Friday, July 31, 2015

On "Peabody’s Mermaid": A Book Review



Apologies for my cover and not the actual one. I thought I was getting the one with the funny disclaimer on the cover and in irritation at it being the movie one, I made my own. The book’s cover is too brittle for me to slip mine off, so you’ll just have to take my word for that William Powell and Ann Blyth are under there.


Title: Peabody’s Mermaid
Author: Guy and Constance Jones
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

About the book…
Arthur Peabody has been ill, so as part of his recovery he and his wife Polly head to a Villa in the Caribbean for a vacation. What they didn’t expect though, was the strain this vacation was to put on their marriage when the biggest catch on a day Peabody spends fishing turns out to be a mermaid. 

This was first published in Cosmopolitan Magazine in serialized form from October to November of 1945 and then a few years later published in actual book form. In 1948 it was made into the movie Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid staring William Powell as Peabody and Ann Blyth as the mermaid. 

What I think…
First and foremost, when reading this it’s helpful to remember that it was originally published in serial form.

This book is good, but for its very short length it would have been stronger if it were written by one person. While this probably wouldn’t have been as noticeable in its original form, you do notice it if you read this in a couple of sittings.

That aside, it’s a fun imaginative story. A little simplistic at times, but engaging and adding a modern (in the 1940’s sense) twist the more traditional mermaids stories.The situations Peabody finds himself in due to the mermaid and his wife’s lack of belief that there is one lend a subtle comedy to some of the more serious aspects explored in the book. One of my favorite parts, which is also in the movie, being when Peabody goes to buy half a bathing suit for the mermaid to the displeasure of the clerk.

For those who have seen the movie, the ending is different, but as I find is often the case, I preferred the book ending.

To sum it all up… 
Another one of those books that will do just swimmingly for a day at the beach or when you just want something light! And as the cover I wanted said “If you cannot bring yourself to believe in the existence of a beautiful and irresistible mermaid, this book is not for you”.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

On Christmas in July: A Photo Post

Two ornaments just in time for warmer weather! Now I just need somewhere safe to put them for the next four months.


As a side note, despite saying the Photo Post series was going to be occasional, you can now look forward to seeing them on a regular basis.