Book of The Month discussion

Newlyweds face the unimaginable in this epic tale about marriage, motherhood, and enduring love.

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist’s heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband’s fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis changes? Then, a glimpse of Lewis’s developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with a college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this bold novel is the story of Wren’s mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents’ crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren’s grief eventually collides, and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

A sweeping love story that is at once lyrical and funny, airy and visceral, Shark Heart is an unforgettable, gorgeous novel about life’s perennial questions, the fragility of memories, finding joy amidst grief, and creating a meaningful life. This daring debut marks the arrival of a wildly talented new writer abounding with originality, humor, and heart.

25% / 100 pages

This book is (view spoiler)[ very quietly deep and moving.

I'm sad. His condition, to me, since I'm new to all this medical stuff - it feels like it could be any diagnosis. Those words could mean cancer, Alzheimer's or any number of other diseases. And in my mind, that's what I'm equating it to

Wren is preparing to lose her husband - even though he will be alive, he won't know her anymore. Even more, he will become dangerous for her to be around.

They both know it's coming, which makes this so heartbreaking. While Wren is coming apart at the seams, trying to make their life "normal", like nothing will change

Lewis is excited to see the changes and is trying to embrace it and be upbeat. Ugh, it's so sad. It could be any of us and it is all of us who have lost a loved one. (hide spoiler)]

45% / Through Part 1

Part 1 broke my heart (view spoiler)[ that goodbye was soul crushing. I knew he was going, I knew she couldn't hold on to him
but he'd had so many dreams and goals
and in the end, he let her go. Ugh, that was just so sad.

now what.

Part 2 looks like we learn the story of her mom? I wonder where this will go. . . (hide spoiler)]

76% / Through Part 2

This one (view spoiler)[ was less heartbreaking
but her mom's story from her mom's POV and her daughter's POV are completely different
I don't remember Wren saying her mom was turned into a reptile AND she lost her husband to being a shark.

This story was interesting and sad (hide spoiler)]

I'm done

(view spoiler)[ the first part packed a punch, for me, and I really loved that part

if it had stopped there, I think I would have really loved this.

I felt less connected to Angela's story.
the Lewis story was cute but definitely wasn't moving for me like the first story
I'm so glad that Wren found her place in life and had Joy - I loved how they connected in the end and she was brave

I love that it ended in California with them swimming (hide spoiler)]

Well done with a clever idea. I would’ve liked more about shark life.

I really liked this one too! I thought the story was so uniquely told!

I really enjoyed this one too. At first I thought the premise sounded silly, but it ended up being an emotional and profound book.

Trisha, I also enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second.