The Tourist Trail: A Novel [Kindle Edition]

I recently downloaded a sample of this book after seeing a discussion in the kindle forum. I quickly read through the sample and immediately bought the book. It is fantastic and novels like this are one of the (many!) reasons I am so happy with my Kindle. I have found many great novels that I would have never stumbled on otherwise. Most of the time, the price on these novels is so much less than I used to pay for "best sellers". I am reading stuff outside of my usual genre comfort zone and loving every minute of it.

I will certainly be on the lookout for anything else by this author. I have a feeling that anyone who declined the opportunity to publish this novel will be kicking themselves. The story would make for a great series (pretty please?) or a movie.

Do yourself (and the planet) a favor and READ THIS BOOK!

As a rule I read nonfiction to learn. Fiction is for entertainment. In "The Tourist Trail" I found what I wanted and expected. It contains adventure. There are characters you'll quickly start caring about and a lot of conflict to overcome. You'll find plenty of romances to spice things up. All the elements of a good thriller are here and, if that's what you're looking for, you should come away satisfied.

Fiction, however, can also teach you things that nonfiction can't. It can help you understand a point of view that, given your life experiences, would be difficult. By putting yourself in the shoes of another you can better understand them. This was the case with "The Tourist Trail."

As in Edward Abbey's environmentalist classic "The Monkey Wrench Gang," the group at the center of this story, the Cetacean Defense Alliance (CDA), is out to sabotage their foes - the scene has just moved from the desert to the ocean. They object to whaler's who continue indiscriminate harvesting of what they believe is an endangered species. They oppose long-line fishermen who they think kill too many birds and other seagoing life as "incidental catch." Their philosophy was summed up in this quote:

"When you raise cattle, you at least feed them. But fishermen don't feed fish. They just take. They even take the food the fish eat. Sheer avarice."

But not everyone agrees with the CDA's methods, calling them "eco-terrorists." That's what the FBI thinks (although the FBI agent chasing them is conflicted). You'll have to decide for yourself. Regardless of what you decide you'll come away with a better understanding of the ocean-environmentalist movement and a good read.

I feel privileged.

A while back, I became acquainted with one John Yunker through his online short story, "The Tourist Trail." I was impressed with his thoughtful prose, even then. When John told me that he was expanding the short story into a novel, I became excited. Finally--someone who can write and who knows their penguins. Truly a novel mix.

A couple weeks ago, John sent me a copy of his new novel and although I had other commitments at the time, I eyed the book, trailed my hand along the cover, peeked at John's autograph on the first page... I allowed the book to tease me with anticipation. At the first opportunity, I grabbed the book, made a pot of coffee, put the computer on "sleep," and then settled in on the couch to indulge in, what I hoped, was a good read.

Consensus: I couldn't put the book down; I devoured it in two days.

The plot: The story is populated by 4 major characters--Angela, Aeneas, Robert/Jake, and Ethan. Angela studies, counts, and tags Magellanic Penguins at the Punte Verde Preserve; although she loves her profession, she doesn't realize the vastness of the void in her life until she meets a raft-wrecked Aeneas. She follows Aeneas back to his ship and learns the largest lesson of her life. Robert/Jake works for the FBI and he is hot on the trail of Aeneas, who roves the seas in order to cause havoc and mayhem to would be whalers. Robert has a past, which becomes significant as the story moves towards a convergence of all the characters. Ethan is the young man who searches for meaning and purpose in his life; what he discovers will alter his life irrevocably.

Of course, the backdrop of the main storyline is inhabited by penguins and whales. Be prepared for a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye as your read how horrible the conditions are when these creatures meet their end at the hands of fishermen and whalers. John's perspective is a personal one and you are right there with him to see it all.

Overall, The Tourist Trail is a testament to how humans and the inhabitants of the sea interact and affect one another. As the characters learn and adapt, so does the reader. I promise that you will finish the book with a different perspective regarding our responsibility to life in the sea. John's prose is effective, succinct, and definitive. You will know these characters he has created and you will live their lives until the final page.

Let us hope that John Yunker will continue to write and gift us with his thoughtful insight; he is decidedly an author to watch. I also hope that The Tourist Trail will garner the eye of a Hollywood producer. I eagerly anticipate this novel converted to the big screen. Indeed, the book would be perfect for a big budget flick and the message within would touch so many more lives.

If that happens, I'll buy the popcorn.
The Tourist Trail

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