Shark Heart

Shark Heart follows newlyweds Lewis and Wren, whose first year of marriage becomes their last after Lewis is diagnosed with a rare condition that will slowly turn him into a great white shark. Lewis, a former actor turned drama teacher, is dreamy and artistic. At the same time, Wren, who works in finance, is practical and grounded - their differences make the marriage work, and make the coming loss even harder. As Lewis's body changes, Wren has to decide how to love someone who is disappearing before her, and the novel follows them both as they try to hold on to each other for as long as they can.

The reason this book works so well is that the author treats Lewis's transformation not as fantasy but as a symbol of a terminal illness. As a reader, you feel the grief of losing someone and the burden of care. It's especially painful because it's a long, slow goodbye for the couple.

This unusual, heartfelt story is about love and letting go. I did not have a problem with the premise, but I did feel that the backstories slowed the pace. Overall, though, I loved the unique concept and think this book will appeal to those who enjoy books that resonate emotionally and have a touch of magical realism.

For Lewis and Wren, their first year of marriage is also their last. A few weeks after their wedding, Lewis receives a rare diagnosis. He will retain most of his consciousness, memories, and intellect, but his physical body will gradually turn into a great white shark. As Lewis develops the features and impulses of one of the most predatory creatures in the ocean, his complicated artist's heart struggles to make peace with his unfulfilled dreams.

At first, Wren internally resists her husband's fate. Is there a way for them to be together after Lewis changes? Then, a glimpse of Lewis's developing carnivorous nature activates long-repressed memories for Wren, whose story vacillates between her childhood living on a houseboat in Oklahoma, her time with her college ex-girlfriend, and her unusual friendship with a woman pregnant with twin birds. Woven throughout this "heart-wringing" (Adam Roberts, internationally bestselling author of Salt) novel is the story of Wren's mother, Angela, who becomes pregnant with Wren at fifteen in an abusive relationship amidst her parents' crumbling marriage. In the present, all of Wren's grief eventually collides, and she is forced to make an impossible choice.

A sweeping love story that is at once lyrical and funny, airy and visceral, Shark Heart is an unforgettable, gorgeous novel about life's perennial questions, the fragility of memories, finding joy amidst grief, and creating a meaningful life. This daring debut marks the arrival of a wildly talented new writer abounding with originality, humor, and heart.

1. Why do you think the author chose to give Lewis a fictional condition instead of a real one?

2. Wren and Lewis are quite different from each other and yet, love each other deeply. Have you ever been close to someone who sees the world differently? What are the gifts and challenges of these types of relationships?

3. As Lewis gradually becomes a great white shark, how do his personality changes strain his work and marriage? Beyond the world of the book, how do the ways people naturally change over time challenge or enhance relationships?

4. At Lewis's "send off," the partygoers "discovered the same private truth: Lewis and Wren's situation made them feel better about themselves" (p. 136). What does this suggest about humanity's attitude toward suffering?

5. Lewis realizes that "joy and grief are human birthrights, but mostly, being alive is everything in between" (p. 152). Do you agree? Why or why not?

6. At the ocean, Lewis tries to explain his transformation: "It's like standing in my childhood bedroom. . . . There are things I cannot unsee" (p. 158). What do you think Lewis cannot unsee? What places in your life remind you of how much you've grown?

7. George always loves Angela, never wavering in feeling that she was the love of his life, even though they are not together. What do you think about his unrequited love from afar? What is the hardest part about loving someone who is still alive but no longer in your life?

8. Why might Angela have taught Wren to ask herself: "What do I need?" What does this question provide Wren? Do you have a grounding question like this?

9. Angela feels like her body has betrayed her. Have you ever felt this way? And conversely, when do you feel that your physical body is a source of strength or protection?

10. How did Angela's condition prepare Wren to take care of Lewis? Was Wren's prior caretaking experience ever an impediment during her time with Lewis?

11. In his transformation from man to great white shark, Lewis became much more cynical, which contrasts Margaret C. Finnegan's unyielding optimism. How do these attitudes reflect different ways people adapt to change and hardship?

12. Why do you think Lewis and Angela share the dream about being the stem of a pear? What might it mean for each of them?

13. The author blends prose, poetry, and playwriting. Why choose these forms? In sparsely written sections, what does the empty space evoke?

14. What do the transformations in Shark Heart suggest about the connection between humans and animals?