I’m looking for books that will give the same mysterious, thrilling, but wholesome vibes as the books I grew up reading. I was absolutely obsessed with mermaids; convinced they were real and that I could become one lol. My favourite mermaid book was called Ingo. I also loved the Tail of Emily Windsnap. Other beloved children’s books that weren’t mermaids, but had a similar feeling for me, were the Inkheart books and East (about a man turned into Polar Bear).
I’d love some suggestions for books for adults that might give me the same feeling those did when I was a child. I’m reading Atalanta right now and it sort of scratches the itch!
by einekleineZiege
7 Comments
It’s not about mermaids – but you might like it anyways. 🙂
And I’m kind of happy I looked it up for you. Because when I did I found out it’s part of a tribology. I had no idea since it was such a complete book.
(The book was written in 1967 so it’s dated in terms of sexism )
**Dolphin Boy by Roy Meyers**
Eons ago, down in the green depths of warm oceans, man had his basic origin. And although he evolved into a creature entirely of the upper air, he still has much in common with the air-breathing, salt water mammals who are his ancestral brothers.
Except of course that the sea creatures have much greater potential intelligence, are infinitely better adjusted to themselves and their environment. And have a much longer life span.
The gentle dolphins knew exactly what to do when a small human baby fell into their midst. But neither they nor anyone else could foretell what would develop from this remarkable combination…
[https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2571744](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/2571744)
Daughter of the Pirate King duology
Ahhh I had forgotten about The Tail of Emily Windsnap until just now, so thank you for unlocking that childhood memory!
It’s YA, so maybe not quite what you’re looking for, but I remember reading *To Kill A Kingdom* by Alexandra Christo in one sitting. Granted, it takes place mostly on a pirate ship after a siren is cursed to become human, but it is sort of a dark Little Mermaid reimagining, so maybe it would scratch that itch?
I’m actually JUST about to read this one but haven’t started so sorry if this rec is a wash: Chlorine by Jade Song
Not wholesome at all (warning), and about a merman, but absolutely hilarious, erudite, and certainly very adult– The Pisces by Melissa Broder
There’s the book that the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie was — loosely — based on, _On Stranger Tides_ by Tim Powers.
I second the Pisces by Melissa Border and also The Deep by Rivers Solomon and Daveed Diggs