A Greenland shark is the world's largest flesh-eating shark, growing to 24 feet in length and weighing more than 2,500 pounds. Its flesh, if improperly prepared, creates a sense of extreme intoxication, hallucinations and even death. Catching one is the goal for Morten Strøksnes and his good friend, Hugo, in Shark Drunk.
Set off the coast of the Lofoten Islands in Norway, Strøksnes's true account is a modern-day adventure story of two friends sharing intimate moments in a tiny rubber boat as they attempt to attract an elusive quarry. Wind, weather and ocean conditions must be just right before they venture out; time and again, they bait their optimum spot and then wait. Blended with his thoughts on the shark fishing process, Strøksnes shares a compendium of nautical lore, the history of fishing in Norway, insights into the flora and fauna found in the world's oceans and reflections on the impact humans have had on the seas. Tiny plankton, the cod that fill Lofoten Sea, the luminosity used by sea creatures in the deepest regions of the ocean and mythical sea beasts are several of the topics Strøksnes ponders.
He expertly mixes beautiful descriptions of his natural surroundings and the ocean's various moods into his narrative. Illuminating a vast underwater universe filled with so much that is still little understood, Strøksnes provides landlubbers and ocean lovers alike with a rich feast that evokes a deep sense of longing to be near the sea. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer