A review by jillkahnwald
The Mermaid Girl: A Story by Erika Swyler

3.0

I won this short story and the accompanying first chapter of Erika Swyler's novel The Book of Speculation in a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed the short story and thought it gave a nice glimpse into the family life of a displaced carnival member, building good characterization even in its short form. Although the story did not have a large arc or definitive resolution, it was a competent portrayal of a slice of life. I have not read the full novel, but the first chapter did pique my interest. I am curious how much of Paulina's story takes precedence in the novel over Simon's. Erika Swyler's prose is enjoyable, and while I probably will not read the novel (my to-read list is already extensive), I believe it would be worth reading.