Elisabeth Sharp McKetta – She Never Told Me About The Ocean

‘She Never Told Me About The Ocean’ by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta is a story of female relationships, breaking away from dysfunctional relationships interwoven with myth and folklore.

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

We meet Sage, eighteen years old. A young woman who has taken the caring role for her mother. Her grandmother is dying so Sage and her parents, George and Marella return to Dragon Island to say their goodbyes. Marella is not really a willing participant in this, it is more the fact that Sage has made her mother return. This is the first time any of the three have been back since Sage was born. As time goes on and they are still on Dragon Island sorting everything out. Sage discovers she had an elder brother and decides she is going to find out everything she doesn’t know. We see Marella confronted with everything from her past as well as a midwife who can speak the truth from the future. These women both need to speak their truths and find a way to free themselves from the dysfunctional relationship they have and hopefully accept whatever type of love they have left between them.

A book that as you begin you think you know where it is going and before you know it you are in a world I can’t fully explain. The weaving of this tale must have had a dash of fairy dust included. The myths, folklores and even mystical things that are part of the journey are alongside the maternal relationships and the daughter to mum. Death and even as I call it the limbo place are part and parcel of this very lyrical and intricate book.

The author has managed to encapsulate the fragile state of life and show us how relationships can be broken by grief from the past that hasn’t been worked through. A truly mesmerising tale written in such an eloquent way.

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Paul Dry Books for the copy of the book.