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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As far as retellings go, this was an extremely faithful adaptation of “The Little Mermaid,” but set in the Caribbean. And for those of you like me who grew up with the Disney version, I’m not referring to our lovely red headed Ariel here; I’m talking about the extremely depressing original version written by Hans Christian Andersen. I actually read the original story last year and was absolutely horrified, and reading this definitely brought that back. Still, it’s a very well written story! And I’m very excited to see the musical adaptation “Once on this Island,” though I’m desperately hoping that it’s Disney-fied, or I’m going to leave it crying.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this book is beautiful and I loved the sort of retelling of the little mermaid from a creole standpoint however i just dislike the trope of girl falls in love for and completely upending her life for no reason.
This beautifully-written story is an interesting modern rendition of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid" and compared together, bring about important comparisons. They share the same main ideas, yet the distinct difference that help emphasize the different themes expressed by both stories.
In My Love, My Love, the teenaged dreamer here is named Desiree Dieu-Donne, an island Ti Moune (or orphan) who, while without parents, is raised by her affectionate adoptive parents, Tonton Julian and Mam Euralie. Just like the character namesake in "The Little Mermaid," Desiree's life is changed when she falls in love with a comely young prince, Daniel Beauxhomme, a youthful rich mulatto who she nurses back to health after he is in a car accident. Daniel, just like the mermaid's prince, is of a different world, and not meant to be a love interest at all, and Daniel, just like the prince, must return to his old world, taking with him the simplistic heart of his young lover.
Both girls in these stories go to extreme lengths to be reunited with their sweethearts. Desiree leaves her family and village and places her life in the blood-stained hands of Papa Ge, the island's horrid messenger of the sea. An interesting feminist symbol is utilized as Desiree, forced to wear a new pair of shoes, endures the immense pain in her feet even though each step was "a new experience in torture." While the mermaid gives over her voice for freedom, Desiree is a mute in her own sense since she knows not the languages of the foreign diplomats.
The interloper who moves in the way of the two "star-cross'd lovers" in both stories is everything the protagonist is not: confident, articulate, and rich. Desiree, like the mermaid, realizes that she has endangered her life over a man who looks lost to her.
Hidden in My Love, My Love is the sometimes sad and total cost of challenging established circumstances and status quo. It shows how high the price can be for selfless love.
It is interesting to note the commonalities between "The Little Mermaid" and this modern rendition. Throughout, there are subtle, and less-than-subtle allusions to that well-loved, later-Disney-fied classic. Just note the allusion made by one of the characters, Mama Euralie: "She [Desiree] gives up her honor to this man, born of a world as different from hers as land is from the sea."
For good comparisons and a more interesting reading experience, read this novel after, or alongside, the version of Hans Christian Anderson (and no, it is quite different from Disney's cartoon!). I recommend this for adolescents and adults, as well as anyone interesting in modernized fairy tales, or in the true non-Disney versions of the stories we love.
In My Love, My Love, the teenaged dreamer here is named Desiree Dieu-Donne, an island Ti Moune (or orphan) who, while without parents, is raised by her affectionate adoptive parents, Tonton Julian and Mam Euralie. Just like the character namesake in "The Little Mermaid," Desiree's life is changed when she falls in love with a comely young prince, Daniel Beauxhomme, a youthful rich mulatto who she nurses back to health after he is in a car accident. Daniel, just like the mermaid's prince, is of a different world, and not meant to be a love interest at all, and Daniel, just like the prince, must return to his old world, taking with him the simplistic heart of his young lover.
Both girls in these stories go to extreme lengths to be reunited with their sweethearts. Desiree leaves her family and village and places her life in the blood-stained hands of Papa Ge, the island's horrid messenger of the sea. An interesting feminist symbol is utilized as Desiree, forced to wear a new pair of shoes, endures the immense pain in her feet even though each step was "a new experience in torture." While the mermaid gives over her voice for freedom, Desiree is a mute in her own sense since she knows not the languages of the foreign diplomats.
The interloper who moves in the way of the two "star-cross'd lovers" in both stories is everything the protagonist is not: confident, articulate, and rich. Desiree, like the mermaid, realizes that she has endangered her life over a man who looks lost to her.
Hidden in My Love, My Love is the sometimes sad and total cost of challenging established circumstances and status quo. It shows how high the price can be for selfless love.
It is interesting to note the commonalities between "The Little Mermaid" and this modern rendition. Throughout, there are subtle, and less-than-subtle allusions to that well-loved, later-Disney-fied classic. Just note the allusion made by one of the characters, Mama Euralie: "She [Desiree] gives up her honor to this man, born of a world as different from hers as land is from the sea."
For good comparisons and a more interesting reading experience, read this novel after, or alongside, the version of Hans Christian Anderson (and no, it is quite different from Disney's cartoon!). I recommend this for adolescents and adults, as well as anyone interesting in modernized fairy tales, or in the true non-Disney versions of the stories we love.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Grim ending
I had background. For choir, we did music from Once on this Island, which this was based off of. If I didn't know that story, I would be so confused.
First of all, I have a reading problem. "But Pegs, you read so much? Whatever could be the problem?" Ah, you see, I am an easily excitable person. When find a book too boring or too exciting, I will skip paragraphs. NO JOKE. I have to go reread. However, I had no patience for this book, and settled with being confused.
Enough about me. Another thing, it was too fast paced. It happened so fast. "No Ti Moune, we shall not help the boy." "Naw, Maman." "No Ti Moune, don't find the boy" "Naw Tonton"
However, I do love the story. A modern, Carribean retelling of the orginal Little Mermaid. Yes, PLEASE. I love the way the gods play a part, and the underlying morals. Maybe you'll read it, maybe you won't. Just tell me like you like it.
(Side note: GUYS I WROTE LIKE A REAL REVIEW YAY!!!!!!!!!!!)
First of all, I have a reading problem. "But Pegs, you read so much? Whatever could be the problem?" Ah, you see, I am an easily excitable person. When find a book too boring or too exciting, I will skip paragraphs. NO JOKE. I have to go reread. However, I had no patience for this book, and settled with being confused.
Enough about me. Another thing, it was too fast paced. It happened so fast. "No Ti Moune, we shall not help the boy." "Naw, Maman." "No Ti Moune, don't find the boy" "Naw Tonton"
Spoiler
"NO TI MOUNE DON'T FALL IN LOVE WITH THE BOY. HE WILL CRUSH YOU" 'Falls in love and promptly dies.However, I do love the story. A modern, Carribean retelling of the orginal Little Mermaid. Yes, PLEASE. I love the way the gods play a part, and the underlying morals. Maybe you'll read it, maybe you won't. Just tell me like you like it.
(Side note: GUYS I WROTE LIKE A REAL REVIEW YAY!!!!!!!!!!!)
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book definitely isn't the bittersweet fairy tale that "Once on this Island" is. It's a cynical Greek tragedy, but that's not to say it doesn't have more than its fair share of sinister brilliance. If I had read this with no prior knowledge of the musical, I would say the only possible adaptation would be a film by Darren Aronofsky. (Or Ari Aster, in the vein of "Midsommar")
So very tragic but still beautiful and gorgeous. I really love this adaptation, and think it’s almost better than the original. I got into this book because of the musical Once On This Island. Although I believe the musical has a better representation of the gods, or at least they are in it more, the book is really good at expanding the story and making it more race representative than the musical. Both of these are really beautiful stories, ones that are pretty different from one another, but I love them both the same. Truly beautiful representation of Caribbean mythology in a tragic love story and race conflict in social classes.
So this walks a fine line between contemporary and fantasy, but I decided to put it here and call it a contemporary with a dash of magical realism. It's a retelling of the Little Mermaid (the Hans Christian Andersen, not the Disney) and it's set on a tropical island. The main character is Desiree, a peasant girl who saves the life of an aristocratic young man after a car accident. Desiree nurses him back to life, although his father comes and takes him away before he awakes. Desiree believes the young man will love her, so she leaves her home and adventures to the big city to meet him.
Read the rest of my review at my blog!
Read the rest of my review at my blog!