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alishamegan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Torture, Car accident, Child death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
blewballoon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This book certainly affected me. I was unsettled, disturbed, and upset in the end and it stuck with me for a while. Most of the characters apart from Dorothy are almost comically awful, but not comically enough for it not to be distressing. Even during the parts of the book where pleasant things are occurring, there is a constant undercurrent of tension and dread.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Rape, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
unroxy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Car accident
rorikae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
'Mrs. Caliban' by Rachel Ingalls is an engaging novella that centers on one woman's issues with her marriage and her relationship with a lizard man.
Dorothy and her husband Fred have had a strained relationship ever since they lost their young son and she had a miscarriage. They have drifted apart and Dorothy suspects that her husband is having an affair. One day, she hears a story on the radio about a lizard man that has escaped from a local research facility. Questioning her sanity, Dorothy doesn't think much on it until the lizard man appears in her kitchen in need of help. As Dorothy talks with the lizard man, who she calls Larry, she learns more about his experiences in the research facility and the two start a quiet but caring affair.
If you enjoyed the movie 'The Shape of Water, but wanted more of the relationship between the protagonist and the sea monster and less of the spy plotline, then you really must read 'Mrs. Caliban.' I'm honestly shocked that this wasn't a direct inspiration for 'The Shape of Water' as it has a very similar plot line and explore how we connect to others.
Ingalls does a great job of plopping us squarely into Dorothy's life and then slowly expanding her world through her interactions with her husband, her friend Estelle, and with Larry. There are interweaving plot lines that pop back in and out throughout the story though ultimately, the story centers on Dorothy's relationships and how her grief over the loss of her child and her unraveling relationship with her husband affects those relationships. A lot happens in the story and though we don't get to delve deeply into the characters, I still found myself invested. There is consistent tension between Dorothy hiding Larry in her home and keeping up an affair with him while also hiding this fact from her husband.
The ending was not what I was expecting and given the quieter aspects of the rest of the book, felt almost over the top. I think this would be a good book for a book club as there is a good amount to delve into and unpack about Dorothy's relationships and the interweaving points of the story.
Ultimately, it's an engaging novella that expertly utilizes its speculative aspects to delve into the relationships of the main character.
Dorothy and her husband Fred have had a strained relationship ever since they lost their young son and she had a miscarriage. They have drifted apart and Dorothy suspects that her husband is having an affair. One day, she hears a story on the radio about a lizard man that has escaped from a local research facility. Questioning her sanity, Dorothy doesn't think much on it until the lizard man appears in her kitchen in need of help. As Dorothy talks with the lizard man, who she calls Larry, she learns more about his experiences in the research facility and the two start a quiet but caring affair.
If you enjoyed the movie 'The Shape of Water, but wanted more of the relationship between the protagonist and the sea monster and less of the spy plotline, then you really must read 'Mrs. Caliban.' I'm honestly shocked that this wasn't a direct inspiration for 'The Shape of Water' as it has a very similar plot line and explore how we connect to others.
Ingalls does a great job of plopping us squarely into Dorothy's life and then slowly expanding her world through her interactions with her husband, her friend Estelle, and with Larry. There are interweaving plot lines that pop back in and out throughout the story though ultimately, the story centers on Dorothy's relationships and how her grief over the loss of her child and her unraveling relationship with her husband affects those relationships. A lot happens in the story and though we don't get to delve deeply into the characters, I still found myself invested. There is consistent tension between Dorothy hiding Larry in her home and keeping up an affair with him while also hiding this fact from her husband.
The ending was not what I was expecting and given the quieter aspects of the rest of the book, felt almost over the top. I think this would be a good book for a book club as there is a good amount to delve into and unpack about Dorothy's relationships and the interweaving points of the story.
Ultimately, it's an engaging novella that expertly utilizes its speculative aspects to delve into the relationships of the main character.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child death, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Torture
jesshindes's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This book covers two of my current interests: novellas, and creature romance. It's a beautiful example of both. The central concept - unhappy housewife Dotty starts a relationship with a hunky sea creature who has escaped from a government lab - is just right for a story of this length, I think. You can get away at novella and short story length without too many detailed explanations or too much involved world building (altho the world that Ingalls hints at for Larry is just strange enough to feel plausible and intriguing), and concentrate on what you want to happen. Like a good short story, too, this novella somehow conjures a really thought provoking, moving emotional narrative from its fantastical premise. This is despite the fact that Ingalls' prose is never excessive. She has a dry, comic tone that's a little detached and (imo) very charming. And the book surprised me, in the end. I think my next move might be to read it all over again.
Content Warnings
Minor: Car accident, Sexual assault, and Child death
valentinaambrosius's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I’m not exactly sure why, but this book feels both rushed and stretched out at the same time.
Though it is a beautiful tale of a struggling woman finding and love long herself a bit more with the help of an amphibious man. A truly sweet portrayal of the everyday slump and routine without boring me at all.
It did heavily remind me of The Shape of Water; though this novel is much more whimsical and mundane. Mrs. Caliban is far more reflective, realistic about what would transpire (-ish) instead of outright dreamy and focused on being beautiful.
And that god damn ending!! What a twist!!! The author really sad f u and everything you stand for in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way
Though it is a beautiful tale of a struggling woman finding and love long herself a bit more with the help of an amphibious man. A truly sweet portrayal of the everyday slump and routine without boring me at all.
It did heavily remind me of The Shape of Water; though this novel is much more whimsical and mundane. Mrs. Caliban is far more reflective, realistic about what would transpire (-ish) instead of outright dreamy and focused on being beautiful.
And that god damn ending!! What a twist!!! The author really sad f u and everything you stand for in the most beautiful and heartbreaking way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, and Grief
Moderate: Car accident
angel_kiiss's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Car accident
issareads's review
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, and Infidelity
Minor: Car accident, Child death, Miscarriage, and Torture
katselvocki's review
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I came into this not expecting much, and it turned out to be charming, tragic, thoughtful, and sad. There’s a lot of reflection on what it means to be trapped, to be different, to be human. I feel like that sounds like a cliche thing to write, but... 🤷🏻♀️
Also, I’m craving avocados now.
Also, I’m craving avocados now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Car accident
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