BALLARD REDOUBT

Three hard-working young men face various challenges in Hamilton’s novel.

Ballard, located in Seattle, Washington, is a place of boats, wharf rats, and rugged individuals. Three of those individuals are roommates Anders Brekke, Karl Eide, and Torger “Tommy” Torgersen. All three have logged plenty of time in commercial fishing. Anders comes from a long line of fishermen and has worked on his family’s boats; at the outset of the story, he is considering leaving the trade. Tommy used to fish, but, due to some life choices, he now drives a concrete mixer truck for a living. Karl is the most dedicated to the sea of the bunch—nothing can keep him away from working on the water, whether it be on a tugboat or a fishing vessel. (So long as it is not a yacht.) The narrative follows these three as they go about their lives in Ballard. Tommy’s union may authorize a strike; as a shop steward, he must guide his co-workers on the picket line. Anders debates whether he really wants to quit fishing. Karl, ever hungry for mischief (and more tattoos whenever he is on land), contemplates and complains about modern life. Throughout the book, details play a crucial role in bringing the story to life; for instance, when a young Tommy makes his first foray into the world of commercial fishing, he boards a “58’ Delta limit seiner, a fiberglass boat built on the Duwamish in South Seattle.” The three main characters wind up making lasting impressions—the conflicts they face, however, are not always page-turning material. The question of whether or not Anders will quit fishing does not necessarily move the needle much for the reader. (Perhaps he could try something else. Perhaps he could always go back to fishing.) Still, the acutely observed lives of the three make for a memorable read.

An inviting tale of gritty, authentic characters navigating a changing world.