Simon Watson, a young librarian, lives alone in a house that is slowly crumbling toward the Long Island Sound. His parents are long dead. His mother, a circus mermaid who made her living by holding her breath, drowned in the very water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, ran off six years ago and now reads tarot cards for a traveling carnival. One June day, an old book arrives on Simon’s doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. Fragile and water damaged, the book is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid. Since then, generations of “mermaids” in Simon’s family have drowned–always on July 24, which is only weeks away. As his friend Alice looks on with alarm, Simon becomes increasingly worried about his sister. Could…
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.” – Stephen King I’m a book club veteran. What better way to hang out and talk about books you’ve read along with eating and drinking wine? ‘Course those are the best kinds of book clubs. I’ve been in ones where the members cannot agree on what to read, pick books that are entirely too long (I’m sorry I cannot read Kafka on the Shore which is 505 pages. I simply do not have that kind of time.), meet for too lengthy a session, or members don’t regularly attend. My current club is one I’ve been a member of for about 5 years. It’s a mix of moms who stay at home, work full-time, part-time, and all very involved with their kids and communities. We meet monthly on a consistent Wednesday night. Rotate hostesses and bring food and wine. Everyone is very good about showing…