Beyond the Sea
From the Booker-winning author of Prophet Song
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4.0 • 1 Rating
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Chosen as a Book of the Year by Sebastian Barry, Martina Devlin and Peter Cunningham
Winner of the Prix Gens de Mer, 2022
Hector and Bolivar set sail from their South American fishing village on what they believe to be a routine expedition. But then a devastating storm casts them adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. With no means of contacting the outside world and no sign of rescue, their only hope lies with one another. Both men must confront the truth about themselves, and the regrets that they have spent a lifetime trying to forget, if they are to survive.
Part gripping story of resilience, part fearless existential parable, Beyond the Sea is a meditation on what it means to be human, in a world that pushes us to the brink.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This haunting tale from Lynch (Grace) depicts the evolution of a friendship forged while adrift on an unforgiving ocean. With a storm approaching and desperate to bring in a day's catch, Bolivar, an experienced fisherman in an unnamed country, takes Hector, a novice fisherman and the son of Bolivar's boss, out to sea. The two ignore a storm warning and depart the safety of the lagoon for Bolivar's usual distant fishing spot. Soon, what begins as a huge haul becomes a terrifying ordeal as the storm nearly sinks the ship. Without a radio, GPS, or a motor, the men end up adrift in the ocean for over a year. The initial quick pacing gives way to languid, sparse chapters in which the men explore their relationships, values, and spirituality: "He studies the chalk face of the moon and speaks to it as an old friend." The many harsh "days of hammering sun" are marked by the rationing of water and strips of fish, and studded by moments of "soaring happiness" that capture a peaceful "stillness growing between Bolivar and Hector that is also an understanding." Lynch's enchanting tale reveals the stark beauties that come from struggling to live at the mercy of the natural world.
Customer Reviews
Any port in a storm
Author
Irish. Three previous novels, for which he has received multiple awards and award nominations across multiple countries. I’ve only read Grace (2017), a historical novel of Ireland at the time of the Great Famine, which was magnificent (5 stars). His next novel, this one, has nothing to do with the old Bobby Darin song. Rather, it seems Mr Lynch took his inspiration from the words of the Monty Python crew: “And now for something completely different.”
Premise
Two poor fishermen from a village in unnamed South American country share existential experiences while adrift in the Pacific after being caught in a storm. They knew it was coming but they went out anyway. Typical men!
Plot
Following a brief into, the homies are all at sea. Time passes, and no one comes to rescue them. They spend their time reflecting on (I’m quoting the blurb here),”what it means to be a man, a friend, a father and a sinner in our fallen world.” They think about food a fair bit too.
Characters
Hector is the younger one, Bolivar is older. They meet about ten minutes before they set sail (or motor in this case), but end up learning a lot about each other.
Narrative
Third person lyrical with a fair bit of repetition, which was intentional I’m sure. Shades of Camus and Beckett. The blurb lists Borges, Joyce and McCarthy (Cormac rather than Mary, I presume) too. Maybe so.
Bottom line
Literary fiction of the highest order, but a tad derivative. If you’re not into Camus et al, you might be underwhelmed.