Description
"On remote Rollrock Island, men go to sea to make their livings--and to catch their wives. The witch Misskaella knows the way of drawing a girl from the heart of a seal, of luring the beauty out of the beast. And for a price a man may buy himself a lovely sea-wife. He may have and hold and keep her. And he will tell himself that he is her master. But from his first look into those wide, questioning, liquid eyes, he will be just as transformed as she. He will be equally ensnared. And the witch will have her true payment"--
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LibraryThing member clfisha
Fabulous modern myth making
Misskella is a witch, she can create selkies, beautiful people hidden deep within seals but there is price, there is always a price and she is not alone in paying.
Lanagan writes a heart-rending, beautiful multi-layered story. Framed through diffent characters, spanning
The multi viewpoint works extremely well, still coherant and flowing beautifully we get a deeper more mysterious tale. Something so black and white is opened up. How can we hate Misskella when we see her beginnings? How can we still empathise with men who choose beauty and compliance and then shackle it? So pick up a copy and ponder the meaning of love, of settling for unreal perfection, of enforcing your will on others and the hard choices we make in the dark. It's not all doom and gloom, real life in all its beauty, happiness amongst the hardness.
“All the years to come crowded into that time, and I lived them, long and bitter and empty of him. The rightness of what I had done, and the wrongness both, they tore at me, and repaired me, and tore again,
and neither of them was bearable.”
I have no idea why this is just marketed as a YA, its complex and beautiful and something in there for adults as well as teens. I would hate to think of people missing this book, with its insipid cover and bizarre title (I prefer Australian one of [Sea Hearts])
Recommended. To those who love fantasy and myth, romance and deliciously crafted novels this is for you.
Misskella is a witch, she can create selkies, beautiful people hidden deep within seals but there is price, there is always a price and she is not alone in paying.
Lanagan writes a heart-rending, beautiful multi-layered story. Framed through diffent characters, spanning
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generations, the motivations, choices and their impacts. A story of enchantment, love and revenge.The multi viewpoint works extremely well, still coherant and flowing beautifully we get a deeper more mysterious tale. Something so black and white is opened up. How can we hate Misskella when we see her beginnings? How can we still empathise with men who choose beauty and compliance and then shackle it? So pick up a copy and ponder the meaning of love, of settling for unreal perfection, of enforcing your will on others and the hard choices we make in the dark. It's not all doom and gloom, real life in all its beauty, happiness amongst the hardness.
“All the years to come crowded into that time, and I lived them, long and bitter and empty of him. The rightness of what I had done, and the wrongness both, they tore at me, and repaired me, and tore again,
and neither of them was bearable.”
I have no idea why this is just marketed as a YA, its complex and beautiful and something in there for adults as well as teens. I would hate to think of people missing this book, with its insipid cover and bizarre title (I prefer Australian one of [Sea Hearts])
Recommended. To those who love fantasy and myth, romance and deliciously crafted novels this is for you.
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LibraryThing member peajayar
I read the Australian/British edition, called Sea Hearts. Seals, through some magic applied by one woman, become women and bear children to the men of Rollrock Island. The boy and girl children have very different fates. There's a lot about how misery breeds meanness and nasty behaviour, and the
There are several sections to the book, each with a different point of view, and Lanagan carries this off well. She maintains credibility within the story by focussing on the parts that matter and leaving the rest; every detail and reference counts. One of my favourite quotes: "I shook my head again, not in agreement or otherwise at what she said, but only at how, whosoever's pain I thought of, it could not be resolved without paining some else."
Lanagan writes from the hard places, doesn't hold back on bleak and dark. Hope and goodness are there too, along with human weakness and meanness of spirit. It's all very human.
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dangers of creating an outcast.There are several sections to the book, each with a different point of view, and Lanagan carries this off well. She maintains credibility within the story by focussing on the parts that matter and leaving the rest; every detail and reference counts. One of my favourite quotes: "I shook my head again, not in agreement or otherwise at what she said, but only at how, whosoever's pain I thought of, it could not be resolved without paining some else."
Lanagan writes from the hard places, doesn't hold back on bleak and dark. Hope and goodness are there too, along with human weakness and meanness of spirit. It's all very human.
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LibraryThing member Capnrandm
This book explores an aspect of human relationships that I'd rather not delve into, the hunger a man can feel for a compliant, nubile girl. The seal-brides of Rollrock are chillingly childlike in their lack of agency, passive and plaintive and wishing for the sea. The writing is beautiful,
I had to force myself to finish this book, but I am glad that I did. Lanagan doesn't flinch from the horror of her seal-brides, the petty selfishness of enthrallment and love, but it is just that longevity that carries things through to the next generation. Those sons that grow up under the shadow of their sad mothers, the daughters lost to the sea. I could not figure out if Lanagan gives her mythology a loose genetics, where seal mothers impart wildness to their daughters with their X chromosome but the fathers' Y keeps their sons anchored to the shore, or if it is the jealous witch that casts all daughters to the ocean, ensuring that each new generation of sons would visit her to buy a bride.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, forced marriage and sex.
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chronicling each fissure in the bleak little village. Magic as horror, a legacy of heartbreak and otherness in the bloodlines of the village. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I am glad that I did. Lanagan doesn't flinch from the horror of her seal-brides, the petty selfishness of enthrallment and love, but it is just that longevity that carries things through to the next generation. Those sons that grow up under the shadow of their sad mothers, the daughters lost to the sea. I could not figure out if Lanagan gives her mythology a loose genetics, where seal mothers impart wildness to their daughters with their X chromosome but the fathers' Y keeps their sons anchored to the shore, or if it is the jealous witch that casts all daughters to the ocean, ensuring that each new generation of sons would visit her to buy a bride.
Full review to follow.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, forced marriage and sex.
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LibraryThing member ChrisRiesbeck
More a series of sequentially connected short stories than novel. The set up is very simple: on Rollrock Island, the men occasionally take as brides women drawn from within the seals that inhabit the beach in summer. These brides are far more beautiful than the women of the island, passive,
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devoted, and good mothers. Who makes this happen, why she does this, and what happens next, is a tale told by six different people over the course of a decade or so, in seven different fairly self-contained stories. Lanagan's stories are compulsive reading, with dramatic but believable resolutions, told in Lanagan's unique crystalline-clear evocative prose. I have but two minor complaints. First, I thought the short tale of Lory Severner was lightweight and too tidy. Second, in seven stories told by six very different characters, I always heard just one voice. But Lanagan is such a fine writer, I'm OK with that . Show Less
LibraryThing member foggidawn
It all begins with Misskaella, a dissatisfied, unattractive young girl who discovers that she has an inexplicable affinity for the seals that bask on the rocks around Rollrock Island. First, she learns how to suppress this connection -- but later in her life, she learns how to exploit it.
I'm always a little intimidated by Margo Lanagan, for some reason. When I get past that and actually read her stuff, I find it intelligent and compelling. She does an excellent job with subtle emotion and atmosphere. This is the sort of book that sticks with the reader for days after the cover has been closed.
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Misskaella can bring wives from the sea to the men of Rollrock: gentle, docile, sensual wives, more attractive and biddable than any land maiden. But, as Misskaella knows, the magic comes at a terrible price. . . .I'm always a little intimidated by Margo Lanagan, for some reason. When I get past that and actually read her stuff, I find it intelligent and compelling. She does an excellent job with subtle emotion and atmosphere. This is the sort of book that sticks with the reader for days after the cover has been closed.
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LibraryThing member TheLostEntwife
Out of all the mythical creatures out there, I think one of the most magical and haunting is the legend of the selkie. The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan treats these beautiful, mysterious creatures with the respect deserved. She tells their story with some of the most beautifully
Told in several parts, each from a separate point of view (including the "witch" who brings the woman forth from the seal), this is a complex story that begins with a warning dated from some point in history and moves into a present which has failed to learn from its own history. The Brides of Rollrock Island deals with greed, power, lust, pain, heartache, infidelity, and strength. It's not a book to be taken lightly, or picked up with the thought of some mindless amusement for a few hours - but then again, that shouldn't be a surprise considering the author.
Margo Lanagan's book Tender Morsels was my first experience. I found it raw and brutal - and in a way, The Brides of Rollrock Island has the same rawness and brutality, but it's more muted. The true horror in this story didn't hit me until I'd closed the book and took several hours to reflect on what I'd finished reading. Much like the selkie women, the story held a fascination for me that kept me in its grip and refused to let go until enough time had passed.
I don't know that I'd recommend this to teenagers unless I was convinced of their maturity, as it's not your typical fantasy young adult read. I think this is more for those thoughtful people out there who enjoy being challenged to stretch their reading limits and learning about a culture and its myths which may be drastically different from his or her own.
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painted pictures and heart-breaking scenarios imaginable.Told in several parts, each from a separate point of view (including the "witch" who brings the woman forth from the seal), this is a complex story that begins with a warning dated from some point in history and moves into a present which has failed to learn from its own history. The Brides of Rollrock Island deals with greed, power, lust, pain, heartache, infidelity, and strength. It's not a book to be taken lightly, or picked up with the thought of some mindless amusement for a few hours - but then again, that shouldn't be a surprise considering the author.
Margo Lanagan's book Tender Morsels was my first experience. I found it raw and brutal - and in a way, The Brides of Rollrock Island has the same rawness and brutality, but it's more muted. The true horror in this story didn't hit me until I'd closed the book and took several hours to reflect on what I'd finished reading. Much like the selkie women, the story held a fascination for me that kept me in its grip and refused to let go until enough time had passed.
I don't know that I'd recommend this to teenagers unless I was convinced of their maturity, as it's not your typical fantasy young adult read. I think this is more for those thoughtful people out there who enjoy being challenged to stretch their reading limits and learning about a culture and its myths which may be drastically different from his or her own.
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LibraryThing member stephxsu
When you read a Margo Lanagan book, you expect it to both confuse and enthrall you. And THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND delivers that head-spinning, gut-churning, fizzy-brained mixture of “what in the world is going on?” and “did she really go there?” and “oh my goodness she is a
You can read THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND as a nontraditionally narrated snapshot of an island’s history, with no straightforward plot and no answers to what’s right or what’s wrong in this world. That’ll either confuse the hell out of you, or you will be delighted at the amount of space Lanagan allows readers to bring in their own values and interests to the story. Those who want to find a depiction of the complex meanings of domestic loyalty get that. Or you can also read it for its marvelous craft, its characterization and worldbuilding. It’s a story that gives no clear answers, and is all the more special because of that.
Much like Thisby Island of The Scorpio Races, Rollrock Island feels like an entity of its own. Lanagan skillfully weaves a picture of an island suffocated by yet dependent on its claustrophobic living conditions, neighbors knowing one another’s businesses and knowing who marries who and who’s doing what with who else’s woman. I find stories contained in a small area, where each inhabitant must be developed with his or her unique idiosyncrasies, so much more interesting and realistic than plain-Jane YAs set in Anywheretown, America. The people and the island setting force one another to reveal their imperfect, weird aliveness.
For those who appreciate great writing and are tired of the repetitious plots and characters that appear in so much YA, THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND will renew your faith in the magic of writing.
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genius.”You can read THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND as a nontraditionally narrated snapshot of an island’s history, with no straightforward plot and no answers to what’s right or what’s wrong in this world. That’ll either confuse the hell out of you, or you will be delighted at the amount of space Lanagan allows readers to bring in their own values and interests to the story. Those who want to find a depiction of the complex meanings of domestic loyalty get that. Or you can also read it for its marvelous craft, its characterization and worldbuilding. It’s a story that gives no clear answers, and is all the more special because of that.
Much like Thisby Island of The Scorpio Races, Rollrock Island feels like an entity of its own. Lanagan skillfully weaves a picture of an island suffocated by yet dependent on its claustrophobic living conditions, neighbors knowing one another’s businesses and knowing who marries who and who’s doing what with who else’s woman. I find stories contained in a small area, where each inhabitant must be developed with his or her unique idiosyncrasies, so much more interesting and realistic than plain-Jane YAs set in Anywheretown, America. The people and the island setting force one another to reveal their imperfect, weird aliveness.
For those who appreciate great writing and are tired of the repetitious plots and characters that appear in so much YA, THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND will renew your faith in the magic of writing.
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LibraryThing member Capnrandm
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com
I often describe urban fantasy novels as “dark” when there’s violence and pain, loss and mourning. THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND is wrapped in gossamer strands of darkness so pervasive, so heartbreaking and real, I need a new word to
This book explores an aspect of human relationships that I’d rather not delve into, the hunger a man can feel for a compliant, nubile girl. The seal-brides of Rollrock are chillingly childlike in their lack of agency, passive and plaintive and wishing for the sea. The writing is beautiful, chronicling each fissure in the bleak little village. Magic as horror, a legacy of heartbreak and otherness in the bloodlines of the village… there’s no way I can do justice to how thoroughly Lanagan ensnared me in her net. I was angry and disgusted and sad and mesmerized, I could not look away.
I had to force myself to finish this book, but I am glad that I did. Lanagan doesn’t flinch from the horror of her seal-brides, the petty selfishness of enthrallment and love, and it is just that unblinking gaze through the generations that elevates this story from a painful exercise to a very realistic and human story. I loved the frailty of Lanagan’s seal-wives. She gives her mythology a loose genetics, where seal mothers impart wildness to their daughters with their X chromosome but the fathers’ Y keeps their sons anchored to the shore. With those sons that grow up under the shadow of their sad mothers, the daughters lost to the sea, Lanagan makes this a story of families and consequences, not just magic and passion. Forgiveness and revenge, frailty and strength, there are tiny acts of heroism and betrayal that shape this story, as well as intimate portrayals of characters that fail themselves, that are hurt and pass on that heartbreak to others.
THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND is not a comfortable book, but it is a beautiful one. Lanagan is utterly realistic in the the world she created, through the rhythm of the characters’ speech, the small pleasures and terrible betrayals of humans to each other. Normally I reference the Brothers Grimm whenever an author explores the consequences of magic in a realistic way, but that comparison doesn’t fit for Lanagan. She added a drop of magic to an entirely human world and the results felt anything but fictional.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, coerced marriage and sex.
allthingsuf.com
I often describe urban fantasy novels as “dark” when there’s violence and pain, loss and mourning. THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND is wrapped in gossamer strands of darkness so pervasive, so heartbreaking and real, I need a new word to
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evoke the pain of these characters. Lanagan explores the mythology of the seal-wife, a woman taken from the sea and kept by hiding her seal pelt. Through generations, through many different eyes, she writes a first hand view of human cruelty and petty betrayal, of a community imploding in on itself.This book explores an aspect of human relationships that I’d rather not delve into, the hunger a man can feel for a compliant, nubile girl. The seal-brides of Rollrock are chillingly childlike in their lack of agency, passive and plaintive and wishing for the sea. The writing is beautiful, chronicling each fissure in the bleak little village. Magic as horror, a legacy of heartbreak and otherness in the bloodlines of the village… there’s no way I can do justice to how thoroughly Lanagan ensnared me in her net. I was angry and disgusted and sad and mesmerized, I could not look away.
I had to force myself to finish this book, but I am glad that I did. Lanagan doesn’t flinch from the horror of her seal-brides, the petty selfishness of enthrallment and love, and it is just that unblinking gaze through the generations that elevates this story from a painful exercise to a very realistic and human story. I loved the frailty of Lanagan’s seal-wives. She gives her mythology a loose genetics, where seal mothers impart wildness to their daughters with their X chromosome but the fathers’ Y keeps their sons anchored to the shore. With those sons that grow up under the shadow of their sad mothers, the daughters lost to the sea, Lanagan makes this a story of families and consequences, not just magic and passion. Forgiveness and revenge, frailty and strength, there are tiny acts of heroism and betrayal that shape this story, as well as intimate portrayals of characters that fail themselves, that are hurt and pass on that heartbreak to others.
THE BRIDES OF ROLLROCK ISLAND is not a comfortable book, but it is a beautiful one. Lanagan is utterly realistic in the the world she created, through the rhythm of the characters’ speech, the small pleasures and terrible betrayals of humans to each other. Normally I reference the Brothers Grimm whenever an author explores the consequences of magic in a realistic way, but that comparison doesn’t fit for Lanagan. She added a drop of magic to an entirely human world and the results felt anything but fictional.
Sexual Content: Kissing, references to sex, coerced marriage and sex.
Show Less
LibraryThing member yearningtoread
The Brides of Rollrock Island by Margo Lanagan
Pages: 305
Release Date: September 11th, 2012
Date Read: 2012, August 22nd-28th
Received: Borrowed ARC
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended to: 15+
SUMMARY -
On the Island of Rollrock, Misskaella is ridiculed. She is pushed aside, teased, but also unnoticed. She's
MY THOUGHTS -
Daaaang... I wasn't expecting this book to be so magnificent. For once, the contents match the cover! This book was everything I'd hoped, and more. The writing, especially, surprised me. It held the most character I've ever seen, and was so languid, yet powerful; stunning, but in a soft way. Just gripping! I hope the author continues to write more wonderful books such as this!
CHARACTER NOTES -
The characters in this book were very real to me because none were perfect. I actually disliked all but maybe four. Even the ones I disliked, however, were brilliant, for that exact reason: I didn't like them. My dislike was so strong and real that it made me feel like the story was actually happening to me.
I really liked Daniel Mallett, and his mum. They were so vibrant to me, and their story was very touching. I also really really loved the seal women. Despite their often distasteful and inappropriate affairs, I thought them intriguing and just beautiful.
The girl at the end, Lory, was such a neat perspective. I loved what she added!
But my favorite of all, by far, is Misskaella, the seal witch. She wowed me. her quiet confidence in the fact that her actions would destroy the people of Rollrock was raw and powerful. A woman scorned shall not be messed with! I mean, the whole time I was rooting for her revenge...I was so sucked in!
STORY NOTES -
Margo Lanagan wrote this book as a series of short stories - something I never thought I'd love, but wow! This was such a neat idea. It felt more like chapters than individual stories, and I fell right into the grasp of each one!
I was never once bored. I had no clue how things would go, or end. But Lanagan sure had the perfect execution and end planned out. Brides definitely has a "what goes around, comes around" theme that really struck me as powerful. it was neat to see some stand up for what's right and truthful, and others to fall prey to the madness of the seal women. Some of the island women were wonderful, upright women who stood firm, and others were very, very...irritating. Ha!
SUMMING IT UP -
Full of magnificence. And lots of wowing. I can't say enough - definitely give this a try! Hopefully, you'll love it as much as I did! :)
For the Parents -
2 separate instances of sexual encounters. 1st, Misskaella encounters the King seal in man form and the two share a night of passion. We only hear of how Misskaella feels loved for the first time in her life. It wasn't explicit in any way, more factual. The second was a reference to a man and a seal woman in a barn. The man is married and his family is horrified. many of the men on the island have affairs with seal women, hiding them where their Island wives can't see. Recommended 15+
Pages: 305
Release Date: September 11th, 2012
Date Read: 2012, August 22nd-28th
Received: Borrowed ARC
Rating: 5/5 stars
Recommended to: 15+
SUMMARY -
On the Island of Rollrock, Misskaella is ridiculed. She is pushed aside, teased, but also unnoticed. She's
Show More
fat, ugly, and incapable compared to the sturdy women of Rollrock. But she has a gift, one that will change the destiny of Rollrock. She is a Seal Witch, a woman who can remove the skin of seals and bring forth the woman inside. Ridiculed she may be - but she is also powerful. And soon Rollrock will understand just what that means.MY THOUGHTS -
Daaaang... I wasn't expecting this book to be so magnificent. For once, the contents match the cover! This book was everything I'd hoped, and more. The writing, especially, surprised me. It held the most character I've ever seen, and was so languid, yet powerful; stunning, but in a soft way. Just gripping! I hope the author continues to write more wonderful books such as this!
CHARACTER NOTES -
The characters in this book were very real to me because none were perfect. I actually disliked all but maybe four. Even the ones I disliked, however, were brilliant, for that exact reason: I didn't like them. My dislike was so strong and real that it made me feel like the story was actually happening to me.
I really liked Daniel Mallett, and his mum. They were so vibrant to me, and their story was very touching. I also really really loved the seal women. Despite their often distasteful and inappropriate affairs, I thought them intriguing and just beautiful.
The girl at the end, Lory, was such a neat perspective. I loved what she added!
But my favorite of all, by far, is Misskaella, the seal witch. She wowed me. her quiet confidence in the fact that her actions would destroy the people of Rollrock was raw and powerful. A woman scorned shall not be messed with! I mean, the whole time I was rooting for her revenge...I was so sucked in!
STORY NOTES -
Margo Lanagan wrote this book as a series of short stories - something I never thought I'd love, but wow! This was such a neat idea. It felt more like chapters than individual stories, and I fell right into the grasp of each one!
I was never once bored. I had no clue how things would go, or end. But Lanagan sure had the perfect execution and end planned out. Brides definitely has a "what goes around, comes around" theme that really struck me as powerful. it was neat to see some stand up for what's right and truthful, and others to fall prey to the madness of the seal women. Some of the island women were wonderful, upright women who stood firm, and others were very, very...irritating. Ha!
SUMMING IT UP -
Full of magnificence. And lots of wowing. I can't say enough - definitely give this a try! Hopefully, you'll love it as much as I did! :)
For the Parents -
2 separate instances of sexual encounters. 1st, Misskaella encounters the King seal in man form and the two share a night of passion. We only hear of how Misskaella feels loved for the first time in her life. It wasn't explicit in any way, more factual. The second was a reference to a man and a seal woman in a barn. The man is married and his family is horrified. many of the men on the island have affairs with seal women, hiding them where their Island wives can't see. Recommended 15+
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LibraryThing member lilibrarian
People on the mainland know that there is something different about the brides on Rollrock Island. They are all compliant beautiful, with long silky hair and dark eyes, very unlike the ruddy complexioned locals. A local witch brings them from the sea for the local men.
LibraryThing member hrose2931
I found this book a bit confusing at first as I was reading. The language is somewhat ancient or of a different dialect so that it's hard to understand at first and I didn't fall into the rhythm of it or the meaning of it for quite some time. The second chapter is especially confusing because it
I will say though that the story, a selkie or mermaid story, is one of the most genuinely unique I've ever read. Not only that, but the characters that the chapters focus on, you really get to know them and understand them. Some you may like, some you may not. Daniel Mallett is my favorite, I think he'll be yours too. The absolute love he has for his mother, so unselfish is unbelievable. At the lengths all the boys will got to secure their mothers' happiness was so beautiful. Once I understood time and place the language came together for me and I went back to understand the first chapter. It didn't take long for the story to come together when I read the first couple of pages again and got names and what the boys were doing. I knew exactly the time and place it was happening.
The language is lovely, once you understand it. The descriptions are seemingly in a foreign language, but they are in English. It's just the way the words are put together that makes the familiar seem new and foreign. The entire time I read this novel I could only think of barren, windswept, bleak landscapes. A small town of only a few buildings. The men made their living by fishing. A sense of foreboding always hung over the story like you knew that something terrible would happen, you were just waiting for it.
It did feel longish to me, but then I don't know what part I would have cut out. It was all so necessary to the story. That may have just been me. I enjoyed it very much especially that there was a little secret revealed at the end. Even old Misskaella had a few secrets up her sleeves.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys historical novels, mermaid/selkie/siren tales. It's definitely PG. I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley for review from Random House Publishers.
This in no way influenced my review. I was not compensated for my review.
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occurs the longest back in time and the language is hardest to understand. The names and nicknames are hard to catch and whereas Misskaella's brother's and sisters have names like Billy and Ann and Bee she has this name. There is nothing to signify the change in time periods so I was left a bit floundering only realizing it because in the first chapter Misskaella is called an old witch as she sits on the beach weaving a blanket of seaweed and the young boys are all scared of her. In the second chapter she is a young child and you discover how she grew up to be a witch but she is still not that old woman. She doesn't become her until later in the story, another chapter.I will say though that the story, a selkie or mermaid story, is one of the most genuinely unique I've ever read. Not only that, but the characters that the chapters focus on, you really get to know them and understand them. Some you may like, some you may not. Daniel Mallett is my favorite, I think he'll be yours too. The absolute love he has for his mother, so unselfish is unbelievable. At the lengths all the boys will got to secure their mothers' happiness was so beautiful. Once I understood time and place the language came together for me and I went back to understand the first chapter. It didn't take long for the story to come together when I read the first couple of pages again and got names and what the boys were doing. I knew exactly the time and place it was happening.
The language is lovely, once you understand it. The descriptions are seemingly in a foreign language, but they are in English. It's just the way the words are put together that makes the familiar seem new and foreign. The entire time I read this novel I could only think of barren, windswept, bleak landscapes. A small town of only a few buildings. The men made their living by fishing. A sense of foreboding always hung over the story like you knew that something terrible would happen, you were just waiting for it.
It did feel longish to me, but then I don't know what part I would have cut out. It was all so necessary to the story. That may have just been me. I enjoyed it very much especially that there was a little secret revealed at the end. Even old Misskaella had a few secrets up her sleeves.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys historical novels, mermaid/selkie/siren tales. It's definitely PG. I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley for review from Random House Publishers.
This in no way influenced my review. I was not compensated for my review.
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LibraryThing member ktbarnes
"Beautifully written, this book tackles the idea of selkies in an unexpected and disturbing way.
Its tone reminds me of Lois Lowry's "The Giver."
One of my favorite reads this year!"
Its tone reminds me of Lois Lowry's "The Giver."
One of my favorite reads this year!"
LibraryThing member edspicer
Lanagan, M. (2012). The brides of Rollrock Island. New York: Random House/Knopf. 309 pp. ISBN: 978-0-375-86919-8. (Hardcover); $17.99.
Lanagan is no stranger to the Printz award and this book should return her to that table this January. What are all the fishermen catching in the ocean that has
Lanagan is no stranger to the Printz award and this book should return her to that table this January. What are all the fishermen catching in the ocean that has
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normal women shunning the island upon which they live? Brides! Brides pulled from the core of the seals lumbering and thrashing in the spume. The spurned witch, Misskaella, knows the magic of drawing hauntingly beautiful women from these seals. She sells brides to the fishermen, though she cares very little about the payments. The fishermen must hide his bride’s seal coat lest the lure of the sea entice her back into her coat and back into the sea. Misskaella’s motivation is part revenge, but revenge alone is not what Lanagan is trying to convey. What do we expect from women? These brides are beautiful. The fishermen see their own fantasy of beauty completely realized in each bride. If the fisherman wants to keep his seal-bride hidden from his wife, locked away until needed, the bride will not complain. These brides are not only gorgeous, but compliant. But is that what we want from women? And if we are a bride, is a life lived exclusively for a husband and children enough? Throw away these sorts of discussion questions, however, because the heart of any Lanagan title is its poetic core and this novel is no exception: “The sea was gray with white dabs of temper all over it; the sky hung full of ragged strips of cloud.” (p. 3). “Any man seeing this maiden’s lips would want to lay kisses on them; he would want to roll in the cushions of those lips, swim in the depths of those eyes, run his hands down the long foreign lengths of this girl.” (p. 85). “She was as white as bone, as narrow as a sapling tree; her hair tumbled black from where it had been pressed in a mass to the back of her head. It fell and spread, darkness and gloss together like the sea waves, like the sea-rinsed seals.” (p. 166). It is NOT at all difficult to find quotes—just open the book randomly to any page! Told from the perspective of six different people and rolling back and forth in time like the tide, Lanagan casts a spell over readers with her magical setting, poetic language, and the depth of her feelings about our human relationships. Especially fascinating to this reader is Lanagan’s exploration and layering of the brides. She takes these haunting, compliant beauties and complicates them. Once readers begin making connections between these brides and our society, they will be hooked! Mark this book as my current choice to win the 2012 Printz award! If I should read something better between now and January, that will only speak highly of teen literature this year. Purchase this book for all high school libraries and do whatever it takes to put this one in front of students curious about the difference between commercial fiction and writing distinguished by high literary quality. Show Less
LibraryThing member kayceel
This story of an island caught up in the allure of selkie women, is quite unsettling. Lanagan never names the seal-wives captured and kept by the men of Rollrock Island as selkies, but that is the fairy tale/myth that she's retelling here.
Misskaella was clearly different from an early age, spooking
True enough, the lives of the residents of Rollrock are destroyed through their bewitching obsession with the seal-wives, and it takes extreme measures to fix the problem...for now.
Told from several points of view from several generations of Rollrock residents, this book will make you uncomfortable and creeped out, but could inspire an interest in the selkie folklore. There are some vague, some not-so-vague sexual encounters, so I'd give this to older teens.
Misskaella was clearly different from an early age, spooking
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her own family and all the residents of Rollrock island, so when she grows up, tormented and ostracized and learns that she has the power to call seal women from the sea to be docile, devoted wives, she takes payment for this deed, knowing it could never turn out well for the men involved.True enough, the lives of the residents of Rollrock are destroyed through their bewitching obsession with the seal-wives, and it takes extreme measures to fix the problem...for now.
Told from several points of view from several generations of Rollrock residents, this book will make you uncomfortable and creeped out, but could inspire an interest in the selkie folklore. There are some vague, some not-so-vague sexual encounters, so I'd give this to older teens.
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LibraryThing member akmargie
I'm conflicted about this book which means I think it is good, very good and talks about some very important things through its story which makes it hard for me to talk about it.
The changing perspectives was difficult at first and made the story somewhat disjointed. It was necessary to the story
Over all it was very well-written but my one lingering question is what makes this a YA book? Is there enough appeal for a teen audience? Can they identify with these characters?
pg. 64 "And how lovely it was to be tiny and alone, to have quickened to living for a moment here, to be destined soon to blink out and let time wash away all mark and remembrance of me."
pg. 222 "'A woman,' she said. 'A woman of the land, your own kind. She could give you girls as well, that woman. I hear they are a great comfort, daughters.'"
The changing perspectives was difficult at first and made the story somewhat disjointed. It was necessary to the story
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because I felt the characters on their own were hard to be empathic for. As much as this is a story about selkies, it is also a story about what it means to love another person. In this story love is a kind of enchantment, uncontrollable, sudden and all-encompassing. The use of magic and myth was well woven but the human characters were more complex. Over all it was very well-written but my one lingering question is what makes this a YA book? Is there enough appeal for a teen audience? Can they identify with these characters?
pg. 64 "And how lovely it was to be tiny and alone, to have quickened to living for a moment here, to be destined soon to blink out and let time wash away all mark and remembrance of me."
pg. 222 "'A woman,' she said. 'A woman of the land, your own kind. She could give you girls as well, that woman. I hear they are a great comfort, daughters.'"
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LibraryThing member delphica
I liked this a lot, but man, it's just so melancholy. It's a selkie story, so set on an island -- is there anything more exciting than a book that takes place on an island? I feel like you have to try on purpose to mess up an island story.
Inevitably, I was comparing this a lot to Tender Morsels,
So we have an island, the small fishing village type, that has a history of selkies, and then a witch comes along who is ill-treated as a kid and kind of bitterly grows up and sets up a bad scene where all the men take selkie wives and the whole thing is very sad. It's kidnapping, really. It's a book about living with loss, in many manifestations.
Despite all that, you're still thinking "wow, that island would be an awesome place to live." In my head, I'm already designing my rustic fishing village cottage.
Inevitably, I was comparing this a lot to Tender Morsels,
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which was a lot more in-your-face harrowing, but this still did a good job of getting under your skin and making you feel sad. In a satisfying book way. So we have an island, the small fishing village type, that has a history of selkies, and then a witch comes along who is ill-treated as a kid and kind of bitterly grows up and sets up a bad scene where all the men take selkie wives and the whole thing is very sad. It's kidnapping, really. It's a book about living with loss, in many manifestations.
Despite all that, you're still thinking "wow, that island would be an awesome place to live." In my head, I'm already designing my rustic fishing village cottage.
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LibraryThing member EuronerdLibrarian
Where to begin? This book was stunning. Absolutely stunning. It's going to be a difficult task to sufficiently describe both the book and why it was so excellent. It's so unlike anything I've read. It's eerie, haunting, atmospheric, stark, rustic, stormy, fascinating,unsettling, tragic, with
We witness the spellbinding (pun intended) development of Misskaella from misfit girl into witch, seeing who she really is, where she comes from, and how she becomes who she becomes. We then watch as the consequences of her decisions unfold in fascinating and often sorrowful ways. The story is told from six perspectives, each giving the reader a different view of life on the island, a different view of development of the story. Frankly, I would have been happy to read a novel about each of those characters. (I was especially sad to see Misskaella's section come to a close.) Lanagan often tells her story by implication, making it even more eerie, and more intense as the reader puts together the pieces and experiences the (often heart-breaking) realization of what happened. There is so much meat in this story. I would love to read this with friends and discuss it.
I will say that this is a book that takes some effort to get into. The first chapter I found a bit confusing (and I'm not entirely sure why it was there), but once I got into Misskaella's narrative, that was it. Not a book for everyone, I'd say, but oh, it was masterful.
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moments of beauty. The language is gorgeous--Lanagan evokes such beautiful, clear images and emotions with rich, unexpected diction. I loved the mythology that felt like folklore--or rather felt like what really happened that then developed into folklore. Bleak though it may have been, Rollrock and its people were vivid, realistic, and unlike anything I've encountered in YA lit. We witness the spellbinding (pun intended) development of Misskaella from misfit girl into witch, seeing who she really is, where she comes from, and how she becomes who she becomes. We then watch as the consequences of her decisions unfold in fascinating and often sorrowful ways. The story is told from six perspectives, each giving the reader a different view of life on the island, a different view of development of the story. Frankly, I would have been happy to read a novel about each of those characters. (I was especially sad to see Misskaella's section come to a close.) Lanagan often tells her story by implication, making it even more eerie, and more intense as the reader puts together the pieces and experiences the (often heart-breaking) realization of what happened. There is so much meat in this story. I would love to read this with friends and discuss it.
I will say that this is a book that takes some effort to get into. The first chapter I found a bit confusing (and I'm not entirely sure why it was there), but once I got into Misskaella's narrative, that was it. Not a book for everyone, I'd say, but oh, it was masterful.
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LibraryThing member flashlight_reader
Oh. Man. Not at all what I expected. Not even close! I’m still undecided how I feel about this one. Honestly, I didn’t like it. It took me forever (in my terms) to finish this book! Not a good sign.
Why didn’t I like The Brides of Rollrock Island? Well… It all started with the first 70
The set up for this book was interesting too. It’s told from multiple points of view. Basically, each “chapter” is a new part of the Rollrock Island history that is told from the point of view of a new generation. While it did give an interesting quality to the story, I felt it interfered with the overall story. I could dissect the story further and show some of the positives, but I don’t want to go through the effort. You would have to read this book to understand what I was saying anyway. As a piece of literature, I can see some positive qualities, but I personally did not enjoy this book.
I also didn’t care for the writing. I know, I know… Yes, it was well written and the descriptions were very detailed. But I am sorry, it felt wordy at times. In fact, I found myself skipping entire pages and finding that I hadn’t missed a bit of information. There is something wrong with that. Add that to my initial “problem” with the book, and my attention span is gone. Done. Finis. I have nothing left to give as a reader.
** Not a kid friendly review from this point forward **
Now, add both of those complaints to my gripes with the characters themselves. WTH. The men in this book infuriated me. I have NEVER felt so much disgust and contempt for a group of characters in my life. How am I supposed to buy in that these pervs are so freakin’ horny that they are ready to knock boots with anything that pops up naked from the sea? Yeah, that’s what’s happening… grrrr. And the freak-o that keeps the poor sealwoman in the closest as a sperm depository and then GLOATS about it to his wife and family? Oh, hell no. I shut down right there. I was so disgusted with how quickly these men threw away their individual sense of decency that I couldn’t recover. No matter what else I read, I couldn’t get past this.
** End non-kid friendly portion **
Of course, the teacher in me is conflicted. While, as a reader, I did not connect with this story, I can see its purpose in a (mature) classroom setting. The setting is phenomenal. The characters are so screwed up that they make the perfect discussion point. The fact that all this sealwomen enchantment started up (again) out of revenge would open the door to a very interesting conversation. Plus, the story being continued through different generations of Rollrock inhabitants gives an unique angle. But, despite my conflicted views, overall I did not like this book. As something I picked up for fun, I did not enjoy my time reading. I finished out of a sense of commitment, not because I was captivated by the story.
Why didn’t I like The Brides of Rollrock Island? Well… It all started with the first 70
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pages or so. Could this have been any more confusing? I couldn’t keep the characters straight. It was so irritating. My poor brain didn’t know what it was reading (and this is not a problem that I typically have). So you can see why I was frustrated, right? If I can’t make sense of who is telling the story, then how can I decipher the plot? Ugh. As the book went on, I figured out how things were working so that problem became less of an issue, but it still made for a rough start. The set up for this book was interesting too. It’s told from multiple points of view. Basically, each “chapter” is a new part of the Rollrock Island history that is told from the point of view of a new generation. While it did give an interesting quality to the story, I felt it interfered with the overall story. I could dissect the story further and show some of the positives, but I don’t want to go through the effort. You would have to read this book to understand what I was saying anyway. As a piece of literature, I can see some positive qualities, but I personally did not enjoy this book.
I also didn’t care for the writing. I know, I know… Yes, it was well written and the descriptions were very detailed. But I am sorry, it felt wordy at times. In fact, I found myself skipping entire pages and finding that I hadn’t missed a bit of information. There is something wrong with that. Add that to my initial “problem” with the book, and my attention span is gone. Done. Finis. I have nothing left to give as a reader.
** Not a kid friendly review from this point forward **
Now, add both of those complaints to my gripes with the characters themselves. WTH. The men in this book infuriated me. I have NEVER felt so much disgust and contempt for a group of characters in my life. How am I supposed to buy in that these pervs are so freakin’ horny that they are ready to knock boots with anything that pops up naked from the sea? Yeah, that’s what’s happening… grrrr. And the freak-o that keeps the poor sealwoman in the closest as a sperm depository and then GLOATS about it to his wife and family? Oh, hell no. I shut down right there. I was so disgusted with how quickly these men threw away their individual sense of decency that I couldn’t recover. No matter what else I read, I couldn’t get past this.
** End non-kid friendly portion **
Of course, the teacher in me is conflicted. While, as a reader, I did not connect with this story, I can see its purpose in a (mature) classroom setting. The setting is phenomenal. The characters are so screwed up that they make the perfect discussion point. The fact that all this sealwomen enchantment started up (again) out of revenge would open the door to a very interesting conversation. Plus, the story being continued through different generations of Rollrock inhabitants gives an unique angle. But, despite my conflicted views, overall I did not like this book. As something I picked up for fun, I did not enjoy my time reading. I finished out of a sense of commitment, not because I was captivated by the story.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
Revenge is sweet and in this case, goes on for a couple of generations. Misskaela, a scorned young woman living on an isolated island, discovers that she has the ability to turn seals into beautiful women and that the men of the island, who would not give her a second look, would pay dearly for one
The moral of the story, boys, is that trophy wives are not all what they crack up to be.
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of these women. The native women, who are being ignored and neglected by their men, turn their hatred to her as well as their mates (or potential mates) and take their children to live on the mainland. The story is told from different points of view as time passes and we see the difficulties that occur.The moral of the story, boys, is that trophy wives are not all what they crack up to be.
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LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
On Rollrock Island all the men are married to women who used to be seals. The witch Misskaella brings them from the sea. Eventually they are very homesick for the sea and life is not so happy for them or anyone on the island. It was ok but not really one of my favorites.
LibraryThing member ErlangerFactionless
It isn't often that I just can't put a book down. I'm a busy woman and I read a lot of books. I read a lot of books because I cram reading time in wherever I can get it, even if that is 5 minutes in line at the bank or 15 on a break. That's a lot of putting down, in other words.
I could not put this
Okay, the story: Rollrock is a somewhat isolated Irish island where the secret of how to get women from seals has long been forgotten. (This is a traditional northern legend, common in Ireland among other areas, of the "selkie" who is a seal-woman and is similar to, but not the same as, the mermaid legend.) But the power lays dormant in one little girl, who learns to wield it with the cruelty that was inflicted upon her as a child. Soon, Rollrock becomes an almost enchanted isle, where all the women are "sea wives," there are no daughters, only sons, and the women all pine for their lives as seals.
There. That's all there is to it. But aspects of the island's history are each told through the eyes of different characters. You learn how the witch becomes what she is, how Rollrock becomes an island with only selkies and no girls, and... more. There's something I'm hiding here, but it comes late and it is worth the surprise.
To get a bit political, I loved this book for all the discussion it could spark about women's issues, women's history and how we treat women even today. What is a girl, a wife, a woman worth? What kind of love do men desire from them? What do they desire from men? What is the nature of happiness?
Some won't like the swapping narrators. I though Lanagan did a lovely job and each has his or her own distinct voice, but some people just can't handle it. There are a lot of characters and names, though it really isn't necessary to keep a firm grasp on who most of them are -- they are just names peppered about to create the homey setting of the small town on Rollrock.
My only gripes? I didn't like the very first prologue-style section. It was out of chronological order, too short, and confusing. It might have been less so if it had just unabashedly called itself a prologue. I also didn't like that the book used the term mermaid a few times and selkie none. Though the two bear some similarities, there are very key differences between the two, most notably that mermaids or sirens seduce and lure men on purpose, whereas selkies are held hostage by men. It's key to the legend and key to the story of Rollrock.
I could not put this
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book down. And I can't explain why. It isn't overly plotty. There's not really cliffhangers to keep you going. It certainly isn't a thriller. Like the "seal women" themselves, there's just some mysterious attraction to the language, the story, the setting, that bewitches and enchants, making it hard to leave Rollrock Island.Okay, the story: Rollrock is a somewhat isolated Irish island where the secret of how to get women from seals has long been forgotten. (This is a traditional northern legend, common in Ireland among other areas, of the "selkie" who is a seal-woman and is similar to, but not the same as, the mermaid legend.) But the power lays dormant in one little girl, who learns to wield it with the cruelty that was inflicted upon her as a child. Soon, Rollrock becomes an almost enchanted isle, where all the women are "sea wives," there are no daughters, only sons, and the women all pine for their lives as seals.
There. That's all there is to it. But aspects of the island's history are each told through the eyes of different characters. You learn how the witch becomes what she is, how Rollrock becomes an island with only selkies and no girls, and... more. There's something I'm hiding here, but it comes late and it is worth the surprise.
To get a bit political, I loved this book for all the discussion it could spark about women's issues, women's history and how we treat women even today. What is a girl, a wife, a woman worth? What kind of love do men desire from them? What do they desire from men? What is the nature of happiness?
Some won't like the swapping narrators. I though Lanagan did a lovely job and each has his or her own distinct voice, but some people just can't handle it. There are a lot of characters and names, though it really isn't necessary to keep a firm grasp on who most of them are -- they are just names peppered about to create the homey setting of the small town on Rollrock.
My only gripes? I didn't like the very first prologue-style section. It was out of chronological order, too short, and confusing. It might have been less so if it had just unabashedly called itself a prologue. I also didn't like that the book used the term mermaid a few times and selkie none. Though the two bear some similarities, there are very key differences between the two, most notably that mermaids or sirens seduce and lure men on purpose, whereas selkies are held hostage by men. It's key to the legend and key to the story of Rollrock.
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LibraryThing member MVTheBookBabe
Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.
Mostly, I thought that The Brides of Rollrock Island was an enchanting and strange book, chocked full of stories and characters that I just had to know more about. But for all of that, I'm sure that it wasn't perfect. I loved it to death, and I can't
After that, though, everything proceeded perfectly! Margo really knows how to write a mysterious story, and her writing was fabulous even in the beginning! It might be the only thing that kept me reading for so long-- which I'm really happy about, because when it's all said and done I really liked this one.
It had heartbreak. It had intrigue. But most of all? It had an ugly old witch, who's the center of all the stories. And yes, I know that it's stereotypical to have an ugly witch. But it's also stereotypical to have a beautiful witch, so where do you wanna go with this? I thought as much.
Anywho, we have an ugly witch, and her name is Misskaella. Honestly, Misskaella actually surprised me. She's a total contradiction. In the beginning, I truly thought that she was just cruelly picked upon. She was so unselfish in taking care of both of her sick parents, and she just took all of her sisters' cruelty. I don't think that she would've turned out the way she had if it wasn't for all of this.
She became something strange-- and like I said, a total contradiction. In the end, I was left confused at how she had truly gotten there. How she truly became the seal witch. I mean, I think I get it, but the mysterious element of how and why isn't really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how she inherited it.
The Island of Rollrock is a strange place, I'll give it that. But it was also magical and interesting and I never ever wanted to leave once I had gotten there. I never wanted to leave the mystical island, full of the women that came from the sea and their sons. But they have no daughters. Because the sea has reclaimed every last one of them-- how awesome is that?
I love the idea of a person that can emerge from a seal skin, or essentially, the sea. Like I said before, all of the stories included Misskaella, the seal witch. One memorable bit was even told by her! I loved the way that all of the stories came together, and how they were all essentially connected. The apprentice of Misskaella. A father and son who were involved in the seal-wives. A grandmother jilted by her husband and his seal, along with her grandaughter who becomes a part of that world soon. All so beautifully connected. *sigh*
All in all, I really enjoyed The Brides of Rollrock Island. It was enchanting and beautiful and so full of crushed spirits and broken hearts that I couldn't help but love it for what it was. A gorgeously written book.
Mostly, I thought that The Brides of Rollrock Island was an enchanting and strange book, chocked full of stories and characters that I just had to know more about. But for all of that, I'm sure that it wasn't perfect. I loved it to death, and I can't
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wait to see more by this author, but I can't discount the fact that the beginning just wasn't for me. It was just to abrupt, and it took me about 100 pages before I got into the story.After that, though, everything proceeded perfectly! Margo really knows how to write a mysterious story, and her writing was fabulous even in the beginning! It might be the only thing that kept me reading for so long-- which I'm really happy about, because when it's all said and done I really liked this one.
It had heartbreak. It had intrigue. But most of all? It had an ugly old witch, who's the center of all the stories. And yes, I know that it's stereotypical to have an ugly witch. But it's also stereotypical to have a beautiful witch, so where do you wanna go with this? I thought as much.
Anywho, we have an ugly witch, and her name is Misskaella. Honestly, Misskaella actually surprised me. She's a total contradiction. In the beginning, I truly thought that she was just cruelly picked upon. She was so unselfish in taking care of both of her sick parents, and she just took all of her sisters' cruelty. I don't think that she would've turned out the way she had if it wasn't for all of this.
She became something strange-- and like I said, a total contradiction. In the end, I was left confused at how she had truly gotten there. How she truly became the seal witch. I mean, I think I get it, but the mysterious element of how and why isn't really what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how she inherited it.
The Island of Rollrock is a strange place, I'll give it that. But it was also magical and interesting and I never ever wanted to leave once I had gotten there. I never wanted to leave the mystical island, full of the women that came from the sea and their sons. But they have no daughters. Because the sea has reclaimed every last one of them-- how awesome is that?
I love the idea of a person that can emerge from a seal skin, or essentially, the sea. Like I said before, all of the stories included Misskaella, the seal witch. One memorable bit was even told by her! I loved the way that all of the stories came together, and how they were all essentially connected. The apprentice of Misskaella. A father and son who were involved in the seal-wives. A grandmother jilted by her husband and his seal, along with her grandaughter who becomes a part of that world soon. All so beautifully connected. *sigh*
All in all, I really enjoyed The Brides of Rollrock Island. It was enchanting and beautiful and so full of crushed spirits and broken hearts that I couldn't help but love it for what it was. A gorgeously written book.
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LibraryThing member LaneLiterati
Margo Lanagan's prose in this novel is gorgeous, and perfectly matched to the folktale genre, in this case the selkie legend. It meanders along beautifully, with lush descriptions of the sea and island life and dialogue peppered with a unique vernacular for its folksy characters. The story is
At first I did not like how the book kept changing narrators, but then I was grateful for the different perspectives it offered. Also, each character had a distinct personality, and I think it worked out quite well.
As for content, there is some mild but frank sexual content in addition to the odd innuendo. There is also some language from the book's salty fishermen, as well as several deaths, including a suicide.
For readalikes, I would recommend Franny Billingsley's Chime and The Folk Keeper. The first is about witches and the second about selkies, and Billingsley's language and story telling are of a similar vein.
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subtle and emotional, and I would recommend it for teens that like to take their time with a book, savoring a story that might otherwise be considered slow.At first I did not like how the book kept changing narrators, but then I was grateful for the different perspectives it offered. Also, each character had a distinct personality, and I think it worked out quite well.
As for content, there is some mild but frank sexual content in addition to the odd innuendo. There is also some language from the book's salty fishermen, as well as several deaths, including a suicide.
For readalikes, I would recommend Franny Billingsley's Chime and The Folk Keeper. The first is about witches and the second about selkies, and Billingsley's language and story telling are of a similar vein.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this to review through NetGalley(dot)com. This was an absolutely wonderful book and now I want to go read everything else Margo Lanagan has written. The writing is beautiful and haunting and absolutely engrossing.
This is a series of short stories about the people who live on
The prose this book is written in is absolutely stunning and the stories have a very dark and melancholy fairy tale feel to them. The descriptions are so well done that you can almost taste the sea as you read this book. The characters are amazing; they can show incredible love for each other and also be incredibly cruelty. It was interesting to have a story that explores both depths of human emotion so deeply.
Misskaella is a fascinating character. In the beginning you really hurt for her, everyone is so cruel to her even as a child. Eventually she turns into what they believe her to be an ugly, mean witch. All of the characters in the stories are fascinating in similar ways. The men of the island love their seal wives so deeply, yet these same men are so cruel in how they keep their wives from the sea.
Some of the stories explore how even when a family tries to move away from Rollrock Island, their son is still drawn into the trap of taking a seal wife and being stuck in the same pattern of life on the island that his parents were trying to avoid.
There is also wonderful symmetry to the story; the final story explores how (despite everything that has happened) once Misskaella is gone things slowly start to migrate back to normality and life goes on. Ironically it takes the children’s love to break the curse which was started with a husband’s love.
Overall a spectacular book, one of the best I have read in some time. The writing is incredibly beautiful and haunting; the story explores human nature and has a very melancholy, fairy tale type tone to it. The characters are complex and both beautiful and ugly. Highly recommended to everyone; especially those with an interest fairy tales and the selkie mythology. I want to go out right now and read everything else Lanagan has written.
This is a series of short stories about the people who live on
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Rollrock Island. Misskaella is an ugly and fat girl who is treated cruelly by the people of Rollrock island. That is until the night Misskaella realizes that she can call out women from inside the seals of the island. The seal wives are beautiful beyond compare and the men of Rollrock will do anything to have a seal wife; but the seal wives are also eternally miserable as they as they are stuck in their human bodies. The men control the wives, but are in turn bespelled by the seal wives. This is the story of all of the years that Misskaella kept Rollrock island under the sad curse of the sea wives.The prose this book is written in is absolutely stunning and the stories have a very dark and melancholy fairy tale feel to them. The descriptions are so well done that you can almost taste the sea as you read this book. The characters are amazing; they can show incredible love for each other and also be incredibly cruelty. It was interesting to have a story that explores both depths of human emotion so deeply.
Misskaella is a fascinating character. In the beginning you really hurt for her, everyone is so cruel to her even as a child. Eventually she turns into what they believe her to be an ugly, mean witch. All of the characters in the stories are fascinating in similar ways. The men of the island love their seal wives so deeply, yet these same men are so cruel in how they keep their wives from the sea.
Some of the stories explore how even when a family tries to move away from Rollrock Island, their son is still drawn into the trap of taking a seal wife and being stuck in the same pattern of life on the island that his parents were trying to avoid.
There is also wonderful symmetry to the story; the final story explores how (despite everything that has happened) once Misskaella is gone things slowly start to migrate back to normality and life goes on. Ironically it takes the children’s love to break the curse which was started with a husband’s love.
Overall a spectacular book, one of the best I have read in some time. The writing is incredibly beautiful and haunting; the story explores human nature and has a very melancholy, fairy tale type tone to it. The characters are complex and both beautiful and ugly. Highly recommended to everyone; especially those with an interest fairy tales and the selkie mythology. I want to go out right now and read everything else Lanagan has written.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
The author has taken the myth of the selkie and expanded into a full tale. On Rollrock Island the mams are selkies that have had their seal skins hidden by their husbands. The book goes through several narrators as it tells the story of how the current set of seal mams was brought from the
There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.
I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.)
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ocean.There is not a single spare word in this books beautiful narrative. The language is just incredible and haunting, which sets a mood that makes you feel almost anxious reading it. The mams and their sadness and Miskealla and her anger and desire to get revenge on everyone are just beautifully expressed and felt. The different narrators allow the reader to experience the issue from so many different angles, and I thought was an interesting way to let the time lapse.
I admit that I thought there was no place for this tale to end but in sadness, however there is a hopefulness in the ending (even though I believe that the cycle is set up to repeat itself as it has happened once before.)
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Awards
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (Fiction — 2012)
Dublin Literary Award (Longlist — 2014)
World Fantasy Award (Nominee — Novella — 2010)
British Fantasy Award (Nominee — Robert Holdstock Award — 2013)
Aurealis Award (Winner — 2012)
CBCA Book of the Year (Notable Book — Older Readers — 2013)
Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing (Nominee — 2013)
Ditmar Award (Winner — Novel — 2013)
Barbara Jefferis Award (Winner — 2014)
Mind the Gap Awards (2013)
The Indie Book Award (Longlist — 2013)
Stella Prize (Shortlist — 2013)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2013)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Teens (Fiction — 2012)
Original publication date
2012-09-12