Take a photo of a barcode or cover
gregarius 's review for:
Sailor Twain: Or: The Mermaid in the Hudson
by Mark Siegel
An unusual tale with wonderful artwork, the book had several things going for it, but unfortunately it balanced that out with just as many things against it.
The story is sort of a mythical folktale set in America just after the Civil War. A riverboat captain on the Hudson rescues and nurses a mermaid while dealing with his crew and the boat's eccentric owner. I suppose that is what's called "magical realism," but for me it was an odd mix.
Similarly, the artwork was an odd mix. Most of it was beautifully rendered charcoal sketches. However the characters were more cartoonishly drawn with over-large simple eyes. The effect just didn't work for me. Instead of providing a dream-like quality, it just felt uneven.
Overall, it wasn't particularly bad, but I certainly don't understand the wide amount of praise the book has received.
The story is sort of a mythical folktale set in America just after the Civil War. A riverboat captain on the Hudson rescues and nurses a mermaid while dealing with his crew and the boat's eccentric owner. I suppose that is what's called "magical realism," but for me it was an odd mix.
Similarly, the artwork was an odd mix. Most of it was beautifully rendered charcoal sketches. However the characters were more cartoonishly drawn with over-large simple eyes. The effect just didn't work for me. Instead of providing a dream-like quality, it just felt uneven.
Overall, it wasn't particularly bad, but I certainly don't understand the wide amount of praise the book has received.