Bones of an Inland Sea: Book Club Edition

by Mary Akers

Leslie is a marine biologist, an only child, and a mother of three who gets caught in a deadly tsunami. Jack is a Viet Nam veteran with PTSD on a mission to save fish from dying in captivity. Dani is a trans man struggling to find his way in a gender prescriptive world. Mary Akers brilliantly weaves together these three lives alongside a host of other characters with whom they cross paths. This brand-new Book Club Edition delivers an assortment of supplemental materials designed to generate lively discussion, including a signature cocktail recipe, an author interview, a family tree, and a completely new final story that offers a speculative glimpse into the future. At once evocative and captivating, Bones of an Inland Sea is a powerful work of imagination and transformation.

186 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

Mary Akers writes speculative fiction that focuses on the intersections between art, science, and the environment. She co-founded the Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology, a study abroad marine ecology program originally located in Roseau, Dominica and in her spare time she enjoys snorkeling, hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, and snowshoeing. She has worked as a bookbinder in Colonial Williamsburg, a potter on Historic Jamestown Island, an art teacher, a fabric seller, and a cook in a nursing home. Although raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains—which she will always call home—she currently lives in Western New York.

Reviews

[Steve Martinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. A very interesting collection of short stories based on two extended families from 1886 to 2040. When I do reviews, I try not to retell the plot. Most of the other reviewers do that. I talk about the writing. I AM NOT AN EXPERT, AT ALL! I have just been a reader for enjoyment for almost 60 years. Until 2016, I had never even seen an e-book, but now, I have read many, mostly by indie authors. and have discovered that there is a big difference between telling a story and "writing". Mary Akers is a "writer". While reading, you can easily see the author's love of language. These interconnected stories are written in a different style for each storyteller. It's always a joy to read something written by somebody who loves crafting the language, rather than a friend just telling you a story. There is a place for all types of authors, but after reading several books by indie authors, which were quite good, it's like a breath of fresh air to read an author like Mary Akers.