When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel

Product Information

After arriving in New Zealand, Kit begins her journey with the memories of the of days spent on the beach with Josie. Of a lost teenage boy who’d become part of their family. And of a trauma that has haunted Kit and Josie their entire lives. It must have happened to me a hundred times in the first year, especially because we never found a body. Impossible, given the circumstances. Also impossible that she survived. Not for her the ordinary demise of a fiery car accident or a leap off a bridge, though she threatened those often enough. In conclusion, “When We Believed in Mermaids” is a profound and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of familial relationships, the impact of the past on the present, and the healing power of truth and reconciliation. It’s a testament to Barbara O’Neal’s skill as a writer, as she weaves a narrative that is as captivating as it is thought-provoking. Review Roundup From the author of The Art of Inheriting Secrets comes an emotional new tale of two sisters, an ocean of lies, and a search for the truth.

The title “When We Believed in Mermaids” is metaphorical and reflects the themes of lost innocence and the power of belief. It signifies a time of innocence and naivety when the sisters believed in fantastical creatures like mermaids. Conclusion I’m absolutely gutted at how dreadful this book was. It has firmly lodged itself in my top five least favourite books of the past couple of years and almost led me to have a January DNF – as if January 2020 hasn’t been bad enough as it is. There are always millions of tons of dust in the air, just as there are millions of cubes of air in the earth and more living flesh in the soil (worms, beetles, underground creatures) than there is grazing and existing on it. Herodotus records the death of various armies engulfed in the simoom who were never seen again. One nation was 'so enraged by this evil wind that they declared war on it and marched out in full battle array, only to be rapidly and completely interred.” What about boomer movies? The market is large (some 78 millions in the US alone) and movies aimed at boomers have been huge box office hits, e.g. RED or The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Let's spread the word about good boomer movies. Remember, they are based on good boomer reads!

Recommendations

Please join us in congratulating Barbara O’Neal, a WU contributor who continues to give succinct advice from the trenches, on the upcoming release of her latest novel, When We Believed In Mermaids. Overall, this was a wonderful, very engrossing story, with strong themes of familial love, forgiveness, and redemption. It’s also a story about finding inner strength, owning one’s mistakes, resilience, personal growth and love’s power to heal broken relationships. While there are some serious issues explored in this novel, ultimately, it is an uplifting, satisfying book, and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. Another distraction is an old house on an overlook that Mari’s husband (another uninteresting character) buys for her as a surprise. The house carries a secret related to a death/murder that happened long ago, one we are told about later in the story. There is also a great deal of time spent describing this house. The whole set-up has nothing to do with the main story. If it were left out, the main story would carry on without impact. But, as the past began to merge with the present and the fragmented pieces of all the relationships began to form a cohesive unit, I warmed up to Javier a bit more, and absolutely loved the way the story came together in the end. The emotional journey that “When We Believed in Mermaids” takes its readers on is one of its most powerful aspects. The story is filled with heart-wrenching moments that tug at the heartstrings. However, it also offers moments of hope, healing, and reconciliation, making it a deeply moving read. Critical Reception

This novel has garnered positive responses from critics and readers alike. It has been lauded for its compelling narrative, well-drawn characters, and deeply emotional themes. The plot twists and turns have also been appreciated for keeping readers engaged till the end. The Setting As a reader, what kind of boomer book would you like to read? Books with themes of interest to boomers are constantly published. A thread here will follow all new releases. The trail starts where the sidewalk to the restaurant once was and veers down the steep slope in a zigzag carved out a few feet away from the cliff where there used to be stairs, our own private access to the isolated, hidden cove. The hillside is unstable, with a reputation for being haunted, and all the locals know it. I have the descent to myself. But then, I know the ghosts.There is a whirlwind in southern Morocco, the aajej, against which the fellahin defend themselves with knives. There is the africo, which has at times reached into the city of Rome. The alm, a fall wind out of Yugoslavia. The arifi, also christened aref or rifi, which scorches with numerous tongues. These are permanent winds that live in the present tense.

And they are badass. Solid nine feet, with a gorgeous glassy curl that’s much rarer than people think. I paddle out and wait my turn, catch the line, and leap to my feet to ride right on the edge. This is the instant I live for, that moment when nothing else is in my head. Nothing can be. It’s me and the water and the sky, the sound of the rippling surf. The sound of my breath. The edge of the board slipping along the water, cold over my ankles even in booties. Ice-cold. Perfect balance, shivering, hair slapping my cheek. When We Believed in Mermaids” explores various themes, including loss, grief, family secrets, trauma, and the power of love and forgiveness. These themes are woven into the storyline with great sensitivity and depth, making the novel emotionally resonant. The Emotional Journey Josie’s face swims up in front of me. The way it was fifteen years ago. The way it looked on television overnight. The chapters alternate viewpoints between Kit and Mari, with each chapter revealing more of the past while also grounding us in each sister's current life. Kit's search for her sister (and her budding romance with Javier) seem to take longer than the few days that the author claims it does.From the author of The Art of Inheriting Secretscomes an emotional new tale of two sisters, an ocean of lies, and a search for the truth. I had been eyeing When We Believed in Mermaids by Barbara O’Neal for months before my book club voted it for our monthly read in September. I was, obviously, not disappointed in the choice.

It also hasn’t been in the library since then, so you can imagine how I felt when it landed as a donation in my Little Free Library Shed! Yes, ecstatic! The resemblance between the woman in the video and her sister is uncanny – she has to be Josie. But for the two sisters to reunite, there's no other way than to dig up entombed secrets and to face a devastating truth that has separated them for a long time. Regaining their relationship might mean losing everything for them both. Is their bond enough to take the risk? Barbara O’Neal is the author of twelve novels of women’s fiction, including The Art of Inheriting Secrets, How to Bake a Perfect Life, and The All You Can Dream Buffet. Her award-winning books have been published in more than a dozen countries, including France, England, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Brazil. She lives in the beautiful city of Colorado Springs with her beloved, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent. I go limp, holding my breath, letting the water suds me. Resistance will break you. Kill you. The only way to survive is to let go. The world swirls, up and down, around, for endless moments. Barbara O’Neal, an award-winning author, is celebrated for her remarkable storytelling and beautifully crafted prose. Her books have been translated to multiple languages and have garnered praises from readers worldwide. Her works often deal with complex relationships, emotional journeys, and personal growth. The Narrative StyleThe other relationships featured in this tale, are romantic ones. While ‘Josie’s’ marriage is one that must be explored, Kit’s burgeoning relationship with Javier, a man she meets upon her arrival in New Zealand, is often in the forefront- maybe too much so in the beginning. Instead, she made of her life a great ruinous drama, just like our parents, with a suitably catastrophic ending. I load my board into my Jeep and drive south, not realizing that I’m headed for the cove until I get there. Pulling over into a makeshift space alongside the highway, I park and look down at the water. A few bodies out, not many at dawn. The water is northern Cali cold, fifty-three degrees in early March, but the waves are lined up all the way to the horizon. Perfect.