The Wendover Whale [Paperback]

James R. Lane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

A heart-warming tale about a young boy, an old man and a very smart dog building a clipper ship in the Great Salt Desert of Utah. Overcoming all obstacles, this unlikely trio succeed where no success is possible--building a clipper ship in a place where no water exists.

When the achievement of the young boy's dream is only days from completion, the ship (and the boy's hope)is snatched away. It is only through the old man's love for the young boy (and his ingenuity) can this tragedy be averted. The Wendover Whale must be rescued, allowing the old man and the young boy to unfurl its sails and to seek adventure on the high seas.

The Wendover Whale is only for readers who still dream impossible dreams.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James R. Lane is a writer and businessman living in the wilds of Los Angeles while dreaming of the vastness of the Great Salt Desert and the turquoise waters of tropical islands (two subjects that come together nicely in The Wendover Whale). He has previously published two non-fiction books on destructive cults in America and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He is currently at work on a novel, Fumigation by Herring, a comedy about alchemy in the modern world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shared Vision Books; 1st ed edition (September 1, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0879804432
• ISBN-13: 978-0879804435
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,506,560 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meaningful, enjoyable, January 24, 2000

By 

harold berlfein - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wendover Whale (Paperback)

I think I can best reveal how I felt about The Wendover Whale, by responding to Miss Taylor's review. The only thing I found predictable about the book, was my desire that the young boy would realize his dream, and this desire provided a great deal of suspense when the dangers of failure were imminent. Miss Taylor's comment about "no major publisher picking up the book," puts a human face on the theme of the story. Here is a new writer (Mr. Lane) unable to overcome the obstacles of entering the closed world of publishing, pursuing his own convictions (or dreams) by self-publishing. I was very interested in the many well defined characters; especially the character of the young boy and his relationship to Cap, an old sea salt, and the boy and his father, as well as Cap's relationship with his very intelligent, insightful dog. I found the book meaningful and enjoyable.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wendover Whale, December 6, 1999

By 

Mary Howe (Santa Cruz, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wendover Whale (Paperback)

I am always amazed when I come across a novel with a completely original and fascinating plot that makes me wonder how the author ever thought it up. The Wendover Whale has that. I truely enjoyed the book. Aside from the plot, the characters drew me in. It is one of those books that reads so smoothly I'm surprised by how quickly I reach the end. Highly recommended, especially if you like Tom Robbins.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wendover Whae, January 27, 2000

By 

beauregard simpson (Sun Valley. Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wendover Whale (Paperback)

The Wendover Whale is a chance to remember about dreams that don't have to come true, about possibilities and how we choose to approach and subsequently handle situations that are perceived as out of the ordinary. To find the goal of the characters (building a boat in the desert) "sort of silly" as Ms. Taylor said in her review, presents the closed mind of someone who has forgotten the excitement of slipping into a slightly farfetched adventure like those in Harold and the Purple Crayon or the Elmer and the Dragon Series. I was first introduced to the Wendover Whale as a screenplay and although I preferred it in that presentation, I found the adaptation to a novel very pleasing. I do take exception to the simpler elements of copy-editing that seem to have been neglected in this printing. There are quite a few spelling errors and although it is a working part of the story to refer to the action in a cross-tense form, I found a couple of times that it read as if someone had just forgotten to transpose tenses. There are a few Robbins-esque passages that tend to ramble on in abit of a mid-hippie disjointedness, but hidden inside each of these are fine gems of insight. It can be dangerous to approach a piece of fiction with such strong preconceptions that a person can get angry at the author for not writing the book you've decided you wanted to read. Then go write it yourself! If you are not motivated, get yourself a copy of The Wendover Whale instead and embark on a wondeful journey and an entirely pleasurable read!