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A Shelf Awareness Best Book of Memory mythology and obsession collide in this strikingly original and enigmatic account of the first man to photograph a giant squid Moses Harvey was the eccentric Newfoundland reverend and amateur naturalist who first photographed the near-mythic giant squid in draping it over a shower curtain rod to display its magnitude In Preparing the Ghost what begins as Mosesxs story becomes much more as fellow squid-enthusiast Matthew Gavin Frank boldly winds his narrative tentacles around history creative nonfiction science memoir and meditations about the interrelated nature of them all In a full-hearted lyrical style reminiscent of Geoff Dyer Frank weaves in playful forays about his research trip to Mosesxs Newfoundland home Frankxs own childhood and family history and a catalog of bizarre facts and lists that recall Melvillexs story of obsession with another deep-sea dwelling leviathan Though Frank is armed with impressive research what he canxt know about Harvey he fictionalizes quite explicitly as a way of both illuminating the scene and exploring his central theme the big beautiful human impulse to obsess drawings.