I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Published by Agora Books on February 11 2020
Genres: Adult, Suspense, Coming of age
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A lush and evocative story about a young girl’s coming-of-age in Baja California, Untamed Shore was a pleasant surprise.
Outside her window, the moon watched her, but it did not judge her. The moon was pure. And she thought of Coyote, who dreamt beautiful yellow dreams and thus created the world. But when she slept she dreamt of a shark with massive jaws, jaws taller than her. The shark’s belly glowed and she ventured inside of it, looking for the source of light, which was the moon, plucked from the sky.
Sometimes expectations get in the way of enjoying a book, but I do try to see past my expectations and judge the book I’m reading rather than the book I was expecting. I definitely struggled with that while I was reading Untamed Shore, because I had the wrong impression of the type of story I was about to read. Luckily, I pushed aside my negative reactions and ended up really enjoying this book. Silvia Moreno-Garcia never writes the same story twice, and for that I’m grateful (although I certainly wouldn’t mind another story set in her Certain Dark Things world!). I’ve seen this book categorized as a thriller, but it is NOT a thriller at all. Rather, this is a sort of dreamy, atmospheric coming-of-age story with elements of suspense, but suspense is not the driving force behind the story. If you are looking for some shark action—and I’ll admit the cover led me to believe there might be some shark related violence—then you are in the wrong place. Moreno-Garcia brilliantly uses sharks as metaphor in some beautiful ways, but the only sharks in this story are dead ones.
Viridiana is eighteen and lives in the small Baja California town of Desengaño where she was born. She spends her days at the beach watching the fishermen ply their shark trade and acts as a tour guide whenever foreign tourists come to town. Viridiana’s mother wants her to marry and take over running the family shop, but Viridiana has no interest in marriage or small town life.
Luckily a distraction presents itself that will change her life. Three Americans have just rented a remote house on the cliff side and they are looking for a translator. Viridiana reluctantly agrees to live with them in the house over the summer, but soon finds herself fascinated with their glamorous lives. Ambrose is a writer and needs help typing up his notes. Daisy is Ambrose’s wife, and Gregory is Daisy’s brother. The three spend their days drinking rum and lazing in the sun at the beach, and Viridiana tentatively joins them, seduced by the promise of a different kind of life.
But when one of the Americans ends up dead, her safe, idyllic life is threatened. Viridiana suddenly finds herself caught up in a web of lies and must choose between doing the right thing or saving herself.
Viridiana is such an interesting character. This is an excellent coming-of-age tale with an old fashioned feel that reminded me of one of the old classic black-and-white movies that Viridiana loves so much. I love that her father named her after the old Luis Buñuel movie of the same name, and she takes her name to heart by viewing the world through a lens of old movies and movie stars. She compares Gregory to Montgomery Clift and imagines a happily ever after love story with him as the leading man. However, like all good coming of age stories, that innocence starts to crack when one of the Americans dies and she has to make some tough decisions. We also witness Viridiana’s sexual awakening, which I thought was very well done. She’s lived a very sheltered life with her conservative, Catholic mother and lives in fear of her mother finding out that she’s not only hanging out with an older American man, but that he’s trying to get her into bed. Her struggle between doing the right thing and following her heart felt very real to me.
I did struggle with a couple of things. First of all, the plot is very slow paced, much like life in Desengaño is, I imagine. I think that was a deliberate choice by the author, to mimic the lazy, sun drenched days in a small town where not much happens. But I have to admit I was bored at times. There were a few suspenseful moments where I expected one thing but got another, and these moments were slightly frustrating. We do finally get a few thriller-like moments at the end, but if you’re hoping for a story full of shocking twists and turns, you might be disappointed. But even though the typical thriller elements were absent, I loved the subtle, ominous feeling that hangs over the story. It’s as if danger is just off the page out of reach, but it’s coming for you and you won’t see it until it’s too late.
I also felt a little distanced from the story in a weird way, as if I were watching an old movie on TV. We see everything from Viridiana’s POV, and there is a strange lack of emotion in her reactions to some of the things that happen. When she finds out that Ambrose, Daisy and Gregory are keeping secrets, she doesn’t react much at all, but shrugs her shoulders and goes along with it.
But what I did love was Moreno-Garcia’s writing. It’s simply gorgeous and perfectly captures the setting and the late 1970s time period. There’s a sort of sadness to the town and I really wanted Viridiana to find a way to leave. She thinks she’s stuck there and I felt her frustration in my bones. The town’s economy revolves around the sharks that inhabit the area, and the story is chock full of wonderful metaphors showing how Viridiana sees the world. She’s grown up watching the fishermen catch, kill and skin sharks (I know, ugh) and she knows very well how sharks behave. I love her insights into the people she interacts with and how they remind her of certain shark characteristics.
Overall, I’m so glad I had the chance to read this. Yes, Silvia Moreno-Garcia wrote something that I wasn’t expecting, but it simply proves how versatile a writer she is. Readers who enjoy a more literary bent to their stories will love this book.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
I’ve come to believe that the best way to approach a Moreno-Garcia novel is to go “blind” into it: she speaks with so many different voices, telling so many different stories, that they defy any kind of expectation.
That said, I too would welcome another vampire-inspired story…. 😉
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Maddalena@spaceandsorcery recently posted…TOP TEN TUESDAY: The ten book series closest to my heart
You’re right, I’m actually glad I didn’t know much about this before I read it. I think my reading experience would have been very different.
I bet a reader can learn about sharks reading this book! Too bad it’s a little slow because otherwise it sounds good.
Priscilla Bettis recently posted…#FirstLineFriday
There are actually lots of interesting tidbits about sharks, you’re right!
Hmm. I’m kind of bummed. I can’t get enough shark novels. Still- it sounds really interesting and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read your review first so I can reset expectations.
I actually felt bad for the sharks since it’s about fishermen who hunt sharks:-(
I’ve set myself up for disappointment with this author. You know how much I loved Certain Dark Things and even though I’ve been collecting her works since, I’m afraid to read them. I am glad this worked for you but right now I can’t handle another slow paced book. I finally finished The Stand and got my review up (and all its snarky glory) so I need something to zap me out of a funk. This doesn’t sound like it. Great review though!
It’s going to be hard for her to top Certain Dark Things in my book, but I still want to try to keep up with all her books, because you never know:-)
I plan to read this one soon so I skimmed the more detailed middle of your review, though I did catch that you thought this wasn’t a thriller. Thanks for the warning! It was billed as such, so now I will have to adjust my expectations. Not sure how I Feel about its more dreamier aspects, I’m a bit nervous hearing that but hope it works for me!
I’m very curious to see what you think!
To be honest, without reading the synopsis or your review, I first thought this was a Jaws type of story but I kinda like that the sharks are metaphors. Sounds like a good read!
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…DNF Audiobook Review: Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore
It is, and the more I think about it, the more I enjoyed it:-)
I love that we’re seeing more and more female coming of age stories. I probably won’t read this one but I’m happy it is out there!
It’s a really good one, not all coming of age stories work, but this one did.
I didn’t know she has a new one coming out, and I still need to read her last book. I love how thoughtful your review is, Tammy. I definitely want to experience the author’s magical writing.
She’s so talented:-)
I was interested in this one! Was hoping you’d review it. That’s weird that there aren’t any sharks. Seems like there could’ve been a better cover, because the shark on the cover plus the description definitely makes it feel like a shark thriller. I think this book is probably not for me. The snippet you shared is just gorgeous, and the author’s clearly a great writer, but that writing style plus a slow plot would probably be the death of me. xD Glad to see you enjoyed it, regardless of it not being what you expected. Thanks for the review!
Sammie @ The Writerly Way recently posted…The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood || Spurned Gods and Beautiful Worlds
I actually think the shark cover works, because of the shark metaphors and the fact that sharks were important to the main character. Even if the story wasn’t my typical read, I just love her writing:-)
I’ve yet to try Silvia Moreno-Garcia ‘s work, though I have purchased a couple of her books. But I very much like the sound of this one. I loved the quote you included (“Outside her window…”), it immediately drew me in. And then with your description of it as “a sort of dreamy, atmospheric coming-of-age story with elements of suspense,” that just cemented it for me. I’ve no clue if I’ll enjoy it, but I am often drawn to just this sort of story. Thanks much, Tammy. I added it to my TBR.
It really was good, hopefully you’ll get the chance to read it at some point.
Great review, Tammy! You expressed how I felt about a book I recently finished. The story didn’t wow me, I struggled to continue with it because it was slow paced, but the writing wouldn’t let me go.
Laura Thomas recently posted…The Friday 56 #223 ~ Every Other Weekend
That sounds very familiar:-) Thanks Laura!
Expectations managed. That’s always a good thing after all. I think I would probably like this especially now I have a more realistic understanding of what the book is all about.
Lynn 😀
It’s beautifully written and sort of a slice of life in the 1970s, so the atmosphere is really well done. Also shark metaphors:-)
Great review! This book is not my cup of tes, because “dreamy’ and” atmospheric” aren’t my thing, the dreamy part especially, but I enjoyed reading your review and I think that, sooner or later, I would read something by this author!
Thank you Susy:-)
I definitely thought this was a thriller, so that’s good to know! It’s one I really want to get to – it’s really true that no Silvia Moreno-Garcia book is alike, and so far all everything I’ve tried from her worked for me.
Great review!
Acqua recently posted…Reviews: Completing the Wayward Children Reread
Thanks Acqua! You’ll definitely enjoy this if you’re a fan:-)
I’m a little sad Silvia Moreno-Garcia never writes the same story twice because I LOVED Gods of Jade and Shadow and desperately need a replacement. this story doesn’t really sound like my cup of tea, but great review of what worked for you and what didn’t. I’m hanging out for Mexican Gothic to release in a few months <3
Me too, I can hardly wait for Mexican Gothic:-)
It sounds like a pretty unique read, and not what I was expecting either, although that is a bummer about the slow pacing. I’ve not tried one of her books yet but just snagged a review copy of Mexican Gothic so I’ll be experiencing her writing sometime in the near future.
I think if you know going in that’s it’s a slower pace, you’ll probably enjoy it for what it is.
I really need to read one of her books, I still haven’t yet! I have no good excuse either lol. She sounds like an amazing writer. Great review!
She’s really good, and I swear she’s written something for just about every reader:-)
This sounds very well written. You make a good point about being able to enjoy a book for what it is, and not for what you expected it to be. Thanks.
This sounds like a perfect noir thriller! Thanks for sharing!