The Book of Speculation
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Book Overview
One of BuzzFeed's Best Fiction Books of the Year
**Includes a bonus short story, "The Mermaid Girl"**In the tradition of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, The Book of Speculation--with two-color illustrations by the author--is Erika Swyler's moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic.
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 there be a curse on Simon's family? What does it have to do with the book, and can he get to the heart of the mystery in time to save Enola?
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1250055636
ISBN13:9781250055637
Release Date:May 2016
Publisher:St. Martin's Griffin
Length:384 Pages
Weight:0.85 lbs.
Dimensions:1.3" x 5.5" x 8.2"
Customer Reviews
2 ratings
Loved it
Published by Jenni , 2 years ago
I loved this story about the mysterious adventures of a gypsy caravan and also the lives of their descendants who are trying to understand their family history. heartwarming and at the same time a little creepy with an interesting plot
This book is an absolute masterpiece!
Published by Auttibelle , 2 years ago
To say this book is amazing is a serious understatement! I absolutely loved 🥰 it with every fiber of my being.
Honestly what’s not to love ❤️ here. There’s mermaids 🧜♀️, circus 🎪 acts, tarot 🃏readers, hexes, history and books 📚!
Definitely a must read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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