2023-5. The Book of Eels

Patrik Swensson. 2019.

This book is not short on gory details about the killing and dismembering and torturing eels.  The book is also really sad since it spends a lot of energy talking about the demise of the eel population.  

That said, there was also a lot of really interesting history and ecology in this book that offset the gross descriptions of fishing and preparing these absolutely fascinating creatures. Moreover, the way that the author situates the conversation about the history of eels in the midst of really interesting philosophical conversations is captivating. In talking about the eels life span and ability to survive, his discussion of the meaning of time, boredom, and the eel's ability to delay death until the time has come to mature, procreate, and die is just nothing short of enchanting.  I had no idea about the sexual development of eels or their ability to essentially suspend their maturing process for decades while they wait for the time to migrate to where they will mate and then die.  Other interesting history includes the role of the eel in the early colonial American diet and Silent Spring author Rachel Carson's academic research on eels.  Who knew all these random facts could enrapture this reader?

Despite a number of sections that I really did get drawn into, I don't think this makes the recommend list because the graphic violence against these critters was just enough to tip me in the direction of it not being outweighed by the other stuff.

Not recommended.  

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