Amy K. Marshall

This is a new take on an old Russian tale. The original (at least the version I have in Afanasev's)is a relatively short tale of three brothers. Marshall has expanded the narrative to many pages, and has kept the main message clear while adding lots of detail, including the use of lots of violence (very typical of Russian fairy tales). Although I thought the role of the giant was somewhat misplaced, this is a very readable tale, and extremely interesting to compare with the original - to see how an author can creatively add detail to an existing story.… (más)

Plot:
Ethan and Colin are best friends and fishermen. Almost four years ago, they saw something horrifying on a ship the entire crew disappeared from, and have been trying to forget that ever since. Especially Ethan is struggling with it. In the meantime, Colin got his own ship and they’re about to set sail for the first time. But whatever they saw those few years ago, isn’t done yet. And it’s about to set its sight on somebody new.

The Fishing Widow was one of the most confusing books I ever read and should have had loads more editing before getting published. But at least I still think that it shouldn’t have been published at all – it was just way too soon.

Read more on my blog: http://kalafudra.com/2014/09/01/the-fishing-widow-amy-k-marshall/… (más)

(I took care to give no obvious spoilers about the story)

Title: The fishing widow (on Librarything)
Author: Amy K. Marshall
Language: English
Series: no
Format: paperback
Number of pages: 461
Publisher: Alaskan Gothic Press
Year published: original 2012, my edition 2013
ISBN number: 139781939611048
Topic of the book: (competitive) fishing in Alaska, horror at sea
Reason for reading: I won it through Librarything Early Reviewers.
Recommended: A bit. Read it if it sounds interesting after reading this review.

Back cover text:
In the end it's the difference between a fairy tale and a fisherman's tale. Be brave...

English summary (from Amazon):
There’s an old saying that goes: The difference between a fairy tale and a fisherman’s tale is this… a fairy tale begins, “Once Upon A Time,” and a fisherman’s tale begins, “This Ain’t No Bullshit.” Supernatural terror stalks the crew of the purse seiner the F/V “The Case In Point” during the March 2010 Sitka Herring Sac Roe Fishery in Southeast Alaska. As the herring war intensifies, each boat is an island, and being alone can cost you everything. As the web spins from the depths, the past is not so distant; the lines between history and myth begin to blur. The forgotten horror surrounding the 1835 loss of the Nantucket whaler “The Covenant” threatens to overwhelm the present. One among the seven men aboard “The Case In Point” is unwittingly marked by a woman beautiful and cursed, who not only desperately needs his help, but needs, desperately, to tear out his heart and consume his crew.

First paragraph of the prologue:
September 2006 Aboard Fairweather off the coast of Southeast Alaska

"Son of a bitch! Nathan! What are you doin'!" Matt pulled wildly at Fairweather's throttle and cut her wheel hard to port. Spray and rain washed across the wheelhouse windows as the seine boat shuddered across crests and troughs. Matt's brown eyes grew wide, his heart raced as her superstructure groaned under the strain of the sudden change of course. Angry, slate grey water topped with white roared over the bow and Matt braced himself against the con as Fairweather slammed bow-first into a trough. The wind shrieked in the wires. Unsecured objects slid recklessly through the wheelhouse and the main cabin below. Matt's reaction came too late, and Fairweather pitched up, smashing broadside into the boat that had loomed, suddenly, off her starboard beam. Revelation. Matt staggered, his hand tightening on the wheel as his 58' foot seine boat rebounded away with a bone-crushing jolt. "Shit!" he swore again as he spun the wheel in a desperate attempt to shear away from the pitching seiner that rolled, lightless, in the storm beside him.

Review:
Story:
At first it was a bit difficult to get into the story, but soon enough it became interesting. Mostly, that was when I got used to the language (lots of fishing/ship-related words, which I already knew a bit about in Dutch as I've read more ship-related books, for example the Dutch translation of Solo / Maiden Voyage).
Something that occasionally confused me throughout the entire book, where the names of the people. The author suddenly starts using people's last names without referencing their first names, or the other way around. At some point, near the ending, she uses one word/phrase for several characters (mainly "the creature"), so it's not really always clear which character she means. It's still possible to follow the story, but it gets a bit vague sometimes because of this.
I did like the story. It had a nice level of horror, but it wasn't too scary (at least, I didn't think so, but I've read a lot of horror books in the past).
I even liked the ending, even though it wasn't very conclusive. It's more conclusive than some Japanese stories I've read, but less than most stories by American/European authors.
The descriptions of fishing life were the best part of the book - it was described in a way that you do get the feeling you're on the boat yourself!

Writing style:
When reading the book, I did get the idea that the author was very enthusiastic about writing it! There are quite a bit of typos though (see below).
Once you get used to the specific language (lots of fishing-related words), it reads quite easily. There are some words in another language, but those are always followed by translations, so you don't miss anything.

Spelling errors/typos:
p. 46:
The Case and Point >>
The Case in Point
p.50:
What the--" >>
"What the--"
p. 148:
She sat on his boots as rubbed her down. >>
She sat on his boots as he rubbed her down.
p. 183:
I wasn't expecting you... >>
"I wasn't expecting you...
p. 204:
"What is it draws you?" >>
"What is it that draws you?"
p. 210:
They just won't throw it your face. >>
They just won't throw it in your face.
p. 216:
Boyden shot quick glance behind him... >>
Boyden shot a quick glance behind him...
p. 252:
Rawson let out am echoing scream... >>
Rawson let out an echoing scream...
p. 258:
A young, man with long black hair... >>
A young man with long black hair...
p. 261:
..back into his pockets >>
..back into his pockets.
p. 362:
Nan's voice trembled >>
Nan's voice trembled.
p. 392:
"Thank you" >>
"Thank you."
p. 426:
"Teix" >>
"Teix,"
p. 442:
She keeps you". Ethan dropped... >>
She keeps you," Ethan dropped...
p. 443:
She swung at him.. >>
She swung at him.
"Never alone...". >>
"Never alone..."
p. 444:
it stopped, its green eyes narrowing. >>
It stopped, its green eyes narrowing.
p. 452:
...her eyes closing against the pain >>
...her eyes closing against the pain.
p. 456:
He turned to the Ten.. >>
He turned to the Ten.

Conclusion:
It was a nice book to read, but the references to the characters could be made more clear.

Rereadability:
I think it's suitable for rereading (mostly to get a better idea of where the author is referencing which character, especially during the ending :P), but I'm not going to reread it.

Related links:
-Review of "Solo / Maiden Voyage" by Tania Aebi.

On my weblog here.… (más)

I have to admit, if I hadn't gotten this through ER I wouldn't have gotten through the first couple of chapters. This book starts at least one too many times, and possibly two - we get introduced to a truly ridiculous number of characters before we settle in to meet the actual main character.

But once it gets going, it's pretty fun - a little over-written, with a fairy tale attitude that reminds me of Cathrynne M. Valente's books which I also had a hard time getting through. Though the prose can be weak, the story and the world are great; I'd be interested to see where the writer goes in the future.… (más)