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Mermaids
"Mrs. Flax was happiest when she was leaving a place, but I wanted to stay put long enough to fall down crazy and hear the Word of God. I always called my mother Mrs. Flax."
So begins this extraordinary first novel about one wild year in the life of fourteen-year-old Charlotte Flax, when she and her sister Kate move with Mrs. Flax into a sleepy 1960's Massachusetts town. Mrs. Flax is a woman who wears polka-dot dresses and serves hors d'oeuvres for dinner every night, and Kate is a child who basically wants to be a fish.
And then there's Charlotte, who in Patty Dann's hands, is transformed into a young woman of infinite whim and variety. Charlotte's main ambition in life is to become a saint, preferably martyred, though she's Jewish. She's smitten with the shy young caretaker at the convent at the top of the hill. Dann has created a young girl who accepts the unkindness of the mad universe in which she's whirling and takes it on with a savage glee.
Charlotte Flax is like no one you have ever met--and someone you know very well.
So begins this extraordinary first novel about one wild year in the life of fourteen-year-old Charlotte Flax, when she and her sister Kate move with Mrs. Flax into a sleepy 1960's Massachusetts town. Mrs. Flax is a woman who wears polka-dot dresses and serves hors d'oeuvres for dinner every night, and Kate is a child who basically wants to be a fish.
And then there's Charlotte, who in Patty Dann's hands, is transformed into a young woman of infinite whim and variety. Charlotte's main ambition in life is to become a saint, preferably martyred, though she's Jewish. She's smitten with the shy young caretaker at the convent at the top of the hill. Dann has created a young girl who accepts the unkindness of the mad universe in which she's whirling and takes it on with a savage glee.
Charlotte Flax is like no one you have ever met--and someone you know very well.
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1986
64 people are currently reading
1655 people want to read
About the author
Patty Dann
7 books74 followersI love talking with readers - for 1:1s and Book Club visits, find me on Skolay: www.skolay.com/writers/patty-dann
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
July 16, 2021
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
Fact #1: Mermaids came out in 1986.
Fact #2: Mermaids is not about mermaids.
Fact #3: Mermaids was made into a movie starring Cher as Mrs. Flax, the wild mother, Winona Ryder as the older daughter, and Christina Ricci as the younger daughter. Though I haven’t seen the movie, this is the perfect cast for this book, which ought to tell you something.
Guys, this book was strange. Mostly, it was actually a pretty normal YA plotline, not that YA really existed back in the day, when I guess this must have been the shortest adult novel ever, since I don’t imagine it would have been given to children. The Flaxes are a dysfunctional family (is there any other kind?) headed by Mrs. Flax. She’s a single parent, with two girls, Charlotte and Kate, both with different fathers. The family moves constantly, whenever Mrs. Flax’s romance du jour turns south.
Unsurprisingly, Charlotte holds a lot of resentment for Mrs. Flax, which is what she calls her all the time. Children tend, most often to admire their parents and want to be like them or to want to be the total opposite. Charlotte’s the latter sort, only, for her, rebelling means religion, high-necked dresses, and a desire to become a saint (even though her family is Jewish). Her little asides about saints are hilarious and, oh my, how I can picture Winona Ryder being perfection at this. At the same time, though, Charlotte’s actually got a lot in common with her mother, and even feels jealous of her mother’s popularity. Also unsurprising is that Charlotte has some daddy issues. She has a picture of his shoes and hopes to identify him this way (lol, gurl, not happening).
For all the tension between Charlotte and Mrs. Flax, the family’s actually fairly loving overall. Charlotte’s not thrilled about the situation, but she’s also a teen and that tends to go along with moping. Both Charlotte and Mrs. Flax dote on Kate, who ties them together into a family unit. Mrs. Flax’s endless string of affairs has clearly affected Charlotte’s psyche in a really unhealthy way, but she’s not intentionally abusive. Some people just aren’t good parents unfortunately.
Mermaids is about Charlotte transitioning from a girl to a woman, and hoping that the family will finally stay in one place for a while. Fourteen-year-old Charlotte, daddy issues hard at work, crushes hard on twenty-nine-year-old Joe. You guys, I was super not cool with the romance plot or how the ending went freaking bananas, all of which I must spoiler tag. View Spoiler » Go home, book. You’re drunk.
The audiobook was a really pleasant way to read the story, especially since it was only four hours. That took no time at all. (Well, actually, it took 4 hours.) Aaaanyway, I thought Elizabeth Evans did a good job portraying Charlotte, both the naivete and the know-it-all superiority sides of her character. She does a convincing teen voice, without sounding like an older woman trying to sound like a teen.
I would kind of like to watch the movie now, but it’s not on Netflix Watch Instantly. I shall have to see if I can rustle it up somewhere. This was a weird, creepy, and entertaining read.
Fact #1: Mermaids came out in 1986.
Fact #2: Mermaids is not about mermaids.
Fact #3: Mermaids was made into a movie starring Cher as Mrs. Flax, the wild mother, Winona Ryder as the older daughter, and Christina Ricci as the younger daughter. Though I haven’t seen the movie, this is the perfect cast for this book, which ought to tell you something.
Guys, this book was strange. Mostly, it was actually a pretty normal YA plotline, not that YA really existed back in the day, when I guess this must have been the shortest adult novel ever, since I don’t imagine it would have been given to children. The Flaxes are a dysfunctional family (is there any other kind?) headed by Mrs. Flax. She’s a single parent, with two girls, Charlotte and Kate, both with different fathers. The family moves constantly, whenever Mrs. Flax’s romance du jour turns south.
Unsurprisingly, Charlotte holds a lot of resentment for Mrs. Flax, which is what she calls her all the time. Children tend, most often to admire their parents and want to be like them or to want to be the total opposite. Charlotte’s the latter sort, only, for her, rebelling means religion, high-necked dresses, and a desire to become a saint (even though her family is Jewish). Her little asides about saints are hilarious and, oh my, how I can picture Winona Ryder being perfection at this. At the same time, though, Charlotte’s actually got a lot in common with her mother, and even feels jealous of her mother’s popularity. Also unsurprising is that Charlotte has some daddy issues. She has a picture of his shoes and hopes to identify him this way (lol, gurl, not happening).
For all the tension between Charlotte and Mrs. Flax, the family’s actually fairly loving overall. Charlotte’s not thrilled about the situation, but she’s also a teen and that tends to go along with moping. Both Charlotte and Mrs. Flax dote on Kate, who ties them together into a family unit. Mrs. Flax’s endless string of affairs has clearly affected Charlotte’s psyche in a really unhealthy way, but she’s not intentionally abusive. Some people just aren’t good parents unfortunately.
Mermaids is about Charlotte transitioning from a girl to a woman, and hoping that the family will finally stay in one place for a while. Fourteen-year-old Charlotte, daddy issues hard at work, crushes hard on twenty-nine-year-old Joe. You guys, I was super not cool with the romance plot or how the ending went freaking bananas, all of which I must spoiler tag. View Spoiler » Go home, book. You’re drunk.
The audiobook was a really pleasant way to read the story, especially since it was only four hours. That took no time at all. (Well, actually, it took 4 hours.) Aaaanyway, I thought Elizabeth Evans did a good job portraying Charlotte, both the naivete and the know-it-all superiority sides of her character. She does a convincing teen voice, without sounding like an older woman trying to sound like a teen.
I would kind of like to watch the movie now, but it’s not on Netflix Watch Instantly. I shall have to see if I can rustle it up somewhere. This was a weird, creepy, and entertaining read.
May 3, 2012
I had always loved the movie Mermaids and when I watched it again yesterday I noticed that it was based on a book. I don't know how I managed to miss that, but I immediately went on to Amazon and got the book to read. The movie was surprisingly true to the book, but there were some parts that weren't in the movie that were just as interesting. I love Mrs. Flax and the fact that she only makes hors d'oeuvres, and the book went into a little more detail. I mean, she goes grocery shopping, she just uses the groceries to make hors d'oeuvres instead of meals, which can be just as in-depth as making a meal. And Patty Dann occasionally mentions what kind of hors d'oeuvres they're having. There was an interesting chapter in which Charlotte goes to visit the convent to speak to the Mother Superior, who had invited her to come speak to her about anything she wanted if she ever needed to. I thought this might be good for Charlotte to talk about what was going through her head and whatnot, but Mother Superior brought out cookies for them to eat (which was obviously her little addiction), and they sat there and ate cookies the whole time while Mother Superior talked about herself. Patty Dann did an excellent job of writing for Charlotte, she captured Charlotte teenage selfishness and confusion quite well. Even when the president is assassinated it's really on the periphery of Charlotte's awareness, despite the fact Charlotte's one desire is to be a selfless saint. I also like that Joe was a much more fully realized character than he was in the movie, and I found him to be particularly interesting and tragic in his own way. While the movie gave Mrs. Flax some character development through her relationship with Lou, the book focused more on Charlotte's journey to become a woman, which she's well on her way to becoming at the end when she realizes she's looking at things from a slightly different perspective. I also thought it was interesting and kind of funny that the guidance counselor at the school left her husband because she was in a lesbian relationship with the swim coach. Kate seemed not only just distraught that her swim coach left, but equally distraught that she'd been kissing another woman 'on the lips.' I really enjoy the setting, the time period, the characters, and the progression of the story. Charlotte is obviously seeking out some sort of permanence and virtue because of her mother, who never wants to stay in the same place for longer than a year, and lives a rather 'free' lifestyle for the time period. This is also a contrast to Kate, who simply has her own way of doing things and own interests and doesn't really seem to be bothered by her weirdo mother and sister. This was a enjoyable and fast read with a underlying depth and meaning that I appreciated just as much as the movie.
May 16, 2013
Weird book. Can't believe they made a movie (Cher, Winona Ryder, Christina Ricci) out of this. The story seemed pointless and depressing unless you are into teen sex, statutory rape, child neglect, religion, and psychological trauma. Can't recommend.
September 2, 2007
"I pinched my cheeks for color and tried to keep my eyes open as wide as I could. I wanted to be the most gorgeous woman on the planet Earth, so gorgeous that Joe would kneel in front of the whole town and beg me to run away and live in a teepee with him."
It was strange reading a book that is the original of a movie I have watched countless times and love so much. I didn’t even know it was a book until I happened upon it at the bookstore recently.
I could hear Movie Charlotte’s voice (Winona Ryder) narrating. And she fit perfectly.
The book, even though it was a super skinny novel (150 pages with huge font) it went much deeper into Charlotte and Joe’s relationship. In the movie, Joe just seemed a bit strange, quiet. Yet, Charlotte was also a bit strange, so it worked out ok. But in the book, they had actual conversations, and it was less Charlotte throwing herself at him (awkward scene at the bus door? Didn’t happen) as him asking her along and telling her his life story. Also? Even more relevant, Joe was a VIRGIN. So, at 29 and 14, when they became lovers, they were the first for both.
Also, in the book Charlotte spent time with the Mother Superior and had a job at the shoe store. Mrs. Flax and Lou weren’t as close as they were in the movie.
So. I pretty much had to love the book, as I already loved the movie. It was funny, and cringeworthy. Quirky and sweet. A story of a girl trying so hard to forge connections and find herself while moving around the country constantly
It was strange reading a book that is the original of a movie I have watched countless times and love so much. I didn’t even know it was a book until I happened upon it at the bookstore recently.
I could hear Movie Charlotte’s voice (Winona Ryder) narrating. And she fit perfectly.
The book, even though it was a super skinny novel (150 pages with huge font) it went much deeper into Charlotte and Joe’s relationship. In the movie, Joe just seemed a bit strange, quiet. Yet, Charlotte was also a bit strange, so it worked out ok. But in the book, they had actual conversations, and it was less Charlotte throwing herself at him (awkward scene at the bus door? Didn’t happen) as him asking her along and telling her his life story. Also? Even more relevant, Joe was a VIRGIN. So, at 29 and 14, when they became lovers, they were the first for both.
Also, in the book Charlotte spent time with the Mother Superior and had a job at the shoe store. Mrs. Flax and Lou weren’t as close as they were in the movie.
So. I pretty much had to love the book, as I already loved the movie. It was funny, and cringeworthy. Quirky and sweet. A story of a girl trying so hard to forge connections and find herself while moving around the country constantly
August 7, 2012
Was I the only person in the whole wide universe who did not know this was a book first? I think I was.
I discovered this very interesting read at the local library. I loved the movie and was very excited to make this discovery. Then I read it...
Way darker then the movie to me, though Mrs. Flax seemed to care a bit more that Miss Charlotte was seeing a waaay older man. It was disturbing how old he was really. Speaking of Joe, did anyone else think he was a bit...special? It seemed that he always lived in his head, and even the dialogue with Joe and Charlotte was like two people speaking to each other in two different languages.
There was something in that water because Lou was also a very special one. Not charming at all like the movie. I did feel a bit sorry for the Nun though.
Also, what was up with the father coming in and out the picture but never seen his daughter? The mom allowed it and that was what really killed me about this book. I am so glad the movie did not have this bit in there.
Bottom line: Interesting to say the least. The first and only time I will say I prefer the movie to the book.
My Ops,
Toni
I discovered this very interesting read at the local library. I loved the movie and was very excited to make this discovery. Then I read it...
Way darker then the movie to me, though Mrs. Flax seemed to care a bit more that Miss Charlotte was seeing a waaay older man. It was disturbing how old he was really. Speaking of Joe, did anyone else think he was a bit...special? It seemed that he always lived in his head, and even the dialogue with Joe and Charlotte was like two people speaking to each other in two different languages.
There was something in that water because Lou was also a very special one. Not charming at all like the movie. I did feel a bit sorry for the Nun though.
Also, what was up with the father coming in and out the picture but never seen his daughter? The mom allowed it and that was what really killed me about this book. I am so glad the movie did not have this bit in there.
Bottom line: Interesting to say the least. The first and only time I will say I prefer the movie to the book.
My Ops,
Toni
September 8, 2019
How did one of my favorite (comfort) films come out of this mess of a novel?
January 30, 2016
Honestly, LOVE this book. It was a quick read that took me two days. I had watched the movie first, though. And I gotta say, I love it when a movie compliments the book completely. Almost exactly the same as the book. I love the sarcasm and the dark comedy. xx
April 18, 2018
I saw the movie before the book, by accident. I found out about the book, and it's AMAZING. I was actually very surprised at how well the movie matched the book. Anyway, perfect coming of age book, and perfect crazy family book. I loved each character and each of their problems.
May 30, 2016
The rare time when the movie actually WAS better.
February 23, 2020
This seemed to be a perfect arc of a book
January 16, 2013
The content of this book makes me surprised that it's marketed to teens. Not that teen novels should be prudish - but the religious undercurrent, uncomfortable sexual relationship, and ultimate message are a bit twisted and heavy for what appears to be just a quirky story about growing up. The story centers around the Flax family: Mrs. Flax, the wayward mother, who has moved her family to avoid her sexual reputation catching up to her 18 times; Charlotte, her 14-year-old daughter who resents this lifestyle to the extent of desiring to become a nun; and Kate, the baby of the family who would rather be underwater than dealing with this. Much of Charlotte's angst in the story stems from not wanting to be like her mother, and desperately wanting a stable family. She fantasizes about her estranged father. This parental abandonment compounded by her budding sexuality is probably what led to Charlotte's love affair with Joe, the 29-year-old groundskeeper at the convent.
The book takes on a navel-gazing quality, with much of the content being Charlotte's fantasies, thoughts and angst. These characters all seem to live inside their own heads, even in conversation. When JFK is shot, Charlotte angsts that she doesn't angst about it. The reverend mother at the convent is absorbed in her past youth and wish to be in love. This trait makes some characters almost pathetic, particularly Lou and Joe. Lou is near obsessed with his ex-wife.
...and Joe is a forlorn predator. The biggest objection I had with this book is the end after the scene of Joe having sex with Charlotte, both of them losing their virginity. It was extraordinarily uncomfortable, but not because of how it was construed. There's no indication that this statutory rape was harmful. The novel ends shortly after, and essentially Joe skips town and Charlotte only gets an occasional postcard from him after. Charlotte may or may not be pregnant. But she's only complacent. The book ends before we can see any sort of consequences for Joe's actions here. Was it purposeful, to show that Charlotte's world of religion - divine punishment for sins and clear-cut morality - doesn't work in the real world? I don't know. It could have worked with better framing. Had this been written from Joe’s point of view, it would be strangely quasi-Lolita: a desperate man preying on a young girl, caring only enough to essential dispose of her role in his life after consummating the relationship. Instead he’s just a handsome, Italian taste of forbidden fruit. This also, to me, makes the book fail as a coming-of-age story - after what is arguably the most important event, we can't see Charlotte change or even react, because the book is cut short and we do not learn much of her feelings afterwards.
This was certainly an interesting novel, but I don’t think it’s a good teen read. Its ultimate message and the trait that ties its characters – a certain disregard for everything but their own fantasy worlds – is too bleak. It's like a jaded comment on the adult world.
The book takes on a navel-gazing quality, with much of the content being Charlotte's fantasies, thoughts and angst. These characters all seem to live inside their own heads, even in conversation. When JFK is shot, Charlotte angsts that she doesn't angst about it. The reverend mother at the convent is absorbed in her past youth and wish to be in love. This trait makes some characters almost pathetic, particularly Lou and Joe. Lou is near obsessed with his ex-wife.
...and Joe is a forlorn predator. The biggest objection I had with this book is the end after the scene of Joe having sex with Charlotte, both of them losing their virginity. It was extraordinarily uncomfortable, but not because of how it was construed. There's no indication that this statutory rape was harmful. The novel ends shortly after, and essentially Joe skips town and Charlotte only gets an occasional postcard from him after. Charlotte may or may not be pregnant. But she's only complacent. The book ends before we can see any sort of consequences for Joe's actions here. Was it purposeful, to show that Charlotte's world of religion - divine punishment for sins and clear-cut morality - doesn't work in the real world? I don't know. It could have worked with better framing. Had this been written from Joe’s point of view, it would be strangely quasi-Lolita: a desperate man preying on a young girl, caring only enough to essential dispose of her role in his life after consummating the relationship. Instead he’s just a handsome, Italian taste of forbidden fruit. This also, to me, makes the book fail as a coming-of-age story - after what is arguably the most important event, we can't see Charlotte change or even react, because the book is cut short and we do not learn much of her feelings afterwards.
This was certainly an interesting novel, but I don’t think it’s a good teen read. Its ultimate message and the trait that ties its characters – a certain disregard for everything but their own fantasy worlds – is too bleak. It's like a jaded comment on the adult world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2016
Prima di commentare questa storia, vorrei porre una domanda: cosa si è fumato chiunque abbia scritto la quarta di copertina prima di scriverla?
Da qui leggiamo che Cher, la mamma, alias "la signora Flax" è una persona avara e che spende solo soldi per sé tralasciando le povere figlie, le quali decidono quindi di rifugiarsi in un mondo immaginario.
Com'è veramente la storia: la signora Flax e le sue due figlie cambiano in continuazione casa, a seconda dell'umore della mamma, ed ora sono approdate a Grove (che Charlotte dice essere in Massachussetts..secondo wikipedia non è così, ma fa lo stesso).
La storia è narrata dalla figlia più grande, Charlotte, di 14 anni, la quale passa tutte le 159 pagine del libro ad ammorbare il lettore con 3 argomenti:
- quanto odia quella gatta morta di sua madre;
- quanto vorrebbe farsi suora, e di come il suo corpo sia un sacro tempio in attesa di sentire la voce del Signore;
- allo stesso tempo, quanto vorrebbe andare a letto con praticamente tutta la popolazione maschile di sua conoscenza.
L'unica avarizia che riconosco in questa storia è di sentimenti; sia di Charlotte verso la madre, sia (e soprattutto) della signora Flax verso Charlotte, che ignora tanto quanto ama la figlia più piccola, Kate.
Il millantato mondo immaginario si riduce a qualche scenetta verso la fine del libro dove le ragazze sono a casa da sole e fanno finta di essere mamma e papà mentre preparano e mangiano la cena.
E le sirene in tutto ciò? ah boh, l'unico accenno alla sirene si riduce in un paragrafetto misero a metà libro in cui si descrive il costume, da sirena appunto, che la signora Flax ha noleggiato per la festa in costume di capodanno tenuta dai vicini.
Comunque, il personaggio più fastidioso di tutto il libro è proprio Charlotte: una lamentela unica dall'inizio alla fine, prima perché si vuole fare suora ma il Signore non le parla, poi perché il ragazzo che le piace sembra fare il filo alla madre, poi perché la sua massima aspirazione è diventare santa (anche se è ebrea) così da essere ammirata da tutti.
La parte più assurda, e che mi ricorda tanto le domande del Cioè, è quando si bacia con Joe e va avanti per circa 10 pagine a dire di essere rimasta incinta!ma daaaiiii.....
Da qui leggiamo che Cher, la mamma, alias "la signora Flax" è una persona avara e che spende solo soldi per sé tralasciando le povere figlie, le quali decidono quindi di rifugiarsi in un mondo immaginario.
Com'è veramente la storia: la signora Flax e le sue due figlie cambiano in continuazione casa, a seconda dell'umore della mamma, ed ora sono approdate a Grove (che Charlotte dice essere in Massachussetts..secondo wikipedia non è così, ma fa lo stesso).
La storia è narrata dalla figlia più grande, Charlotte, di 14 anni, la quale passa tutte le 159 pagine del libro ad ammorbare il lettore con 3 argomenti:
- quanto odia quella gatta morta di sua madre;
- quanto vorrebbe farsi suora, e di come il suo corpo sia un sacro tempio in attesa di sentire la voce del Signore;
- allo stesso tempo, quanto vorrebbe andare a letto con praticamente tutta la popolazione maschile di sua conoscenza.
L'unica avarizia che riconosco in questa storia è di sentimenti; sia di Charlotte verso la madre, sia (e soprattutto) della signora Flax verso Charlotte, che ignora tanto quanto ama la figlia più piccola, Kate.
Il millantato mondo immaginario si riduce a qualche scenetta verso la fine del libro dove le ragazze sono a casa da sole e fanno finta di essere mamma e papà mentre preparano e mangiano la cena.
E le sirene in tutto ciò? ah boh, l'unico accenno alla sirene si riduce in un paragrafetto misero a metà libro in cui si descrive il costume, da sirena appunto, che la signora Flax ha noleggiato per la festa in costume di capodanno tenuta dai vicini.
Comunque, il personaggio più fastidioso di tutto il libro è proprio Charlotte: una lamentela unica dall'inizio alla fine, prima perché si vuole fare suora ma il Signore non le parla, poi perché il ragazzo che le piace sembra fare il filo alla madre, poi perché la sua massima aspirazione è diventare santa (anche se è ebrea) così da essere ammirata da tutti.
La parte più assurda, e che mi ricorda tanto le domande del Cioè, è quando si bacia con Joe e va avanti per circa 10 pagine a dire di essere rimasta incinta!ma daaaiiii.....
June 10, 2012
This is a pretty quirky, somewhat realistic coming-of-age story. Though it is pretty sad to see such an innocent girl like Charlotte lose that virtue (and her virginity to boot). The best part was when Mrs. Flax came out in her mermaid costume and she and the girls had real fun for once.
April 1, 2017
I love, love, love this book! It's not just about coming of age, but it's about the relationship between mother and daughter have each others roles. The movie is actually very similar to the book which is amazing.
November 6, 2017
mermaids was my favorite movie as a teenager got older and read the book the book is just as good as the movie ordered the 2 book to mermaids the name of it is star fish its about an older Kate Mrs flax and Charlotte
did-not-finish
November 24, 2019I lost interest. The main character annoyed me.
September 15, 2023
Like many, I picked this up after being a longtime fan of the movie. It’s amazing what a good and faithful adaptation the film was—up to a point. It follows the same beats, with the difference being that Mrs. Flax and her boyfriend are incredibly minor characters in the book. In this way, the movie fleshed out the novel (which really is more like novella length) in a way that made it a bit more meaningful. The book felt like an appetizer, but I wanted a meal. It read like a snapshot in Charlotte’s life—one that was too fleeting to care too deeply about. Also, the age difference between Joe and Charlotte was already outrageous in the movie, but it’s even wider here and was really hard to handle, as was their odd relationship. Overall, I did enjoy reading this.
July 26, 2019
Mermaids is one of my favorite movies and I’ve been wanting to read the book for a while, so I was excited when I saw that this was going to be a quick, fun read. (It wasn’t.) The start of the book was cute and followed the movie exactly, but the second half of the book took a sharp detour into crazy-land and left me confused. My overall impression of this book is that is is much darker than the movie, which did a good job of making Charlotte’s austerity tongue-in-cheek. Also, *SPOILER*, but the book’s portrayal of a 14 year old girl/30 year old man relationship is even more problematic than the movie’s, if that is even possible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2016
Love the movie so much, I had to give the book a go too.
September 9, 2025
This review is going to be mostly about book vs movie. Both of those things came out over 30 years ago (no, I will not be talking about the fact that 1990 was 35 years ago), but I will be putting most of my thoughts behind a spoiler cut because if, for some reason, you are looking at reviews to read this without having seen the Cher movie, I don't want you to not watch that incredible movie.
Above spoiler cut, this book reminds me a little of I'm Down, a book I really and truly hated for the "humorous" take on seriously neglectful parenting. Now, unlike that book, this isn't a memoir or a true story (I think??), and I do think the point of this book is that it's obvious the mother is pretty terrible and neglectful?
I THINK?
I don't know, this came out in '86 and people were pretty....lax about child negligence then. Who knows?
This is from the perspective of a 14-year old girl, who is not the most reliable of narrators, and it's fascinating to read but upsetting all around, really, for the above neglect plus really serious underage situation that's almost the main focus.
The main take away I want people to understand is, THE MOVIE WAS BETTER.
This is only the second book to do that to me, the first being Forrest Gump. I can never, ever, ever emphasize enough to people, do not read Forrest Gump. It is trash.
Okay, movie vs book, under here.
I'm going to work really hard to pretend this version doesn't exist, and just enjoy the movie.
Above spoiler cut, this book reminds me a little of I'm Down, a book I really and truly hated for the "humorous" take on seriously neglectful parenting. Now, unlike that book, this isn't a memoir or a true story (I think??), and I do think the point of this book is that it's obvious the mother is pretty terrible and neglectful?
I THINK?
I don't know, this came out in '86 and people were pretty....lax about child negligence then. Who knows?
This is from the perspective of a 14-year old girl, who is not the most reliable of narrators, and it's fascinating to read but upsetting all around, really, for the above neglect plus really serious underage situation that's almost the main focus.
The main take away I want people to understand is, THE MOVIE WAS BETTER.
This is only the second book to do that to me, the first being Forrest Gump. I can never, ever, ever emphasize enough to people, do not read Forrest Gump. It is trash.
Okay, movie vs book, under here.
I'm going to work really hard to pretend this version doesn't exist, and just enjoy the movie.
June 29, 2025
Mermaids is probably my favorite film from the time growing up and I've seen it so much I can practically say the dialogues out loud while watching the movie. I have always wanted to read the book and now I finally have. And I loved it. I really think the movie captured the book very well and many of the scenes and dialogue comes straight from the book. That said, some parts were missing and especially the relationship between Rachel and Lou isn't as evolved in the book as it is in the movie. For me, personally, the movie is slightly better. The book is also thin, I think the story has more substance than that, and I feel the ending is a bit rushed, where in the movie there's way more depth in the story and the characters. So I hoped to be able to give it 5 stars, but still it's worth 4 I think. So glad I have read it now!
May 11, 2022
⭐️4 stars.⭐️
mermaids is one of my favourite films but i didn’t realise it was originally a book!
still hate that joe is twice charlottes’ age. 🤢
mrs flax was happiest when she was leaving a place, but i wanted to stay put long enough to fall down crazy and hear the word of god.
mermaids is one of my favourite films but i didn’t realise it was originally a book!
still hate that joe is twice charlottes’ age. 🤢
mrs flax was happiest when she was leaving a place, but i wanted to stay put long enough to fall down crazy and hear the word of god.
Read
March 15, 2023Didn’t even like the movie, but the movie was better.
I almost feel like this story could have been good, had it been written differently. But then you have the quandary of a story existing without an author, which just doesn’t work.
Potential readers: I’d skip this one.
I almost feel like this story could have been good, had it been written differently. But then you have the quandary of a story existing without an author, which just doesn’t work.
Potential readers: I’d skip this one.
July 20, 2022
I came in to this one as a fan of the movie first, which probably didn't set me up for success. Overall, a nice quick one...but I'm going to go watch the movie again 🧜🏻♀️
February 1, 2013
Originally posted here.
I'm going to assume that if you're a woman currently between the ages of about 31-45 you've seen the 1990 Cher/Winona Ryder film Mermaids. If you haven't - WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? GO RENT THAT ISH RIGHT THIS SECOND!
[ahem]
What I mean to say is that this movie was amazing. Well, maybe not amazing, but it was amazing at the time. It had very little to do with Cher, and instead focused on her young daughter, played by Winona Ryder before she started shoplifting and having songs written about her personal hygiene.
A lot of people who've seen (and loved) the movie had no idea that it was a book first. I had no idea that it was a book first until my fourth or fifth re-watch when I saw the tiny little script saying that it was based on the book of the same name by Patty Dunn.
I decided then that I had to read this book.
So, um...fast forward about 20 years and I finally found a copy (thank you Open Library!).
It's a super short book, not even 200 pages. If you've seen the movie, I Double Dog Dare you not to read the entire book as if it's being narrated by Ms Veronica 'Heather would never use the word myriad' herself, Winona Ryder.
I know that I did.
And that's the problem, I think, with reading a book that's based on a movie you already love. It's difficult (if not impossible) to separate the two.
I wonder if this is the same problem people have with LotR after watching PJ'sbastardizations adaptations?
REGARDLESS, I still found myself able to enjoy the book on its own, even if I was singing Jimmy Soul to myself the entire time.
This is very much a coming-of-age story (even if I loathe that term from the very core of my being), but you'll find yourself empathizing with Charlotte and wishing that Mrs Flax would JUST GET HER SHIT TOGETHER ALREADY. It's totally worth the few hours you'll spend on it.
Promise.
Go find yourself a copy of this book (but not from the link up there, cos I want Heather D to get it next), and listen to the thing I'm going to link to below.
I just found this today, and it makes me so happy (plus, CHER, SO IT ALL TIES IN TOGETHER! Sometimes, I swear I'm the most awesome).
Baby, I Love You (isolated vocals)
You've seen this movie, right? If not, you're planning on reading the book, then watching it, right? RIGHT?!
I'm going to assume that if you're a woman currently between the ages of about 31-45 you've seen the 1990 Cher/Winona Ryder film Mermaids. If you haven't - WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? GO RENT THAT ISH RIGHT THIS SECOND!
[ahem]
What I mean to say is that this movie was amazing. Well, maybe not amazing, but it was amazing at the time. It had very little to do with Cher, and instead focused on her young daughter, played by Winona Ryder before she started shoplifting and having songs written about her personal hygiene.
A lot of people who've seen (and loved) the movie had no idea that it was a book first. I had no idea that it was a book first until my fourth or fifth re-watch when I saw the tiny little script saying that it was based on the book of the same name by Patty Dunn.
I decided then that I had to read this book.
So, um...fast forward about 20 years and I finally found a copy (thank you Open Library!).
It's a super short book, not even 200 pages. If you've seen the movie, I Double Dog Dare you not to read the entire book as if it's being narrated by Ms Veronica 'Heather would never use the word myriad' herself, Winona Ryder.
I know that I did.
And that's the problem, I think, with reading a book that's based on a movie you already love. It's difficult (if not impossible) to separate the two.
I wonder if this is the same problem people have with LotR after watching PJ's
REGARDLESS, I still found myself able to enjoy the book on its own, even if I was singing Jimmy Soul to myself the entire time.
This is very much a coming-of-age story (even if I loathe that term from the very core of my being), but you'll find yourself empathizing with Charlotte and wishing that Mrs Flax would JUST GET HER SHIT TOGETHER ALREADY. It's totally worth the few hours you'll spend on it.
Promise.
Go find yourself a copy of this book (but not from the link up there, cos I want Heather D to get it next), and listen to the thing I'm going to link to below.
I just found this today, and it makes me so happy (plus, CHER, SO IT ALL TIES IN TOGETHER! Sometimes, I swear I'm the most awesome).
Baby, I Love You (isolated vocals)
You've seen this movie, right? If not, you're planning on reading the book, then watching it, right? RIGHT?!
July 18, 2014
I love the concept of this story, but most of it being told through Charlotte ruins it, in my opinion. I would have much preferred to see more dialogue from the likes of Joe and Lou, instead of having to decipher their words through Charlotte’s rambles. This fourteen-year-old girl has some serious problems. Granted she’s a teenager; she’s confused about everything, which is perfectly fine. But she’s also completely neurotic, and her inability to stick to one thought makes this an exhausting read.
Just when she’s saying something, and her story is picking up motion, Charlotte goes off on one of her wandering walks through her mind, talking about people who’ve said this and said that, and mentioning things they did and pointing out things they would never dream of doing in this God given lifetime, making the reader forget what it was she was even talking about to begin with.
That sentence/paragraph really sums up a lot of what’s going on in this book: whole chapters of ramblings. I found the whole thing exhausting, to be honest. I like to read a book to relax, and this was the least relaxing book I think I’ve ever read. I really wanted to enjoy it, and tried to, but it just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps I’m just particularly impatient and like a book to hook me immediately and make me beg for more, but honestly this novel didn’t even interest me in the slightest.
There was on scene where Charlotte goes to see Mother Superior at the convent. It could have been an opportunity for the character to get help perhaps, but the author chose it as an outlet for the nun to tell her story, which I found to be the most interesting part of the book. Her little talk to Charlotte was in fact the only thing I liked about it. I had to force myself to continue reading this, as I really didn’t want to. The thoughts of reading the next novel on my list is what got me through it. Picking it up, felt like I had an assignment to do for school on a subject I hate, and that’s not a feeling you want when you’re trying to unwind with a book.
I saw the film years ago, and I know you should never judge a book by the movie, which I didn’t, in this case. I found the movie very endearing and I think it succeeded in portraying the characters and the story in a way that viewers would understand and relate to. Whereas I think the book failed to do that here.
I gave it two stars instead of one because, as I said earlier, I understand the concept and what the author was trying to do, (and maybe I wanted to like it so much that I couldn’t bear to give it just one star). In saying that, I won’t be reading this again in a hurry.
Just when she’s saying something, and her story is picking up motion, Charlotte goes off on one of her wandering walks through her mind, talking about people who’ve said this and said that, and mentioning things they did and pointing out things they would never dream of doing in this God given lifetime, making the reader forget what it was she was even talking about to begin with.
That sentence/paragraph really sums up a lot of what’s going on in this book: whole chapters of ramblings. I found the whole thing exhausting, to be honest. I like to read a book to relax, and this was the least relaxing book I think I’ve ever read. I really wanted to enjoy it, and tried to, but it just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps I’m just particularly impatient and like a book to hook me immediately and make me beg for more, but honestly this novel didn’t even interest me in the slightest.
There was on scene where Charlotte goes to see Mother Superior at the convent. It could have been an opportunity for the character to get help perhaps, but the author chose it as an outlet for the nun to tell her story, which I found to be the most interesting part of the book. Her little talk to Charlotte was in fact the only thing I liked about it. I had to force myself to continue reading this, as I really didn’t want to. The thoughts of reading the next novel on my list is what got me through it. Picking it up, felt like I had an assignment to do for school on a subject I hate, and that’s not a feeling you want when you’re trying to unwind with a book.
I saw the film years ago, and I know you should never judge a book by the movie, which I didn’t, in this case. I found the movie very endearing and I think it succeeded in portraying the characters and the story in a way that viewers would understand and relate to. Whereas I think the book failed to do that here.
I gave it two stars instead of one because, as I said earlier, I understand the concept and what the author was trying to do, (and maybe I wanted to like it so much that I couldn’t bear to give it just one star). In saying that, I won’t be reading this again in a hurry.
November 1, 2014
If you are like me, you probably first saw the movie (Mermaids). Like the movie, the book tells the story of teenager Charlotte Flax, her mother (Mrs. Flax), and her champion swimmer sister Kate. The novel focuses on Charlotte's search for belonging or membership. Charlotte feels alone in the world and strangely disconnected from the rest of society. She sees herself as the "only adult" in her house and sometimes in the whole world. She calls her mother "Mrs. Flax," perhaps to emphasize the distance between the two. Charlotte's world is full of disorder, with her mother moving every year or so whenever life gets tough. So she seeks order by dreaming about becoming a nun (despite the fact that she is Jewish) and dreaming about her long separated father. All while trying (not too successful) to keep her hormones under control.
The novel starts when the Charlotte, Kate, and Mrs. Flax move to Grove, MA and have to start to adjust to life there. Charlotte meets Joe, the groundsman in a convent, and falls madly in "lust" with him. Mrs. Flax meets Lou, the owner of a shoe store and probably the only other Jew in town. Charlotte is convinced that she is mature and in charge unlike the rest of the world. However, she slowly looses control of herself and her life with the inevitable consequences. Part of growing up, as they say.
The book is very easy to read. Although the paper version of the book has about 180 pages, it packs a lot of details in it. The story is entirely told from Charlotte's perspective as the first person narrator. Charlotte only gives us detail that she is thinks is interesting. And since she has a very active and fast moving mind, the book is fast and intense. I particularly like the way that JFK's assassination was described-- how Charlotte, the only person who did not cry, saw it and reacted to it.
I liked the story very much and enjoyed the characters and world that Patty Dunn created. Perhaps that is why I felt that the ending was a little abrupt. Satisfying but abrupt. The movie follows the same basic story, but there is a lot of depth in the book that you don't get in the movie-- particularly about Joe and Lou. The movie was very much a Cher (Mrs. Flax) and Bob Hoksins (Lou) vehicle; the novel is all about Charlotte and how she sees things.
The novel starts when the Charlotte, Kate, and Mrs. Flax move to Grove, MA and have to start to adjust to life there. Charlotte meets Joe, the groundsman in a convent, and falls madly in "lust" with him. Mrs. Flax meets Lou, the owner of a shoe store and probably the only other Jew in town. Charlotte is convinced that she is mature and in charge unlike the rest of the world. However, she slowly looses control of herself and her life with the inevitable consequences. Part of growing up, as they say.
The book is very easy to read. Although the paper version of the book has about 180 pages, it packs a lot of details in it. The story is entirely told from Charlotte's perspective as the first person narrator. Charlotte only gives us detail that she is thinks is interesting. And since she has a very active and fast moving mind, the book is fast and intense. I particularly like the way that JFK's assassination was described-- how Charlotte, the only person who did not cry, saw it and reacted to it.
I liked the story very much and enjoyed the characters and world that Patty Dunn created. Perhaps that is why I felt that the ending was a little abrupt. Satisfying but abrupt. The movie follows the same basic story, but there is a lot of depth in the book that you don't get in the movie-- particularly about Joe and Lou. The movie was very much a Cher (Mrs. Flax) and Bob Hoksins (Lou) vehicle; the novel is all about Charlotte and how she sees things.
August 3, 2016
Booktube-a-thon 2016: Read a Book-to-Movie Adaptation
Mermaids, the movie version, starring Winona Ryder and Cher, has always been one of my favourite films. I only recently found out that it was based on a book (and THERE'S A SEQUEL!!), so it was a natural choice for this challenge prompt.
"Wake up, Kate", I said firmly, "welcome to home sweet home number eighteen."
Set in 1963, Mrs Flax moves around a lot with her young daughters. She's a single mother, a feisty woman who loves the attention of men but refuses to let herself be made a fool of - she is determined to march to the beat of her own drum, and if that means moving house four times a year, so be it.
Her eldest daughter, Charlotte, is obsessed with the lives of Saints and religion.
"I always had trouble trying to be holy, though. First of all, I liked to lie a lot. Second of all, I kept falling in love."
The younger daughter, Kate, is a champion swimmer and is obsessed with all things aqua-related.
In the book, the girls move to a house in a small town, with a convent nearby. There's a caretaker at the convent, a 29 year old called Joe Peretti that Charlotte falls instantly in love with. This comes across really, REALLY inappropriately in the book. Charlotte is really immature for her age despite her knowledge of religious icons, and Joe is just........well, really bloody weird. In the film, he's played by Michael "Jake Ryan" Shoeffling, forever adored as Molly Ringwald's love interest in the film "Sixteen Candles". I fell in love with him myself when I first saw the movie version of Mermaids - he was just beautiful. Joe of the book is downright strange and comes across as an odd loner.
The Bob Hoskins character in the film, Lou, is warm and funny. In the book he's standoffish and strange. Overall the whole book had a kind of seedy, weird undertone to it that the film didn't have - Winona Ryder brought a great innocence to Charlotte, whereas in the book she is needy and unlikeable.
I much, much prefer the film - but maybe I'm biased having loved it for many years. I'm glad I read the book all the same, and I will definitely be buying the sequel to revisit Charlotte as an adult.
Mermaids, the movie version, starring Winona Ryder and Cher, has always been one of my favourite films. I only recently found out that it was based on a book (and THERE'S A SEQUEL!!), so it was a natural choice for this challenge prompt.
"Wake up, Kate", I said firmly, "welcome to home sweet home number eighteen."
Set in 1963, Mrs Flax moves around a lot with her young daughters. She's a single mother, a feisty woman who loves the attention of men but refuses to let herself be made a fool of - she is determined to march to the beat of her own drum, and if that means moving house four times a year, so be it.
Her eldest daughter, Charlotte, is obsessed with the lives of Saints and religion.
"I always had trouble trying to be holy, though. First of all, I liked to lie a lot. Second of all, I kept falling in love."
The younger daughter, Kate, is a champion swimmer and is obsessed with all things aqua-related.
In the book, the girls move to a house in a small town, with a convent nearby. There's a caretaker at the convent, a 29 year old called Joe Peretti that Charlotte falls instantly in love with. This comes across really, REALLY inappropriately in the book. Charlotte is really immature for her age despite her knowledge of religious icons, and Joe is just........well, really bloody weird. In the film, he's played by Michael "Jake Ryan" Shoeffling, forever adored as Molly Ringwald's love interest in the film "Sixteen Candles". I fell in love with him myself when I first saw the movie version of Mermaids - he was just beautiful. Joe of the book is downright strange and comes across as an odd loner.
The Bob Hoskins character in the film, Lou, is warm and funny. In the book he's standoffish and strange. Overall the whole book had a kind of seedy, weird undertone to it that the film didn't have - Winona Ryder brought a great innocence to Charlotte, whereas in the book she is needy and unlikeable.
I much, much prefer the film - but maybe I'm biased having loved it for many years. I'm glad I read the book all the same, and I will definitely be buying the sequel to revisit Charlotte as an adult.
October 30, 2015
Mild Spoilers! You have been warned.
After being recommended the movie, I watched and immediately loved "Mermaids". Part of my love for the film stemmed from the fact that it has Winona Ryder in it (I love her. Enough said.) but mostly, the movie was your typical "dysfunctional family" tale. Nevertheless, I love any kind of movie with drama/dysfunction in it, so it was a winner for me. The cast was pretty perfect, too. After watching it, I tried to track the book down, but it took me a while - several months - before I finally found it and could read it! And now, at last, I have read the book.
This one does have some dysfunction but it's not highlighted and labeled DYSFUNCTION so much as QUIRKINESS. (Yes, quirkiness, all in caps) The Flax family is definitely unconventional, but something about it just works, y'know what I mean? Actually, now that I think about it, this was one of those (very rare) cases where watching the film version of this book before reading it actually made me enjoy the book more. I very rarely say it, because 98% of the time it really doesn't work that way...but this work was a bit of an anomaly like that.
I like this book (and movie) because it doesn't try to play up its quirkiness for effect. There is nothing inherently dangerous about the Flaxes' dysfunction...(except one may make the argument that what happens toward the end, near the convent's river, with Kate, is a result of the family's dysfunction) which makes it a lighter, more fun read; and I enjoy that.
Sometimes you just need a book like "Mermaids"!
3 Solid Stars
After being recommended the movie, I watched and immediately loved "Mermaids". Part of my love for the film stemmed from the fact that it has Winona Ryder in it (I love her. Enough said.) but mostly, the movie was your typical "dysfunctional family" tale. Nevertheless, I love any kind of movie with drama/dysfunction in it, so it was a winner for me. The cast was pretty perfect, too. After watching it, I tried to track the book down, but it took me a while - several months - before I finally found it and could read it! And now, at last, I have read the book.
This one does have some dysfunction but it's not highlighted and labeled DYSFUNCTION so much as QUIRKINESS. (Yes, quirkiness, all in caps) The Flax family is definitely unconventional, but something about it just works, y'know what I mean? Actually, now that I think about it, this was one of those (very rare) cases where watching the film version of this book before reading it actually made me enjoy the book more. I very rarely say it, because 98% of the time it really doesn't work that way...but this work was a bit of an anomaly like that.
I like this book (and movie) because it doesn't try to play up its quirkiness for effect. There is nothing inherently dangerous about the Flaxes' dysfunction...(except one may make the argument that what happens toward the end, near the convent's river, with Kate, is a result of the family's dysfunction) which makes it a lighter, more fun read; and I enjoy that.
Sometimes you just need a book like "Mermaids"!
3 Solid Stars
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