At the heart of this story is a mythic White Whale. . .(well. . .a pod of them?) Magic here be, matey. . .follow the totem.

A side-imagining of four generations of women who spring into being thanks to a moment between two people who pause and appreciate each other's presence between the words and behind the fonts shortly after the young man at the door says, "Call me Ishmael." Although it was a biologically successful meeting, he jumps aboard the Pequod to digest his clam chowder sailing into the sunset. Evangeline staying in place, takes her magical gifts and passes them down. . .she having improved the shining moment 9 months later with Rachel.

I'm a fan of Moby Dick, and thoroughly enjoyed this read which wondered about the women quietly behind the scenes of the men in that classic tale. We hear of Evangeline's trials and tribulations, Rachel's, and the next 2 generations of daughters, the last of which turns back around and begins tracing history. Then to my delight, for a brief authorial wonder the Lady Whales Behind the Big Guy Ahab (MD) Was Obsessing Over are also included - (?white) female sperm whales, the mamas, grannies, aunties, cousins and friends are considered, pondering their clicky communications as they raise the next batch. My take-away? Perhaps this: behind every provocative character there is a powerful motivating presence, creating circumstances you, dear reader, have never yet considered. . . .I enjoyed that unexpected mind blow.

*A sincere thank you to Tara Karr Roberts, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #WildandDistantSeas #NetGalley

I went into this only vaguely familiar with the tales of Moby Dick, so this was interesting to hear about Ishmael and Quequeg as side characters. I thought it was really interesting how this book goes from one woman to the next always linking back to Ishmael and the white whale. For the most part, I enjoyed this although I did find the final part just a tiny bit confusing.

This book was a delightful surprise and possibly one of the best read of 2024. The writing was exceptional, drawing readers into an enchanting tale of mothers and daughters with magical gifts. The characters are richly developed and their interconnected stories create a captivating narrative. The lyrical and moving writing keeps readers immersed until the perfect, bittersweet ending. Highly recommended to all who love a compelling story.

Wild and Distant Seas was a lovely read and I loved the various perspectives. I appreciated the nod to Moby Dick as well as the lush imagery of the ocean.

Beautifully written. Complicated women, generational trauma and healing, clearly a well-researched book - this was right up my alley, and yet, independently captivating. There were times I was so engrossed in the connection of each main character to each other that I almost forgot the book's connection to Moby Dick. Being a debut novel makes it even more impressive.

Lastly, the narrator, Natasha Soudek, is probably one of the best I've listened to. Her narration further strengthened the story and held my attention for all 10 hours.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Nantucket to Boston, Boston to Brazil – and many other places around the world – then all the way to Moscow, Idaho and Spokane, Washington. What a wild ride this book took me on. This story follows mother and daughter... and granddaughter… and great granddaughter as they all follow the same path of running away from home, looking for more. A story of connection, desire, loss, and vulnerability.
This book had elements of magical realism that felt a little out of place for the story – I think this was trying to be a historical fiction with magic thrown in and I think it would have been great without the magic – it didn’t really add to the story except for giving the author an answer for connecting dots (which I guess is a fair thing to do – but I would have liked something else). The beginning of the book was a little rough for me, but I came to enjoy the story by the time we were in Brazil. I think I am finding I do not enjoy many stories where the female main character(s) life is upended by a deceptive man. I get that happens a lot – but I think it is just not my favorite flavor of story element. I also felt there were some elements of the story that were jarring, in that there was no lead up – it was just, “bam! Here is a sort of plot twist thing”. Another note, the voice actor mispronounced Spokane a few times and then corrected it later. Overall, this book was very lulling, gentle, and yet jarring all at the same time. I would say it is worth a read, but not to have high hopes.


Would I Recommend: Sure, to those who like historical fiction and magical realism.

2.5 Stars rounded up

Copied from Goodreads:
“Wild and Distant Seas” impressed me as a literary historical fiction, but I was floored when I discovered that this is Tara Karr Roberts' debut. Launching from Nantucket and the lore of Moby Dick, the novel chronicles four generations of women as they live and travel across seas and continents. Three of the four women were very thoroughly described. Their vivacity made me invest in their story. The first woman, Evangeline Hussy, the matriarch, was less described, but it is possible that this was intentional. The novel is very well-written and flirts with magical realism throughout. I was surprised to learn that the novel was only ~300 pages/10 hours. I was never bored, but it seemed far longer. I look forward to Karr Roberts' next novel.

TW: death, drowning, blunt depictions of 19th century life

“Wild and Distant Seas” was released in the U.S. on February 13, 2024. Thanks to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for this audio ARC given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a beautiful debut from author Tara Karr Roberts. Since I don't remember much about Moby Dick from high school (or college?) and don't recall liking it much, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The book is the story of four generations of women, starting with Evangeline in Nantucket in 1849. Her husband is away at sea while she runs their Inn, but he never returns, presumed dead. One day two men, Queequeg and Ishmael, came in the Inn to stay until they were to depart on the Pequod to sail with Captain Ahab. (Familiar names from Moby Dick) Ishmael and Evangeline have a special romance until the Pequod is ready to set sail...leaving her pregnant with Rachel.

Each generation of these four women (Evangeline, Rachel, Mara, and Antonia) have their own story that involves trying to find the mysterious Ishmael. And each of these four women have special gifts of seeing , reading, or "shaping" memories of others. With their journeys and best intentions of each of these mothers and daughters, they all realize they can't always get what they were wanting, and eventually realized what they have is more valuable. The ending was beautiful and wrapped up so well.

Thank you to Net Galley and RB Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook. The narration was well done but there were times it sounded like the narrator needed some water (or a green apple!)

I really liked this story, "Wild and Distant Seas", a debut novel from Tara Karr Roberts. It follows the lives of four mothers and their daughters, starting with Evangeline Hussey who beget Rachel, who beget Margaret (Mara) who beget Antoinette (Anna).

After Evangeline's husband, Josea, is lost at sea, she is very lonely. Visiting sailors, Ishmael and Queequeg stay awhile as they look for a whaling ship to join. Evangeline is pregnant after they leave. We follow her life with her daughter, Rachel, and then Rachel's life as she searches for her father, Ishmael, and so forth.

Each daughter has a type of psychic talent, from seeing and altering memories to knowing the path or journey someone has taken.

It is historical fiction with a touch of magical realism and it is Moby Dick - Adjacent.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing 5/5
Unputdownability 3/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Narration 5/5 by Natasha Soundek. Each character had a different voice. Very well done.
Cover 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley, High Bridge Audio, and author, Tara Karr Roberts, for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Wild and Distant Seas takes us on a multi-generational journey of the descendants of the famous Ishmael, the captain of the Ahab seeking the great white whale Moby Dick. What makes this story different and so beautiful, is that it focuses on the women in his lineage. We see the devastation of a sailor's wife, living life on her own waiting for her love to come home to her. We see the sorrows of a young girl, desperately seeking the truth about where she comes from. In this hauntingly beautiful story, Tara Karr Roberts takes us on a journey of love, loss, and the strength of women. I felt like this story was a bit slow at times, but still worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.

I am one of those people who read Moby Dick without having too. That is right, I picked it up on my own, without a teacher telling me I HAD to read it. I also really enjoyed it. So when I read the description of Tara Karr Roberts Wild and Distant Sea, it caught my attention instantly and I knew I needed to read it.

Wild and Distant Seas takes on a different search then Moby Dick, it is the search for the famous Ishmael of the original story, not the legendary white whale, and the search is conducted by his females decedents. If you have read Moby Dick will might recognize Evangeline Hussey as the Inn Keeper. Wild and Distant Seas begins with her and Ishmael and travels with a bit of magical realism through his and hers female line.

Roberts has written and impressive debut with this one. It is choked full of rich historic detail and beautiful characters that are woven flawlessly throughout the generations. This alone will keep you reading and turning those pages to learn the characters unforgettable stories.

This was a fantastic story, I can not stress that enough, and it was a joy to get lost in . The writing will transport you to the locations and time periods and you will live in them. If you like Historical Fiction, literary fiction, or just take offs of stories you have read in the past, pick up the Wild and Distant Seas.

Wild and Distant Seas is magic realism at it's very best.

Roberts had offered a specular debut that honors the magic in the mundane. This story spans four generations of women as they try and carve their own paths in a wild and turbulent world. The story feels melancholy and hopeful in equal parts, as the women are left wondering if we can ever truly outrun generational curses.

The writing here is lyrical while the story itself is a bit methodical, it takes it's time to reveal all it's secrets. I found it the perfect story to consume in small chunks, curled up by the fire.

I read part of this one via audiobook and found the narration to be superb. The narrator has a beautiful and soothing voice that suits the story well.

I received this audiobook at no cost in exchange for review.

I enjoyed the parts of this book individually but often got lost about the thread through the combined stories. The narration was well done.

This was worth the read and a pleasant imagining of some of the side stories near Moby Dick.

We first meet Evangeline, who is married to a sailor named Hosea, and together they run an inn on Nantucket. After one trip out to sea, Hosea does not return and Evangeline is left to fend for herself. A man named Ishmael visits the inn while waiting for his infamous voyage and the brief encounter changes the path of Evangeline’s future. This story spans four generations of mother-daughter relationships. All the women have unique talents, are headstrong and are connected by the sea and a man named Ishmael. The path of each of the characters could easily stand alone as an individual storyline, but Roberts tied them together in such a way that flowed beautifully into a lyrical tale.

If you enjoy historical fiction, magical realism or stories inspired by other stories, then this debut novel, Wild and Distant Seas, by Tara Karr Roberts is for you. I would be lying if I said I read or knew much of anything about the literary classic, Moby-Dick. My only background knowledge stems from the 90’s movie, Matilda— when she is sitting in bed, opens the first page to the book and says “Call me Ishmael.” With that said, not having read the classic did not take away from the story and instead allowed me to explore the classic from a different perspective.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for privilege to listen to the audiobook narrated by Natasha Soudek. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wild and Distant Seas
Tara Karr Roberts
The setting for this multigenerational tale is 1849 to 1905, Nantucket, Boston, Brazil, Florence and Idaho.
When men went off to sea their women were left behind wondering whether their man was dead or alive. This tale falls back on the famous book Moby Dick. The main character in this tale is Evangeline. She was a minor character at the beginning of Moby Dick.
Evangeline was married to Hosea, together they run the Try Pots Inn where she serves her famous chowder. Hosea repeatedly answers the call of the sea until he does not return leaving Evangeline to care for herself. She has an unusual gift or perhaps you would call it magic. With a simple suggestion she can change a person’s memories. She relies on this talent to retain ownership of the inn and to convince others that her husband is still alive.
A few months after Hosea disappears Ishmael arrives searching for a ship to sail. Evangeline is drawn to Ishmael. He is gone before she discovers she is pregnant. She gives birth to Rachel who spends her life searching for her father. Rachel has a daughter, who has a daughter, who has a daughter, who has a daughter… Each generation of women has a talent and each search for Ishmael.
While each daughter has their own unique story it eventually comes back full circle.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book for review.

Thank you NetGalley, and Cavalier House Books.
At first, I was very resistant to the way this novel was being told. It felt rushed and narratives seemed to be unfinished. Once I got into the third part of this novel, Robert's rationale for the arrangement of this novel was illuminated. From here, the beauty, atmospheric, and vivid language of this novel took over and brought a level of beauty, depth, and meaning. This novel is as wild, as the seas that the characters navigate and as beautiful as the characters themselves.
I have used the word beautiful quite a few times in this review, and I cannot find another word to describe this historical, multigenerational novel that is focused on generations of women seeking self-identity through a literal quest to find the Ishmael from Moby Dick.

This is a wonderful debut novel for Tara Karr Roberts. This story looks at the women left behind when the fishermen go whaling. We meet Evangaline Hussey, the owner of an Inn in Nantucket where Ishmael from Moby Dick stays before he goes out on his fateful voyage. They form an attachment and Evangaline is left with child while Ishmael is out to sea. This is about the 4 generations of Hussey women searching for Ishmael. Each have magical talent. This is an epic tale, and exploration of mother-daughter bonds.

Thank you Netgalley and HighBridge Audio for the advanced listener copy. Natasha Soudek was a wonderful narrator. I enjoyed listening to this book. 3.5 stars.

Wild and Distant Seas is a great story that spans generations and countries. I would recommend this to so many people and it truly has something for everyone. There’s adventure, travel, and romance. Without spoiling any details, there’s a well-written found family story line that is unexpected and beautiful. The main characters are strong women and are so relatable.

I listened to the audiobook, which is set to be released on 2/13/24. I thought the narrator was a great fit for this particular novel. Personally, I listen to books on 1.5 or 1.75 speed and I can sometimes have issues with the narration being difficult to understand in places, but didn’t have that problem here.

3.5

I was going to say this was a different take on the story of Moby Dick and Ishmael but its really about the women who are left behind to wonder what happened to the whaling boat sailors.

We start with the story of Evangeline who is married to Hosea. They run an inn in between Hosea's forays at sea. After one trip Hosea does not return and Evangeline is left to fend for herself. However she has certain powers and can "persuade" others (at first) that Hosea is alive to preserve her ownership of the Inn.

Everything changes when Ishmael and Queequeg arrive months later, looking for a ship to sail. Evangeline is drawn to the quiet Ishmael but once he is gone she finds herself pregnant. Once her child, Rachel, grows up she wants to know who her father is and thus begins a tragic tale of mothers and daughters.

We follow the line of women through to Evangeline's great granddaughter. All have been affected by Ishmael's loss but will the truth ever be found and shared.

I listened to the audio of this book which, on the whole was well read. I am still not a fan of the dramatic pauses some narrators use to denote upset. I simply want to be read to. It's a personal thing though.

The story itself did devolve, at times, into yet another whiny teenager feeling like the world doesn't understand them but the women are definitely the focus of this book so if you want a lot of strong female characters with just a touch of the supernatural about them then I'd definitely recommend this book.

Thankyou to Netgalley and RB Media for the audio advance review copy.

*A big thank-you to Tara Karr Roberts, HighBridge Audio, and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.*
I admit to not having read Moby Dick, and probably will not read it, and yet, the description of Wild and Distant Seas caught my attention and no regrets there. An epic novel, revolving around a woman who appears at the beginning of Moby Dick, and her female descendants who spend their lives in search of the man who appeared unexpectedly at Nantucket and stayed long enough to influence Ms Hussey for ever. The stories are beautifully crafted, with an authentic feel to the period details, including hardships of daily life depending on whaling or growing up in an isolated orphanage in South America. The characters are well-developed and their actions consistent with personalities.
An interesting idea to imagine women, not featuring in the classic, and give them a voice in the world dominated by men.