Review: Aquarium

Single mom Sheri does the best she can for herself and her 12 year old daughter, Caitlin.  She works hard but there’s never enough money so, rather than send Caitlin to after school care, she buys her a pass to the local aquarium.  That’s fine with Caitlin, though, because she loves spending time with all the fish there.  She meets an older gentleman who seems to like the fish as much as she does.   Caitlin begins to look forward to seeing him and casually mentions him to her mother, never imagining her mother’s reaction.  What follows turns their lives upside down.

When I read Diane’s review of Aquarium, by David Vann, I knew I had to read it.  It’s been a while since I’ve found a book as addictive as this one.  It’s the story of wounded individuals trying to make their way through life.  My life is very different from all of theirs, yet, somehow, I could relate to them.  Vann is a masterful storyteller and makes even the most damaged character seem redeemable.

Sheri is struggling to get past the consequences of her troubled childhood.  She loves Caitlin but doesn’t always make the best decisions for her.  Caitlin, with her love of marine life, is a breath of fresh air.  She wants her mom to be happy and hopes for a “normal” life.

The storyline of Aquarium is terrific!  It’s disturbing at times, to be sure, but also very relevant for many people today.  I didn’t see the ending coming but felt very satisfied as I finished the book. As an added bonus, there are full color photos of gorgeous fish throughout the book.  I can’t wait to read more of Vann’s work.

Review copy provided by Grove Atlantic. I am an Indiebound Affiliate.