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A wonderful, whimsical tale involving mermaids and legends.
A wonderful, whimsical tale involving mermaids and legends.
Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected – Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.
When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing – and they cannot escape the curse for ever . . .
The island is fictional but heavily based on the northern edge of Trinidad and Tobago. It is set in and around 1976 which was the same year that the country became a republic.
The novel infuses legends from the Taino people. The Taínos were present throughout the Caribbean islands from approximately 1200 to 1500 A.D., and when Christopher Columbus arrived in the region, the Taínos were the indigenous group he encountered.
The author uses the story of the mermaid and the people of Black Conch Island to explore the issues of colonialism and its repercussions amongst other things.
Mythical, dark and wonderful
The BookTrail’s bookreview of The Mermaid of Black Conch
Destination/Location: Caribbean Author: Monique Roffey Departure: Magical realism time
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