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celtic67's review
5.0
This was a beautiful read. The writing was so beautiful and entrancing. I find this hard to believe it's a debut novel. I was recommended this book and was glad it was so.
It's based on Scottish folk lore, On the tales of the Selkies, seals who change to human form when they set foot on land.
Donald when out checking his crab traps is a witness to this miracle, and takes the fateful decision to hide the sealskin of one Selkie so she is marooned; in human form to the land.
This was a read that combines folk traditions and all the mundane tasks of everyday living; earning a living, raising children etc.
I would recommend this read as a alternative to anyone who is maybe jaded with their current genre.
A 5 star read for me.
It's based on Scottish folk lore, On the tales of the Selkies, seals who change to human form when they set foot on land.
Donald when out checking his crab traps is a witness to this miracle, and takes the fateful decision to hide the sealskin of one Selkie so she is marooned; in human form to the land.
This was a read that combines folk traditions and all the mundane tasks of everyday living; earning a living, raising children etc.
I would recommend this read as a alternative to anyone who is maybe jaded with their current genre.
A 5 star read for me.
pkhousley's review
4.0
Not my normal choice but I picked this up as it won the illustrious Exeter Novel Prize! A little like a Michael Morpurgo.
krobart's review
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/review-1544-sealskin/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2020/08/24/review-1544-sealskin/
glitterkitter's review
2.0
Content warning for rape. It's not graphic, but it's in one of the first scenes of the book and there's implications and mentions throughout the rest.
This book tries to sell me on something I can't be sold on. The protagonist, Donald, whose point of view we get the entire book, rapes and essentially kidnaps a selkie. The rest of the book is him grappling with having done such a terrible thing and trying to make up for it and his life becoming much better because of it. It's obviously trying to do something along the lines of good things can come from bad starts as long as you try hard enough, even outright says it a few times, but I can't be sold on that when the bad start is rape and kidnapping. Especially when the good stuff is all from the point of view of Donald. He used to be an outsider, but stepping up and marrying makes him fit in more. The best that happens to Mairhi, the selkie, is that she seems to adapt to the life she now has and she still has no choices or freedom.
I do understand that this is based on a popular piece of legend/folklore, but come on, be more aware of the parts of it that you're adapting, please.
This book tries to sell me on something I can't be sold on. The protagonist, Donald, whose point of view we get the entire book, rapes and essentially kidnaps a selkie. The rest of the book is him grappling with having done such a terrible thing and trying to make up for it and his life becoming much better because of it. It's obviously trying to do something along the lines of good things can come from bad starts as long as you try hard enough, even outright says it a few times, but I can't be sold on that when the bad start is rape and kidnapping. Especially when the good stuff is all from the point of view of Donald. He used to be an outsider, but stepping up and marrying makes him fit in more. The best that happens to Mairhi, the selkie, is that she seems to adapt to the life she now has and she still has no choices or freedom.
I do understand that this is based on a popular piece of legend/folklore, but come on, be more aware of the parts of it that you're adapting, please.
kellyvandamme's review
4.0
Beautiful tale about a magical creature who can't return to her home and tries to make a life for herself and a home away from home.
What if you were a seal and you could shed your sealskin and become human for just a little while and play with your fellow selkies in the waves, on the beach for just one night?
What if someone saw and took your skin and took you and you could never return to the sea you love?
Could you forgive, could you forget, could you move on?
And what if you were the one who took and took and took and came to regret it but found it could not be undone?
I'm a sucker for lores and legends and magical creatures so of course this was right up my street. Su Bristow has such a calm, understated way of telling her story, I got sucked in and it didn't let me go.
I listened to this book on Audible and the warm voice of the narrator, Angus King, and his perfect Scottish accent, really made the story come alive.
Recommended.
What if you were a seal and you could shed your sealskin and become human for just a little while and play with your fellow selkies in the waves, on the beach for just one night?
What if someone saw and took your skin and took you and you could never return to the sea you love?
Could you forgive, could you forget, could you move on?
And what if you were the one who took and took and took and came to regret it but found it could not be undone?
I'm a sucker for lores and legends and magical creatures so of course this was right up my street. Su Bristow has such a calm, understated way of telling her story, I got sucked in and it didn't let me go.
I listened to this book on Audible and the warm voice of the narrator, Angus King, and his perfect Scottish accent, really made the story come alive.
Recommended.
zugthemegasaurus's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
hlba's review
5.0
My favourite book of the year. Beautifully written and such a great take on the legend of the selkie.
samsearle's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence, and Kidnapping