Carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in. The book of speculation by erika swyler, 9781782397762, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jun 24, 2015 the book of speculation by erika swyler. While this is partly due to a weakness on my part for circus stories, it is mostly due to erika swylers striking writing style and intricately woven narrative. Tolkien meets ai as bennett city of stairs, 2014, etc. Instead of crediting the authors in the usual manner, it encouraged readers to guess who wrote which story, and provided a. The book tells the story of two doomed lovers, two hundred years ago. Fragile and water damaged, the book is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid. Book overview one of buzzfeeds 24 best fiction books of 2015 includes a bonus short story by erika swyler, the mermaid girl as simon, a lonely research librarian, searches frantically for the key to a curse that might be killing the women in his family, he learns. The book of speculation by erika swyler the first novel from author erika swyler, the book of speculation, will pull you in and keep you captivated to the very last page. Jun 26, 2015 one june day, an old book arrives on simon watsons doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. One june day, an old book arrives on simon watsons doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. His parents are long dead, his mother having drowned in the water. Jun 19, 2015 the book of speculation is by turns magical and mournful, a reflection of the ways in which the past can control us.
The best books on financial speculation five books. The book of speculation is lyrical, mythic and epic in a focused sense, exploring the web of buried secrets surrounding one family and a highly insulated community of travelers. Although it left me with some questions, swylers creation of mystery and mysticism that ensnare and connect the characters throughout the novel is bewitching, and the plot. Epic, propulsive, incredibly ambitious, and dazzlingly written, the resurrection of joan ashby is a story about sacrifice and motherhood, the burdens of expectation and genius. The book of speculation is a luscious experience dark, sweet, and wild. Carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in speculation erika swylers generous yet somewhat disappointing debut follows a young man and a. Founded in 1933, kirkus has been an authoritative voice in book discovery for more than 85 years. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Swyler the book of speculation, 2015 intersperses this storyline with scenes from neddas future aboard the chawla, a fourperson interstellar vessel en route to a faraway planet when its lifesupport generator begins to fail. A provocative satire of love, sex, money, and politics that unfolds over four wild days in socalled paradise the longawaited first novel from the acclaimed author of sam the cat. May 05, 2015 the book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magicavailable june 23rd from st. Keenly wrought characters and evocative prose complement a multifaceted plot that explores topics ranging from relativity and thermodynamics to parentchild relationships and the afterlife. The book of speculation book king county library system. The book of speculation by erika swyler thriftbooks.
Kirkus in this dazzling novel, the immensely talented erika swyler sweeps. When a librarian receives a rare old book from a stranger in erika swylers the book of speculation, he discovers a door into his past, leading to a world of carnival performers with mysterious secrets simon watsons life is disintegrating. A long island reads 2020 selection a real simple best book of 2019 from the bestselling author of the. Editions of the book of speculation by erika swyler. On a day in late june, simon receives a mysterious book connected to his family. When the financial markets crash, whether its in 1929 or 1973 or 2008, people get angry. When a young librarian comes into possession of the diary of a traveling circus from more than 200 years ago, he decides the book may hold clues to a family. Startelegram a wonderful novel, full of mystery through the centuries with great details about carnival life, similar to the night circus by erin morgenstern. Some of ferrantes interrogations find new expression in offills original book. The book of speculation by erika swyler is available on june 23rd, 2015 visit. It is the kind of book that you will be quoting over and over to friends who dont quite understand, until they.
Listen to an audio excerpt from erika swylers the book of speculation, available today in print from. The book of speculation book johnson county library. Offills novel offers a kind of resistance report from within occupied territory. Watson, i came across this book at auction as part of a larger lot i purchased on speculation. It offers a unique exploration of the power of the sea, the history that comes before us, and the ways in which we must come to terms with the past. I listened to the audiobook version of this and almost gave up on it, as to begin with i found it. Katherine dunn, author of geek love a good book is magical. Fifteen years ago, offill made an auspicious debut with last things, her first novel. Swylers lyrical prose blurs the line between the supernatural and the real, building a world that captures the imagination and delights in beauty even as it sends chills down your spine. Grand in scope and graceful in execution, swylers latest is at once a wistfully nostalgic comingofage tale and a profound work of horrortinged science fiction. Featuring mermaids, swarms of horseshoe crabs, deadly floods, and the silent secrets of an ancient tarot deck, the book of speculation is split like a savory peach between the odd ventures of a traveling carnival in the late 1700s and the modernday discovery by librarian simon. The book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magicmore hardcover, 339 pages published june 23rd 2015 by st. The damage renders it useless to me, but a name inside it led me to believe it might be of interest to you or your family.
The book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous. Book overview one of buzzfeeds 24 best fiction books of 2015 includes a bonus short story by erika swyler, the mermaid girl as simon, a lonely research librarian, searches frantically for the key to a curse that might be killing the women in his family, he learns strange and fascinating secrets about their past. The book is split into three sections, including a first one which alternates chapters between the time of ellies disappearance and the present and a second section that begins as laurel and floyd meet. Since then, generations of mermaids in simons family have drowned always on july 24, which is only weeks. A tale full of magic and family mystery, the book of speculation will keep you up all night reading. One lies in ruins, the outer wall now little more than masonry and rubble about ten feet high. Tevanne is a medievalish citystate made up of four campos, each controlled by a merchant guild. The book of speculation by erika swyler published by st. Simon watson becomes worried for the welfare of his sister, enola, when he is sent a book that once belonged to a traveling carnival and learns that many of his ancestors have died on the same day july 24th in the same way drowning, which is. I thought of ferrante while reading jenny offills second novel, dept. And when the book within the book is actually magical, as it is or may be in erika swylers the book of speculation, well, let the wild read start. A history of baseballs antitrust exemption, 20, etc.
She is also the author of four childrens books, most recently sparky. Featuring mermaids, swarms of horseshoe crabs, deadly floods, and the silent secrets of an ancient tarot deck, the book of speculation is split like a savory peach between the odd ventures of a traveling carnival in the late 1700s and the modernday discovery by. A novel by swyler, erika and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young lib. Water shrouds the fascinating, often doomed characters of the book of speculation. Buy the book of speculation by erika swyler online at alibris. His parents are long dead, his mother having drowned in the water his house overlooks. Cherise wolass gorgeous debut introduces an indelible heroine candid about her struggles and unapologetic in her ambition. The book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magicavailable june 23rd from st. It is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid.
Erika swyler is the author of book club favorite, the book of speculation, a national. Jun, 2015 one june day, an old book arrives on simons doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. Jun 17, 2015 the book of speculation by erika swyler is available on june 23rd, 2015 visit. The book of speculation the gilmore guide to books. Speculations is an anthology of 17 short science fiction stories published by houghton mifflin in 1982. Jun 23, 2015 carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in speculation erika swylers generous yet somewhat disappointing debut follows a young man and a mysterious book but despite rich language. One june day, an old book arrives on simons doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. For fans of the night circus, comes a sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young librarian who discovers that his family labours under a terrible curse. The best books on financial speculation five books expert. One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the kirkus star marks books of exceptional merit. Books are sensual and powerful objects in the book of speculation, but then so is the tarot, water, the circus, and love and lust themselves. Simon watson becomes worried for the welfare of his sister, enola, when he is sent a book that once belonged to a traveling carnival and learns that many of his ancestors have died on the same day july 24th in the same way drowning, which is also when and how his mother died. The book of speculation by erika swyler overdrive rakuten. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel.
Good novels about good books can be even more special, doubling the fun with two tomes to love. It is a book so radiant, so sparkling with sunlight and sorrow. Simon watson, a young librarian on the verge of losing his job, lives alone on the long island sound in his family homea house, perched on the edge of a bluff, that is slowly crumbling toward the sea. A piece of our heart stays tucked inside its lines when we return the book to its place on our shelf. Fragile and water damaged, the book is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a. If i tell you that its funny, and moving, and true. Erika swylers mournful and magical the book of speculation. Too much so in a way, as itd be hard for any book to live up to that sort of comparison. We get the booms and busts that we deserve, and even that we want. But in your book, how to be a rogue trader, you imply that financial speculation is baked into the human character. The mermaid women, condemned by the curse to drown amongst seething scuttling crabs, are bewitching and irresistible. The book of speculation is a luscious experiencedark, sweet, and wild.
169 1192 948 115 799 1240 852 1357 107 1391 13 690 1414 20 211 1321 923 130 658 237 796 1060 1133 1284 1003 796 375 1269 1139 1316 1179 858 1334 1016 312 302 251 1399 90 1068 868 1024 1046 1437 154 557 862