The Mermaid's Child

By: Jo Baker

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

Malin has always been different, and when her father dies, leaving her alone, her choice is clear: stay and remain an outsider forever or leave in search of the mythical inheritance she is certain awaits her. Apprenticed to a series of strange and wonderful characters, Malin embarks on a grueling journey that crosses oceans and continents - from the high seas to desert plains - and leads to a discovery that she could never have expected. Beautifully written and hauntingly strange, The Mermaid's Child is a remarkable piece of storytelling and an utterly unique work of fantasy from literary star Jo Baker.

©2004 Jo Baker (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Didn't like the story

I loved Longbourn, but didn't like this at all. The story was not engaging - I felt like I wanted to get away from the constant travails and unhappiness. I don't read only pleasant books, but there was just nothing about this story that was engaging. I didn't particularly like Malin, the main character, or feel drawn into her life. I didn't like having to listen to the sections in which Malin talked about being forced to suck on men's smelly "dicks," etc. Baker didn't feel the need to go into detail about the horrific conditions endured by slaves on the slave ship, but portrayed it through Malin's feelings about the slaves and how many died. Yet Baker seemed to enjoy adding some detail about what Malin endured when she was forced to work as a prostitute. Maybe it's just me; maybe that doesn't bother most people.

If the performance hadn't been so good, I wouldn't have kept listening and hoping it would get better. It was a waste of the credit I used to buy it, and now I wish I had quit listening and asked for a refund.

What an awful book.

The reader’s voice is amazing. She could read me the dictionary and I would be enthralled.

However this book was awful: disgusting, violent, gratuitously sexual. I’m really sorry I wasted the tine listening to it.

Then you find out at the end it’s the narrator talking to her daughter. I’d be horrified if I were her kid and had to listen to it. And then the story just kind of randomly ends, like the author ran out of awful ideas.

Don’t buy this.

Beautiful story of personal strength and longing

The language is exquisite. Sights, smells, sounds are all rendered visible through the combination of exceptional writing and heartfelt narration.