Sea Witch is a book written by Sarah Henning. It is a young adult fantasy novel that was published in 2018. The story is a dark retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fairy tale, The Little Mermaid. The book follows the character of Evie, who is a young witch living in a coastal town called Havnestad. Evie's best friend, Anna, dies in a tragic accident, and Evie is left devastated. However, one day, a mysterious girl named Annemette arrives in Havnestad, bearing a striking resemblance to Anna.
John Banville's The Infinities is published by Picador.
One of the great things about Amulet is the voice of Auxilio Lacouture it is fascinating to follow her train of thoughts because she seems interesting in all her eccentricities and instances of quiet rebellion. The promise and subsequent failure of 1968 was not unique to Latin America-France has made a fetish of May 68-but perhaps the consequences were most dire there.
However, one day, a mysterious girl named Annemette arrives in Havnestad, bearing a striking resemblance to Anna. As the story progresses, it is revealed that Annemette is actually a mermaid who made a deal with the Sea Witch, becoming human for a short period of time. Evie is determined to uncover the truth about Anna's death and the secret behind Annemette's appearance.
Amulet by Roberto Bolaño
The narrator of Roberto Bolaño's Amulet, his latest work to be translated into English, promises in its first paragraph that hers will be “a horror story,” full of “murder, detection and horror.[b]ut it won't appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller.” This early admonition not to take at face value the account that follows is advice well worth taking. The narrator, Auxilio Lacouture, tells a detailed story, and posits herself as the “mother of Mexican poetry.” She wants to speak for the age, and her intimate knowledge of all of its personalities suggests she has the right. But her account soon develops fissures. She has trouble, for example, establishing when she emigrated from Uruguay to Mexico City. Was it 1967 or 1968 or some time in the 1970s? Later, she recounts vividly a meeting with an artist in the city that either took place in 1963 before the artist's death or not at all, invalidating the earlier conclusions about her arrival. By novel's end, we know we are in a fantasy, and the last pages are Auxilio's dream-vision of an entire generation. It is a strange story told in a bizarre voice, at once calm and antic. It is also further proof, for those of us who come to him in translation, of Bolaño's immense gifts.
The novel suggests to us a central moment, or zero-hour, for its chronological distortion and hallucination. In 1968, at the height of a worldwide youth protest movement, the Mexican government violently occupied a number of its universities, arresting, beating, and occasionally killing those in their path. Since Auxilio is in the bathroom when the assault begins and the soldiers miss her in their sweep of the area, she earns the distinction of being the only holdout on campus during the fourteen-day occupation. The majority of the remaining novel finds the narrator seated on the toilet “remembering” events in her life-those in the future as well as those in the past. The campus assault functions in time like the disturbance of a pond's surface, and Auxilio's omnidirectional memories are the ripples of that disturbance. The promise and subsequent failure of 1968 was not unique to Latin America-France has made a fetish of May 68-but perhaps the consequences were most dire there.
The overthrow of the Allende government in Chile, one of the largest historical ripples from 1968's failure, makes an appearance midway through Amulet, as it does in virtually every Bolaño fiction. In this text, a young friend of the narrator's, Arturito Belano, leaves Mexico City to go fight for the deposed left of his native Chile. Arturito returns a changed man. He will go on to play a significant, if enigmatic, role in the narrative. When Auxilio is discussing another personality, she will suddenly mention Arturito, apropos of nothing. This habit alongside the resemblance of the character's name to the author's own name, leads the reader into odd territory. Is Arturito the “true” author of the narrative? Has he displaced the authorship of his own story for reasons not readily apparent? Even Auxilio's name suggests that she is an appurtenance. It is one of only many mysteries in this lovely work of deceit.
Alex Wenger is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at Columbia
Translated from the Spanish by Chris Andrews
New Directions, 2006
The narrator of Roberto Bolaño's Amulet, his latest work to be translated into English, promises in its first paragraph that hers will be “a horror story,” full of “murder, detection and horror.[b]ut it won't appear to be, for the simple reason that I am the teller.” This early admonition not to take at face value the account that follows is advice well worth taking. The narrator, Auxilio Lacouture, tells a detailed story, and posits herself as the “mother of Mexican poetry.” She wants to speak for the age, and her intimate knowledge of all of its personalities suggests she has the right. But her account soon develops fissures. She has trouble, for example, establishing when she emigrated from Uruguay to Mexico City. Was it 1967 or 1968 or some time in the 1970s? Later, she recounts vividly a meeting with an artist in the city that either took place in 1963 before the artist's death or not at all, invalidating the earlier conclusions about her arrival. By novel's end, we know we are in a fantasy, and the last pages are Auxilio's dream-vision of an entire generation. It is a strange story told in a bizarre voice, at once calm and antic. It is also further proof, for those of us who come to him in translation, of Bolaño's immense gifts.
The novel suggests to us a central moment, or zero-hour, for its chronological distortion and hallucination. In 1968, at the height of a worldwide youth protest movement, the Mexican government violently occupied a number of its universities, arresting, beating, and occasionally killing those in their path. Since Auxilio is in the bathroom when the assault begins and the soldiers miss her in their sweep of the area, she earns the distinction of being the only holdout on campus during the fourteen-day occupation. The majority of the remaining novel finds the narrator seated on the toilet “remembering” events in her life-those in the future as well as those in the past. The campus assault functions in time like the disturbance of a pond's surface, and Auxilio's omnidirectional memories are the ripples of that disturbance. The promise and subsequent failure of 1968 was not unique to Latin America-France has made a fetish of May 68-but perhaps the consequences were most dire there.
The overthrow of the Allende government in Chile, one of the largest historical ripples from 1968's failure, makes an appearance midway through Amulet, as it does in virtually every Bolaño fiction. In this text, a young friend of the narrator's, Arturito Belano, leaves Mexico City to go fight for the deposed left of his native Chile. Arturito returns a changed man. He will go on to play a significant, if enigmatic, role in the narrative. When Auxilio is discussing another personality, she will suddenly mention Arturito, apropos of nothing. This habit alongside the resemblance of the character's name to the author's own name, leads the reader into odd territory. Is Arturito the “true” author of the narrative? Has he displaced the authorship of his own story for reasons not readily apparent? Even Auxilio's name suggests that she is an appurtenance. It is one of only many mysteries in this lovely work of deceit.
Alex Wenger is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at Columbia
Alex Wenger is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Fiction at Columbia
Throughout the book, the reader gets to experience Evie's journey as she delves deeper into magic, friendship, love, and sacrifice. The story is filled with twists and turns, keeping the reader engaged and wanting to know more. Sea Witch also explores themes such as identity, forgiveness, and the consequences of one's actions. It presents a unique take on the well-known tale and brings depth to the characters and their motivations. Overall, Sea Witch is a captivating and enchanting read for fans of fantasy and fairy tales. Sarah Henning weaves a spellbinding story that will leave readers wanting more..
Reviews for "The Sea Witch Book: A Feminist Approach to Fairy Tales"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "Sea Witch" because I love all things related to mermaids and sea creatures, but unfortunately, this book didn't live up to my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for the story to get interesting. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I found the plot to be quite predictable and lacking in originality. It's a shame because the concept had so much potential, but it fell short for me.
2. John - 1/5 - I found "Sea Witch" to be incredibly boring and poorly written. The worldbuilding was confusing and underdeveloped, making it hard for me to immerse myself into the story. The main character lacked depth and had no real motivation or personality. The romance felt forced and didn't add anything to the plot. I was hoping for a captivating and intriguing tale about witches and the sea, but instead, I got a dull and uninspiring read. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Lisa - 2/5 - Honestly, I was disappointed by "Sea Witch." The writing style was overly descriptive and dragged the story down. The pacing was inconsistent, with some sections feeling rushed and others being drawn out unnecessarily. The plot was predictable, and there were no real surprises or twists. The characters were forgettable, and I didn't feel invested in their journey. Overall, it was a forgettable read that didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a die-hard fan of sea-themed books.
4. Mark - 2.5/5 - "Sea Witch" had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing was slow, and it took too long for the story to gain momentum. The characters lacked depth and development. I struggled to connect with them and their emotions. The worldbuilding was also lacking, and I found it hard to visualize the settings and understand the magical elements. The writing style was okay, but it didn't captivate me or make me feel invested in the story. Overall, it was an average read that didn't leave a lasting impression.