Review by Iamawriter27 -- Man Shark by Gerald Knight
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Review by Iamawriter27 -- Man Shark by Gerald Knight
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Shark" by Gerald Knight.]
Man Shark by Gerald R. Knight is one endless adventure which had me holding on to every word, mesmerized by a legendary past that empowers the abilities of men and women in ways that question the importance of our lives and the challenges that are meant to come along with it, such as grief and survival. Through a lengthy tale of a brave voyager by the name of Ḷainjin or Ḷōpako, meaning “Man Shark,” we get a taste of the Micronesian ancestry and become educated in a lifestyle that requires the acknowledgment of the real human identity which involves a commitment for family, nourishment and also happiness within all of earth’s wonders.
Lainjin and Chief, his bird, sail the seas searching for Lainjin’s missing mother, but his journey is pivoted by an encounter with a fishing party from Lea, a nearby atoll. Aboard is the daughter of Lae’s chief, Limanman. She is described as beautiful and is smitten with Lainjin at first glance. The girl promises herself to Lainjin and smitten by her himself, he returns with them to Lae, where he receives her father’s approval in praise for rescuing his boat from an aggressive storm. A world of only water and the quest to find his mother’s whereabouts pause as Lainjin becomes popular at Lea, meets new people and faces new challenges, one being the niece of the chief who is trouble from the first time they meet.
What I liked most about the book, is the irony of how easily a reader can be drifted off into its pages, just as easy as it is to drift off into the deep sea without being cautious of it. The legends are well-written and interesting, the childhood memories that have shaped Lainjin and the mentioning of his lost mother only give Lainjin a realistic vulnerability that goes beyond every one of his talented skills, and it is nearly impossible not to like him. Limanman is another lovable character, she is also intelligent, and her entire personality speaks for empowering women. Lainjin and Limanman are the superheroes of the story and it is their relationship that had me pulling harder on the rope with every page turn. It is hard to say what I disliked most about Man Shark because each page simply had me begging for more.
I believe readers of all genres will thoroughly enjoy this book with all of its intriguing adventures, the exquisite romance, the characters who are both real and bold, and the historical background of the entire piece is both interesting and worth knowing. The most engrossing factor of the book is the will to discover the happiness that controls Lainjin’s soul wherever he goes. This will, kept him going, made him try to unwind the mystery of his mother, and also led him to the beautiful Limanman, and Lae, his potential new home.
I rate this book four out of four stars because it is well-written, the words travel beautifully, the names of everything and everyone are well thought out; I think this book could possibly stand as a classic. The glossary provided is a huge asset, extremely interesting to read, and therefore, I believe everyone will be grabbing this book from the shelves.
******
Man Shark
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Man Shark by Gerald R. Knight is one endless adventure which had me holding on to every word, mesmerized by a legendary past that empowers the abilities of men and women in ways that question the importance of our lives and the challenges that are meant to come along with it, such as grief and survival. Through a lengthy tale of a brave voyager by the name of Ḷainjin or Ḷōpako, meaning “Man Shark,” we get a taste of the Micronesian ancestry and become educated in a lifestyle that requires the acknowledgment of the real human identity which involves a commitment for family, nourishment and also happiness within all of earth’s wonders.
Lainjin and Chief, his bird, sail the seas searching for Lainjin’s missing mother, but his journey is pivoted by an encounter with a fishing party from Lea, a nearby atoll. Aboard is the daughter of Lae’s chief, Limanman. She is described as beautiful and is smitten with Lainjin at first glance. The girl promises herself to Lainjin and smitten by her himself, he returns with them to Lae, where he receives her father’s approval in praise for rescuing his boat from an aggressive storm. A world of only water and the quest to find his mother’s whereabouts pause as Lainjin becomes popular at Lea, meets new people and faces new challenges, one being the niece of the chief who is trouble from the first time they meet.
What I liked most about the book, is the irony of how easily a reader can be drifted off into its pages, just as easy as it is to drift off into the deep sea without being cautious of it. The legends are well-written and interesting, the childhood memories that have shaped Lainjin and the mentioning of his lost mother only give Lainjin a realistic vulnerability that goes beyond every one of his talented skills, and it is nearly impossible not to like him. Limanman is another lovable character, she is also intelligent, and her entire personality speaks for empowering women. Lainjin and Limanman are the superheroes of the story and it is their relationship that had me pulling harder on the rope with every page turn. It is hard to say what I disliked most about Man Shark because each page simply had me begging for more.
I believe readers of all genres will thoroughly enjoy this book with all of its intriguing adventures, the exquisite romance, the characters who are both real and bold, and the historical background of the entire piece is both interesting and worth knowing. The most engrossing factor of the book is the will to discover the happiness that controls Lainjin’s soul wherever he goes. This will, kept him going, made him try to unwind the mystery of his mother, and also led him to the beautiful Limanman, and Lae, his potential new home.
I rate this book four out of four stars because it is well-written, the words travel beautifully, the names of everything and everyone are well thought out; I think this book could possibly stand as a classic. The glossary provided is a huge asset, extremely interesting to read, and therefore, I believe everyone will be grabbing this book from the shelves.
******
Man Shark
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Stolen Heir by Tayma Tameem
