3.75

Starts out pretty dry (pun unintended), with too much focus on social satire, favouring narration over dialogue and seemingly irrelevant scenarios. Too many characters are introduced at once with similar names, and it can be a little hard to keep track.

The second half really won me over though. More attention is given to the Sea Lady and her motives become more apparent. Some of her talk, addressing mortality from her immortal perspective and criticising the things humans waste their lives on, is compelling. Stakes crank up and some of the conversations surrounding the absurdity of the climactic scenario had me chortling aloud.

The ending pages see Wells indulging more in the parts of him I love: dark wit, profound speeches, and descriptive but cleanly constructed prose. ( )

Barring the first few chapters, not at all about a mermaid--merely a boringly awful social novel about some indistinguishable people with the mermaid as a sort of MacGuffin. ( )

Quite wonderful tale of a mermaid who wheedles her way into an earthly household and causes a respectable fianceed gentleman to fall for her, all told by the gentleman's friend's cousin. Very funny in demonstrating social mores impacted by an absurd situation. ( )

Quite wonderful tale of a mermaid who wheedles her way into an earthly household and causes a respectable fianceed gentleman to fall for her, all told by the gentleman's friend's cousin. Very funny in demonstrating social mores impacted by an absurd situation. ( )

I was surprised at the depth and storytelling of this particular tale by H.G Wells. It was highly impressive for a story of its kind and quite novel in what it presented and detailed. The writing, too, at times was poetic and so appealing that you were able to appreciate the intensity of it. For all that want a different, but enjoyable, read (and want to delve into H.G. Wells) I recommend this book.

3.5 stars ( )