Friday 14 September 2018

The Surface Breaks - Louise O'Neill



Hardcover, 320 pages
Published May 3rd 2018 by Scholastic
YA Fiction /Fairytale re-telling
Library

My Thoughts:
I have read 2 of her previous books, and yes those were dark, but this one was more dark depressing.

Gaia is a mermaid. They are meant to be pretty and sweet and without a thought in their head. But she wants to see the surface and what lies there. Her sisters are all nice and follow their father's lead (oh I can never watch the Little Mermaid again, her dad is an ahole!)

There are also Rusalkas in the seas and they live with the Sea Witch. These Kingdoms have a truce at the moment. Oh and if you do not know your lore Rusalkas are women who have died in water and come back as Rusalkas. 

As you know the story Gaia will eventually go up to the surface for the love of a human boy. And omg this girl was a brainless idiot. She was in love with someone she saw once and she thinks that he will love her back just like that ?! She gambles everything on it. Oh this story is crazy. So yes I was not the biggest Gaia fan cos she was so silly.

Oh and ALL MEN are rapists. Or at least give of a rapey vibe. Not the man she meets, but he is a narcissist. I was not a fan of this, not all men are rapey creeps. I wish there had been some normalcy.

I liked the book, and it felt depressing. I know the real story of course, not the silly DIsney version so I knew what to expect. But throw in all rapey men with incest and pedo vibes. Ugh, what a depressing world.

Conclusion:
Still, an interesting re-telling.

Cover
Nice

Blurb
Deep beneath the sea, off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of freedom from her controlling father. On her first swim to the surface, she is drawn towards a human boy. She longs to join his carefree world, but how much will she have to sacrifice? What will it take for the little mermaid to find her voice? Hans Christian Andersen's original fairy tale is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, with the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans. A book with the darkest of undercurrents, full of rage and rallying cries: storytelling at its most spellbinding.

33 comments:

  1. YIKES! I've met a few narcissists in my lifetime, and the rape thing is a no no!!!! I do enjoy the cover though. Hope your day is as amazing as you are! Hugs...RO

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    Replies
    1. I will forever think that all mermen are one rape away

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  2. A lot of people, including my sister, love re-tellings but they're not my thing.

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    Replies
    1. at least this is a real re-telling and not that Disney version

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  3. Sounds like a very dark retelling to me. Dark is good :).

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  4. Replies
    1. I do not really like that she made it so...

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  5. That sounds like a really strange re-telling. I wonder what the author was thinking to make men come off as rapey creeps like that?

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  6. I still want to read this! I guess I don't mind that it's too dark and depressing, maybe I'd like that it's closer to an old school dark fairy tale. Thanks for reminding me :D

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    Replies
    1. I saw a version of the real one once, made for kids! It made me cry

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  7. "ALL MEN are rapists." That sounds terrible... I hadn't heard of this book before today, and the premise is really intriguing. I also think the cover is gorgeous. I think I'll still try this one, but I'll keep your review in mind!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear?

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    Replies
    1. OK so not every man rape. Only ones does. But I do think another does too, but she does not spell it out, and then one is just SO rapey. So yes creeps the lot of them

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  8. Disney has made all the stories much happier than they were originally written, that is for sure. I do really like that cover.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart

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  9. I'd rather go with the happy Disney version. This does sound depressing. And it is a sad truth that men exploit women often. :(

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    Replies
    1. I get she has some point behind it, but I honestly did not see it other than men are creeps

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  10. No most certainly not for me. The cover would entice but your review would say to me, not don't go looking for this one!

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    Replies
    1. It was still good just a lot of creepy men

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  11. Wow the men are pretty awful here! And too bad Gaia was written so silly. It does sound quite dark!

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  12. This is a pretty over but IDK it sounds like a rough read .

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  13. Well this sounds like a disappointment!

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  14. I will always stick with Ariel. She's my favorite! haha.

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