Bolivar, a humble Mexican fisherman, sets out on a fishing trip with a young and inexperienced companion Hector, in spite of bad weather warnings. Bolivar desperately needs to earn money so is willing to take the risk. As might be expected, terrible weather catches them far out to sea and soon they lose power and GPS. What follows is a gripping account of how they battle for survival over the coming weeks. Adrift in the vast ocean, their situation becomes increasingly desperate. It’s a powerful and haunting evocation of their plight, although occasionally I found it a bit repetitive. While they struggle for physical survival, the emotional and psychological stress also take their toll, as they reflect on their past and muse on what life has thrown at them. On one level it’s a survival tale, but on a deeper level it’s an exploration of what it means to be human, on the human condition, and the existential challenges of life on the edge. If I have a quibble it is that their reflections, especially Bolivar’s, seem beyond the scope of simple fisherman, but perhaps that’s not the point and perhaps it doesn’t really matter. It’s still a powerful and compelling tale, predictable up to a point, but always engaging and a page-turner, and the tension is masterfully maintained throughout. A good read.

How much you enjoy this will depend on how interested you are in the internal musings of Bolivar, a fisherman who has been washed out to sea along with Hector. It's a philosophical novel rather than a character or plot driven one. Not my cup of tea but thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.