A Drop in the Ocean A Novel Jenni Ogden 9781631520266 Books


A Drop in the Ocean A Novel Jenni Ogden 9781631520266 Books
I liked this book about an intelligent, middle-aged woman who loses her science research grant and has to decide what to do with the rest of her life. On a whim, she goes to an island off the coast of Australia to house-sit for a year. At first, she is unsure of her decision: no modern conveniences, an insular community, and heat flashes in a very warm climate. However, then she slowly discovers the beauty of the island, a friend who takes her snorkeling on the coral reef, the miracle of giant sea turtles who dig nests close to her tiny home (and the researcher who studies them and tries to prevent their extinction). This book has a cast of quirky, lovely characters who befriend her; and behind the present story, her inhibited, unhappy past unfolds.This is like a coming of "middle-age" tale. She struggles and reconciles with the unhappy events in her past, finds a new future path, and is able to deal with current problems. There is a foreshadowing of a somewhat unhappy ending, but, then, life doesn't always have happy endings. Worth the read!
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A Drop in the Ocean A Novel Jenni Ogden 9781631520266 Books Reviews
A Drop in the Ocean is set on Turtle Island in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia from 2008-2009. British Anna Ferguson is a neuroscientist working in America and is 49 years old when the funding for her research is discontinued. At a crossroad, and unsure of her professional future, she impulsively heads for Australia in response to an advert to rent a cabin on tropical Turtle Island, with conditions – she must stay for one year, and she must look after a small private campsite of five camps. It is minimalist living, with only the basics, and few residents - one of the residents is a turtle researcher.
Throughout her stay, the idyllic island life is only a drop in the ocean. In real life, there are family issues and financial issues. This is a quick read – nothing too intellectual – just a nice island story with a few challenges, second chances, and life lessons – and lots of turtles.
Let me begin by saying, I live in a beach community in the US and was looking for a good, light, beach read. That is not what I found! The layers of this novel are as complex and thought provoking as they are human and heart-wrenching. I loved the characters and their development ~ although I will admit to wanting to control them at times, but that would not have been authentic. Who of us have not come to a point in life when the neat little still life that is our comfortable little daily life is suddenly gone (for whatever reason). We go from being a confident part of the universe to being "a drop in the ocean." Some drop out, some take a giant risk and embrace the world anew. Anna did just that. It is a worthwhile journey to travel along with her to go "off the grid" and follow the nesting turtles! You will be forever changed!
Jenni Ogden's A Drop in the Ocean is a delicious novel about second chances, passion-driven work, the inspiration of the natural world, and our very human capacity to make meaning out of even our worst mistakes and misconceptions. In Anna Ferguson, the reader finds a research scientist whose prestigious academic career is upended, forcing her at 50, to redefine every aspect of her life. The laboratory for this beautifully told journey is a remote island on the great barrier reef off Australia, where the joys and sorrows of the inhabitants are set in high relief against the exquisitely rendered setting. There are no easy answers in Anna's path forward, but as she allows love and compassion to open her world, Ogden gifts the reader with a fascinating and satisfying ring side seat to the poignant outcome.
I really wanted this to be a memoir as I found the protagonist, Anna, such an inspirational character. This is a delightful read full of great stories of turtles, birds, people and relationships.
I cheered for Anna as she bravely faced so many new adventures and came out of "her shell," as she allowed people into her life and opened herself to what she believed were impossible experiences.
Thanks for writing this wonderful story and for opening my eyes to new travel ideas for my bucket list. I am heading to New Zealand in September and can't wait to now add Shetland to my future travels.
I did not expect this book to be a tearjerker! OK no spoilers and I will say that this is not a sad story. I'm a sap and it was "emotional". This as an uplifting tale about a woman who begins living at age 49. It is intelligently written and full of gentle, realistic events on a remote tropical island -- the first half of the book. I fell in love with the characters. The author either did a lot of good research or has a broad range of life experiences, because I felt as though I learned something with several of the scenarios. She got technical without being boring or dry, and she elicited tears without being sentimental. She described human defenses, growth, and emotions without being preachy or condescending. The ending could have irritated me but was well explained by the author, and the epilogue put it more in place. I did not expect to love this book so much. I would given it seven stars if I could.
Every night as I headed off to bed to step into the world of A Drop in the Ocean, I felt like I was connecting with old friends. I cared about Anna, the emotionally constricted scientist, as she blossomed in the island community as she counted turtles laying eggs, delivered a baby during a cyclone, and risked opening her heart. I wrestled with the ethical dilemmas the characters were facing, and I was moved by how they made their choices in ways I hadn't imagined. The Epilogue projecting twenty-five years into the future was an unexpected and fascinating way to see ahead in these characters lives, to see how their life unfolded. I was sad to let them go as I finished the last pages, but relieved to know "how it all worked out." I feel warmed and nourished by this novel!
I liked this book about an intelligent, middle-aged woman who loses her science research grant and has to decide what to do with the rest of her life. On a whim, she goes to an island off the coast of Australia to house-sit for a year. At first, she is unsure of her decision no modern conveniences, an insular community, and heat flashes in a very warm climate. However, then she slowly discovers the beauty of the island, a friend who takes her snorkeling on the coral reef, the miracle of giant sea turtles who dig nests close to her tiny home (and the researcher who studies them and tries to prevent their extinction). This book has a cast of quirky, lovely characters who befriend her; and behind the present story, her inhibited, unhappy past unfolds.This is like a coming of "middle-age" tale. She struggles and reconciles with the unhappy events in her past, finds a new future path, and is able to deal with current problems. There is a foreshadowing of a somewhat unhappy ending, but, then, life doesn't always have happy endings. Worth the read!

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