Search the Products Store
Search the Book Store
clog dancing Book Store Index
Privacy Policy
Copyright Notice
Home
|
|
Midnight Pearls: A Retelling of "The Little Mermaid" (Once Upon a Time) |
Author: Debbie Viguié
Published: 2006-10-24 |
List price: $5.99
Our price: $5.99
|
Usually ships in 24 hours
As of: January 08th, 2009 02:52:01 PM
|
|
|
Customer comments on this selection.
 Little Mermaids (and a Merman too)
This is one of my favorites from the 'Once Upon a Time' series. I've always loved the story of the sacrifice of the Little Mermaid but in this retelling the main character is not the one that must sacrifice something to the Sea Witch.
Peal was discovered by a fisherman in the ocean on the day of a huge storm. She was about four years old, naked as a bluejay and clutching a large, dark pearl. The fisherman and his wife raised her like their own for they had been praying for a child. They told the other villagers that she was family that had been orphaned in a village that had been harder hit by the storm.
Many years later Pearl is all grown up and probably about 17. She still has long, ungainly legs pale translucent skin, silvery hair and won't eat fish. She stares and stares at the sea but never goes in because she has nightmares about a pair of dark eyes watching her in the water and the memory of words that the ocean would kill her. Pearl's best friend is James and he just happens to be a prince. They're tied together as friends because neither treat the other differently despite their rather obvious differences. They really care for each other and so when the topic of marriage comes up from both their families they immediately turn to the other to bail them out. On the day that James would have proposed, their boat sprang a leak and James nearly died but a mermaid brought him to shore while her brother (a merman) watched over Pearl as she swam in to shore.
The merman, Kale, recognizes Pearl as Adriana, a mermaid princess. But Pearl remembers nothing about being a mermaid and Kale doesn't want to risk frightening her off because on top of everything else he had been betrothed to her. Faye, his mermaid sister, falls immediately in love with James despite knowing nothing about him. They help the humans to the land and both head to the Sea Witch who can turn them human. From Faye she takes her voice and strikes a bargain that she must convince the prince to fall in love with her within seven days or lose her life. From Kale she strikes the same bargain but takes his eyes instead of his voice.
Both have quite a handicap to overcome and there is drama on land involving James and a distant cousin that wants the throne. Only by knowing herself and recognizing love will Pearl be able to make everything turn out all right in the end. And of course she does so both of the little mermaids turn out to have a happily ever after but Pearl returns to the sea and Faye remains on land with James.
 The Author definitely doesn't spend time researching
I couldn't even finish this book. Ms. Viguié obviously put no care into her storytelling. She seemed to think that the Sea Witch was part Dryad and part sea serpent. Dryads are WOOD NYMPHS. Dryads would never be at the bottom of the ocean. Sea Nymphs are Naiads. I was so abruptly shocked by this that I couldn't put enough focus into the rest of the story.
I enjoyed her book Scarlet Moon much more. Scarlet Moon. I have read more than a few retold fairy tales and I loved books by Cameron Dokey; Golden (Once Upon A Time), Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time), Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time) and Sunlight and Shadow: A Retelling of "The Magic Flute" (Once Upon a Time). I thought these were more worth it.
 What about Undine?
As the title of the book states, this is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's THE LITTLE MERMAID, but what it fails to mention is the story of UNDINE. UNDINE, which was written by Friedrich de la Motte Fouquee, is another classic but lesser known fairy tale about another water maid. The main character of MIDNIGHT PEARLS, Pearl, is based on Undine. I don't understand why this aspect of the story is not mentioned.
As for the book itself, the cover art is lovely with all the blues, greens, & hints of purple. It really invites you in. The writing is decent & the story is engaging. It would probably be most enjoyed by girls, 10-13 years old. As for myself, it certainly wasn't the best book I've ever read but it was a pleasant enough diversion for an evening.
Better than I'd Expected
I like the "Once Upon a Time" series and the story of "The Little Mermaid," so I was immediately interested in reading this book. However, negative reviews discouraged me from buying it for some time.
Then I saw it at a bookstore one day and had nothing else to buy, so I decided to try it anyway. And it was much better than the ratings here give it credit for.
I liked the characters and the setting, and the story was interesting. Some things were easy to figure out, but others weren't, and the twists kept me interested. There were a couple of problems, however. For one, the writing style was a bit cliched and overwrought. This didn't affect my enjoyment very much, though.
SPOILER
The thing that did bother me was the way the author handled the romance. She creates a very tender and real relationship between Pearl and James. Then, I assume to make the plot less predictable, she throws in two new characters to be their real romantic interests. The new characters were likable enough, and their romances with Pearl and James were sweet. But they didn't have the tenderness or depth that existed between James and Pearl, and I was a bit disappointed that those two didn't end up together.
But that aside, I did enjoy the book, and I'm not sorry I read it. It's not the best addition to the "Once Upon a Time" series, but it's still worth a look.
 Disney, but more corny.
After having read and liked another book in the series, I started to read the others, and so far have to say this one is the worse. Instead of falling the orginial plot it takes on the Disney theme, complete with the sappy ending and the evil sea witch. The main character of the novel isn't even the Little Mermaid, who you don't meet until halfway through the book. The plot past page 60 is very childish, and goes much to fast and with badly explained reasons for sudden plot twist and memory regain, along with sudden plots against other people. It doesn't seem to occur in real time and seems more like a fanfiction then an actual novel. If you really want to read this book, I recommend checking it out for it is a waste of good money. Actually, I recommend skipping this book in the series.
|
|
Our clog dancing book picks:
|
|
Search the clog dancing Products Store
LCS Amazon Store 2.5 © 2009
|