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Rated 
of 5
by Sue P. (Albuquerque, NM)
Wild and Distant Seas What a concept! Take a literary classic, add some incredible women, and then, as a final flourish, stir in a dollop of magic. This book may very well become a classic in its own right. I could never plow through MOBY DICK, but I just may give it another go after this read.
Evangeline Hussey deserves to take her place among strong and unusual literary heroines, as do the other women in this book.
The book's sheer scope - of time and location and emotions - will leave the reader wanting to peel back the title page and crawl inside to experience these things for themselves.
Thank you, BookBrowse for making it available to me as an ARC.
Rated of 5
by Sharon M. (OR)
Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts Few things are as satisfying as a good story skillfully written. Wild and Distant Seas is the kind of book you find yourself pondering about between readings. Spanning 56 years, two continents and four generations of Hussey women, the author never obscures the story with undue description, details or fantasy. Indeed, among the pleasures of this book is Roberts' ability to convey layers of meaning within deft sentences and images. Male characters are not neglected, but relationships between women, both mothers and daughters and the diverse women who sustain them, builds our understanding of the enduring values of caring and loyalty.
Rated of 5
by NM
Spellbinding journey Tara Karr Roberts' debut novel Wild and Distant Seas tells the story of four generations of mothers and daughters whose lives take them around the globe and whose remarkable memories take them even further. Drawing in elements of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick, Roberts creates a world both heartbreakingly real and magically surreal. The beautifully written prose transports us right to each location and right to the heart of the matter as each woman tries to find her way in the world and find her way back home. Roberts portrays the mother-daughter bonds with enduring accuracy: at once loving and exasperating, strong and fragile. Wild and Distant Seas is a page-turner, a deep dive so spellbinding you'll need to come up for air to catch your breath. By far one of the best books I've read this year!
Rated of 5
by Kathleen L. (Fairfield, PA)
Whales, women, migration, and memory The beginning of this book seemed slow, but I'm so glad I continued reading. This story of four generations of women proved to be compelling, moving, and beautifully written. Across the generations, the women had unusual gifts related to memory, and the portrayal of memory challenged and enriched my own understanding of memory. As the women moved across the world, each sought, or sought to avoid, knowledge and memory of the character Ishmael from Moby Dick. I haven't read Moby Dick, but I was able to follow the story and understand what he represented. I especially loved the whale imagery, and even several days after finishing the book, I find myself thinking about the whales and the role they played in the story. I recommend this book for anyone interested in family history, New England, oceans, women's roles, and memory, among many topics.
Rated of 5
by Carole P. (Natick, MA)
Wild and Distant Seas What a joy it was to read this book. Although I am not a Moby Dick fan, once I started reading this, I was hooked. Beautifully written, the book just flows. The story follows four generations of women and their daughters. The tale of Ishmael is woven in as each new generation of women tell their story. Although it is heartbreaking at times, it was not a "dark depressing " book. Along with the suspense of each women's tale , a touch of magic, and the love that mothers have for their daughters , it is a book that has depth to it and well developed characters. I think it is going to be one of my favorite books for 2024.
Rated of 5
by Beatrice M. (West Islip, NY)
Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts What a wonderfully written debut by Tara Karr Roberts! This piece of historical fiction, as the novel begins, truly captures the rich atmosphere of a Nantucket seaside town and inn. As the story advances, other towns and countries are brought to life as this novel unfolds.
Although it somewhat follows the tale of Moby Dick, this novel's focus is on the women spanning over 4 generations, making it a generational epic tale,
This book was well paced and the descriptions and voices of each character kept me turning the pages and wanting more. I found myself wrapped in the details of each main character and their journey through life. I did not want this book to end.
Rated of 5
by Marie M. (Rochester, MN)
Wild and Distant Seas If Tara Karr Roberts' debut novel is any indication of what is to come, I'll be waiting with bated breath for her future writings. I thoroughly enjoyed the unfolding of the plot and the connections between the four main women characters. I felt like I was walking along with them as they journeyed on their life's search and each came to grasp her unique, magical power.
The descriptive beauty of Robert's language is evident throughout and takes the reader along on the journey and into the sea. "… the ocean snuck up on me. We crossed a busy street, and there it was. A strip of blue-green across the graying sky. It rose as we crunched across the stones, gaining whitecaps and the gentle shush of waves. It was never as big as I expected." Such beautiful, enthralling imagery.
I found this book very moving and somewhat spellbinding because of the underlying magic.
I would definitely rate it 5-star on the Goodreads scale.
Rated of 5
by Bonne O. (Hartwell, GA)
All Women of the Seas I was intrigued by the use of Moby-Dick in this 1849 historical fiction story set in whale hunting Nantucket. It would take an exceptional woman to be the sole proprietor of an Inn for whalers. I was not disappointed; all the women in this book were unique, exhibiting wisdom and compassion when faced with adversity. I loved the honest portrayal in the interactions between mothers and daughters when both were faced with opposing viewpoints.
Following the family mystery through all the twists and turns around the world kept me turning pages. Lastly, the author's use of relating the life cycle of the sperm whale to illustrate generations of motherly love was genuinely poetic.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fast moving story of strong women forging their own future facing adversity then triumphing over it.
Rated of 5
by Kathleen C. (Cockeysville, MD)
In Search of Family Beautifully written story of four generations of women which begins in Nantucket and travels across continents to come full circle. Each woman has a unique gift of interacting with the world while pursuing the memories and connections of her family in a search for identity.
Moby Dick, the nature of people and our ability to impact our destinies are major themes of the book and are portrayed with skill. The sea and whales are wonderfully described. I also enjoyed the location descriptions, especially of Nantucket, the forests of Brazil and turn of the 20th century Idaho.
I am eager to recommend this book to my book club.
Rated of 5
by Deborah C. (Rochester Hills, MI)
Impressive Historical Fiction Debut This is an impressive debut novel by a very talented writer. I quickly became immersed in the stories of the characters and the times they lived in. The author does a superb job of threading together the lives of four generations of headstrong women, with special unique abilities, as they are joined through the years by their connection to the sea and their quest to find a man named Ishmael. I felt that I was there with each of them on their separate journeys from Nantucket to Boston to Brazil to Florence and to Idaho. Fans of historical fiction and women's fiction, with just the right added touch of magical realism, are sure to enjoy this book.
My sincere thanks to BookBrowse and W.W. Norton & Co. for the ARC of this fascinating book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Rated of 5
by Kathryn H. (Rochester, MI)
The Women of Moby Dick, and their white whales "Wild and Distant Seas" is the story of four generations of women who have some involvement with the men in "Moby Dick." Added to that is the fact that each woman has a specific magical talent. One can see your recent thoughts and another can make you forget something, for example.
I enjoyed "Wild and Distant Seas," and would recommend it, especially if you like "Marmee," "March," and other works that expand a character's life beyond what appears in the original work. This book reminds me of the best of the "fan fiction" stories based on the Jane Austen novels.
Each woman in "Wild and Distant Seas" tells her story in a different section of the book.
Tara Karr Roberts has taken an appealing idea for a story and made it work to perfection. I highly recommend "Wild and Distant Seas" and look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to Book Browse for the advance reader copy.
Rated of 5
by Karen S. (Allston, MA)
Four generations of women and their quests for self I loved this book and it may have inspired me to read Moby Dick. The quotes from Melville included at various were beautiful and enhanced the story of four gifted women across four generations. Roberts crafts a story of women and self-determination using the legacy of Evangeline and the social constraints on women through the timeline of the look. A sense of place starting and ending in Nantucket, while covering the greater world and its oceans, is a great foil for the memories that propel each character forward.
I guess this qualifies as historical fiction, but it is a unique approach to the genre.
Rated of 5
by Antoinette B. (Hilton Head Island, SC)
Beautifully written multigenerational tale that is both lyrical and magical. I believe this book would appeal to those who favor Sarah Addison Allen, Joanne Harris or Heather Webber 's magical realism. It was a wonderful surprise that I feel might be the best book that I have read in 2023. The writing was superb.
It was so gratifying to step in to the ebb and flow of this atmospheric tale of mothers and daughters and their magical gifts. The characters are written with true depth. Although each generation's story is unique and can stand alone; the story flows and ultimately comes full circle.
Not one of the characters or any of their stories is unforgettable. The writing is lyrical and moving and keeps the reader immersed in the tales , anxious to see how it will all end . This reader was sad to come to the end even though I believe that it was the perfect end point , I hated that it was time to leave this family . I doubted that I was going to enjoy my next read as much.
I highly recommend this to everyone.
FYI, for those who enjoy holding a book instead of an e-reader ( and I do read both), this book is a joy to hold. The paper quality is exquisite and the cover texture and look are beautiful. What excellent choices. It merely added to my overall enjoyment.
Rated 
of 5
by Nicole G. (Andover, MA)
Moby Dick reimagined as a tale of female generational trauma Call me a sucker for a reimagining or retelling of a classic tale, but I enjoyed this homage to Moby Dick. Told in five parts by the matrilineal descendants of the famous narrator, Ishmael, the story almost feels like four individual novellas that are satisfyingly woven together at the end. The magical realism is an essential part of the narrative propulsion and is not distracting in its use throughout the novel. Overall, a bright debut that leaves me ready to read Tara Karr Robert's next novel.
Rated of 5
by Babe H. (Augusta, IL)
Women and Whales Roberts' story is extremely enhanced with her relating the female whales and the driven women of her novel. The historic island setting is a perfect start for the first brave, hard-working woman. The premise seems to be women who love men who love the adventure and lure of the sea. Included are infidelities, true love, searching for new beginnings as well as searching for lost family members.
All characters are well developed and their actions are believable. Overall, this is not a fast read but a rewarding one.
Rated of 5
by Giovanna I. (Harrison, NY)
Special Senses Wild and Distant Seas reads like a fairy tale told through four generations of gifted women who can manipulate minds, envision the experiences of the people they touch, and retrace paths long gone. These "special senses" lead main characters Evangeline, Rachel, Mara, and Antonia to make decisions that take them onto unexpected journeys. The theme of motherhood is central to the story, as each young woman finds herself alone with a child to care for in extreme situations. The story's flow was slow in the beginning and gradually found its rhythm as we traveled from Nantucket, to Boston, Brazil, and Italy, before returning to the United States - Idaho and Nantucket. We come full circle as the quest to find a sailor named Ishmael becomes an obsession for each of these women. Tragic ends could have been avoided, but such is the nature of life.
Some characters are quite likable, such as Nat Sweet, whose surname is very appropriate, one of the few kind-hearted men in the book. Two of my favorite passages were the ones which extolled the virtues of libraries. For instance, "a person could get into all sorts of trouble in a library" (223) and "A library was a type of place where I would walk in with a wild story and walk out with something that would help me tell it better" (247).
The message of the novel is to learn how to live beyond a mother's knowing for it is inevitable that one's child will grow and drift beyond their reach. If we are lucky, they eventually will find their way back home.
Rated of 5
by Beth W. (Savannah, GA)
Enjoyable Read! I enjoyed reading Wild and Distant Seas. A story of four generations of strong women, each having a unique gift of clairvoyance, and their worldwide search for the elusive Ishmael, whose absence affected each life in a different way. The search is the thread that pulls the reader through the story, and even though the ending came a bit quickly for me, I found it satisfying. Strong character development, well-done descriptions and dialogue make this a book that's an excellent choice for singles or book clubs.
Rated of 5
by Veronica E. (Chesterton, IN)
Evangeline First, I want to say I liked this story. I found the writing to be very well done. The story made me want to keep turning the pages. I had to finish the book. There was no guessing the end and I like that in a story. To use a partial sentence from the book..."his tale was beautiful, somber and deep." This describes the story. I recommend reading WILD AND DISTANT SEAS.
Rated of 5
by Susan C. (Little Silver, NJ)
Magical Realism and Historical Fiction in one neat package I have always been a fan of magical realism in the novels from Isabelle Allende and some earlier Alice Hoffman works. The small problem with magical realism is that a little can go a long way. I am not necessarily saying that Tara Karr Roberts overdoes the magic but perhaps the blunt manner that it shows itself in the 4 main female characters (5 if you include Otavia she does have a smattering of some magic) is a bit jarring.
I did rate this book a 4 because the story was gripping and I stayed up last night to finish the last few chapters. I was dying to know how Evangeline wrapped everything up for Annie. I will not detail the plot.
I did love the continual search for a father (or father figure) throughout the book. We have 5 strong women (including Otavia or Tia for Aunt) who risk life and limb (literally in one character) in search of their true father/Grandfather. That strikes me as unusual for Women of that time and generation.
Ms. Karr Roberts draws brilliant characterizations. Even the bit characters were clear in my mind. I never had to think twice about who someone was. Grandfather was a lovely man and I saw him so clearly. His love for Rachel, daughter Mara and Granddaughter Annie was clearly stated. Again, that strikes me as rare in the 1800s and early 1900s.
I may have wanted a bit more realism with the magic but in the end I closed this book with a smile and that is so rare these days. Highly recommend.
Rated of 5
by Melissa H. (McKees Rocks, PA)
Wild and Distant Being a lit major, I am always a sucker for novels that reference a classic. In this case the classic is Moby Dick - a novel I appreciate, but can be an arduous read. Fortunately, you do not need to be a lit major or even read Moby Dick to understand and appreciate Roberts' debut novel. The multi-generational story of Evangeline and her heirs, with their unique "magical" traits, is compelling and intriguing as they each navigate their life paths and mother-daughter relationships.
Rated of 5
by Debra F. (Cudjoe Key, FL)
Call me Ishmael First off, being from Boston, I love books where I'm familiar with the territory. And I love historical fiction. And books about strong women. This story had everything I love about reading. I was transported back to a 'simpler' time. Using Moby Dick as a starting point was so clever.Evangeline has to continue on to live her life and we follow her and her descendants throughout their own lives. At it's heart this is a story about loss & hope. How women navigate through the ages.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Rated 
of 5
by Lynn D. (Kingston, NY)
Beautiful book cover! In Wild and Distant Seas the ocean is the backdrop for this story inspired by Moby-Dick. Just as Ahab spent years searching for the great white whale, the 4 generations of mothers and daughters spend years in search of the elusive, apparently because this will give meaning to their lives. I liked the various settings in this novel. However, I didn't find all the characters as sympathetic as Evangeline whose life in 1849 Nantucket is where the story begins.
Rated of 5
by Dorothy H. (Folsom, CA)
Four generations of women seeking their path to their future The author delves into four generations of women, whose journey begins in Nantucket 1849 and travel to South America, Europe and finally back in US. Each generation has their own story and they each have "the power" to know others past. The author paints a picture each women and the time they are living. Book will be good for a Book Club.
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