Sailor Twain: A Woman's Scorn...

Sailor Twain (or The Mermaid in the Hudson) by Mark Siegel

Why did I read it?

There are two reasons that I picked this book up. First, I am apparently on a Romance reading spree (Every Day, Forever..., and Amiri & Odette: A Love Story are the last books I've read lol).

Secondly, while flipping through the work, I found that it featured a topless mermaid. I wanted to ensure that it wasn't gratuitous before I put it onto our young adult shelves.

What happened?

Twain is the captain of a steamboat on the Hudson River near Victorian era New York City. Some days he thinks he is the only one that keeps the wonderful ship afloat. The owner, a French noblemen is bedding every woman that comes aboard, and the engineer was involved in a mysterious explosion on his last expedition.

But Twain's dedication to his ship lessens dramatically when he rescues a wounded mermaid and slowly falls in love with her. Sharing his own personal stories and reading fantastical tales with the creature, Twain makes her promise that she will never sing to him. But Twain's devotion to his ship isn't the only thing affected by his love for the mermaid. He also begins to neglect his crippled wife who he used to visit every weekend...

As the mermaid begins to consume Twain's every waking thought, he can't help but wonder where she came from, and who wounded her in the first place. This search will ultimately lead to a terrible choice that begs question of the difference between love and obsession, selflessness and selfishness, and supernatural forces.

What did I like or not like?

This graphic novel actually began as a serialized webcomic drawn in charcoal. The illustrations are simple, being only black and white, but that aspect keeps them powerful and mysterious.

In addition to fascinating illustrations, the story of love, danger, and consequences is really engrossing and I know that I blazed right through it. But I have to admit that I had to contemplate the ending a little bit to make it make sense to me.

Concerning the topless mermaid issue, pretty much every illustration shows her absolutely bare-chested. While I completely understand if this turns you off from the novel, I think I understand the reason behind it. Siegel was trying to write an original novel based on mythology. Traditionally speaking, mermaids have been drawn topless, and it seems he was trying to remain true to that aspect of the mythos.

So I can't say the toplessness is gratuitous as there is quite a bit of precedent there, but I think it should play a part in whether or not you decide to read the story.

Forever: Realistic or Substantial?

Forever... by Judy Blume

Why did I read it?

Originally written in 1975, this book has become a classic in Young Adult literature. I figured a young adult librarian should probably read the classics of his own genre =D This book was quite controversial when it was first published, and remains that way to this day. I wanted to see where I fell on that controversy.

What happened?

Katherine and Michael are both seniors in high school, and after meeting at a friend's party, they have an immediate connection. Pretty soon, they are doing everything together.

Once things get a little bit more serious, both Katherine and Michael have to decide how far they are going to take this relationship physically. Katherine is a virgin, and wants her first time to be absolutely perfect. She is pretty sure it will be with Michael because he is worth the commitment of taking it all the way.

But, things don't always go as we'd like them to. While the school year was practically perfect, they are separated for the summer, and they really have to consider whether this is a love that will last a lifetime.

What did I like or not like?

It is always interesting to read novels that were written a few years ago. Most of the time, they kind of feel dated. While that was kind of the case with this title, the situations and issues that Katherine and Michael deal with are very much still alive to this day.

Now let's get to the interesting part. What did I think about the controversy? Forever... is largely an exploration of two teens' sexuality and how that fits into love, and consequently, this book has quite a bit of sexual content and discussions in it. I think some readers will appreciate these discussions, while others probably won't, but I think it should be left on shelves so readers have a choice to decide for themselves.

One thing that did surprise me was the parallels I drew between Forever... and David Levithan's Every Day. (SPOILER ALERT) Both relationships didn't make it, and both relationships involved some sex. But I couldn't help but think that A and Rhiannon's relationship in Every Day was based on something more substantial than Katherine and Michel's relationship in Forever...


I understand that Katherine and Michael's kind of relationship is common in real life and the literary world, and as a book about a sexually active boyfriend and girlfriend, the book rings true and honest and important. This frankness and honesty is probably the main reason that it has become a classic YA work, and why it is still read to this day.

But I prefer relationships in real life and books that are a little more...substantial, worthwhile, deeper, in for the long term, able to handle some struggles?? Agree, disagree, think I'm crazy??
Let me know :)

Every Day: Torn from the Girl You Love

Every Day by David Levithan 

Why did I read it?

Because I'm a fan of Quantum Leap and other similar sci-fi shows, and the synopsis made it sound super interesting!

What happened?

For as long as he can remember, A has borrowed someone else's body for the day, and then bounced to someone else the next day. He can remember what happened the day before, but he can also remember past experiences from the person he is currently borrowing from.

When he was younger, this quick attraction and then swift separation was devastating. His 'parents-for-the-day' couldn't figure out why their 'child' didn't want to go to bed at night. But, A has since accepted his fate, and actually finds some amazement in the everyday occurrences that are so similar and yet so different. Every day he does his best to leave his host's life in as close to the same shape as he can, and he has gotten pretty good at it. 

That is, until he borrows Justin's life for a day and meets his girlfriend, Rhiannon. There is something about her perseverance, love of life, and inherent sweetness that A can't ignore. So instead of acting like Justin for the day, A hopes that she can somehow see past the outside and see the real him on the inside. Just like every other day, A jumps to someone else the following morning. But, he refuses to lose the connection, the enormity, of what happened with Rhiannon.

What did I like or not like?

This book was just ridiculously readable. All of the every day events could happen in someone's life, but through it all you know it isn't normal because A is experiencing these things for people, and this gives the book a unique voice and perspective. While the world events seem commonplace, the way they combine to complicate A's life is really fascinating.

I started this book really excited, couldn't put it down because it kept me gripped the whole time, and thought it followed through on its promising story line all the way to the ending. Read it!

P.S. There is very slight cussing, and one scene with some sexual content.