Books about books can be tricky things, a fact that erika swyler slyly. 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. Her essays and short fiction have appeared in catapult, literary hub, vida, the new york times, and elsewhere. Author erika swylers short fiction has appeared in womenarts quarterly journal, litro and elsewhere, and her work as a playwright has received the jane chambers award. Carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in speculation erika swyler s generous yet somewhat disappointing debut follows a young man and a mysterious book. In the tradition of sara gruens water for elephants, erin morgensterns the night circus, and elizabeth kostovas the historian, the book of speculation is erika swyler s moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic. May 31, 2016 and when the book within the book is actually magical, as it is or may be in erika swyler s the book of speculation, well, let the wild read start. Her writing has appeared in catapult story, literary hub, vida, the new york times, and elsewhere.
Josh steele, entertainment weekly a dazzling debutquirky, raucous, and bewitching. Before she was a suburban wife and mother, paulina watson was the mermaid girl of carnival lareille. This detailed literature summary also contains quotes and a free quiz on the book of speculation by erika swyler. The book of speculation captured me from the very first sentence with beautiful language and a uniquely crafted family tale. Prepare to be swept away by the magical, mysterious the book of speculation finally. Jun 26, 2015 at first blush, it seems that the story erika swyler is telling in the book of speculation begins with the delivery of a book. Read what people think about the book of speculation by. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Waterdamaged and falling apart, the book logs the dayto. Swyler has a tale to spin, and she does so with directness and wit.
The title alone was intriguing and i really had no idea what to expect. In the tradition of sara gruens water for elephants, erin morgensterns the night circus, and elizabeth kostovas the historian, the book of speculationwith twocolor illustrations by the authoris erika swylers moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic. 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. To submit her book to publishers, swyler wanted to mimic for them the feeling simon gets when the old book. June 23, 2015 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 mystery he needs to solve to save his sisters life. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Katherine dunn, author of geek love a good book is magical. The book of speculation by erika swyler books on books. The book of speculation ebook by erika swyler 9781466857797. The book of speculation is one of the best books ive had the privilege to read. Carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in speculation. The book of speculation is an epic saga that hooks instantly and then races forward with lots of plot, more than a little magic realism, and lots of travelling circus and tarot lore. Simon watson, a young librarian, lives alone in a house that is slowly crumbling toward the long.
I wanted to stay in both simon and amos worlds a bit longer, if only to experience swylers uncanny ability to enchant me with her words, much like evangeline enchanted those with her presence. One of buzzfeeds 24 best fiction books of 2015 includes a bonus short story by erika swyler. And when the book within the book is actually magical, as it is or may be in erika swyler s the book of speculation, well, let the wild read start. In the present day, simon watson seems the quietest and dullest of men. In the tradition of sara gruens water for elephants, erin morgensterns the night circus, and elizabeth kostovas the historian, erika swylers the book of speculationwith twocolor illustrations by the authoris a moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic. A strikingly written debut, the book of speculation is reminiscent of the night circus, but with more grit and darkness. Erin morgensterns the night circus, katherine dunns geek love, or katherine howes the physick book of deliverance dane, wont want to leave this festival. Erika swyler s the book of speculation is indeed speculative, but in a fascinatingly fantastic way. A piece of our heart stays tucked inside its lines when we return the book to its place on our shelf. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of speculation. Erika swyler writes with a whimsical, romantic prose that is beautiful to read, yet her story is. 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. In the dual narratives of swyler s poignant latest after the book of speculation, a small florida town falls into a sinkhole in time, and the occupants of a spacecraft preparing a planet for colonization race to fix their life support system. Thats certainly the case in erika swylers the book of speculation, a whimsical, magical and yet wellgrounded novel about mermaids who drown and a heritage that finds each generation without them even seeking it.
Debut author swyler creates a melancholy world with hints of magic at the edges. With a slight border into the fantasy realm, this tale is wellwoven and provides an opportunity to feel the impact the past has across a familys descendants and relationships. 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. It may not be my typical goto genre, but it was just what i needed right now. Isaac fitzgerald, buzzfeed r edolent of salty ocean airits clever plotfueled by a musty book and a powerful set of tarot cardsand swyler s wonderful descriptions keep the pages swimming along. The book of speculation erika swyler 9781782397649. The book of speculation by erika swyler has been on my shelf for far too many years, and it seems to have spoken to me at just the right time.
One june day, an old book arrives on simons doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. A tale full of magic and family mystery, the book of speculation will keep you up all night reading. Light from other stars by erika swyler, paperback barnes. This passion inspired her debut novel the book of speculation simons not having the best week. 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. In 1986, 12yearold nedda papas dreams of joining the ranks of the female astronauts she idolizes. The book of speculation king county library system. Read a sample click to the right or left of the sample to turn the page. Buzzfeed, the 24 best fiction books of 2015, on the book of speculation swyler has a tale to spin, and she does so with directness and wit.
A sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young lib. Her writing has appeared in catapult story, vida, the new york times, and elsewhere. The book of speculation erika swyler 9781250054807. The book of speculation one of buzzfeeds 24 best fiction books of 2015includes a bonus short story by erika swyler, the mermaid girlas simon, a lonely research librarian, searches frantically for the key to a curse that might be killing the women in his.
Simon must set out to unravel the mystery of this curse, before his. 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. The book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books and family and magic. She lives on long island, ny, with her husband and a mischievous rabbit. Sep 09, 2018 in the book of speculation by erika swyler we follow simon watson who was orphaned along with his sister as a teenager. Felt a bit bereft since finishing the night circus. The novel opens when an archival librarian receives in the mail a battered old nineteenthcentury ledger. In the book of speculation by erika swyler we follow simon watson who was orphaned along with his sister as a teenager. The book of speculation is erika swylers gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magicavailable.
From erika swyler, author of the book of speculationone of buzzfeeds best fiction books of 2015 a short story of a mermaid who ran away from the circus, and what happened when she started a life on land. Swyler intercuts simons present dramaintensifying research into the diarys history, loss of his job at the local library, incipient but already rocky love affair with fellow librarian alice, return home of enola, irretrievable collapse of the family manse. A graduate of nyus tisch school of the arts, she seeks to make work that is in dialog with the arts, sciences, and history. Jun 23, 2015 the book of speculation by erika swyler. Erika swylers the book of speculation inspired by long. Discussion questions book club recommendationsdiscussion. Simon, an about to be unemployed librarian, investigates the family history in the hopes of preventing further tragedy. A novel by erika swyler and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The book of speculation one of buzzfeeds 24 best fiction books of 2015includes a bonus short story by erika swyler, the mermaid girlas 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. 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 bestselling author of the critically acclaimed novels light from other stars and the book of speculation. Carnivals, curses and mermaids fall slightly flat in. Waterdamaged and falling apart, the book logs the daytoday expenditures and events of a traveling circus.
The book of speculation is erika swyler s gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books, family, and magicavailable june 23rd from st. The book of speculation is erika swyler s gorgeous and moving debut, a wondrous novel about the power of books and family and magic. 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. With a slight border into the fantasy realm, this tale is wellwoven and provides an opportunity to feel the impact the. Startelegram a wonderful novel, full of mystery through the centuries with great details about carnival life, similar to the night circus by erin morgenstern. Her recent move back to her hometown on long island. Erika swyler is the bestselling author of light from other stars, and the book of speculation. Now an adult and a librarian, he stumbles upon a mysterious family secret that has plagued the women on his mothers side for generations. But it soon becomes apparent that the events and circumstances in the tale are founded on the intertwined lives of people stretching back hundreds of years. Since then, generations of mermaids in simons family have drowned always on july 24, which is only weeks. While this is partly due to a weakness on my part for circus stories, it is mostly due to erika swyler s striking writing style and intricately woven narrative. When a young librarian comes into possession of the diary of a traveling.
The book of speculation it is always exciting to find an author that can transport you so thoroughly to another place and time and its even more exciting when it is a debut novel. In the tradition of sara gruens water for elephants, erin morgensterns the night circus, and elizabeth kostovas the historian, the book of speculation with twocolor illustrations by the authoris erika swyler s moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic. Erika swylers the book of speculation is indeed speculative, but in a fascinatingly fantastic way. Erika lives on long island, ny, with her husband and a petulant rabbit. 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. Isaac fitzgerald, buzzfeed simon watson, a young librarian, lives alone in a house that is slowly crumbling toward the long island sound. Erika swyler is an american writer and playwright with a fascination with travelling carnivals. A sweeping and captivating debut novel about a young librarian who discovers that his family labours under a terrible curse for generations, the women in his family have died on the same date in july.
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