Blog Archives
A Polar Bear’s Point Of View
The Last Polar Bear follows an Inuit scientist who develops a shamanic gift to communicate with the last polar bear on earth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My initial inspiration was to write a story that hits people in the gut about climate change. Too many grim statistics can be demotivating, but stories inspire people! I thought writing from a polar bear’s point of view would be compelling and informative while also being interesting and entertaining.
When I realized I needed human characters too, I researched the indigenous people of northern Alaska (the Inupiaq culture) and made a few of the characters Inupiaq- a vanishing culture, like the polar bear. I made the main character a feisty female Inuit wildlife biologist because I identify with an independent, powerful female hero. Her shamanic abilities add a touch of magical realism to the book.
Nuli is an interesting and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I liked the concept that the two main female characters- Nuili and Anuk the polar bear- had many similarities. They are mirror characters; both young females seeking mates, struggling with their vanishing world. I wanted to make Nuli’s character reflect Anuk’s physical power. Nuli is a young female minority, but is educated and powerful and unafraid to stand up to injustice.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Mainly, I wanted to express in the form of a story why something as distant as melting ice caps and polar bear extinction should be of concern to people- how the snowball effect of climate change and loss of bio-diversity is the canary in the coal mine. Another theme often ignored in the narrative about climate change is the loss of indigenous cultures and the land they rely on for food.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have completed another novel on a different topic and genre titled One Extraordinary Thing. It is a historical novel with two mirrored female characters: a young half-Chinese immigrant woman who arrives in San Francisco during the 1850s Gold Rush and her great, great, great grandaughter- a half-Mexican woman living in the Napa Valley in 2005. The novel follows the similar struggles facing the two women and how they find a way to reach through time and help each other.
When will it be available? I might wait a year until I’m done promoting The Last Polar Bear!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
The Last Polar Bear
The Last Polar Bear by Dana Rodney is a story about the impending doom of the polar bear and climate change. It might be a venture into the mind of the unknown, but it raises important questions regarding our ways of dealing with climate change. There is a combination of facts, fiction, and mysticism in this book. It begins with the story of Anuk, the polar bear, and continues to explore the effects of climate change and further changes through his point of view and others.
The writing style of the book is engaging and fast-paced. The beginning with the struggle of survival keeps the readers hooked and curious throughout the story. The author has also explored the Inupiaq culture and how they are closer to nature in their understanding. The author has also tried to explore the human world and human actions through the eyes of a polar bear. This new point of view provides a very enthralling experience for the readers. I was amazed to read about the simplest of things being described in a new light. It somehow drew attention to the natural and the man-made in our lives. The number of changes brought about on earth due to human advancements is infinite. The impact is now visible even on the big picture. We need to be aware of the challenges, or we will lose everything we cherish.
Overall, this book is a peek into the current condition of the earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The polar bear’s point of view, the myths and stories connecting the Inua to them, the voice of the earth, the Inupiaq culture explored through layers in the story, and much more. This book takes us into the ways of people in polar regions and shows us the strength of nature. Humans need to read this to decenter themselves and look at the earth. This is also the story of the few passionate people who are hell-bent on saving these species even in the face of denial by others. I recommend this book to people who are aware of climate change and want to understand the drastic impact our activities have on other lives.
Pages: 204 | ASIN : B0BLQ596MH
LITERARY TITAN 