Grayson

By: Lynne Cox

Narrated by: Lynne Cox

Length: 2 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

An early-morning workout becomes an enchanting adventure when a record-holding swimmer reunites a baby whale and its mother. An inspiring, irresistible story for all ages, from the beloved author of Swimming to Antarctica.

It's five o'clock in the morning and still dark. Swimming outside the wave break off the Catalina coast, training for her next long-distance swim (she has already crossed the English Channel twice), 17-year-old Lynne Cox senses that something is following her. She worries that it might be a great white shark.

Instead, it's a baby gray whale, separated from its mother on their journey to the Bering Sea 8,000 miles away. Lynne needs to leave the water to rest, but she knows that if she does, the calf will follow her onto shore and die. To save its life, she must reunite mother and calf in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.

Miracles happen now and then. Sometimes we recognize them when they occur; sometimes it takes years of experience to understand. Looking back on that chilly morning, a beloved author and inspirational speaker shares her personal story of love, hope, loss, and faith.

©2006 Lynne Cox (P)2006 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"Inspirational, almost spiritual." (Kirkus Reviews)
"The combination of retelling her once-in-a-lifetime experience with her observations on life will have timeless appeal for all ages." (Publishers Weekly)
"Grayson is moving and thrilling in its simple language as Cox laments the inadequacy of words to express profound feelings but demonstrates the exhilaration of the effort." (Booklist)

Radical whale human tenderness

Tenderness is radical, and this is a story about interspecies radical tenderness. I enjoyed everything about it.

Beautiful, inspiring, thought provoking account

Would you listen to Grayson again? Why?

Yes, most absolutely and already have ... it's like a fairytale only it really happened! Amazing mental graphics brought to life by Lynne Cox. Brought back quite naturally my own childhood thought processes and how wonderful it can be to engage with nature on a personal level.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Grayson?

At the point where she realizes the baby whale has been following her. Lynne's excitement is most evident and palpable.

What about Lynne Cox’s performance did you like?

Lynne's voice is as soothing as a lullaby, her tone a song as she retells her most amazing story. Very vivid descriptions of the entire encounter. It is almost as if one is there alongside her in the Pacific water of Southern California experiencing the action and adventure with her.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

An amazing story of the interaction of man and nature, innocence, empathy and determination.

Any additional comments?

Will most definitely hear it for many years to come; moreover, will absolutely expect to engage my grandkids in this book. It is an experience that we would all dream of having at some point in our lives. Bravo Miss Cox.

Brief and lovely.

This slight memoir was touching and lovely. Lynne was a teenager, training for a Channel swim off the coast of California, when she discovered she was being followed by a baby Gray Whale who had lost his mother. She swims with him for where the pod of whales was heading (sailors have called in spottings of the whales once the plight of the Baby Gray was relayed), to reunite him with his mother. An abandoned or lost baby whale will only survive a few hours, so this was a race against time and against the odds.

Lynne felt an immediate empathy towards the large baby she started to call Grayson, almost seemingly able to communicate with him. They were separated a few times, and Lynne tested her stamina and fortitude in her efforts. I doubt I am giving away anything big by saying they were successful, although given the ending of every other animal-related memoir I've read, that might in fact be a surprise. But it was a tender and beautiful story. Very short, the story of just a couple of hours' time, the audio is the same length so it's like it was occurring in real time. The audio is read by the author, who has a languid and calm tone, even when relating worry and confusion. I think if the book had been longer, her tone might have had a somnolent effect, but in this brief tale, it was perfect.

Not a great epic, not action packed or filled with excitement, this story nonetheless kept me riveted, hoping against hope that somehow in the vast Pacific Ocean, Lynne would manage to pull off a miracle, which she most certainly did in this memoir.

My brother sent this to me when I was feeling low

And it immediately changed my perspective and captured my imagination. I listened to the whole thing in less than 24 hours. Such a beautiful story!

A Whale of an encounter

This book was an easy listen and I liked the fact that the narrator was also the author. Her experience is quite something to hear about and described very well.

Love the narration. Lynne did an amazing job.

This was the easiest audiobook to begin and end. I only wish Lynne Cox wrote and narrated more good stories like this!

Soothing-great book

This book surprised me. The author has a wonderful reading voice that is soothing and a little hypnotic. This is a story about a great experience and is told in a motivating, and loving way. I had a little tear at the end, but in a good way.

Beautiful story

I found this story through the podcast This is Love. I had to get the book after relistening to that episode about 3 times. It was just so touching. A real account of a human interacting with one of the largest babies on earth... A baby gray whale.

Description versus emotion

Although the story is absolutely incredible I wish the author had focused more on the emotion and development of the relationship and the sorrow and heartbreak of the departure than describing all the colors of the waters and different creatures. This is a short story so the filler would’ve been more meaningful in the motion of the relationship rather than details and other experiences

Pleasant & Refreshing story

What made the experience of listening to Grayson the most enjoyable?

You are able to feel the emotions.

What did you like best about this story?

A kind pleasant & unusual story.

What does Lynne Cox bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Feeling like I was there.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The kindness and warmth felt through the story.

Any additional comments?

Relaxing and yet compelled to keep listing.