Into the Forest discussion

Undine, as far as I understand it, is a retelling, but it predates HCA's the little mermaid, and really HCA's is a retelling too, though it's informed so many contemporary retellings, I can also see how it's also an original myth.

"Rusalka ( are you sure it's about Selkies or Mermiads? the description says it's about ghosts)"

Rusalka are Russian water spirits that come from drowned maidens. That is to say, they definitely fall under the "Water" part. (And there is a lot of interchange between the fae and the ghosts in a lot of folklore.)

"The Riddle-Master of Hed ( are you sure this is about Selkies or Mermaids?)"

this one also falls under the "Water" rubric -- powerful and dangerous beings from the sea.

Jalilah wrote: "The Riddle-Master of Hed ( are you sure this is about Selkies or Mermaids?)..."

I think the argument is that it involves water in general? Not sure myself, it'd been a good 15-20 years since I've read the trilogy, so I've forgotten most of it.

Jalilah wrote: "I was not sure because the Mermaid/Undine/Selkie mythology is a lot older than both stories. IMO both Undine and The Little Mermaid would be retellings of mythology. n..."

Yeah, it is kind of a strange situation with them both being very old and influential literary creations based on older stories.

Isabella wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Isabella wrote: "In Great Waters sounds adult to me, so I'll call it that."

Thanks kind of what I thought Isabella, although there is a YA tag on it."

I skimmed through some revie..."

I did read In Great Waters and it is definitely adult.

I liked Something Rich and Strange, although it was a bit heavy-handed in its message.

Maybe you were thinking of Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits?

We could add some excerpts from classical writing to the origin story section. Like the bit from the Odyssey with the sirens.

Oh, there's the south American mythology of dolphin people, but I don't know any texts relating to that.

I'll put polls up tomorrow, so last day to nom!

Alicia wrote: "How directly does the story have to be specifically about mermaids etc? There is a significant subplot about carnivorous mermaid creatures (Melucine to be technical) in [bookcover:Demoniac Dance|13..."

I think the book should be focused on the sea creatures (mermaids, selkies, etc).

Okay Everyone, I've edited the list of books:

Mary wrote: ""Rusalka ( are you sure it's about Selkies or Mermiads? the description says it's about ghosts)"

Rusalka are Russian water spirits that come from drowned maidens. That is to say, they definitely ..."

Thanks for the clarification Mary!

Isabella wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Isabella wrote: "In Great Waters sounds adult to me, so I'll "I skimmed through some revie..."

Yes. great Waters will remain in the adult catagory.

Margaret wrote: "I'm not nominating this because it just came out, but this looks good: Mermaid in Chelsea Creek."

Yes it does look good Margaret! I just re-read your post and saw that you are Not nominating it because it just came out, so I edited my post and took it out. Hopefully another time!


I also added Sea Witch, the first book of the Children of the Sea, to the YA category. Sorry Maria, I did not see it the first time around!

It will be harder for everyone to get a hold of a copy, since it's still recent.

The Necromancer's House. Features a rusalka.

Julia wrote: "Adult retelling short stories by Patricia A. McKillip Something Rich and Strange .

I read and really liked a collection of short stories that I though was this, but isn't. And isn't anything else by Patricia McKillip or..."

Are we assuming Patricia McKillip and Patricia A. McKillip are different people? They aren't, and I'm off to fix that...

Isabella wrote: I think the book should be focused on the sea creatures (mermaids, selkies, etc).

The Themes is "Water-Mermaids-Selkies", but personally, I'd also prefer something about Mermaids or Selkies!

Mary wrote: ""Rusalka ( are you sure it's about Selkies or Mermiads? the description says it's about ghosts)"

Rusalka are Russian water spirits that come from drowned maidens. That is to say, they definitely ..."

Thanks Mary. I've been absent from the Internet for a week (oh, horror!), so couldn't defend my own nomination!

Rusalka are, as Mary said, drowned maidens. The Slavs also have Vodyanoi who are male water spirits. I can't remember where they originate, but I think they're also originally human.

Just in case anyone missed it, Polls are up:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...
Come vote for your choices!

Alicia wrote: "I notice that Undine is availale from Gutenberg."

That's right! Our member Monica posted it.
Here's the link:

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2825

For some reason 45 people voted for an adult retelling where as only 25 for the YA and even less for the original.
If you have not voted yet you still can today!
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/3...

Our winners are:

Adult - Undine
YA - Rusalka
Original - People of the Sea

I've set up threads for all of these and The Little Mermaid.

I'm hoping that we get a lot of back and forth conversation (especially between Undine and The Little Mermaid, so I just set up one folder. If things get too confusing, we can create separate folders for the different conversations.

Thanks Melanti!

Chris wrote: "Thanks Melanti!"

Yes thanks Melanti!

I really looking forward to this next group read!

Just a suggestion, do we want to make it a little longer this time in order to read everything? Say until the end of September? I will have to order People of the Sea and Rusalka as my library does not have them.

Thank you Melanti = )