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susannavs's review
3.0
A dual timeline tale of a couple who discover the remains of an infant buried in the house they bought on a Scottish Island, and the minister who lived in the house in the 1860s, the fate of the Scottish peoples and stories of the 'selkies' from Scottish lore.
I really enjoyed the Rev. Ferguson and Moira chapters - his more than hers though. The modern day chapters were good, but I found something lacking. I expected more of a tie between the two timelines (unless I missed something), and there were parts (of both Ruth and Moira's stories) that I felt could have been eliminated without detracting from the story. I never fully understood what Ruth did (yes, she provided anatomical drawings of lizards for an academic book, but it felt like that was forced in just so the author would have the "lizard brain" as a convenient explanation for what Ruth felt and did), and Moira's intent on revenge was half-hearted.
Not knowing a lot about the selkie legends, it was quite fascinating to hear of one possible explanation for them. The author also obviously did a lot of research into conditions in the Scottish isles at the time.
I like the narrators of Ferguson and Moira, but Ruth's was a bit clipped and too precise at times.
I really enjoyed the Rev. Ferguson and Moira chapters - his more than hers though. The modern day chapters were good, but I found something lacking. I expected more of a tie between the two timelines (unless I missed something), and there were parts (of both Ruth and Moira's stories) that I felt could have been eliminated without detracting from the story. I never fully understood what Ruth did (yes, she provided anatomical drawings of lizards for an academic book, but it felt like that was forced in just so the author would have the "lizard brain" as a convenient explanation for what Ruth felt and did), and Moira's intent on revenge was half-hearted.
Not knowing a lot about the selkie legends, it was quite fascinating to hear of one possible explanation for them. The author also obviously did a lot of research into conditions in the Scottish isles at the time.
I like the narrators of Ferguson and Moira, but Ruth's was a bit clipped and too precise at times.
faerielibrarie's review
mysterious
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Suicide and Rape
sara_b_wondering's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I found the pacing of this book strange. It felt very slow moving for most of the book and then the last 50 pages or so felt rushed as everything was wrapped up. I also felt like the two storylines could have been more closely connect by theme. They often felt like two completely different stories with a only a thin connection of setting. Despite all this I did like the characters and the writing. It was an easy read and enjoyable enough though I’m not certain I’d recommend it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Child abuse, Child death, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
mdabernig's review
3.0
I remember when I was a kid, we were told about Selkies and they always seemed so magical and I think I've always had a soft spot for seals since then because of those stories. This book took those stories that I think many people in Scotland grew up hearing and gave them context and maybe a foundation and I loved that about it.
There's something about being given a potential trigger for a myth and seeing how that could become something so very different in the re-telling, but actually still so much the same that appeals to me and this book definitely provides that.
I could have given this a higher rating - I wanted to love the story as much as I loved the idea of the story, and there were aspects of it that I did love, but the modern part of the tale just didn't engage me that much and I found myself waiting for the flashbacks to the historic portion and to find out what happened to Moira and Alexander, two much more rounded and interesting characters for me.
There's something about being given a potential trigger for a myth and seeing how that could become something so very different in the re-telling, but actually still so much the same that appeals to me and this book definitely provides that.
I could have given this a higher rating - I wanted to love the story as much as I loved the idea of the story, and there were aspects of it that I did love, but the modern part of the tale just didn't engage me that much and I found myself waiting for the flashbacks to the historic portion and to find out what happened to Moira and Alexander, two much more rounded and interesting characters for me.
ariereads's review
2.0
I expected to really love this one, but instead after finishing I just felt a faint sort of "meh".
It deals with... well, a lot, but somehow you never feel at all connected to the characters, and the whole story somehow takes all the magic out of everything too. I found myself putting it down for weeks at a time and only reading a chapter or so before abandoning it again. Not badly written, just really not for me.
It deals with... well, a lot, but somehow you never feel at all connected to the characters, and the whole story somehow takes all the magic out of everything too. I found myself putting it down for weeks at a time and only reading a chapter or so before abandoning it again. Not badly written, just really not for me.
thebooktree's review
2.0
More of a 1.5, but I'll round up.
This wasnt anything that I wanted it to be, but im glad to have finished it.
This wasnt anything that I wanted it to be, but im glad to have finished it.
frickative's review
4.0
Secrets of the Sea House isn't something I'd ever have picked up of my own accord, and it had the great misfortune of being read at the same time as the phenomenal S. by JJ Abrams and Doug Dorst (my absolute favourite read in a long time.) Despite all that, I ended up enjoying it much more than I expected to.
There's always a sense of obligation with book club books that I've stupidly left until the week of the monthly meeting, then have to tear through at lightning speed. I usually end up resenting the book a bit (which I know is daft and entirely my fault, but still, it happens.) In this instance though, I actually found myself enjoying the surprising little story so much that I set S. aside for a few days to read this in increasingly lengthy bursts.
Secrets of the Sea House is told from three different perspectives. There's modern-day Ruth, who begins renovating an old sea house only to find the remains of a "mermaid baby" buried under the floorboards. And then in regular flashbacks to 1860, there's vicar Alexander and his wild maid Moira. I enjoyed the historical sections more than the modern ones. Ruth's backstory heaps tragedy atop tragedy, to the point that I couldn't empathise with her as a "real" character because her misfortune felt too unlikely. But Alexander's quest to discover the truth behind selkies and mermaids made for a compelling story, as did the clearance of the island under its cruel governor. Towards the end, there's quite a long time jump in which I would love to have read much, much more about Moira. She was easily my favourite of the three, torn between her desire for revenge for her family's deaths, and her loyalty and devotion toward Alexander.
If I'd have judged this book by its cover, I would have guessed it to be a run-of-the-mill romance, so am very glad I was persuaded to give it a chance.
[Review originally published on my blog at Line After Line].
There's always a sense of obligation with book club books that I've stupidly left until the week of the monthly meeting, then have to tear through at lightning speed. I usually end up resenting the book a bit (which I know is daft and entirely my fault, but still, it happens.) In this instance though, I actually found myself enjoying the surprising little story so much that I set S. aside for a few days to read this in increasingly lengthy bursts.
Secrets of the Sea House is told from three different perspectives. There's modern-day Ruth, who begins renovating an old sea house only to find the remains of a "mermaid baby" buried under the floorboards. And then in regular flashbacks to 1860, there's vicar Alexander and his wild maid Moira. I enjoyed the historical sections more than the modern ones. Ruth's backstory heaps tragedy atop tragedy, to the point that I couldn't empathise with her as a "real" character because her misfortune felt too unlikely. But Alexander's quest to discover the truth behind selkies and mermaids made for a compelling story, as did the clearance of the island under its cruel governor. Towards the end, there's quite a long time jump in which I would love to have read much, much more about Moira. She was easily my favourite of the three, torn between her desire for revenge for her family's deaths, and her loyalty and devotion toward Alexander.
If I'd have judged this book by its cover, I would have guessed it to be a run-of-the-mill romance, so am very glad I was persuaded to give it a chance.
[Review originally published on my blog at Line After Line].
kayo32's review
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Suicide
kali's review
5.0
This book is similar to Anna Mazzola's The Story Keeper, and Sarah Moss's Night Waking, both books I enjoyed. However, Secrets of the Sea House offers something unique -- an explanation for Selkies / mermaids / Finnmen myths. It seemed totally plausible and the moment I finished the book I did a little Google searching to learn more -- always a sign of a good book.
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