A Mermaid's Tale: A Personal Search for Love and Lore

by Amanda Adams

Elusive, seductive, otherworldly, the mermaid is one of the most resonant of female archetypes, persisting across cultures and eras. In this singular study, Amanda Adams uses poetic language and invokes a wide range of representations and disciplines — from literature, poetry, and mythology to anthropology and folklore — to reclaim this icon of female power for modern readers. Beginning with Melusina, the bathing mermaid par excellence, Adams describes the seductive sirens and their honeyed songs, the powerful Arctic sea goddess Sedna, and the long-haired rusalki of Russian lore, among other legendary mermaids. As she tells their stories, she considers the womanly, passionate, rage-filled, and seductively sweet sides of the mermaid and how those traits reflect the lives and moods of women who live on drier shores. In discovering mermaids and their stories, the author presents a striking narrative of uncovering the unusual, the beautiful, and the extraordinary in her own life.

Genres: Mermaids, Nonfiction, Mythology, Folklore

208 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2006

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

I wanted to like this book. I really did. Even while reading it, I wanted to like it so much that at times, I truly DID like it. After all, this is a book about a girl who apparently is my age, and grew up pretending to be a mermaid in her bathtub (like I did), was affected by Tori Amos' songs at an early age (like I was), and ends the book planning a wedding (like I am). But...

This book suffers from disjointed disease. From the outset, Amanda Adams claims that the book's purpose is to recount a history of mermaid lore and myth, and *perhaps* explore her personal growth via her love of mermaids. Well...the book was 40% the basics of mermaid lore, and 60% self-ruminating. Honestly, throughout the book I felt like I was just reading an extended version of a friend's Live Journal blog entry contemplating oneself via the metaphor of myth. This idea isn't so much annoying, as is the misleading implication that she was going to be primarily discussing myth, not personal story.

This alone would be a bit annoying. But there are other things about this book that rub me the wrong way. The author, in the first chapter, calls herself a rational skeptic...someone whose love of mermaids doesn't at all fit in with her usual logical world view. She then goes on to tell stories about her friend, Mitten, who just happens to show up in a chapter about Selkies. Mitten has big black eyes, loves the water, and dresses as a seal every year for Halloween. When they go swimming together, the author can see seals bobbing in the water with Mitten. And lo and behold...Mitten's mother met her father on the beach, and she disappeared with an especially flooding tide. (sigh) Let me say...I actually believe in this sort of thing. But to have such a story come in a book written by a 'skeptic' who admits she 'embellishes' the myths she recounts in the book already...makes her entire book seem like a tall tale.

Oh, and in another chapter about river spirits, she tells a story about going to a seashore, and seeing a beautiful naked woman lying on the beach between ocean and stream, surrounded by male admirers. One of the men calls the woman's name. Her name? Is River.

When truth and embellishment blend so completely in a non-fiction book, without any acknowledgement of the difference, the author loses her grip on either. And she also loses my respect.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally I struggle quite a bit with stories about people’s personal journeys if I don’t feel like I already have an interest in them as people, and I’d never heard of Amanda Adams before. But her self discovery intermingled with exploration of myths and how they’ve been changed and perceived coupled with feminist stances on mermaids and breathtaking art resulted in this being a delightful read.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this memoir/exploration of mermaid stories from around the world and the relationship between the author and mermaids. The prose was written in an engaging, creative, talented way that I found both penetrating and evocative. I particularly like the chapters on Melusina, the selkie and the author's friend Mitten and Yemaya. Having had profound experiences with Yemaya and her priests, I found that chapter an absolute delight.

I'm still thinking about this book, even though I finished it months ago. Part of what has stayed with me is that even with academic training, the author is deeply affected by her childhood love of mermaids, which in turn has led her to ruminations both playful and serious about womanhood, mystery and myth. She is adept at writing about the intersection of the three. I am so glad that she has carried her mermaidenry with her throughout her life, allowing it to inform and shape her inner landscape into one rich enough to be shared with readers. I will never forget this book and already have it planned as gifts to like-minded friends.

I also recommend her book about female archaeologists -it's super fun!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

pretty book, nice illustrations but kind of...dumb, really. Pretentious and silly...it's just about one girl's obsession with mermaids and how that supposedly reflects on her life adventures, which seem a little made up and romanticized---her experiences as a nouveau hippie/ boho girl didn't really ring true to me, but then--I new a billion girls like that in Berkeley, and this girl was from norcal and graduated from Cal--in fact, it could even be that one horrid girl who graduated anthro with cat and got into cal for her phd in folklore, which made me jealous...she was annoying and the picture kinda looks like her,actually.
So. Yea. If you are interested in pretty mermaid artwork, or if you even though White Oleander was a tiny bit good, maybe you would enjoy her style of writing but i thought it a bit too hippie-twee for me.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adams reminded me of the days of diving to the depths of the bath tub rescuing treasure and escaping the clutches of the occasional passing pirate. As a little girl, I wanted to be a mermaid, not a princess. I still love the mystery and enchantment that has fueled the fascination of mermaids throughout history. Even as a grown women identify with the mischievous aquatic temptress. The mermaid is strong, independent, fierce all the while embracing her charm, beauty and alluring qualities. Adams explores the origins and qualities that have made mermaids a mainstay in global folklore in her easy reading and well organized book.

[Summer Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was a wonderful balance of myth and memoir. This isn't a thesis and doesn't pretend to be; it's a lyric exploration, and a smart one at that, into women's fascination with mermaid archetypes and how mermaid symbols are internalized and embodied by modern women. Having grown up where Amanda did (we went to the same high school, but we didn't know each other then and have still never spoken in person), I could relate strongly to her sense of wonder and magic about the California coast. I, too, loved mermaids and felt the spark of selkie excitement when encountering the region's wild seals, which really do interact with swimmers and wanderers along the shore. There is a touch of magical realism to this text, which I thought enhanced rather than detracted from the reading experience. It felt to me like an essay of the kind I most like to read: part erudition, part dramatic tale, and part personal revelation. I highly recommend this book, especially to fellow Northern California mermaids who find themselves far from home.

[Avril · Rating 2 out of 5]

I began reading this book hoping to learn more about mermaids, selkies and other creatures of that ilk. There wasn't a lot of in depth research here.

This book is less about folkore. It's more about a woman's obsession with mermaids (with a little bit of memoir added to the mix).

This book is amusing and light. Sometimes amusing and light is just the ticket. I unfortunately read this for substance and didn't find much.

[Alexandra Relias]

An interesting non-fiction book regarding myths of mermaids in various cultures throughout history.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

After, I read the first two chapters, I had to know what happened. It just drew me in.

[Alessandra Fissinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and I didn't think it too smarmy at all

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the artwork and how the author weaved together folk lore with her own personal love of mermaids.

[Baroness · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story wasn’t mentally stimulating. As I read I found myself daydreaming about the beach, a full body massage and yummy nummy food.
The artwork was pretty.

[Chris Cathcart · Rating 5 out of 5]

For mermaid lovers of all ages - compelling mix of lore & memoir. Couldn't put it down.

[Timothy Grubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman’s quest to determine what kind of mermaid she is…

A Mermaid's Tale: A Personal Search for Love and Lore by Amanda Adams is a collection of mermaid lore and a personal journey of discovery…

The narrator thinks…no…knows she is a mermaid…but she’s not sure how to prove it…

Travel with her through the various myths and legends of mermaids (mostly limited to European tradition, but there are some Russian and Inuit references as well).

Learn about mermaids as supernatural spirits…observed them as the bathing ebauties they are so often depicted as…listen to their intoxicating siren song that drives men mad…walk on land with their land cousins the Selkie…fear their dangerous presence as hazards that drown unwary men…

Experience them and hopefully you will survive the experience.

While there’s not a ton of footnotes or deep “dive” lore references, there’s enough to satisfy a casual fan and perhaps some of the deeper mermaid afficiandos.

It’s a quick breezy book with some lovely historical illustrations…

Also, beware red headed mermaids as they are the most dangerous…

[Jordan Bartlett]

Hoped to learn more about mermaid lore across the globe with this book as the dust jacket promised to "explore the myth and meaning of the mermaid through time and across cultures." Decidedly did not. A lot of flowery language and read more like a diary. Disappointing for me BUT beautiful if that's what you were looking for- I think it's problem is marketing as I'm sure it's the right fit for someone wanting the fluff and fancy.

[Charmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this from the library mainly to read About Melusina. Melusina’s story is my favorite. Other stories were interesting and I enjoyed the illustrations, but it was a tiny pressed purple violet that made it even more special. The idea someone before me who had checked out the book had pressed a violet and forgot it there.

[Leslie Phelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it explored sea maidens in folklore from around the world, interwoven with the author's personal tale of her lifelong love affair with all things mermaid. I bought it as a tool for research while writing Lovesick Little, and to this day I enjoy flipping through the beautiful artwork contained in its pages.

[A.J. Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those books you keep on your bedside that are your go-to in times of Monday’s and other crises? THIS is that book. The writer weaves cultural tales of mermaids in with personal narratives creating a story that feels like a warm blanket. Fantastic read!

[Zoë Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've actually owned A Mermaid's Tale: A Personal Search For Love and Lore by Amanda Adams for years, but when going through my remaining books at home this summer to pack up and take back to NS, I came across it and decided to finally read it. I admit that then, similar to when I was first interested in the book, I was definitely drawn in by the gorgeous images and glossy pages of this book.

Sadly, a mythical story and glossy pages are not enough to sustain my interest, and it quickly became apparent that this was not a book I enjoyed. I really wanted to learn more about the mermaid lore, but Adams' embellishing makes it difficult to tell what is what. I understand that is part of the point, but as a scientist, her style of "non fiction" just didn't appeal to me. Her writing was often overly melodramatic and I felt no emotional connection, nor really believed any of what she was saying, even when she was writing her own life. Even the "real" people in A Mermaid's Tale felt like they had been written out of convenience, altered to fit her story.

Finally, the story of A Mermaid's Tale is really disjointed, and although it is divided up into chapters I wish that there was a better connection between them, and a less abrupt, sudden "ending" to the book itself. There are some nice moments of mythology shared by Adams, and some gorgeous images, but for me it is far outweighed by the negatives of this book.

[Gina Pickering Hutchison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mermaid lore across centuries, cultures, and religions. Ms. Adams adds her insight, research, And childhood to adult wishes and fantasies.

[Michael Lerch · Rating 5 out of 5]

It intertwines her personal stories with a lot of lore. I read it for the lore but the personal part really made the book stand out as something out of the ordinary and made it much more engaging.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pivotal part of my childhood

[Christaaay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a useful resource, despite its minor identity crisis.

I enjoyed its mashup-style introduction to so many ideas about mermaids—old magazine covers, art, songs, short stories, legend-retellings. The author and new perspectives on these creatures of legend. It’s an excellent resource for that sort of thing. I gathered many sources to further my research and reading of mermaid legends.

I did not, however, identify with nor care about the memoir aspect of this book. I get the idea that this is “a mermaid’s tale,” aka the author’s tale. But still, a lot of it seemed slightly silly to me, possibly because I never caught the mermaid bug as a child. (I wanted to be knight, not a mermaid.) And anyway, I don’t know the author, so…why would I care about her aspirations to mermaidry?

Some of the author’s ideas about how women identify with mermaids also struck me as silly. For instance, she says, “But in the end, all women are the very sea: treacherous waves, unpredicted rain, frightening depths that are never altogether knowable” (138 Adams). Perhaps the author’s interpretations are inherent in these legends; if so, then I’m glad to know about them. She has the credentials to back up her expertise, after all. But they still make me uncomfortable. I like how she celebrates women in her book. But I feel like she also makes excuses for the waves of emotions women sometimes ride. She makes excuses for bad relationship decisions. She makes excuses for our every whim. And I don’t feel like that’s a healthy or empowering view of our sex.

Final evaluation: This is a useful resource, despite having to wade through the memoir. Whether or not I’m happy about her interpretations of the legends holds little weight in the final analysis, considering how new I am to mermaid waters.

Additional Caveat: My husband called this "the boob book" because every picture in the book…shows boobs. It’s true. But, if you’re the target audience (*clears throat* A WOMAN), the gorgeous illustrations probably won’t bother you. Perhaps, don’t show bring the book to church.

[Peekablue · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, the author describes several instances of her life and how they relate to different mermaid legends. I found this book interesting and inspiring. Like the author, I have never outgrown my fascination with mermaid. In fact, I think I'm even more interested in them, now, than when I was a little girl. This book has helped me understand that I am not alone and perhaps I, too, have an inner-mermaid that needs to be let out.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plunging into the mermaids' stories, Adams traverses through land and sea to understand exactly what the mermaid has meant to society, especially to women, as a symbol, a guide, a warning, and explores what it is about the mermaid's story that has captivated our imaginations since the beginning of time.

For a complete review visit my blog: http://livedaringadventure.blogspot.c...

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely written and evocative, if a bit purple in places. I liked the stories of the mermaids from all the different cultures, but the emphasis on the author's personal obsession was, I thought, overdone in places. It took away from the more scholarly work that was sort of half-apparent, if smothered by authorial meanderings about her tail. I get it: you want to be a mermaid, but could we go back to Sedda or the rusalka now please?

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more ...depth from this. I am spoiled and have high standards for my fairytale origin stories. I still learned some lovely and good things from this book, but I also felt we spent too much time in Adams' head. I don't hold it against her, but... I wanted more of a connection between mer stories, not a description of every pearl earring she owned. I also wear a lot of pearls. It wasn't what I was expecting.

[Jeancburke · Rating 4 out of 5]

With nine different mermaid tales (tails?)derived from the folklore traditions of various cultures, I've enjoyed what the author did with this work. My only reservation, given the beautiful illustrations it includes, is the way the illustrations were credited- on a single page with very small font at the back of the book.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sometimes a little over the top, but is so satisfying to read I forgive it completely. Embracing the lore of one's own experiences and examining how they interact with mythology and archetype is a powerful reflective exercise. This book encourages that exercise with a great deal of humor, and if you like mermaids, it will float your boat.

[Bridgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the writing style and found the book both informative of mermaids and other fantastical sea creatures (like selkies) and a fun biography on the roles of mermaids and the ocean on a young woman's life.