Erika SwylerReseñas

Goodreads defines three stars as "I liked it" and that's fair but I can't go higher than that for this book.

In the modern part of the story a librarian, his sister who reads the Tarot, a couple of neighbors and a carnival worker covered in octopus tentacle tattoos try to figure out how to put an end to a centuries long curse on a family of "mermaids". In the flashback part of the story we learn the origins of the curse back in the late 1700s. This is all very weird, of course, and I actually liked most of it but there were just too many things I wanted to know more about. We eventually learn the connections of the modern characters to the historical ones but only in a quick rushed sequence at the end and I wanted to understand much more about those relationships and how they got to where they were. I wanted to know more about the very beginning and who/what exactly was Evangeline's (the original mermaid) father. And why all the weirdness with the horseshoe crabs?

I think I just needed a few more chapters in the past and present to tie things into a neater bow for me.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Actual rating: 3.5/5

I quite enjoyed this book, and it was easily one of the best debuts I've read so far this year. The story was captivating, and the writing flowed easily. The book is split between the present, where we follow Simon and his research into the family history, and the past, where we get to see the origin of the family itself. For most of the book, I actually enjoyed the parts set in the past more than the present. As much as I was interested in seeing Simon unravel the secrets of his family to understand the curse that threatens his sister's life, I have to admit that most of the time I was just bored as he did enormous amounts of research to discover stuff I had mostly figured out already. I found his story to really pick up and become interesting around the 80% mark, which was way too late for me. On the other hand, I was really invested in the "past sections" and I would actually have loved to have a deeper insight into the daily lives of the colourful cast of characters that formed the travelling show.

Speaking of characters, I was slightly disappointed by them. I felt that the whole cast just had so much potential, as each of them was carrying the weight of their past, and battling their own personal demons. There was such a wide range of characters and a variety of backgrounds, it being mostly set in a circus environment, that I felt it was really a shame that we didn't get to see more of them and to explore their personalities in more depth. This book was definitely plot driven, and it just felt to me as if a character was only recognised as far as he/she was instrumental to the plot. We only ever saw the parts of their personalities, their abilities or even the characters themselves when they were necessary to advance the plot, and practically never for the sake of getting to know the character personally. And that's perfectly fine, if you like books that focus more on the plot. If, however, like me you're obsessed with characters and getting to know as much as possible about them in the 300-or-so pages you've been gifted, you're likely to be left disappointed by this.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, if at times a little too slow, particularly in the middle section. The author put in place a compelling story, narrated with great ability. She also managed to weave in magical elements seamlessly, and actually for a moment had me believing in mermaids and curses as if they were as common as cats and pizza. I'll definitely be on the lookout for her future work!

I miss Simon, Enola, and Doyle.

This was a great book. At first, some of the events made me think it was turning into horror. It is not horror however, but does end up being a powerful story about the interconnectedness of time, love, and the challenge of grieving.

I'm not going to claim that this review is unbiased because it isn't. I've admired Erika on the internet in various mediums for a long time. I've been an immense fan of her writing for as long as I've known her- whether it be essays or the Book of Speculation or just notes about her bunny and applying coffee to any given situation Erika's words are ardent and honest and they hit me in a place that I forget about often until she comes along and pokes at it. It often aches in a way I can't describe and makes me long for a certain type of kinship I can't quite put my finger on.

The Book of Speculation broke me out of a years long reading slump and reignited a passion within me. It reminded me of my love of mythology and mystery and family and fear and desire. Light from Other Stars ignited a new passion within me that, truthfully, I was doubtful I was capable of when I first saw scribblings of this novel floating around. I was worried I wouldn't be able to appreciate this for its broader scope- I'm a relatively young woman, I've been taught all my life to hate science and go towards the arts. I've never read a science fiction book in my life- would I love this as much as I wanted to? Would I be able to relate to a young girl who loved space and her father in a way I had never been able to? Of course I did. Because the love and fear and passion that Erika pours into her every word shows and kicks me in the chest.

I'm not going to lie and say this wasn't a difficult book. I tried to understand the science and I managed as well as someone in the arts can I think. The emotions underlying this novel were also difficult. The family dynamics, the friendship with Denny, Nedda's obsession with NASA. It was hard to read at times. I was fearful of everything breaking apart- and sometimes it did but it all stitched back together. Which is maybe the biggest takeaway from this story. You have to do the scary thing anyway. And it will hurt, but it won't be forever.

There was a little bit of magic in this book and I am so grateful to be allowed in its orbit.

Extremely disappointed in this book but maybe that's because I had high expectations after reading The Light From Other Stars which I absolutely loved. This just seemed to move at a snail's pace and the main character just felt like a whiney doormat so I was put off by him.

I really enjoyed this book and surprisingly not for the sci-fi elements. While this book had sci-fi elements, in my opinion it was in no way the focus of the book. The book (in my opinion) was more about family relationships (particularly between parents and children), sacrifice, and the processing of grief.

Ich war mir eigentlich nicht sicher, was ich von diesem Buch erwartet habe - und bin mir auch nicht ganz sicher, was ich bekommen habe.
Offensichtlich liegt auf der Familie des Protagonisten ein Fluch - die Frauen der Familie können unter Wasser ungewöhnlich lange die Luft anhalten und sterben seit Generationen alle an einem bestimmten Datum durch Ertrinken. Dann erhält der Protagonist ein seltsames Buch, das zu einem fahrenden Zirkus gehört hat, der offensichtlich mit seiner Familiengeschichte verknüpft ist und von dem in Rückblenden erzählt wird. So weit, so spannend.
Aber leider bin ich mit den Charakteren nicht warm geworden - weder in der Gegenwart, noch in der Vergangenheit. Und auch bei der Auflösung des Geheimnisses bin ich ein wenig unzufrieden zurückgeblieben.
Aber für einen Debütroman fand ich das Buch kreativ und der Schreibstil hat mir gefallen - ich werde der Autorin definitiv eine zweite Chance geben.

I went into this with no expectations, having heard nothing about this book. I was pleasantly surprised by the combination of speculative fiction, family drama, and good story telling.

I really enjoyed this book, the historical and the present stories flow together nicely. I found both stories interesting and enjoyed seeing Simon put the pieces together even though I was a step or two ahead. That didn't bother me as much as it usually does cause the character interactions were nice.

This is a beautifully written book. I read it within 3 days, which is quick for me. I liked the elements of fantasy that kept the book together and there were some memorable characters that I enjoyed reading about. I would have given the book five stars but there were a few things that stopped me.

The story is divided into two timelines, in alternate chapters. I normally don't like this format but I think it worked well in this case, and it was interesting to see how the two timelines linked together. However I did feel that the older timeline was a much better read, the characters had more substance to them, such that the present-day characters became a little flat by comparison. The fantasy element was in both timelines, but in the present it was a bit more of an afterthought and something that wasn't really explored, which made the story a little unbalanced. Doyle was my favourite character from the present, I thought he was the most convincing person, with the most interesting traits. Enola should have been more of a dominant force, but she seemed withdrawn and was almost a secondary character to the tarot cards, which I realise was probably deliberate but she could have been a much better character. If she had been taught to hold her breath and wasn't actually a mermaid, as we are told by the narrator, why did she have webbed feet?

There was also the coincidence involving the drownings on a particular date, 24th July. I don't think it was ever mentioned why this date was significant, or how Simon knew it would be this particular year that it happened again, bearing in mind that we are told there was no obvious link between the ages of the people who drowned. This was the main mystery that kept the book together, yet I thought it was the one that was the least explored. More, it was accepted by the narrator and that was enough.

Given how the book went and what was revealed about the characters during the story, I had guessed what the ending would be, and I thought the ending worked well. In all it was a very good read and a good debut novel and I will look out for more by this author.

More whimsical than true fantasy. Too dark, depressing and slow for me. Simon Watson lives by himself on a Long Island bluff, and works as a librarian. He is sent a book about a travelling circus, which includes his grandmother. The narrative moves back and forth between a tragic circus troupe in the past and Simon's financial and other troubles in the present, with the book as the linking medium. Simon is worried about his sister's welfare given the early deaths of his mother and grandmother. maybe 2.5 stars.

fiction (circus performers and their curses). Great story, but I have to resent how all the librarians and libraries are portrayed as dying relics.

“My family is a little dark…But even Pandora’s box had hope”

This story has a bit of everything: family secrets, ancient books, folklore, magic, forbidden love and a curse. I found it a little slow to start, but soon realised I was eager to keep reading and often kept going way past bedtime. The story is split over two timelines: the present with Simon and his sister Enola, and a travelling circus during the 1700’s following the ancestors responsible for the ‘family curse’.

The writing style was lovely with a flowing poetic prose. The only issue I had were the present-day characters who were not particularly likeable and difficult to relate to. Simon was often spineless and infuriating, Enola was spoilt and selfish, and as for their neighbour Frank, he was just so damn annoying and interfering. The reason becomes clear as the story progresses, but I kept wanting Simon to tell Frank to eff off! For this reason, I was more drawn to the historical, circus side of the story. I particularly liked Madam Ryzhkova. Although there was nothing ground-breaking here, I found this to be a fun escapism from current reality. A family tree as a final piece of the puzzle would have provided good closure. Part of the Willoughby Book Club.

I really enjoyed this one, though my enjoyment sort of tapered off the closer I got to the end of the book. Of the two storylines, I much preferred the one set further in the past, and I found the main character in the more recent storyline to be pretty problematic (inconsistent, unbelievable, etc.). Still, on the whole it was a fun read that kept me engaged maybe 80% of the way through.

Overall predictable, with a traditional American ending. Not nearly as good as Night Circus, though both deal with magic realism and love. It is alright, but not magical and does not suck one in the way Night Circus or Harry Potter does (different magic, I know). The flip flop between now and then gives too much away. I wonder what it would be like to read all of one story and then all of the other, and which order should they be read?
Too much power is given to the cards and their curse; you have to buy into that or the whole thing falls apart. I don't buy Frank and his secret, either. He is the flatest character for me. I don't buy the romance of the men just giving up on life when the women die. Too much romance for me, but others may enjoy it more.

Really a 3.5 star read. Enjoyed.

3.5 stars, accurately. This book is part Mermaid Chair, part Night Circus, part Fall of the House of Usher, at least those are the works brought to mind as I read. The narrator, Simon Watson lives in his dead parents' tumble-down (literally!) house on Long Island Sound. He is a librarian in a small local library until budget cuts eliminate his position -- all very realistic. Around the same time a strange book arrives at his doorstep and here is where realism begins to disappear. His grandmother's name is penciled in it, which is how the rare antiquarian book-seller Martin Churchwarry tracks him down. Nevermind that Simon has never met this grandmother (she drowned before he was born) and has next to no knowledge of any of his family's history. His own mother also drowned, despite being a "swimmer" -- carnival term for those who can stay under water for super-human lengths of time -- like 10 min. Simon himself has this skill -- his mother taught him as a child and he in turn taught his sister, Enola after his mother died when he was 7 and his sister only a toddler. Their father lingers in grief for another 10 years or so, but is emotionally absent and ineffectual. The mysterious book seems to be the diary or log book of a traveling carnival dating back to the late 1700s. Makes sense in that Paulina, Simon's mother had been a performer (mermaid), as had the other women in the matrilineal line, and Enola has also followed suit, but as a tarot reader, not a swimmer. She has not been home for years, but has recently called letting Simon know she will arrive in July. The book fairly consumes Simon now that he is unemployed and he learns that all the women have drowned on July 24. With his sister's impending arrival, Simon begins to worry and the book starts to take on some urgency. Simon is in touch with Churchwarry and all sorts of other librarian means he can think of to try to make sense of the book and the mystery, which he has come to see as a curse. Meanwhile, his neighbor and long-time close family friend Frank McAvoy has gotten on Simon about the condition of the house, afraid it will go over the bluff if not attended to. Simon has just become involved with Frank's daughter Alice (also a librarian, still employed) -- a long time coming since they were practically raised together. When Enola arrives with her boyfriend Doyle, another carnie -- a tattooed, electric man who has some kind of spark touch that he uses to advantage in the show, tensions are high. Enola has been getting the same message in her cards over and over that she won't tell Simon, but that clearly indicate some kind of imminent tragedy. What the reader knows, but the Watsons don't is all the backstory about the carnival book, its owners and how the curse came to be. It is a fairy tale story of the past that is soon to collide with the present if Simon can put all the pieces together. As July 24th gets closer, Simon gets more information -- none of it pleasant and it impacts the relationships with the McAvoys, and the house gets more precarious. On the day itself there is an epic storm, flooding, and a horsehoe crab infestation. The author does an admirable job of bringing everything to a favorable resolution, since there were many balls in the air and spinning plot plates, to mix a carnival metaphor. Overall, the book felt a little clunky and over-ambitious because of this, but was still an entertaining read.

Classified as science fiction, this is really just fiction that relies on science to move the story forward. Not your typical robot and doomed mankind or space war science fiction, but a well executed plot moving a young space-fanatical girl through time to discover herself, her mother, her father, and her childhood best friend. The science can be tough to follow but appropriately so. The language about space and the language of math and science was poetic.

Read the short story in The Book of Speculation - was not thrilled with that book or the short story - will not read

Wish I had saved the receipt.
Ok it was not -horrible- but it isn't something I would recommend.
It is written heavy - hard to read, does not draw you to the next line. The concept had so much potential. I wanted to be drawn into the book, to drown in it as some of the characters do (not really a spoiler you learn that right away). I'm a librarian and an archivist plus I'm born and raised in Long Island. I did not feel my profession was well shown. I barely recognized my hometown area either. If you're looking for a book to keep in your bag for random moments where your phone is dead, there is no one with whom to chat, and you can't nap - then this is your book.

Harsh? Yes. Do not mess with librarians or archivists. Definitely do not mess with our books either.

It is hard to believe this is the author's first novel. It is a nice mystery, with interesting characters and a beautiful setting.

I received a copy of this story through goodreads giveaways. Review to come.

Book Review

It is rare that I take issue with a book review. This is especially so when it is written by a review source that I trust and almost revere – Kirkus Reviews. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler was originally published in 2015; not during the COVID pandemic, a dark time. Hence this novel feels darker and more ominous than “A bit fey, even as romantic whimsy.”

The plot summary alludes to a strange, somewhat mysterious tale about a book, a family, a circus, and yes, water. So intriguing. So different than the usual dysfunctional family story lines that abound. Of course it does have dysfunctional families, but not in the traditional sense. Rather these are the families and the lineages that grow from fairy tales – those tales told for and to adults, not children. There is nothing “fey” about “The Little Mermaid” or the Celtic selkie. These are tales of deep love and sacrifice, especially that of the feminine nature. These are heartbreaking tales.

Swyler accomplishes the dramatic sense of danger as she weaves two stories placed in two different centuries simultaneously into one. There are layers upon layers; depths to this story that are poignant and tragic.

She brings the fairy tale genre right into the twenty-first century, and onto the Long Island Sound.

Perhaps this is why, when I read the last line from the Kirkus Review, “For die-hard mermaid-fiction lovers only,” I cringed. This book is for those far beyond “mermaid fiction lovers.”

Family history encroaching on current lives. A layered mystery to solve, to save lives. Serious book hangover with this one...