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The second part, Uneducated Women, covers roughly the first third of the film (at a guess). The best thing about the first fifteen chapters of this part of the novel is the insights into the characters that are given. Things mostly play out the same as they did in the film, but everything is fleshed out. Chapter 15 is a favorite; lots of rich details about Elisa's past.

The novel really tries to humanize and deepen Strickland as a character. In the film, he's the archetypal evil military guy. A poster child for toxic masculinity. He's exactly the same way in the book, but we're given a glimpse into his mind. It's not a pleasant place. The book doesn't make him a sympathetic character, nor does it change how despicable he is. But it does contextualize it a bit, and that's nice.

The book is divided into four parts. This first part, Primordium, is essentially a prologue to the film version of the story. It alternates its point of view between Elisa and Strickland and follows Strickland as he captures the Fish Man and Elisa as she goes about her nightly routine - from waking up to arriving at work.

Alas, the third story isn't as good as the first two.

There aren't enough good things I can say about the first two stories in this anthology. They're both utterly amazing.