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When the Killing's Doneby T.C. Boyle |
Arlene Almas: I have always liked this author for
his direct, down-to-earth writing style and the subjects he chooses. This story
concerns Alma Boyd Takesue, a National Park Service biologist whose focus is the ecology of
the Channel Islands off the coast of California. The issue of native versus invasive species
is a major topic among ecologists: should scientists intervene to protect or restore native
plants and animals that may be endangered or even close to extinction due to the encroachment
of new species which have been introduced, usually by people, even if it means exterminating
those new invasive species? Alma very strongly favors this type of intervention, and works
to that end on both Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands; she and her staff are vigorously
opposed by Dave LaJoy and his group of activists, who engage in dubious and even dangerous
activities in order to wage their struggle against any type of animal killing no matter
what the justification. Along the way Boyle gives us background on Alma going back two
generations, as well as the personal histories of other key characters. I thought this
was a fascinating and very human depiction of a most contemporary subject.
Rating: *****
