Communication versus Miscommunication

Oliver Jones became famous for his discovery that male whales pass on their songs from generation to generation. These songs help the whales of the same family stay together. He habitually ignores his own family until they leave. Speech pathologist Jane Lipton Jones built her career on teaching others to overcome their speech problems. Ironically, these two people with careers based on communication cannot talk to each other honestly and openly about their feelings. Neither one listens to the other. Their inability to communicate drives them apart gradually and silently until Jane's pent up emotions burst to the surface through violence.

Jane turns to the only person she trusts, her younger brother Joley. Their close bond allows them to communicate openly and honestly, with understanding that transcends speech. Though they often disagree, they trust one another and so they listen. During the story, they think about...