The Mermaid of Black Conch
June 2022
The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
Near the island of Black Conch, a fisherman sings to himself while waiting for a catch. But David attracts a sea-dweller that he never expected - Aycayia, an innocent young woman cursed by jealous wives to live as a mermaid.
When American tourists capture Aycayia, David rescues her and vows to win her trust. Slowly, painfully, she transforms into a woman again. Yet as their love grows, they discover that the world around them is changing - and they cannot escape the curse for ever . . .
Other books discussed: The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker, My Phantoms by Gwendoline Riley, Matrix by Lauren Groff, Oh William by Elizabeth Strout, The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Discussion Resources:
Print Reviews:
Guardian
New York Times
New Yorker
NPR
London Review of Books
