The Book of Speculation
A Novel
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4.0 • 147 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
One of BuzzFeed's 24 Best Fiction Books of 2015
"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. A tale full of magic and family mystery, The Book of Speculation will keep you up all night reading."—Isaac Fitzgerald, BuzzFeed
Simon Watson, a young librarian, lives alone in a house that is slowly crumbling toward the Long Island Sound. His parents are long dead. His mother, a circus mermaid who made her living by holding her breath, drowned in the very water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, ran off six years ago and now reads tarot cards for a traveling carnival.
One June day, an old book arrives on Simon's doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. 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. Since then, generations of "mermaids" in Simon's family have drowned--always on July 24, which is only weeks away.
As his friend Alice looks on with alarm, Simon becomes increasingly worried about his sister. Could there be a curse on Simon's family? What does it have to do with the book, and can he get to the heart of the mystery in time to save Enola?
In the tradition of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, The Book of Speculation--with two-color illustrations by the author--is Erika Swyler's moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
When librarian Simon Watson receives an antiquated carnival master’s log in the mail, he resolves to uncover the truth behind his tragic family history. For generations, his female ancestors, including his mother, Paulina, have worked as fortune tellers and human mermaids in traveling fairs—and drowned at an appallingly young age. We were completely mesmerized by the intertwining stories that make up The Book of Speculation. Author Erika Swyler—a self-professed carnival fan who grew up near the water on Long Island—works magic with her descriptions of horseshoe crabs, an electric man, love affairs, betrayals, and the intense bond between an orphaned brother and sister.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Swyler's whimsically dark debut, a damaged journal kept by the owner of a traveling freak show in the 18th century finds its way to Simon Watson, a Long Island librarian in the present with a family history that seems to be tied up in the mysterious tome. Simon's mother, Paulina, a former carnival mermaid, intentionally drowned herself, leaving Simon to care for his sister, Enola, after their father eventually died from heartache. At the book's outset, Enola, who also joined a traveling show, returns to the decaying family home where Simon still lives, fraught with worry over a series of bad tarot readings. As Enola's behavior continues to concern him, Simon finds out from the book that women in his family all drown on July 24. As this date draws closer, Swyler alternates chapters of Simon's narrative with the story that unfolds from the show's log: it details how "Wild Boy" and tarot apprentice Amos came to be cared for like a son by proprietor Hermelius Peabody and fortune teller Madame Ryzhkova. The trouble begins once Amos falls for the mermaid Evangeline, who reminds Madame Ryzhkova too much of the woman she blames for the death of her father. The carnival chapters aren't as engaging or convincing as they could be, particularly at key moments, although for the most part Swyler does a commendable job of juggling the various loose ends, and eventually weaving them together. A good deal of time is spent in Simon's head, but Enola isn't fleshed out enough. The author does get kudos for fabricating a fully formed mythos chock full of curses, omens, and coincidences, all of which help make up for the story's weak points.
Customer Reviews
Good book
It was a good read. It kept you wanting to read more to find out what happens next.
Wonderful
I want to start off by saying that I really enjoyed reading this book. I know this book has many mixed reviews and I am glad that I gave this book a chance. I am now adding it to my favorites. And would love to read more from this author. The character's and how Erika Swiller bought them to life. The mermaids and the fortunetellers, curses. I like reading book that have back and fourth times. I have to say that I enjoyed all the characters but Simon is my favorite. I loved how he wanted to find out answers.
I highly recommend this book.
About Book-
Simon just got laid off from work. And has received a book. from someone he doesn't know. But when Simon starts reading and uncovering who these people are he finds out that they are all connected somehow to his mother who died at when Simon and his sister were very young. His sister who returns home with her won secrets that she must help her brother. Again I highly recommend this book.
Mesmerizing
Mesmerizing. Ingenious. Beautiful.