“The Curve of Equal Time” is a captivating exploration of the human condition, examining themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. The novel follows the story of a young woman named Anya, who is struggling to find her place in the world. She is a talented artist, but feels lost and unfulfilled.
The new woman, named Sarah, is a bit of a mystery. She’s quiet and reserved, and her past is shrouded in secrecy. The story follows Nora’s journey as she navigates the harsh realities of the Alaskan fishing industry. She faces challenges like unpredictable weather, dangerous working conditions, and the constant pressure to catch fish.
The author is especially skilled at capturing the realities of women working in the fleet — where they were usually expected to be cooks and cleaners as well as working on deck, and where they were frequently exploited in other ways. (It’s unclear when the novel takes place, although it’s before the use of cellphones; conditions for women have largely improved with time.) ADVERTISEMENT Overall, McGuire’s writing is as precise and lyrical as any of our best contemporary novelists. It’s also consistently knowing and intelligent about technologies, geography and the natural world, the motives and desires of human beings, and even literary and cultural references. (One character quotes Whitman, another speaks lines from the Catholic Mass for the Dead.) McGuire’s depictions of Southeast Alaska, the world of commercial fishing and human behaviors are perfectly rendered, page after page.
The seine was a trap, a cruel and cunning device that ensnared the creatures of the ocean, pulling them into the depths of the power block.
When one character catches a halibut, he whets a filleting knife and then “held the knifepoint against one of the fish and drew it slowly along the lateral line without breaking the skin. The dorsal fin rippled in reflex, a cresting wave that followed the knifepoint even after death.” The book’s title is both image and metaphor. In the cafeteria of a floating processor, after delivering their fish, crew members sit together at a table. Sara says something about old fishermen looking mildewed, another says the rain forest has everything and everyone sliding into nothingness together, and Sara explains “the curve of equal time,” a famous math problem. “The shape of the curve, where no matter where you start, you get to the bottom at the same time.”
The community is reeling from the loss of a beloved elder, and the fear of violence is palpable. The community is struggling to cope with the end of the fishing season, which is a crucial economic activity for many. This summary provides a snapshot of a community facing a complex and multifaceted crisis. Let’s delve deeper into the specific challenges and their potential consequences. **1.
