Shrubaboti Bose's Blog - Posts Tagged "creativenonfiction"

926 Raindrops - Gift of the Wild by Gloria Straube

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A tale of befriending a wild wolf, coming to terms with loss, grieving and healing.

What draws attention to this book is its unassuming narrative style, the easy-flowing lines on sensitive subject matters such as loss or grief, and how each of us deals with them personally. Our traumatic experiences often make it really hard for us to move on in life, but the author seems to have found a way to overcome this agony of losing someone very dear to us.

Here, the narrator's unusual bonding with 926F Raindrops, a wild wolf in the Yellowstone facility after having that equally mysterious dream of a wolf pack giving her support, during the surgery are the motivating factors that prepare her mentally to let go of her past. Simultaneously, it is also a clarion call for people to become more aware and to come together in order to finally do something to protect them under the legal laws.

All we seek in life is to be accepted but the author describes that since her childhood she was nothing like any other girls. It's clear that she was not only treated differently but she also grew up to be someone who preferred isolating. So when all the kids her age were playing with cats, she used to take care of tadpoles. Hence, in a way, this book helps us all reconnect with our innermost child or self. One can also interpret it as perhaps a psychic connection or maybe some kind of a spiritual connection.

Another interesting thing to note is how the author shares such a profound sentiment for rain. According to her, rainfall has both a cleansing and purifying, or a reassuring and almost calming effect. The ocean waves call out to her, crashing ashore noisily under the feet. The story has a vast panoramic experience, where we get an idea of how nature can thus, largely influence our understanding of the hardships that life throws at us. Although there are quite a few passages that reiterate the same major theme, making the story a bit repetitive in certain parts, it's wonderfully illustrated and serves the purpose of spreading awareness to dissuade people from hunting.

(Note: ARC obtained on Reedsy Discovery)



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