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likethebabyfood's review
2.0
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!!!!!!!!!!!)
jasgems's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
desdejonah's review
5.0
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")
morgankailackerman's review
4.0
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.
verkiezen's review against another edition
3.0
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!
rachelkc's review
5.0
This retelling of stays true to the structure and general plot of the original story: a young woman saves a young man, and then falls in love with him despite their inability to be together. In this Caribbean version, Desiree cannot be with Daniel because of their race and class differences - he comes from an upper class family, while she is a mere peasant girl, with dark hair and skin, and his family will not accept their affection. Like the original, this story is heartbreaking and tender, but with more relevancy to our world.
This title has been adapted into a successful musical that was recently revived on Broadway.
This title has been adapted into a successful musical that was recently revived on Broadway.
coffeeandink's review against another edition
3.0
A bitter fairy tale about a young black peasant girl who falls in love with the light-skinned son of a rich man on a Caribbean island, this is the basis of the musical Once on This Island, which softened the story considerably by adding a metafictional frame. Guy's eye on the prices exacted by colorism and classism is much colder. All the orphans of this island, Guy says, are called Ti-Moune, and so the peasant girl is named by her foster parents and the various helpers she finds on her journey; her given name is Desiree Dieudonnee, Gift of God, and Desiree is what her lover calls her. He sees no need to repay her care and affection.
Hadn't realized it was based on "The Little Mermaid" till reading the book.
Hadn't realized it was based on "The Little Mermaid" till reading the book.
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