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201st out of 271 books
—
209 voters
The Old Mermaid's Tale
by
Kathleen Valentine (Goodreads Author)
(Novel - 132k words. Love Story, Coming-of-Age, Historical - Paperback or eBook) In 1960 when Clair Wagner's friends are showing off their new bikinis at the local swimming hole and planning weddings, Clair is plotting her escape from her rural farm-community life. She is headed for college on the shores of Lake Erie with plans for the future and dreams of a "handsome sail...more
Paperback, 312 pages
Published
July 1st 2007
by Parlez-Moi Press
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Beautiful and Lyrical
I was totally captivated by Clair Wagner, the storyteller of Valentine's lyrical novel, The Old Mermaid's Tale.
The story is set in a 1960's Lake Erie town. It's Clair's coming-of-age tale mixed with two love stories: Clair and Baptiste sandwiched between Clair and Pio.
Valentine sprinkles her book with delicious folklore tidbits: Baptiste's Breton sea-lore, Lake Erie seamen tales, and tales and folk music from the early sixties. The setting evokes memories of the unique lif...more
I was totally captivated by Clair Wagner, the storyteller of Valentine's lyrical novel, The Old Mermaid's Tale.
The story is set in a 1960's Lake Erie town. It's Clair's coming-of-age tale mixed with two love stories: Clair and Baptiste sandwiched between Clair and Pio.
Valentine sprinkles her book with delicious folklore tidbits: Baptiste's Breton sea-lore, Lake Erie seamen tales, and tales and folk music from the early sixties. The setting evokes memories of the unique lif...more
This book is so beautiful that I'm a little bit speechless.
The language soars. It is rich and melodic and evocative. There are very strong characters and I really related to Clair and her romantic wanderlust. I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes because everything glowed with magic.
The title and the cover threw me off a bit. I was expecting it to take place in the 1700s and be far removed from reality. Actually it takes place in the 1960s and calls forth startling detail of the area as we...more
The language soars. It is rich and melodic and evocative. There are very strong characters and I really related to Clair and her romantic wanderlust. I enjoyed seeing the world through her eyes because everything glowed with magic.
The title and the cover threw me off a bit. I was expecting it to take place in the 1700s and be far removed from reality. Actually it takes place in the 1960s and calls forth startling detail of the area as we...more
Beautiful writing! This story went more slowly for me than is my usual, but I really enjoyed it! I really felt the emotion of the characters, and believe me there was plenty to feel! I didn't agree with all of the choices Clair made... which is natural considering I personally identified most with her mother. I'm a small town "good girl" who is content to live a normal, simple life. I greatly admired Clair's courage and innate kindness. I also loved reading all the stories and legends scattered...more
This book nearly broke my heart. I didn't really like most of it that much, but I was still crying at the end. I picked it up thinking I was going to read a romance. It was clear from the beginning that this book was really more about the characters of Canal Street, and the seamen live and work the Great Lakes. The strong theme throughout was the the idea of romance. Not romance in the sense of two people loving each other, but rather the romance you can find in everyday life. The main character...more
Kathleen Valentine has an amazing gift as an author. She is able to transport you as the reader to your destination in this book & take you on a journey of lives connected by the sea. As I read The Old Mermaid's Tale, I felt that I knew Clair, Gia, Rosie, Sal, Gary, Baptiste. I walked with them into the local taverns. My heart ached with theirs when they were crippled with loss and heartache. I preach that I am not a romance reader. I may have to wave my white flag, if this is how its done!...more
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I have a Nook Color ereader. Embossed on its cover is this quote from Sir Christopher Wren, “Choose an author as you choose a friend.” I first learned about Kathleen Valentine when I came across her website. From the site, I got a sense of the kind of person she is, kind, talented, and energetic. I also noticed that she and I share some of the same interests. Upon looking over her collection of authored books, I was drawn to The Old Mermaid’s Tale. I remembered the quote on the cover of my Nook,...more
I have to be honest with the reader of this review. I had received this book as part of a package deal with the author's other book, Each Angel Burns, which I had been dying to read...and def. lived up to its' promise. I went into this book with a bit more trepidation as the description of the book didn't tickle my fancy in the least and I was concerned that I would be giving it a poor review.
Every so often, I am shocked about my reactions to a book. This book was a wonderful example of a MATUR...more
Every so often, I am shocked about my reactions to a book. This book was a wonderful example of a MATUR...more
The Old Mermaid's Tale is the story of Clair Wagner and the men she loves: Pio, a handsome young fisherman, Gary, who seems perfect but has issues he has to work out, and Baptiste, the mysterious Breton seafarer and musician she is fascinated by.
The story is set in a waterfront town on Lake Erie and is full of folklore, sea legends, and ghost stories. I loved the characters, especially Clair and and even though I didn't agree with all she did, I so wanted her to find lasting love. The love story...more
The story is set in a waterfront town on Lake Erie and is full of folklore, sea legends, and ghost stories. I loved the characters, especially Clair and and even though I didn't agree with all she did, I so wanted her to find lasting love. The love story...more
I loved this book and found myself in tears in several places. It is a beautiful romance about a young woman who leaves home to go to college hoping to meet the man of her dreams and she does, actually three men of her dreams but all of them come with complications. Pio, Clair's first love, is a fisherman who has big dreams of his own and they take him away from her. Gary, her second love, is every woman's dream come true, but he has personal problems he needs to work out and their relationship...more
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Dec 14, 2011
Val Wilkerson
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2011-books-read
This is a romance story, taking place in the 60's. I'm not usually one for romance
but Kathleen painted such glorious characters and scenery it just swept you along.
Everyone looks back on their teens and twenties and recalls the favorite coffee shop
you gabbed with your friends at, or the beach you hung out on...and you always go back
and its changed and you remember exactly how it was back then. This book will make you
look back on those places and people who formed your life. It was a great book....more
but Kathleen painted such glorious characters and scenery it just swept you along.
Everyone looks back on their teens and twenties and recalls the favorite coffee shop
you gabbed with your friends at, or the beach you hung out on...and you always go back
and its changed and you remember exactly how it was back then. This book will make you
look back on those places and people who formed your life. It was a great book....more
Feb 03, 2012
Lyn M (A Book Addict's Musings)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommended to Lyn M (A Book Addict's Musings) by:
the Sisterhood
I have read several short stories by Kathleen Valentine, and I have enjoyed all of them. This is the first full length novel of hers that I have read, though. When an author is successful as a short story writer, I always wonder whether they can sustain that level of writing in a full length book. It is with great joy that I found that Kathleen Valentine is a wonderful success at both. In fact, this book will definitely be on my top books read in 2012 list. I was discussing the book with a frien...more
Clair rebels against her farm upbringing and goes to college in the big city (nope, not NY) on the shores of Lake Erie. There she meets all sorts of characters that live and work on the seedier side of town in the shipyards and docks where she falls in love with the least likely (but highly likable) candidate.
I did like this book a lot in the beginning and until about 3/4 of the way through. The writing is very good, most of the characters were interesting and believable, the balance between dia...more
I did like this book a lot in the beginning and until about 3/4 of the way through. The writing is very good, most of the characters were interesting and believable, the balance between dia...more
Sometimes a book you think you're not going to like will give you a shock and you become totally engrossed it.
The Old Mermaid's Tale was that for me. Although I think it's considered a romance novel I see it more as a coming of age story. It takes place in the early 60's around Western PA and although it is basically a love a story it's not the least bit sappy or silly. This is one of those books that I will be urging everyone to read.
The Old Mermaid's Tale was that for me. Although I think it's considered a romance novel I see it more as a coming of age story. It takes place in the early 60's around Western PA and although it is basically a love a story it's not the least bit sappy or silly. This is one of those books that I will be urging everyone to read.
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This book has to be one of the best love story's I have ever read.
Kathleen has a magical skill of making her characters real, believable and true. Although fictional, she has the ability to make them reach out of the pages and touch us.
It was beautifully written and it reached out into the depths of my soul.
What a wonderful story that will stay with me always.
I highly recommend this book!!!
Kathleen has a magical skill of making her characters real, believable and true. Although fictional, she has the ability to make them reach out of the pages and touch us.
It was beautifully written and it reached out into the depths of my soul.
What a wonderful story that will stay with me always.
I highly recommend this book!!!
The beautifully lyrical love story should be set apart from other "romance" stories as it's lacking sappy, cloying, trite and annoying which is how I usually find love stories. The characters come alive and practically jump off the pages. I was so immersed in the telling of Clair's romances with Pio, Gary and Baptiste that, had I not fallen asleep, read this book almost in one sitting. Having grown up hearing about the unpredictibility and brutality of Lake Michigan and her sister Great Lakes, I...more
This book was not what I expected. It took me back to my teenage years, where I was as much a romantic as Clair. Unfortunately, I wasn't brave enough to choose the romantic and fantastical path! ;). But oh, this book made me smile, and cry. The words, the emotions, the feelings..... all beautifully written. Loved it.
This is a well-written book about a young woman discovering her sexual self. Ms. Valentine weaves a tale about Clair Wagner and the men she meets in a most interesting and captivating way. I would not put this book under the category of "Chick Lit" as it is written with a little more depth.
This book was graciously provided for review purposes.
The Old Mermaid's Tale is beautiful. Set in the 1960s, the story revolves around a young girl named Clair who is torn between two loves. I am not usually a romantic genre fan but this story had the right elements of romance to keep you reading and the story featured such wonderful characters. Although, the story was set in the 1960s, the characters could very well be living today -- living, breathing, and loving. This novel was a breath of fr...more
I closed out 2011 with this one and it was a great way to end the year. The story of Clair's journey as a young woman in the 1960's is so detailed you feel like you are there. Lots of interesting characters and locations - all in all a great read.
I just finished this book and I LOVED it. Like so many things that hit you personally - - this book did just that. The love story is lifelong but a short duration.
This is a great novel about growing up, learning to love, and learning to let go.
A rich, absorbing tale of love and work and how the two commingle - a wonderful read.
Jan 17, 2009
Kathleen Valentine
added it
I can't rate it because I wrote it................
Loved this story. Tear jerker at the end.
Jul 17, 2012
Wendy
added it
Another good read by Kathleen valentine
A very satisfying book. Interesting back ground and great characters. RECOMMEND!!
Very well written, enjoyable read.
The characters in this book dragged me in and kept me there. The author's use of language was vivid and this book that created pictures in my mind. It broke my heart and I still would recommend it!
Great book!
Very sweet story
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Sisterhood of the...: The Old Mermaid's Tale by Kathleen Valentine | 28 | 24 | May 02, 2013 03:29am |
Kathleen Valentine is the author of the coming-of-age novel, "The Old Mermaid's Tale," and two novels of romantic suspense, "Depraved Heart" and "Each Angel Burns." She has also written several novelettes of psychological horror including the best sellers "The Crazy Old Lady in the Attic" and "Ghosts of a Beach Town in Winter." Her latest work is a novel in stories, "The Whiskey Bottle in the Wall...more
More about Kathleen Valentine...
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“The soul, they say, is divine and the flesh is iniquity. But I am a musician and I ask this - without the wood and the strings of the violin, where would the sonata find form?”
—
7 people liked it
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Dec 04, 2010 08:49am