Tom Rose

This was an early review book I received with the title "Everybody Loves Whales". I'm told that "Big Miracle" differs only in updated information on people and events. I received this about the same time that the movie came out and I haven't seen the movie so I don't know how it differed. This is a fairly well written story about the rescue attempt of three gray whales imprisoned in Arctic ice. The author, Tom Rose covered the 1988 whale rescue as a reporter and producer for Japanese TV. This book tells the real story behind the event that mesmerized the world. I remember watching it on television but then never thinking much more about it once the two whales left the ice.for weeks. "Big Miracle" describes how many organizations came together to save the whales but even more amazing the great number of media that showed up in the small town of Barrow, Alaska. At times I think that Rose was somewhat cynical of all that was happening. I got bogged down a bit with all of the details and opinions and would have liked more just straight information on the rescue. Rose describes it as a media event and he is probably right in that. Whales have been stuck in the ice before but with the impetus of Cindy Lowry and others it became a world-wide effort to get these whales moving, even if it might not have been the best thing for the whales or Barrow. Besides the rescue of the whales (2) which later proved to be a better event than first imagined, the book showed what the media can do with a subject and how it is possible to get world involvement when the event captures the hearts of everyone.… (mehr)