Whew! This was probably the most confusing and difficult book I've ever read - unless you count some of the technical manuals or college textbooks I've read over the years. Clearly this author had done extensive research on oceanography and also on AI. The amount of details on both of these subjects was extreme and would sometimes go on for multiple pages. Yes, I skimmed the parts that weren't important to the story or that made my eyes glaze over.
And we've read many books where the author skips around in time. Or skips from one character to another. But this author jumped to different characters AND different times so it was hard to figure out any kind of timeline.
The book is centered around two boys and follows them into manhood. One is black and one is white. Both are brilliant in different ways but they find a common bond in gaming back in the 80's. And then there are other characters: A woman who is introduced to deep sea diving by her father who goes on to devote her life to the ocean. And another woman who lives on a tiny tropical island close to Tahiti who eventually joins the two young men. All these lives are woven together as they grow together and grow apart.
The end is crazy/confusing/shocking. I can't give it away but if you get to it, you may feel disappointed like I did - not because the ending isn't "good" but because it just didn't end the way I wanted it to end.
Recommend with hesitation. - June
