are known, a singing whale can be traced to its origins no matter where the song is taped. Whale songs provide a new method of tracking whales - an alternative to tagging, or to newer photographic fluke identification. We can group male whales by the songs they sing; we can connect females to these groups by attending to the songs to which they listen." (Oliver Jones - Chapter 2)

Scientists identify whales as members of pods. Individual whales may be tracked and studied, but much is learned by studying the larger community or "family" of whales. Are humans so different? We yearn to be accepted and valued as unique individuals, but, like whales, much of our identity is developed from a "history" that we share with our family. We carry "songs" from one generation to the next, and though some of the verses may change over time, our identity is linked to these songs and to others who share the same verses.

Songs of the Humpback Whale, is "a novel in five voices". Like oceanographers who study individual whales in an effort to discover truths about the pod, Picoult shares five different perspectives of the same events. By telling her story through five individual "voices", she allows us to piece together a larger "truth" about a family and about each member of that family. The result of this presentation was that the process of discovery in this novel was different from anything I had yet experienced. While many novels recount a story by stringing together a series of events, this novel provides the characters' observations and thoughts, and allows us to piece together the story for ourselves. Through memories and conversations, Picoult reveals details of this family's shared history. These details help us to know and understand the characters, their actions, and their motivations.

Reading this novel was a process of listening to the "songs" of the characters as they discovered truths about themselves. We learn about their histories as we observe them embarking on a journey of self discovery. In the end, I felt that I really "knew" these characters, and that, regardless of whether I liked them or not, I could sympathize with each. By learning their history or song, I felt that I understood their motivation to act and the fears that immobilized them.

The storyline of Songs of the Humpback Whale centers on Jane. Jane is married to her high-school sweetheart - the famous oceanographer, Oliver Jones. They have a fifteen year old daughter, Rebecca. On the eve of Rebecca's birthday, Jane and Oliver have an argument. This argument stirs memories for both, and so scares Jane that she and Rebecca leave home. Jane flees to her younger brother, Joley, for comfort. Through a series of letters, Joley carefully guides Jane across the country from California to an orchard in Massachusetts where he lives and works. As Jane and Rebecca drive across the country, they experience things that help them learn about themselves and about each other.

Meanwhile, Oliver is heart-broken over the loss of his wife and daughter. Using his expertise in tracking whales, he sets out to find Jane and Rebecca. In the process, he learns about himself, his marriage, and his values.

Each chapter is told in one of five voices, that of Jane, Oliver, Rebecca, Joley or Sam (the owner of the orchard). What makes the reading of the story even more interesting is that each character with the exception of Rebecca, tells the story in chronological order. Rebecca's chapters are told from the story's conclusion and back up to its beginning. As events in the novel unfold, we already know the outcome as told by Rebecca.

Oliver's research with whales involves observing current behavior, analyzing what is already known, and discovering new truths to develop a better understanding of behaviors. Picoult's presentation of this story is much like Oliver's research. Through Rebecca's story, early on we know details about the outcome of the novel. Through Jane, Oliver, Joley, and Sam, we are told truths about the characters histories. By putting these details and truths together, we learn a great deal, not only about this family's story, but about the uniqueness of each of its members. We see how each has learned the song that they will pass down, and how each member in each generation is able to modify that song and institute change and growth.

"Songs change gradually over the years according to the general laws of change; all whales learn the changes." (Oliver Jones - chapter 2)

This is a story of self-discovery. It is a story of facing ones past and of mapping a direction for one's future. It is a story about families; about love and about pain, about responsibility and obligation, about holding on and about letting go. It is a story about how families can survive difficult events because of a shared history and a shared "song", and about how people are attracted to others through the songs that we all share. It is a story that teaches us that people can not escape their past - that those things that scar us, can also give us strength and understanding. Our imperfections help us to adapt and to survive.

"I don't know the first thing about holding together a family, especially one that resembles an heirloom vase, shattered but glued back together for its beauty, and no one mentions that you can see the cracks as plain as day." (Rebecca Jones - chapter 6)

When I purchased Songs of the Humpback Whale, I had never heard of the book. Nor had I heard of its author, Jodi Picoult. I chose the book because it sang out to me from a great pile of discounted novels. I liked the title; I liked the artwork on the cover. I was intrigued by this novel, and having finished reading it, I can say that I was also delighted by it.

If I could give Songs of the Humpback Whale four and a half stars I would. It is not a five star novel because parts of the story are a bit too far fetched to believe. Truth be told - I didn't care because the enjoyment of the process of reading this novel outweighed any flaws in the story and its details. I highly recommend this novel, and hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

--D. Igo