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The Sea House
In 1860, Alexander Ferguson, a newly ordained vicar and amateur evolutionary scientist, takes up his new parish, a poor, isolated patch on the remote Scottish island of Harris. He hopes to uncover the truth behind the legend of the selkies—mermaids or seal people who have been sighted off the north of Scotland for centuries. He has a more personal motive, too; family legend states that Alexander is descended from seal men. As he struggles to be the good pastor he was called to be, his maid Moira faces the terrible eviction of her family by Lord Marstone, whose family owns the island. Their time on the island will irrevocably change the course of both their lives, but the white house on the edge of the dunes keeps its silence long after they are gone.
It will be more than a century before the Sea House reluctantly gives up its secrets. Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building and begin to turn it into a home for the family they hope to have. Their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a baby are buried beneath the house; the child's fragile legs are fused together—a mermaid child. Who buried the bones? And why? To heal her own demons, Ruth feels she must discover the secrets of her new home—but the answers to her questions may lie in her own traumatic past. The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford is a sweeping tale of hope and redemption and a study of how we heal ourselves by discovering our histories.
It will be more than a century before the Sea House reluctantly gives up its secrets. Ruth and Michael buy the grand but dilapidated building and begin to turn it into a home for the family they hope to have. Their dreams are marred by a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a baby are buried beneath the house; the child's fragile legs are fused together—a mermaid child. Who buried the bones? And why? To heal her own demons, Ruth feels she must discover the secrets of her new home—but the answers to her questions may lie in her own traumatic past. The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford is a sweeping tale of hope and redemption and a study of how we heal ourselves by discovering our histories.
308 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
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2332 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
August 3, 2014
The Sea House is a dual-time narrative set on an island in the Hebrides. Ruth and Michael purchase the Sea House with plans to create an idyllic B&B. The discovery of a small coffin underneath the floorboards unsettles Ruth who feels driven to learn the baby's identity and why it was buried in secrecy. Her search is loosely tied to the story of Alexander Ferguson, a vicar who lived in the Sea House in the 1800s. Ferguson was conducting his own search to uncover the truth behind local legend of the selkies, and his life on the island is intertwined with the people of his parish.
I loved the setting for this novel, and spent some time googling "Scarista" to see if it was a real place. Indeed it is, and the images are dramatic and very beautiful. Gifford is a good writer, and I enjoyed her prose, but I thought the two storylines were predictable and lacked a solid connection. As is often the case with dual narratives, I found myself more interested in the storyline that took place in the past; the contemporary characters (and story) felt flat, and I think this would have been a better book without them.
I loved the setting for this novel, and spent some time googling "Scarista" to see if it was a real place. Indeed it is, and the images are dramatic and very beautiful. Gifford is a good writer, and I enjoyed her prose, but I thought the two storylines were predictable and lacked a solid connection. As is often the case with dual narratives, I found myself more interested in the storyline that took place in the past; the contemporary characters (and story) felt flat, and I think this would have been a better book without them.
December 21, 2019
A haunting mystery about a young couple, Ruth and Michael, who in the present day are renovating a house on the Hebridean Islands of Scotland. It is challenging and they face many challenges with the house and in their personal lives.
The body of a baby with fused legs is found buried in the floor of the house. Which takes Ruth on a journey of discovery to find out what happened.
This links to the story of Rev Alexander Ferguson and Moira his maid in 1860. He is fascinated with the Selkie legends and looking for evidence in relation to it.
The author tells both tales seemlessly with a lovely writing style that makes it a pleasure to read. With mystery, magic, family, friends, community, secrets and traumatic events keeping the reader enthralled it’s a must read.
The body of a baby with fused legs is found buried in the floor of the house. Which takes Ruth on a journey of discovery to find out what happened.
This links to the story of Rev Alexander Ferguson and Moira his maid in 1860. He is fascinated with the Selkie legends and looking for evidence in relation to it.
The author tells both tales seemlessly with a lovely writing style that makes it a pleasure to read. With mystery, magic, family, friends, community, secrets and traumatic events keeping the reader enthralled it’s a must read.
March 23, 2022
I really loved parts of this atmospheric novel. The setting, history, and culture of the Hebrides were so beautifully evoked; by far my favorite part of the novel. I liked the historical timeline better as I connected more with those characters. I really liked the historical connections of the selkie myth and found that part of the book fascinating too.
But there were also a few parts of the book that just didn't quite connect or land as well as they should. Plot threads were slightly developed and then abandoned, never to be mentioned again.
Overall an enjoyable, but imperfect read. Recommended for those who have an interest in selkie stories or in books set in the Hebrides, as they will likely enjoy.
But there were also a few parts of the book that just didn't quite connect or land as well as they should. Plot threads were slightly developed and then abandoned, never to be mentioned again.
Overall an enjoyable, but imperfect read. Recommended for those who have an interest in selkie stories or in books set in the Hebrides, as they will likely enjoy.
December 17, 2014
Contemporary and Historical Stories Unequal In Interest and Quality
There's a lot to like in this novel, the author does an especially nice job of showing the beauty of the landscape. The story takes place on South Harris Island, which is one of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland. I'm not a traveler but Elizabeth Gifford's descriptions made me want to see the islands myself. While reading I frequently searched the internet for images of the areas that she was describing, the photos were always gorgeous.
There are two parts to this novel, one happening in the 1990s and the other in the 1860s and 70s. The setting for both stories is the same, the Sea House at Scarista, South Harris Island. The discovery of an infant's skeleton under the floorboards in the Sea House in 1992 is the impetus that take us back a century in time to when the vicar Alexander Ferguson lived in the house with his housekeeper Moira. Ferguson is fascinated by the stories of the Selkies and family lore says he is descended from them. Ruth and her husband Michael own the house when the infant's remains are discovered. Ruth lost her mother at an early age but remembers her mother telling her the stories of the Selkies.
I loved the storyline that revolved around the Selkies, Mermaids and Finnmen and found that to be the best written and most thought out thread in the novel. I enjoyed the characters the author created for the historical portion of her novel, the relationships were interesting and surprises that were revealed were well done. I found this part of the novel compelling, engaging and in the end satisfying.
However there were many times when I thought the novel would have worked better without the contemporary storyline. The contemporary characters were not as well developed, the story was not as compelling and the pacing was often lagging. There were subtle references to spirits that could have been executed more skillfully in this setting and there was an overall lack of consistency in the story. If nothing else I think the novel would have been improved by paring down of the contemporary story to the bare essentials only.
I'm glad I read this novel if only for the Selkie storyline. But I was disappointed in the work as a whole and wished the author had polished both the past and the present storylines equally.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin Press and the Amazon Vine program for making the ARC available to me in exchange for an honest review.
There's a lot to like in this novel, the author does an especially nice job of showing the beauty of the landscape. The story takes place on South Harris Island, which is one of the Hebrides Islands off the west coast of Scotland. I'm not a traveler but Elizabeth Gifford's descriptions made me want to see the islands myself. While reading I frequently searched the internet for images of the areas that she was describing, the photos were always gorgeous.
There are two parts to this novel, one happening in the 1990s and the other in the 1860s and 70s. The setting for both stories is the same, the Sea House at Scarista, South Harris Island. The discovery of an infant's skeleton under the floorboards in the Sea House in 1992 is the impetus that take us back a century in time to when the vicar Alexander Ferguson lived in the house with his housekeeper Moira. Ferguson is fascinated by the stories of the Selkies and family lore says he is descended from them. Ruth and her husband Michael own the house when the infant's remains are discovered. Ruth lost her mother at an early age but remembers her mother telling her the stories of the Selkies.
I loved the storyline that revolved around the Selkies, Mermaids and Finnmen and found that to be the best written and most thought out thread in the novel. I enjoyed the characters the author created for the historical portion of her novel, the relationships were interesting and surprises that were revealed were well done. I found this part of the novel compelling, engaging and in the end satisfying.
However there were many times when I thought the novel would have worked better without the contemporary storyline. The contemporary characters were not as well developed, the story was not as compelling and the pacing was often lagging. There were subtle references to spirits that could have been executed more skillfully in this setting and there was an overall lack of consistency in the story. If nothing else I think the novel would have been improved by paring down of the contemporary story to the bare essentials only.
I'm glad I read this novel if only for the Selkie storyline. But I was disappointed in the work as a whole and wished the author had polished both the past and the present storylines equally.
Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin Press and the Amazon Vine program for making the ARC available to me in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
A good story of legends around selkies and a kinda murder mystery flung in. I enjoyed it. 3.5 ⭐.
January 30, 2014
Secrets of the Sea House is an elegant and sophisticated tale of the ways in which lives interact and the strong skeins of memory that tie us to the past.
The narrative swings masterfully between 1860 and 1992, linking the nineteenth century PoV characters of Alexander and Moira with Ruth, who moves into the Sea House over a hundred years later. I was impressed with the ease of this dialogue; the chapters are interwoven beautifully and the pace at which the secrets of the book’s title are revealed is cleverly controlled.
There are several elements and themes that run through both time periods, strengthening the overall impact of the novel: a powerful sense of place, characters scarred by the events of their past, and of course the book’s central motif: the mysterious mermaid child.
It is clear from Gifford’s vivid portrayal of the Scottish Hebrides that this is an area of the world close to her heart. The setting provides more than just a backdrop against which the story unfolds; it is a physical part of the narrative, woven deeply into both plot and characterisation. By the end of the book, I almost felt as if I had seen the islands first hand, so richly had they been described. Not only are we drawn into the rugged, coastal wilderness, but we are engulfed in its sounds, its smells, its customs, which even today appear to be profoundly different to life on the mainland.
These remote rocks at the end of the world are home to a people rooted in the distant past. They carry their legacy to this day, a legacy steeped in tradition and myth, in the natural magic of peaty earth and seawater. Gifford, however, does not ignore the islands’ less savoury history. She brings to life the heartbreaking poverty inflicted upon natives by unscrupulous landlords, greedy for profit. The horror of the compulsory emigration scene is felt keenly by the Reverend Alexander, whose signature was required on the official order of eviction, and by his maidservant Moira, whose family died due to enforced privation.
This leads me on to Gifford’s three key characters, whose individual stories are woven into a tapestry quietly epic in its scope. Ruth is deeply scarred by her mother’s death and her experience of being an orphan in care. Alexander is a rather confused young reverend, desperately seeking recognition in the eyes of the world. Moira (who I admit is my favourite) is a fiery young woman consumed primarily by two things: revenge on the landlord responsible for the death of her family, and her love for Alexander.
Gifford’s decision to let both Moria and Alexander speak for themselves (Moira especially has a unique turn of phrase), serves to deepen the reader’s understanding of these two individuals and the disparate social classes to which they belong.
Gifford’s use of fable within the greater body of the novel was one of my favourite things about Sea House. Each little tale is deployed carefully, in scenes where it will have the greatest impact. And each tale sheds light on the psychological states of the main characters and the trials through which they suffer…and strive to overcome. They are part of the myth that underpins the novel.
The actual writing is assured, a fresh, clean prose reminiscent of Susan Hill. The narrative never dragged and I felt that the varied chapter lengths were tailored well to each piece of exposition. Steeped in a rarely depicted, haunting mythology, Gifford’s début is a moving and poignant novel about identity, and the challenges we face when, as adults, we must find our place in the world.
Highly recommended.
The narrative swings masterfully between 1860 and 1992, linking the nineteenth century PoV characters of Alexander and Moira with Ruth, who moves into the Sea House over a hundred years later. I was impressed with the ease of this dialogue; the chapters are interwoven beautifully and the pace at which the secrets of the book’s title are revealed is cleverly controlled.
There are several elements and themes that run through both time periods, strengthening the overall impact of the novel: a powerful sense of place, characters scarred by the events of their past, and of course the book’s central motif: the mysterious mermaid child.
It is clear from Gifford’s vivid portrayal of the Scottish Hebrides that this is an area of the world close to her heart. The setting provides more than just a backdrop against which the story unfolds; it is a physical part of the narrative, woven deeply into both plot and characterisation. By the end of the book, I almost felt as if I had seen the islands first hand, so richly had they been described. Not only are we drawn into the rugged, coastal wilderness, but we are engulfed in its sounds, its smells, its customs, which even today appear to be profoundly different to life on the mainland.
These remote rocks at the end of the world are home to a people rooted in the distant past. They carry their legacy to this day, a legacy steeped in tradition and myth, in the natural magic of peaty earth and seawater. Gifford, however, does not ignore the islands’ less savoury history. She brings to life the heartbreaking poverty inflicted upon natives by unscrupulous landlords, greedy for profit. The horror of the compulsory emigration scene is felt keenly by the Reverend Alexander, whose signature was required on the official order of eviction, and by his maidservant Moira, whose family died due to enforced privation.
This leads me on to Gifford’s three key characters, whose individual stories are woven into a tapestry quietly epic in its scope. Ruth is deeply scarred by her mother’s death and her experience of being an orphan in care. Alexander is a rather confused young reverend, desperately seeking recognition in the eyes of the world. Moira (who I admit is my favourite) is a fiery young woman consumed primarily by two things: revenge on the landlord responsible for the death of her family, and her love for Alexander.
Gifford’s decision to let both Moria and Alexander speak for themselves (Moira especially has a unique turn of phrase), serves to deepen the reader’s understanding of these two individuals and the disparate social classes to which they belong.
Gifford’s use of fable within the greater body of the novel was one of my favourite things about Sea House. Each little tale is deployed carefully, in scenes where it will have the greatest impact. And each tale sheds light on the psychological states of the main characters and the trials through which they suffer…and strive to overcome. They are part of the myth that underpins the novel.
The actual writing is assured, a fresh, clean prose reminiscent of Susan Hill. The narrative never dragged and I felt that the varied chapter lengths were tailored well to each piece of exposition. Steeped in a rarely depicted, haunting mythology, Gifford’s début is a moving and poignant novel about identity, and the challenges we face when, as adults, we must find our place in the world.
Highly recommended.
March 10, 2014
I felt the pull of the siren song as soon as I started reading the prologue of Elisabeth Gifford's "The Sea House," and it had me under its spell from beginning to end, so don't start reading this one during a busy week or work might just have to wait. Consider yourselves warned.
Gifford's writing is lyrical, beautiful, and arresting. In this story of how the mysteries of the past haunt the present, be prepared to fall in love with Ruth, Moira, and Alexander--the story's three alternating narrators as Gifford weaves her mysterious tale between the 19th century (Reverend Alexander Ferguson of the poor Scottish island of Harris and his maid Moira whose people are being evicted from their land by Lord Marstone) and the late 20th century (young Ruth and her husband Michael who buy the run down Sea House to turn it into a bed and breakfast). The secrets hidden in the Sea House (the bones of a mermaid child found under the floor boards) unlock Ruth's curiosity as well as her secrets about her own past, part of which she has kept from her husband, Michael, and even to some degree, from herself. Moreover, Ruth's search for answers parallels Alexander's search for his own. Reverend Alexander believes he is descended from the mermaids or seal people whose story lives on in the legend of the Selkies.
Alexander looks to folklore to find answers, but would science better serve him? As in the best Magic Realist fiction, there is both a scientific and a magical explanation for the sightings of merpeople off the coast of Scotland. True to form, Gifford's story raises questions rather than giving definitive answers, so be prepared to suspend your disbelief so that both soul and mind can benefit fully from the mysteries pondered in these pages. As villager, Angus John, says, "If you don't take into account the world of spirits, they'll come back and get you anyhow" (149).
"The Sea House," via Ruth, is also a story of motherhood that speaks to our darkest fears and insecurities, delves into the question most of us return to time and again: How much do we inherit our family legacies and pathologies, and to what degree can we write our own stories and forge our own paths toward the future?
"The Sea House" is richly atmospheric, set in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, and Gifford's concrete and beautiful prose not only successfully transports readers there, but it also just might make you a believer--in the healing power of folklore and its stories, in the resilience of the human heart, and maybe even in mermaids. This is definitely one worth reading. I highly recommend it.
Gifford's writing is lyrical, beautiful, and arresting. In this story of how the mysteries of the past haunt the present, be prepared to fall in love with Ruth, Moira, and Alexander--the story's three alternating narrators as Gifford weaves her mysterious tale between the 19th century (Reverend Alexander Ferguson of the poor Scottish island of Harris and his maid Moira whose people are being evicted from their land by Lord Marstone) and the late 20th century (young Ruth and her husband Michael who buy the run down Sea House to turn it into a bed and breakfast). The secrets hidden in the Sea House (the bones of a mermaid child found under the floor boards) unlock Ruth's curiosity as well as her secrets about her own past, part of which she has kept from her husband, Michael, and even to some degree, from herself. Moreover, Ruth's search for answers parallels Alexander's search for his own. Reverend Alexander believes he is descended from the mermaids or seal people whose story lives on in the legend of the Selkies.
Alexander looks to folklore to find answers, but would science better serve him? As in the best Magic Realist fiction, there is both a scientific and a magical explanation for the sightings of merpeople off the coast of Scotland. True to form, Gifford's story raises questions rather than giving definitive answers, so be prepared to suspend your disbelief so that both soul and mind can benefit fully from the mysteries pondered in these pages. As villager, Angus John, says, "If you don't take into account the world of spirits, they'll come back and get you anyhow" (149).
"The Sea House," via Ruth, is also a story of motherhood that speaks to our darkest fears and insecurities, delves into the question most of us return to time and again: How much do we inherit our family legacies and pathologies, and to what degree can we write our own stories and forge our own paths toward the future?
"The Sea House" is richly atmospheric, set in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, and Gifford's concrete and beautiful prose not only successfully transports readers there, but it also just might make you a believer--in the healing power of folklore and its stories, in the resilience of the human heart, and maybe even in mermaids. This is definitely one worth reading. I highly recommend it.
November 4, 2014
Blurb:
A mystery (with romantic overtone) told in parallel about present day Ruth who is emotionally damaged, and Alexander, a newly appointed vicar with a scientific background who lived in the late 1800’s. Each has made Sea House their home, and the house has now yielded a secret from its past. Ruth embarks on her journey of discovery of the house’s secrets that begins to unravel her own past and provides the catalyst towards healing.
Review:
I decided to read this book because I enjoy mysteries and thought the tie-in to Scotland’s selkies myth interesting. Overall Elisabeth Gifford’s prose and style is lovely, although the plot is somewhat predictable; I thought the main and secondary characters interesting enough to keep me invested in the outcome. Ruth is the present day character. Ruth is emotionally damaged and dealing with past trauma that asserts itself at ill-timed moments. She and her husband have purchased Sea House in hopes of renovating it and recouping some of their investment as a bed and breakfast. Ruth is about control or rather trying to maintain tight control over her emotions – continually feeling remorse when something has triggered an out of proportion reaction, which she then promises will never happen again…yet in reality she has no idea where, why, or what will trigger it.
On the other hand, we have Reverend Alexander Ferguson belonging to an age when correctness and control of speech, manners, and social order were of utmost importance. He is naïve and sincere in his desire to serve and do good in the world. Rev. Ferguson is delicate in health but strong in intellect and spirit. He is an evolutionist as well, and captivated by the ancient tales of selkies as a myth. He wants to prove there is a basis in truth to these stories and sets about searching for evidence. Meanwhile, tragic events are set into motion that ultimately leads to the future discovery of the buried “mermaid” baby, redemption, and healing.
Elisabeth Gifford’s first novel is solid and engaging storytelling. I imagine her refining her skills with each successive novel and hope she has plans for future stories. I commend her on her first effort and look forward to her next one.
A mystery (with romantic overtone) told in parallel about present day Ruth who is emotionally damaged, and Alexander, a newly appointed vicar with a scientific background who lived in the late 1800’s. Each has made Sea House their home, and the house has now yielded a secret from its past. Ruth embarks on her journey of discovery of the house’s secrets that begins to unravel her own past and provides the catalyst towards healing.
Review:
I decided to read this book because I enjoy mysteries and thought the tie-in to Scotland’s selkies myth interesting. Overall Elisabeth Gifford’s prose and style is lovely, although the plot is somewhat predictable; I thought the main and secondary characters interesting enough to keep me invested in the outcome. Ruth is the present day character. Ruth is emotionally damaged and dealing with past trauma that asserts itself at ill-timed moments. She and her husband have purchased Sea House in hopes of renovating it and recouping some of their investment as a bed and breakfast. Ruth is about control or rather trying to maintain tight control over her emotions – continually feeling remorse when something has triggered an out of proportion reaction, which she then promises will never happen again…yet in reality she has no idea where, why, or what will trigger it.
On the other hand, we have Reverend Alexander Ferguson belonging to an age when correctness and control of speech, manners, and social order were of utmost importance. He is naïve and sincere in his desire to serve and do good in the world. Rev. Ferguson is delicate in health but strong in intellect and spirit. He is an evolutionist as well, and captivated by the ancient tales of selkies as a myth. He wants to prove there is a basis in truth to these stories and sets about searching for evidence. Meanwhile, tragic events are set into motion that ultimately leads to the future discovery of the buried “mermaid” baby, redemption, and healing.
Elisabeth Gifford’s first novel is solid and engaging storytelling. I imagine her refining her skills with each successive novel and hope she has plans for future stories. I commend her on her first effort and look forward to her next one.
December 18, 2014
Gee, this is a lovely writer; my first experience with Gifford's work. She has a fine sense of language, very pretty images and descriptions, and as I began the novel I felt like I was sinking into the mystical world of selkies and legends of mermaids. How exciting! A house by the sea, young marrieds Ruth and Michael, mysterious effects—all the makings of enchantment and suspense. But most of the novel is written as journal entries from Alexander Ferguson, the minister that previously lived in the sea house, which was a manse in the 1860s, and Moira the servant girl. All the chapters are written in the first person "I" so you have perspectives from Ruth, Moira, and Alexander. Suddenly the novel fell flat for me: the voices and tone of the characters were all the same. I felt like I was reading newspaper reports instead of moving into the delicious world of fiction.Too heavy on facts and details maybe. There's a lot of backstory, telling this and that, and passive voice which killed any sense of immediacy for me. I ended up skimming more than I wanted to. But I will try this author again.
January 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Elisabeth Gifford writes beautifully. I love her descriptions of everyday nature. I enjoyed learning about Scottish legends in this book and particularly enjoyed Alexander's and Moira’s journeys.
I have already read A Woman made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford and thoroughly enjoyed it and already bought the rest of her books!
Elisabeth Gifford writes beautifully. I love her descriptions of everyday nature. I enjoyed learning about Scottish legends in this book and particularly enjoyed Alexander's and Moira’s journeys.
I have already read A Woman made of Snow by Elisabeth Gifford and thoroughly enjoyed it and already bought the rest of her books!
August 6, 2016
Rsting Clarification: 4.5 Stars
A beautifully written book and engrossing tale. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute if it.
A beautifully written book and engrossing tale. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute if it.
October 17, 2020
The Sea House
A beautiful, well-written story with just enough twists and turns to create suspense and keep the reader guessing how it'll all come together.
A beautiful, well-written story with just enough twists and turns to create suspense and keep the reader guessing how it'll all come together.
July 23, 2014
"The Sea House" is about the power of past events and forgotten people to influence lives in the present.
For her tale of interplay between what has happened and what will, author Elisabeth Gifford developed three voices.
There is the Reverend Ferguson, living in the late 19th century, who represents the English presence in Scotland while dramatizing the struggle to reconcile community mythologies with the cold, hard facts of science.
There is Moira, his servant at the parish, who stands for all things Gaelic and local to the piece.
Finally, there is Ruth, living in the 1990s. She has returned to the village of Scarista, where she and her husband are opening a bed-and-breakfast (The Sea House) even as she is pregnant with child. Orphaned too young by her mother's apparent suicide, Ruth has not made her peace with the world yet.
The setting is the Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles, an outpost facing the cold Atlantic, off the northwest coast of Scotland.
All three characters are tied up with the local legend of the "Selkies" or mermaids.
Reverend Ferguson believes Selkies exist, existed at one time, or evolved into early generations of the home population. He is trying to prove this through the dictates of scientific investigation, that rare man of the cloth with one foot firmly planted in the empirical world - a Spinozan, reconciling faith and fact.
When Ferguson seeks help in his endeavors from a contact at the University of Edinburgh, he is deemed, "too ready to give credence to the fanciful tales of fairies and legends held by the aboriginal peoples of the Western Islands in their state of ignorance."
Ruth, for her part, is haunted by the idea that her mother, who claimed mermaid ancestry, committed suicide because of an inbred desire to return to the water.
"How could she do it," Ruth asks herself in a moment of introspection, "let herself slip away into the dark water? Couldn't she understand that when a mother takes her own life, she reaches out a hand to take her child with her? That cold, white hand reaching up from the water, willing me to slip away with her."
Moira, as homegrown product, naturally claims Selky lineage.
In getting the Sea House up to snuff, the newcomers discover a small chest with a baby's skeleton inside. The infant's legs are fused together like a mermaid's, a fact that unsettles all manner of things in Ruth's troubled soul and prompts a search for further information.
Ruth discovers that the uprooting of the original "crofters" on the islands in the prior century had forced a "complete break in the village's timeline."
The unfortunate crofters practiced subsistence farming on the rough and rocky Scottish highlands and outer islands under the tutelage of English aristocrats who owned the parcels from which they squeezed a living.
None of this is discussed in the story. Gifford writes her big history small, personalizing it. It is enough the reader know that a good and harmless people were uprooted and that the part of the culture they represented was destroyed in the process.
Here, Moira provides a Gaelic-tinged account of her cousin Annie's life.
"She and her husband had thrown together a small house made from rocks taken from the shore, but the only bit of earth left for the new squatters was a boggy and raw land. The children's feet did sink into it, down at the end of their house where the cattle should be kept -- not that Annie had herself a cow. They never had time to let the floor harden before they must live in there, and no one had the heart or the strength to get up a ceilidh to dance the floor hard and pack down the earth in the old way. The bairns [children] were playing a jumping game to see how far they could sink down in the mud until Annie gave the boys a slap -- something I had never seen her do before."
Gifford's research is nicely embedded into the fabric of the story so that it does not seem like research. She writes well and evenly throughout, the highpoint being an evocative and haunting account of one village's demise in which Moira and the Reverend bear witness and play a part, respectively.
Ruth's persistence, or mere presence perhaps, coupled with the stubborn regeneration of myths that sustain a scattered and dislocated people's identity, drive the story from two different places in time, seemingly seeking each other out in spite of history's attempts to obscure the connection between them.
For her tale of interplay between what has happened and what will, author Elisabeth Gifford developed three voices.
There is the Reverend Ferguson, living in the late 19th century, who represents the English presence in Scotland while dramatizing the struggle to reconcile community mythologies with the cold, hard facts of science.
There is Moira, his servant at the parish, who stands for all things Gaelic and local to the piece.
Finally, there is Ruth, living in the 1990s. She has returned to the village of Scarista, where she and her husband are opening a bed-and-breakfast (The Sea House) even as she is pregnant with child. Orphaned too young by her mother's apparent suicide, Ruth has not made her peace with the world yet.
The setting is the Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles, an outpost facing the cold Atlantic, off the northwest coast of Scotland.
All three characters are tied up with the local legend of the "Selkies" or mermaids.
Reverend Ferguson believes Selkies exist, existed at one time, or evolved into early generations of the home population. He is trying to prove this through the dictates of scientific investigation, that rare man of the cloth with one foot firmly planted in the empirical world - a Spinozan, reconciling faith and fact.
When Ferguson seeks help in his endeavors from a contact at the University of Edinburgh, he is deemed, "too ready to give credence to the fanciful tales of fairies and legends held by the aboriginal peoples of the Western Islands in their state of ignorance."
Ruth, for her part, is haunted by the idea that her mother, who claimed mermaid ancestry, committed suicide because of an inbred desire to return to the water.
"How could she do it," Ruth asks herself in a moment of introspection, "let herself slip away into the dark water? Couldn't she understand that when a mother takes her own life, she reaches out a hand to take her child with her? That cold, white hand reaching up from the water, willing me to slip away with her."
Moira, as homegrown product, naturally claims Selky lineage.
In getting the Sea House up to snuff, the newcomers discover a small chest with a baby's skeleton inside. The infant's legs are fused together like a mermaid's, a fact that unsettles all manner of things in Ruth's troubled soul and prompts a search for further information.
Ruth discovers that the uprooting of the original "crofters" on the islands in the prior century had forced a "complete break in the village's timeline."
The unfortunate crofters practiced subsistence farming on the rough and rocky Scottish highlands and outer islands under the tutelage of English aristocrats who owned the parcels from which they squeezed a living.
None of this is discussed in the story. Gifford writes her big history small, personalizing it. It is enough the reader know that a good and harmless people were uprooted and that the part of the culture they represented was destroyed in the process.
Here, Moira provides a Gaelic-tinged account of her cousin Annie's life.
"She and her husband had thrown together a small house made from rocks taken from the shore, but the only bit of earth left for the new squatters was a boggy and raw land. The children's feet did sink into it, down at the end of their house where the cattle should be kept -- not that Annie had herself a cow. They never had time to let the floor harden before they must live in there, and no one had the heart or the strength to get up a ceilidh to dance the floor hard and pack down the earth in the old way. The bairns [children] were playing a jumping game to see how far they could sink down in the mud until Annie gave the boys a slap -- something I had never seen her do before."
Gifford's research is nicely embedded into the fabric of the story so that it does not seem like research. She writes well and evenly throughout, the highpoint being an evocative and haunting account of one village's demise in which Moira and the Reverend bear witness and play a part, respectively.
Ruth's persistence, or mere presence perhaps, coupled with the stubborn regeneration of myths that sustain a scattered and dislocated people's identity, drive the story from two different places in time, seemingly seeking each other out in spite of history's attempts to obscure the connection between them.
December 31, 2014
When I was wee, my Nana, from Lewis, used to tell me stories of Selkies and seal people. My Grandpa, a sea captain, told me stories of mermaids. These tales have always fascinated me, and along with my mum's stories of her childhood holidays spent on Lewis have coloured some of my own writing, so this book was right up my street.
I really enjoyed it. It had lots of things I love - a dual timeline, mythology, ghosts, tragedy and lots and lots of amazing, evocative island colour. As ever, I will skip the plot because I don't want to give anything away, but there's a great back story, and it's not one of those ones that starts out interesting and tails away, it carries right through to the end of the book. The front story, I did feel in places could have been dealt with in more detail. Ruth has a horrible background - actually, beyond horrible - but we see it only in snapshot. This, and her pregnancy, colour her emotional reactions to what is going on in the Sea House, and that's done really evocatively, but I did feel that more could be made of it. She 'heals' far too quickly in a very short space of pages, and while I'm fine with never knowing exactly how much of her experience was in her head and how much might have been ghosts, I did think it was too glossed over - like the writer was hurtling towards the end of the book and running out of space.
That was my only gripe though. If you like time slip, fairy stories and loads of atmosphere, I'd highly recommend this one.
I really enjoyed it. It had lots of things I love - a dual timeline, mythology, ghosts, tragedy and lots and lots of amazing, evocative island colour. As ever, I will skip the plot because I don't want to give anything away, but there's a great back story, and it's not one of those ones that starts out interesting and tails away, it carries right through to the end of the book. The front story, I did feel in places could have been dealt with in more detail. Ruth has a horrible background - actually, beyond horrible - but we see it only in snapshot. This, and her pregnancy, colour her emotional reactions to what is going on in the Sea House, and that's done really evocatively, but I did feel that more could be made of it. She 'heals' far too quickly in a very short space of pages, and while I'm fine with never knowing exactly how much of her experience was in her head and how much might have been ghosts, I did think it was too glossed over - like the writer was hurtling towards the end of the book and running out of space.
That was my only gripe though. If you like time slip, fairy stories and loads of atmosphere, I'd highly recommend this one.
Read
June 15, 2017This book had the makings of being fantastic and gripping...instead it was long and boring. There were a handful of great chapters and many, many more that just dragged for me. At times it was reminiscent of "The Museum of Extraordinary Things" and "The Book of Speculation" but it never achieved their greatness. I wanted more. A mer-child buried under a house could be spectacular. At the very least it did spark my interest in Selkies.
July 9, 2021
Refreshingly different!
March 21, 2023
This was fantastic. It weaves mystery, self-discovery, and existential contemplation into a delightful journey that involves selkies and the Hebrides. Totally my cup of tea.
November 7, 2025
A colossal waste of time.
March 19, 2014
Wow! - I just finished this book and my mind is still up in Scotland. I really liked this book!
It's the story of Ruth & Michael who come to one of the Scottish isles to fix up an old house and start a B&B. Under one of the floors in the house they find the grave of a tiny little mermaid baby- a baby who was so undernourished that her legs fused together instead of developing normally. This baby haunts Ruth, who herself was left as a young child when her mother died, an apparent suicide. She wonders why the baby wasn't buried in a graveyard- but sees the cloth wrapped lovingly around it and believes someone did love the child. Ruth has not dealt well with her life in foster homes and a youth group home. She realizes she is pregnant and wonders whether she can be a good mom with the horrid past of her unloved self. She does not want to see a counsellor about this because she is afraid of the social service community- will they take her child away if she seems like an unfit mother? So, all this comes out in bursts of anger taken out on her husband Michael.
This in and of itself would make an interesting story but interwoven into Ruth's story is the history of the people who lived in and around her house in the late 1800s; specifically the story of a young minister just starting his career. Alexander is busy helping the parish folk and also working on the mystery of the Selkies- a fairy-tale told down the ages that he was descended from sealmen- Selkies. Who were these seal men/ women? Were they a link in Darwin's evolutionary chart showing that people did emerge from the sea? While he is pondering the mysteries of God and the mysteries of fossils, skeletons and fairy stories, his maid, Moira is living the real- life story of a women torn from her friends and family by the cruel deeds of the lord of the area. Her family and friends were driven from their homes to a barren and fruitless area where the ground poisoned the food and many died. When most of the people had died, the lord just came in and burned the houses down. So Moira has her own sadness to deal with.
How all these stories are intertwined makes for a fascinating tale. It is also beautifully told- I'd love to go see the land and sea Gifford is describing.
Since this is an ARC book a few changes I'd like to see are:
-larger print on the map at the beginning of the book. While I was trying to orient myself to where on the islands things were taking place, I had to really strain to get the names of the villages. Because this whole part of Scotland is unfamiliar to me, I really wanted to know where I was.
- a short glossary at the end of the book explaining the Gaelic terms used.
All in all, an excellent story, wonderfully told.
Oh, I received this book in a giveaway draw at goodreads. Lucky me :)
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It's the story of Ruth & Michael who come to one of the Scottish isles to fix up an old house and start a B&B. Under one of the floors in the house they find the grave of a tiny little mermaid baby- a baby who was so undernourished that her legs fused together instead of developing normally. This baby haunts Ruth, who herself was left as a young child when her mother died, an apparent suicide. She wonders why the baby wasn't buried in a graveyard- but sees the cloth wrapped lovingly around it and believes someone did love the child. Ruth has not dealt well with her life in foster homes and a youth group home. She realizes she is pregnant and wonders whether she can be a good mom with the horrid past of her unloved self. She does not want to see a counsellor about this because she is afraid of the social service community- will they take her child away if she seems like an unfit mother? So, all this comes out in bursts of anger taken out on her husband Michael.
This in and of itself would make an interesting story but interwoven into Ruth's story is the history of the people who lived in and around her house in the late 1800s; specifically the story of a young minister just starting his career. Alexander is busy helping the parish folk and also working on the mystery of the Selkies- a fairy-tale told down the ages that he was descended from sealmen- Selkies. Who were these seal men/ women? Were they a link in Darwin's evolutionary chart showing that people did emerge from the sea? While he is pondering the mysteries of God and the mysteries of fossils, skeletons and fairy stories, his maid, Moira is living the real- life story of a women torn from her friends and family by the cruel deeds of the lord of the area. Her family and friends were driven from their homes to a barren and fruitless area where the ground poisoned the food and many died. When most of the people had died, the lord just came in and burned the houses down. So Moira has her own sadness to deal with.
How all these stories are intertwined makes for a fascinating tale. It is also beautifully told- I'd love to go see the land and sea Gifford is describing.
Since this is an ARC book a few changes I'd like to see are:
-larger print on the map at the beginning of the book. While I was trying to orient myself to where on the islands things were taking place, I had to really strain to get the names of the villages. Because this whole part of Scotland is unfamiliar to me, I really wanted to know where I was.
- a short glossary at the end of the book explaining the Gaelic terms used.
All in all, an excellent story, wonderfully told.
Oh, I received this book in a giveaway draw at goodreads. Lucky me :)
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January 4, 2024
TW: lots of mental health related ones such as suicidal ideation, suicide, depression. Also, especially in the past sections of the story, terms like Eskimo and Red Indian are used.
EG is very good at building tragedy, layer by layer, and then still turning it towards some kind of a (realistic) happy ending. In this book, she took some bits of history and wove an intriguing tale around it. I'm not sure about the Sami-Hebrides connection in terms of Hebridean people looking like there might be a link (e.g. the descriptions of e.g. straight black hair) but it was interesting.
She's also queen of creating atmosphere in northern settings, especially Scotland. There were bits I didn't bond with too much (like fears of motherhood and I'm not a fan of old house getting fixed settings, don't know why).
While I cannot say it really lessened my investment/enjoyment, Ruth was so friggin frustrating. She's not the only one who needed it, but I kept screaming GET THERAPY. And the constant thoughts of nah it's not for me or no that's not what I need etc. In relation to this, there were tiny details I wish had been adressed, like Angus John. For one, they feed him alcohol even though they know he shouldn't drink but at no point is any blame laid at their door. In her thoughts, she calls him an old drunk and thinks she surely isn't in the same category as him. And twice, they talk about him and his 'loony bin'. I would have wished for her to get some more realisations/clarity regarding mental health beyond just herself, and she never does.
EG is very good at building tragedy, layer by layer, and then still turning it towards some kind of a (realistic) happy ending. In this book, she took some bits of history and wove an intriguing tale around it. I'm not sure about the Sami-Hebrides connection in terms of Hebridean people looking like there might be a link (e.g. the descriptions of e.g. straight black hair) but it was interesting.
She's also queen of creating atmosphere in northern settings, especially Scotland. There were bits I didn't bond with too much (like fears of motherhood and I'm not a fan of old house getting fixed settings, don't know why).
While I cannot say it really lessened my investment/enjoyment, Ruth was so friggin frustrating. She's not the only one who needed it, but I kept screaming GET THERAPY. And the constant thoughts of nah it's not for me or no that's not what I need etc. In relation to this, there were tiny details I wish had been adressed, like Angus John. For one, they feed him alcohol even though they know he shouldn't drink but at no point is any blame laid at their door. In her thoughts, she calls him an old drunk and thinks she surely isn't in the same category as him. And twice, they talk about him and his 'loony bin'. I would have wished for her to get some more realisations/clarity regarding mental health beyond just herself, and she never does.
November 11, 2014
This book fell into my lap unexpectedly. Other than having an author that I very vaguely recognized the name of and a pretty cover- I really had no idea what this book was about. I started the book without even reading a blurb about it.
This book was a very unusual read for me- it was literary fiction, historical, dramatic, and had ghosts in it (sort of). This was not at all my typical read. I found myself somehow engrossed in the story and a little angry at myself that I was. It had so many things in it that I generally hate in books- dead babies, ghosts, drama, bad things (that I can't refer to or it would spoil the plot), and well.. adult fiction! It was around the 80% mark that I came to terms with the fact that I did enjoy this book- I DID enjoy where it was going, and that (shock!) I was happy that I had read it.
Now I know you are probably thinking- you hated this book and you want me to read it? Well I will say this- it is not a fluffy read. You cannot go into it expecting something light hearted and frouffy. It is not a romance novel and it is not something to read if you are very cheerful. What it is is a painful and honest story about one woman's journey from loss and a deep pit of pain and bitterness into redemption and wholeness.
I enjoyed the flashing between past a present. I will be honest- I didn't read it closely enough to see precisely how the two were tied (beyond the obvious) but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I was a little confused that this had ties to Christianity. It has very little "religion" in it- though one of the main characters is a reverend in the past- there is very little focus on that part.
I could see this book being enjoyed by many people- Christian, non- Christian- pretty much anyone. I can't say this is a book I will revisit again (I like happy books, what can I say?) but I don't regret reading it. It was enjoyable and the author is very talented. If you like selkies, Scotland, history, or a good depressing read- check it out!
This book was a very unusual read for me- it was literary fiction, historical, dramatic, and had ghosts in it (sort of). This was not at all my typical read. I found myself somehow engrossed in the story and a little angry at myself that I was. It had so many things in it that I generally hate in books- dead babies, ghosts, drama, bad things (that I can't refer to or it would spoil the plot), and well.. adult fiction! It was around the 80% mark that I came to terms with the fact that I did enjoy this book- I DID enjoy where it was going, and that (shock!) I was happy that I had read it.
Now I know you are probably thinking- you hated this book and you want me to read it? Well I will say this- it is not a fluffy read. You cannot go into it expecting something light hearted and frouffy. It is not a romance novel and it is not something to read if you are very cheerful. What it is is a painful and honest story about one woman's journey from loss and a deep pit of pain and bitterness into redemption and wholeness.
I enjoyed the flashing between past a present. I will be honest- I didn't read it closely enough to see precisely how the two were tied (beyond the obvious) but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I was a little confused that this had ties to Christianity. It has very little "religion" in it- though one of the main characters is a reverend in the past- there is very little focus on that part.
I could see this book being enjoyed by many people- Christian, non- Christian- pretty much anyone. I can't say this is a book I will revisit again (I like happy books, what can I say?) but I don't regret reading it. It was enjoyable and the author is very talented. If you like selkies, Scotland, history, or a good depressing read- check it out!
August 15, 2014
Sometimes you just stumble across a book you've never even heard of and it turns out to be a treasure. Such is the case with The Sea House. It was lying discarded on a table in the library and I liked the cover. It turned out to be a fascinating read.
My husband's grandmother was from the Isle of Lewis and he grew up hearing tales about the hardships of life there. When I read this book, I was stunned to hear about expulsions and forced emigration much like Ireland. I had no idea. It makes you understand why some Scots want independence even now.
At any rate, the story itself was really compelling. Ruth and Michael buy an abandoned old manse with the idea of renovating it into a Bed and Breakfast. When they tear up an old floor, they find a baby's skeleton carefully interred under the house. This is no ordinary baby, however, as it appears to be the offspring of a Selkie. Ruth's mother was from the island, had run away to London, and drowned herself a decade later, leaving Ruth alone in the world of foster care. Now Ruth wants answers about her past, while grappling with crippling anxiety and deep-seated rage that threatens her marriage and mental wellness.
The story swings back and forth from the 1990s to the 1860s, with half of the novel about the Reverend Alexander Ferguson, who lived in the manse when the baby was buried there. The Reverend is obsessed withe the legends of mermaids, Selkies and Finnmen that abound in the Hebrides, and spends much of his time trying to find definitive proof of their existence. This obsession overtakes him and ultimately ends his ministry.
I found the characters very engaging. There were a few times when the academic treatises on Selkies and mermaids dragged a bit, but they were necessary for the understanding of the myths.
Overall, I loved this book, and I'm not averse to a reasonably happy ending either.
My husband's grandmother was from the Isle of Lewis and he grew up hearing tales about the hardships of life there. When I read this book, I was stunned to hear about expulsions and forced emigration much like Ireland. I had no idea. It makes you understand why some Scots want independence even now.
At any rate, the story itself was really compelling. Ruth and Michael buy an abandoned old manse with the idea of renovating it into a Bed and Breakfast. When they tear up an old floor, they find a baby's skeleton carefully interred under the house. This is no ordinary baby, however, as it appears to be the offspring of a Selkie. Ruth's mother was from the island, had run away to London, and drowned herself a decade later, leaving Ruth alone in the world of foster care. Now Ruth wants answers about her past, while grappling with crippling anxiety and deep-seated rage that threatens her marriage and mental wellness.
The story swings back and forth from the 1990s to the 1860s, with half of the novel about the Reverend Alexander Ferguson, who lived in the manse when the baby was buried there. The Reverend is obsessed withe the legends of mermaids, Selkies and Finnmen that abound in the Hebrides, and spends much of his time trying to find definitive proof of their existence. This obsession overtakes him and ultimately ends his ministry.
I found the characters very engaging. There were a few times when the academic treatises on Selkies and mermaids dragged a bit, but they were necessary for the understanding of the myths.
Overall, I loved this book, and I'm not averse to a reasonably happy ending either.
October 1, 2014
This book was way better than I expected. I have actually read a few novels set in this area and so I was curious to see how this book portrayed life. This book is mainly about the mysterious seal people or Selkies. The story starts with Ruth and her husband who find a baby mermaid skeleton underneath their house they are renovating. The storyline sounds odd but the mermaid part of it and folklore was really very interesting. The story goes between a few people so I had to really think about who I was reading about. Ruth wants to discover how the baby got under the house and the book flashes back to what happened so long ago.
I really enjoyed this book because it was different but I think it could have ended better. I didn't feel closure but maybe that's not a bad thing. There has been a lot of bad reviews written because there is some bad language. People make it out to seem like the entire book is full of it and it's really not, it's one sentence. While I don't appreciate cuss words in books, I think the negativity has blown up the true qualities this book is about.
I still recommend this book.
If you are in need of a cozy beach read or a summer afternoon break this book is a good pick.
Four stars.
"I received this book from Litfuse for free in exchange for an honest review."
I really enjoyed this book because it was different but I think it could have ended better. I didn't feel closure but maybe that's not a bad thing. There has been a lot of bad reviews written because there is some bad language. People make it out to seem like the entire book is full of it and it's really not, it's one sentence. While I don't appreciate cuss words in books, I think the negativity has blown up the true qualities this book is about.
I still recommend this book.
If you are in need of a cozy beach read or a summer afternoon break this book is a good pick.
Four stars.
"I received this book from Litfuse for free in exchange for an honest review."
December 28, 2014
In 1992, Ruth and Michael have purchased the rundown Sea House on the island of Harris in the Hebrides with the hope of turning it into a Bed & Breakfast. During the renovations, they discover the remains of a baby whose legs are fused together. From appearance, a mermaid child.
Ruth, in an effort to overcome her own issues of abandonment and to find out what happened to the mermaid baby, begins researching the history of The Sea House and learns the story of Reverend Alexander Ferguson a newly ordained pastor, recently arrived on Harris.
Having always been told he was descended from the selkies or seal people, Alexander has had a lifelong fascination with mermaids. As the story alternates between 1860 and 1992, the novel bounces back and forth between Ruth's efforts to find out what happened to the mermaid child and Alexander's efforts to discover the truth behind the selkie/mermaid legend.
Historically, I was intrigued by the premise of The Sea House and Elisabeth Gifford has done an amazing job of blending legend with fact as well as addressing issues of PTSD and abandonment.
There were some complaints on this tour that the book contained profanity. I found two instances of the "F" word in only one sentence and it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
A fascinating, compelling story.
Ruth, in an effort to overcome her own issues of abandonment and to find out what happened to the mermaid baby, begins researching the history of The Sea House and learns the story of Reverend Alexander Ferguson a newly ordained pastor, recently arrived on Harris.
Having always been told he was descended from the selkies or seal people, Alexander has had a lifelong fascination with mermaids. As the story alternates between 1860 and 1992, the novel bounces back and forth between Ruth's efforts to find out what happened to the mermaid child and Alexander's efforts to discover the truth behind the selkie/mermaid legend.
Historically, I was intrigued by the premise of The Sea House and Elisabeth Gifford has done an amazing job of blending legend with fact as well as addressing issues of PTSD and abandonment.
There were some complaints on this tour that the book contained profanity. I found two instances of the "F" word in only one sentence and it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
A fascinating, compelling story.
January 10, 2014
Hum. Mostly good, I think, but with some reservations, which are more technical than anything. There is a large cast of characters in two timelines (yes, I know I'm guilty of casts of thousands myself) and she doesn't do enough to give gentle reminders as to who is what. Some plotlines fade out, and some finish too abruptly. The church background, which is crucial to the earlier timeline and incidental in the modern timeline, is confused (what is her clergyman? Is he Presbyterian? Episcopalian?) and at some points there are downright errors (Archbishops are Your Grace, and there aren't any Episcopalian / Anglican ones in Scotland; Bishops are My Lord; the Bishop of Edinburgh would be unlikely to appoint a clergyman to a Western Isles parish; a clergyman wears a surplice, not a surplus; a minister is not a vicar, etc.). The text hasn't been justified, which looks odd, but is probably not her fault. However, I liked her three main characters very much, with all their faults and grievances, and the setting is appealing and well written. Well worth a tidy up.
June 7, 2018
On the shores of Scotland is a sea house where two tales unravel. Ruth, who is renovating the house, and hiding from her past and found another: mermaid bones buried beneath the floorboards. Ruth’s mother drowned when her daughter was very young, leaving her orphaned. In an attempt to find a piece of her family history, and perhaps an answer to the loss of her mother, Ruth moves back to Scotland, the place her mother was from yet had never told her daughter any details about, only more selkie legends. Over a hundred years before her, the Reverend Alexander Ferguson inhabited the house. A man obsessed with local tales of mermaids and selkies, he was part of a great tragedy the residents still remember. His assistant, a native named Miriam, taught him her family’s legends while he searched for the answer to the question, “Do selkies really exist?” For a themed recipe of Cherry Oat Cupcakes with Cherry Whiskey Frosting, discussion questions, and similar recommended books, visit: http://hub.me/aksYw
December 19, 2016
I really liked this novel. I felt like it had so many elements to the story which worked together in a seamless manner - Ruth's emotional problems, dealing with her childhood abuse and how that affected her in adulthood, mermaids and legends, and the Potato famine and the harsh history of the town. I enjoyed the way Ruth and Michael went through a journey in building of the house that included Ruth dealing with the past and her demons whilst uncovering the rather dark truths about the past of Alexander.
Ruth was a great character. Hugely flawed and yet deeply real and full.
The story has stayed with me, and I really did genuinely enjoy Gifford's writing style - her descriptive language was beautiful and sombre, a lot like the story and the wild land that the characters were living on.
We are now discussing this book on Cup Of Coffee Book Club so head on over and join the conversation.
Ruth was a great character. Hugely flawed and yet deeply real and full.
The story has stayed with me, and I really did genuinely enjoy Gifford's writing style - her descriptive language was beautiful and sombre, a lot like the story and the wild land that the characters were living on.
We are now discussing this book on Cup Of Coffee Book Club so head on over and join the conversation.
October 22, 2016
I picked this up because a library patron brought it in, thinking it was a library book. Turns out, it was his personal copy. He offered to let me borrow it, but when I realized we had copies in the system, I thanked him for his offer and got one of ours instead. We need the stats! It's a very interesting book, and in this case, you can judge a book by its cover. I thought the cover was gorgeous, then I read the inside jacket and was intrigued.
It bounces back and forth from the early 1990s to the late 1800s, all action taking place on the same island. I was more interested in Alexander's story than in Ruth's, and I felt his story had actual closure, whereas Ruth's felt rushed (and not fully explained).
Hoping to get my hands on something else by the author, but it looks like she hasn't written much that's in print format. And for someone who doesn't do e-readers, that's not good news.
It bounces back and forth from the early 1990s to the late 1800s, all action taking place on the same island. I was more interested in Alexander's story than in Ruth's, and I felt his story had actual closure, whereas Ruth's felt rushed (and not fully explained).
Hoping to get my hands on something else by the author, but it looks like she hasn't written much that's in print format. And for someone who doesn't do e-readers, that's not good news.
July 1, 2019
Delightful read. Mermaids,Selkies,folklore,mystery,magical and haunting. This story takes place in northern Scotland off the Isle of Skye. Smooth reading between 19th and 20th Centuries. There were a few parts that dragged a bit (for me).The ending has a few unexpected twists that I did not see coming.One of them was sort of rushed over and deserved more attention than it received. It was a surprise mention involving one of the characters and then nothing more.I did like this and would recommend it!!!!!
May 6, 2014
this book started out strong and, somewhere in the middle, became muddled. to the point where I put it down, began and finished another book, then came back to this one.
I am surprised at some of the other reviews. The story was okay. not overwhelming.
I am surprised at some of the other reviews. The story was okay. not overwhelming.
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