BOOK REVIEW
Charlotte McConaghy’s latest novel, Wild Dark Shore, is a gripping literary mystery set on a remote island near Antarctica.
McConaghy’s books always show us how literature can be used to bring forward ethics; she explores themes of loss, survival and the natural world, with a strong focus on relationships and resilience.
She blends literary fiction with environmental themes, crafting narratives that explore human relationships, survival and the world we inhabit.
Her prose is known for its poetic descriptions, particularly of the forementioned landscapes and wildlife, which create a deeply atmospheric reading experience and cannot easily be slotted into a specific genre.
The story follows Dominic Salt and his three children, Raff, Fen, and Orly who are caretakers of Shearwater Island, home to the world’s largest seed bank and collection of plant life, safeguarded against environmental collapse.
The Salt family, tasked with protecting the vault, faces the reality that their efforts may be futile as rising sea levels threaten their home; the seed vault symbolises hope, but also the inevitability of change.
Their isolated existence is disrupted when a mysterious woman, Rowan, washes ashore during a violent storm and secrets unravel.
The novel blends elements of climate fiction with psychological drama, creating a deeply immersive experience, although sometimes the prose, while beautifully lyrical, can feel indulgent at times.
The novel explores several interconnected themes and the impossible ethics of preservation; when not everything can be saved, how do we choose what matters?
There is a focus on the courage to begin again, finding hope when both personal and global futures seem bleak.
This leads to the theme of the balance between protection and freedom and the tension between sheltering those we love and letting them face risks.
Ever present in all McConaghy’s novels is her ability to delve into complex family dynamics and the interconnectivity of life and death.
Preservation also extends to personal history; Salt clings to memories of his late wife, keeping her belongings untouched, while his children struggle with their own losses.
Climate change and survival are the rising tides that threaten Shearwater Island, forcing the Salt family to confront the limits of preservation
The novel suggests that preservation is not just about safeguarding the past but also deciding what deserves a future.
The novel leaves readers with a sense of bittersweet hope.
Julie Chessman
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