One of the 15 books you need to read this summer - Wired Magazine
In 1965, a woman lived with a dolphin for months in an “apartment “ in an attempt to teach the dolphin to speak English. This novel is based on that that actual experiment.
Cora, a young, hearing impaired woman, buys a one-way ticket to the island of St. Thomas, where she discovers four dolphins held in captivity as part of an experiment led by the obsessive Dr. Blum. Drawn by a strong connection to the dolphins, Cora gets a job at the research center and discovers her need to protect the animals.
Recognizing Cora's capability with the dolphins, Blum allows her to design what will turn into one of the most fascinating experiments in modern science: an attempt to teach the dolphins human language by creating a home in which she and a dolphin can live together.
As the experiment progresses, Cora forges a remarkable bond with the creatures, until her hard-won knowledge clashes with the male-dominated world of science. As a terrible scandal threatens to engulf the experiment, Cora’s fight to save the dolphins becomes a battle to save herself.
“ The Dolphin House is a true heartbreaker. ”
“Sexual desire is central to understanding the behavior of both species. But as the scandal at the conclusion of this engrossing book shows, only one wields it as an instrument of aggression and shame.”
“A beautifully realized novel about a woman caught in the male scientist world of the 1960s and her struggle to explain empathy, friendship and tolerance.. The Dolphin House is a deeply engrossing read and a psychologically astute study of the way humans, mimicking Cora’s training of dolphins, use rewards and punishments to make each other perform.”
“Both woman and dolphins come to vivid life in this fascinating and beautifully realized novel.”
“The frisson of “The Dolphin House” comes when it turns the methods of rigorous observation on its humans.”
“Schulman ... touchingly conveys her bond with the dolphins. This is worth plunging into.”
“I really loved this story. This is a story that held me captive and had my emotions all over the place.”
“A beautiful, thought-provoking read, at times as heartbreaking as it is fascinating. ”
“Schulman’s signature blend of science and literary fiction is on full display as Cora studies two different sets of minds, the dolphins’ and the male scientists.”
