Book Review: RAPUNZEL'S DAUGHTERS

 
Title: Rapunzel's Daughters: What Women's Hair Tells Us About Women's Lives
Author: Rose Weitz
Genre: Women's Studies / Social Studies

This book was a random find at the local bookstore. Given my love of my hair and the journey of growing it to the floor (and maybe beyond), I thought that learning about the cultural context of hair might be interesting. I did have some worried that it might be filled with pro-short-hair propaganda as the rest of the hair world seems to be, but I decided to just accept that as someone else's opinion and read the book anyways.

I really enjoyed the talk this book gave on hair from other cultures in the past and present. It was a shame that more about that subject was not covered. While the author did talk about some hair related cultural differences between the American culture and African and Hispanic women, I wish there had bee more history on hair as a whole or more glimpses into these other hair cultures more so than what was touched on. I have discovered other books with that as a subject and I will have to get them soon.


Something that I did not like about this book was the lack of attention to older women with long hair (and by long I mean longer than waist length.) There are many of them out there; I know a lot of them! This book seemed to acknowledge that society wants us women to cut our hair shorter as we get older, but it did not seem to focus on the "counter culture" of hair. It did talk a little about African American women who choose to go natural with their hair (rather than use straighteners or weaves) and I found that very interesting. I understand, though, that being white I do not have the same stresses put on me about hair that African American women do, nor do I have a full grasp on how their hair works within their culture.

What was pleasant was that at the end of the book, the author did state we all have a choice about our hair. It was not someone who collected a big mass of stories and cultural information to try and push people one way or the other. Also, the way that hair was written about was very nice. There was no hatred of one hair style over the other or one length over another or other factors that could cause some women (and perhaps men) to get upset or angry over those little things.

".... as it was for Rapunzel, our hair remains an almost magical substance: both uniquely public, open to others' interpretations, and uniquely personal, growing out of our bodies and molded (if imperfectly) to our individual desires."

I find that quote quite lovely. If you are interesting in hair, women's studies, or social cultures in general, this book will be a fun read.

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating: 

Book Review: THE MERMAID'S THREE WISDOMS

 
Title: The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms
Author: Jane Yolen
Genre: Fiction

There are a lot of stories written by Jane Yolen that I was never got into. I did enjoy the Here There be Unicorns and Here There be Dragons books she had, especially the illustrations. She always seems to get good illustrators at least!

The story follows a young mermaid named Melusina who has violated the biggest law in the merfolk tradition: she was seen by a human. She is then banished to live on land as a human and is found by the same person who saw her: a young deaf girl named Jess. Jess teaches the silent Melusina sign language and they form a fast friendship, but the sea calls Melusina and pulls at her to return. If she tries she will drown, so landlocked she remains and attempts to adjust.

The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms is a book I remember reading when I was in grade school over and over. I searched bookstores all over to find it, but it was out of print and written back in 1978, so it is hard to find. I was lucky in that I found it on Amazon from a school who was selling old library books. my copy is marked up, but it is better than nothing.

This book was beautifully written and the illustrations that go with it only enhance the story. While I am not usually a fan of mermaid-turning-human stories (since it seems less creative to me than writing a story with a mermaid remaining a mermaid), this story and a handful of others always make me happy. I highly recommend it if you can find the book.

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating: 

Book Review: FISH OUT OF WATER

Title: Fish out of Water (Book 3)
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Yes, romance. Parts that may be offensive to some readers are easily skipped as they are found in a chapter on their own and no plot advances are made in that same chapter.

Fred has finally chosen who she is going to marry, and the existence of the merfolk is no longer a secret from the human race. Things should be going swimmingly for this mermaid, but the currents change quickly as someone returns from the past and threats of a sort of 'civil war' between the merfolk are looking to be more than just threats.

This being the third and final book in the series, the ending left off in a place where you both feel satisfied and saddened. With how good the series and this book were, there is no way you wont want more

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating:

Book Review: SWIMMING WITHOUT A NET

Title: Swimming Without a Net (Book 2)
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre: Paranormal Romance

As with the first book, this will be found in the romance section. It is not written as other romance novels and any intercourse scene (which is usually only one per book for Davidson in this series) is easily skipped if that offends you.

This book continues on with Fred. She has been invited to a great gathering of mermaids and seizes her chance to learn about her father's people. She still feels out of place with the other merfolk, and she finds herself both hooked on Thomas the biologist and High Prince Artur of the Black Sea. Fred also finds herself caught between two groups of merfolk: Those who want to expose their existence to humans and those who want to keep themselves secret.

In some cases sequals are not as good as the first ones; in fact that is true for most sequals, but this book carries its own weight as well as the first. The same outlandish loveable characters fill this book and keep the reader glued to the pages.

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating: 

Book Review: SLEEPING WITH THE FISHES

Title: Sleeping with the Fishes (Book 1)
Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stop! I know what you are thinking. "Romance?" Yes, this book will be found under the romance sign at your bookstore, but it is far from the general 'smut' that frequents those shelves. As with any book in that section, there will be some nudity and even one intercourse scene but if that offends you that chapter is easily skipped.

This first book follows the life of Fred the mermaid. She has known she was a mermaid since she was a little girl and has no problem with it. She works as a Marine Biologist for the New England Aquarium, in Boston making sure the big fish don't eat the little fish in front of the guests... oh the excitement! But in comes a new biologist to the aquarium and he is gorgeous, as is the High Prince of the Black Sea who has come to seek Fred. Not to mention the toxicity levels in the local water are shooting out of control. It should be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things, right?

That out of the way, this book is FANTASTIC! It was written in a comical way with great characters that will want to keep you reading. I had a very hard time putting this book down, even to get to sleep for the night. My fiancee even got the books for himself and loves them.

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating:

Book Review: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LANDLOCKED MERMAIDS

Title: A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids
Author: Margot Datz
Genre: Mind, Body, Spirit

If you have ever felt like a fish out of water or you just didn't belong as you are in your current life, this is the book for you! A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids dives into the idea that all women are mermaids, they have just forgotten it. They have shed their tails for life on land and to explore it's vast wonders. Many women, however, know something is missing but do not know what that 'something' is. According to Datz, it's her tail!

Several lessons are written in this book with fanciful art swirling with whimsy. The lessons center on being true to oneself, giving yourself permission to be who you are, advice on love, and shedding off your old self to become your new self.

Excerpt:

"Even Mermaids Get the Blues: A tiny bit of ocean leaves our bodies when we cry. It reminds us of our origin: the clear blue sea of awareness. An awareness so painful at times, that our eyes long to shut, and our ears yearn for silence. Sadness can run a mermaid aground on mudflats of despair. But her tears make the ocean deeper."

Merlissa the Mermaid's Rating:

Book Review: INDIGO

Title: Indigo
Author: Alice Hoffman
Genre: Fantasy (Teen)

Indigo marks another mermaid tale by Alice Hoffman, though unlike her other book Aquamarine, there is no mermaid named it here. What it shares in common with her other mermaid story is its reading level aimed for younger children.

The story follows 13 year-old Martha Glimmer. She is convinced this is the worst time of her life. Her mother has died and she has to put up with a woman who attempts to win over Martha's lonely father with food and opinions about how 13 year-old girls should behave. She longs to leave her home in hydrophobic Oak Grove and travel. Martha's best friend Trevor and his brother Eli also want to leave Oak Grove. Nicknamed Trout and Eel because of the thin webbing between their fingers and toes, they long to see the ocean. Together, Martha, Trout, and Eel eventually find the true meaning of home.

There was again some lack of detail in this story but even so that seems to add to its charm. The plot flows better in this story than Hoffman's other mermaid story within the confines of it's simplicity. There were parts that would sink anyone's heart as well as ones to make them smile.


Merlissa the Mermaid's Raiting: 

Book Review: AQUAMARINE

 

Title: Aquamarine
Author: Alice Hoffman
Genre: Fantasy (Teen)

Many of us have heard of the movie "Aquamarine" staring Emma Roberts, Sara Paxton, and JoJo. I found the movie to be cute but a little lacking. Seeing as it was aimed for the tween and teen audience, it was overall a sweet film.

As I was browsing the bookstore for a copy of The Kelpies Pearls I came across Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman. I was a little surprised that the book that had been made into a movie of such cute and lighthearted humor had come from the woman who had written Practical Magic. [Not that that book is particularly dark, but just very different.]

The story follows two girls, Hailey and Claire, who had been friends since they could remember. The place they always hung out on the beach, a sort-of community center, is wasting away as is their time together since Hailey is moving away. After a large storm, a mermaid washes into the pool. After seeing the handsome life guard that works at the center, the mission becomes to get him and Aquamarine together for a date before time runs out for the little girls and Hailey moves away.

If you are expecting to pick this up and read a novelization of the the movie you will be in for a big surprise. As with what happened with Practical Magic, the movie company bought the basic idea and skewed it into something else. Some of the major differences are: Aquamarine does not turn into a human in the book, the girls do not 'invoke' the storm, there is no "If you help a mermaid, you get a wish" plot hook, there was not ultimatum for Aquamarine to find love in three days (very Disney-little-mermaidish), and there is no other girl fighting for the attention of the lifeguard.

The book was a very quick read since it was written for children, and thus some places where more detail would have been nice were understandably lacking. It was refreshing to find a story about a mermaid who didn't turn into a human, since I think that event in a plot line can be a cop out for some creative thought and events on the author's part. Even with all the differences than the movie, it was a cute story.

Merlissa the Mermaid rating: