A Drop in the Ocean: A Novel

After losing her grant money for research into Huntington’s disease, Anna gets a temporary job on a small isolated island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The island is not only home to a tight-knit but welcoming human community but it also the nesting ground of sea turtles and birds. She has barely settled into island life when she is recruited by Tom to help with his research and tagging of nesting turtles. Soon their relationship develops beyond working and friendship but Tom makes it clear that, for reasons he will not give, it can never be anything more.

A Drop in the Ocean by Jenni Ogden could be classified as a romance but, admittedly, I am not a fan of romance novels so I figure I’ll let others critique that aspect of show more the novel with just a couple of exceptions. It shakes up some of the stereotypes about romance – strong women can have satisfying relationships and even marriages with younger men and older women can experiment with lesbianism or be lesbians, or they can live perfectly satisfying lives without a partner, that the only thing wrong with these things is the negative judgments of others. I will also say that Ogden handled the ending perfectly and realistically – it may not be the ending many people will want but any other ending would have been a cheat.

But beyond the romance there is so much else to like about this novel and I enjoyed it immensely. Most of the story takes place on isolated islands both in Australia and in Great Britain and her descriptions of the flora and fauna are breathtaking. I dare anyone to read them without developing a strong wanderlust. It is also about living a fulfilling life away from the hustle and bustle, about appreciating the beauty and complexity of nature, about the joy and contentment that can come from friendships, and the ways that these things can enrich our lives. It is also about how we view our parents through the eyes of childhood, how, too often, these childish perceptions are wrong and, worse, how they can rob us of truly knowing them as independent people with lives that not only are separate from ours but rich and interesting.

And it is about the devastation of diseases like Huntington’s and how important research is as well as how politics and religion can too often stand in the way of finding a cure. Ogden examines the symptoms and implications of the disease, how it affects not only the sufferers but their families, and others and she does it with a great deal of empathy and knowledge (she is a Neuropsychologist) but with realism as well. It was a disease I knew little about before but I have seen the devastation of Parkinson’s and much of her descriptions moved me to tears.

Oddly, I would recommend this book not necessarily to people who like romances but to people who love to read and learn about new and exciting things. I came away from this book with a desire to travel to more remote areas, to learn more about turtles and their nesting habits and about Huntington’s. At the end of the book, Ogden provides more information and makes suggestions about other places to look if you are interested. For the curious, this is one very enjoyable read. show less

4.5 stars.

A Drop in the Ocean by Jenni Ogden is a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery for lead protagonist Anna Fergusson.

At loose ends when her Huntingdon's Disease research ends after losing funding, Anna impulsively applies for a position as a camp ground caretaker on an isolated island off the coast of Australia. Eagerly exploring Turtle Island, she quickly becomes fascinated by the sea turtle nesting monitoring being carried out by Tom Scarlett. Although Anna is an introvert who is used to her own company, it does not take long for loneliness to set in and she quickly befriends several of her fellow island dwellers. Surprised by her attraction to Tom, an easygoing romance develops between them but complications ensue after show more Anna realizes her feelings run much deeper than friendship.

After having her heart broken in her mid twenties, Anna decided to give up on relationships and focus exclusively on her career. Now forty-nine, she leads a fairly sterile, lonely life. She is not especially close to her mother but she does have one close friend she has known since college. Suffering from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, she is having a difficult time deciding what to do after her research project ends. While confident the isolation of Turtle Island won't bother her, Anna is taken off guard by how quickly she begins to feels lonely once she settles into a regular routine. Afraid her overtures will be rebuffed, she is at first hesitant to approach her neighbors, but Anna is pleasantly surprised by how welcoming everyone is.

In between her duties at the camp, Anna volunteers to help Tom with his sea turtle research. He is friendly and fun loving, but he gives up very few details about himself. Initially tongue-tied and shy in his company, Anna is convinced he would never be interested in a dried up old spinster (which is how she perceives herself) so she tries to ignore her growing attraction to him. Their friendship begins to change after they spend a few days together on a neighboring island, but Anna is confused by their casual relationship. While she is ready to take a chance on a future together, Tom is not exactly receptive to a commitment of any kind.

While her relationship with Tom is a bit uncertain, Anna's newfound friendships with the other islanders flourish. She is quite close with Pat Anderson, a widow who lives year round on Turtle Island. Pat's enthusiasm and zest for life is just what Anna needs to coax her into experiencing all of the wonders the island has to offer. As the months pass, Anna finds more than friendship with her neighbors as her life becomes enmeshed with theirs. Most surprising is the surrogate family she finds with Kirsty and her newborn. This relationship is a source of wonder and joy as Anna delights in the unexpected connection she feels with the young mother and her baby.

With a cast of multi-layered characters and a captivating setting, A Drop in the Ocean by is a heartfelt and engaging novel that is quite compelling. The storyline is richly developed with interesting facts about various topics and the relationships are realistically portrayed. Jenni Ogden's meticulous research brings the setting and characters vibrantly to life. Anna's journey is quite fascinating and it is immensely gratifying seeing the lasting effects wrought by her experiences on Turtle Island. I highly recommend this heartwarming novel to readers of contemporary women's fiction. show less

A Drop in the Ocean by Jenni Ogden; (5*)

Imagine having the opportunity to move into a rustic cabin on a remote tropical island inhabited by seabirds, turtles and very few people. The only access by boat and that boat only comes in every two weeks.
With the loss of her research grant, that is exactly where Anna Fergusson ended up. This story is set in a wonderful location included a very eclectic mix of characters.
I immediately fell in love with this story and was sad to come to it's end. This was a thought provoking read for me. Covering, as it did, the subjects of Huntington’s disease and the conservation of turtles, both of which are expanded upon in the facts section after the novel, which I appreciated so much.
For me, this was one show more of those rare novels that sent me immediately to the encyclopedias and the web for further reading on Huntington's Disease and also to learn more about these particular sea turtles, their habits and habitats.
Oh and yes, there is also a bit of the romance but even more, stories about friendships formed and and grown. I loved this book and would like to find more like it. show less

A Drop in the Ocean is a tale about reinventing yourself. Ogden shares an important message with her readers, telling them that you are never too old to try new things, and that it’s possible that you can start over again at any stage in life.

My first impressions of Annie our protagonist, was that she is quiet, introverted, and somewhat reclusive. As I read along I soon learned the reason behind these characteristics as they came to light through the various glimpses of Annie’s past throughout the plot. During her retreat on”Turtle Island” she learns to grow to be a more open person to others and all the time spent reflecting her past and moving forward from it helps her to bloom.

I enjoyed the colorful cast of characters Ogden show more created in this novel. As the plot moves forward you get to truly know each character’s individual stories. They aren’t two-dimensional like some side characters in contemporary novels and are very likable. The residents of “Turtle Island” are one big island family and they also become a family and support system to Annie as well. I also enjoyed the romance in the novel between Annie and Tom (the main love interest). Both of them are loners, and through their developing relationship they learn to come out of their shells.

As for the setting, there was lots of vivid, ideal scenery. “Turtle Island” is a somewhat secluded island with clear blue waters, natural beauty everywhere, and an overall serene environment. I wanted to travel there myself and swim with the many turtles that are discussed in the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the way Ogden crafts the environment for this story and how the characters change over the course of the book. It’s not only a contemporary story with a bit of romance thrown in, but it also explores marine life and explains Huntington’s disease in-depth (something I didn’t really know too much about before reading this novel). I also liked its overall message of “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”.

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less

I love fiction written by scientists. This author is amazing. Her writing transported me to the island where this story takes place. Imagine being on a tiny island near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The author wrote such great descriptions that I could almost hear the thousands of birds nesting and raising chicks. I felt as though I was snorkeling and watching the sea turtles nest.

Her science is impeccable as she writes what she know, neuroscience. I am a retired Clinical Lab Scientist so I really appreciate it when the science is correct. If you haven't read this book I urge you to do so.

*This book was given to me by the author*

This is a perfect summer read, particularly if you are sitting at work wishing you could run off to an Australian island, watch baby turtles hatch, meet a man, snorkel every day, and make a new group of friends that will soon feel like family. It was lovely to live vicariously through the main character, Anna, for a few days.
Now I am off to google "how to move to Australia."

This was such a great book. I laughed and cried. The writing is superb; I felt transported to this tiny island on the Great Barrier Reef Islands. The science is impeccable which is important to me as I am a retired Clinical Laboratory Scientist. The author is an expert in neuroscience and has a deep love of the environment and it shows in her writing. I can't wait to read her other books