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    Sealskin
    Sealskin
    Sealskin
    Ebook274 pages3 hours

    Sealskin

    By Su Bristow

    3.5/5

    ()

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    About this ebook

    “The Scottish myth of the selkie—a seal that can transform into human form—inspires a tale of life on the margins, forgiveness and redemption” (The Guardian).
     
    Donald, a young fisherman, is overwhelmed when he comes across a group of exotic women dancing on the shore beneath the moonlight. They are selkies—seals that shed their skin once a year and become human for a few hours. Overcome by their beauty and magic, Donald kidnaps one—a choice that will determine his future.
     
    Now, back home in his close-knit Scottish village, he must take responsibility for what he has done. Donald has been bullied and isolated all his life, but thanks to his mother and his stolen selkie wife, he finds the courage to question, then change the culture of the town that has been mired in the past for generations. Yet despite their mutual happiness, he can never truly forgive himself for the thoughtless act that brought his wife to him.
     
    This enchanting story works its way to a surprising yet satisfying ending. Based on a beloved Scottish legend, Sealskin is a timeless tale of the responsibilities of love—and the inner strength required to atone for terrible wrongs.
     
    “A haunting tale of family and consequences . . . The writing is sorrowful and lovely, with a well-earned, satisfying conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
     
    “A powerful tale of love, learning and forgiveness, Sealskin is a bold and moving read that I was sad to put down.” —The Bookbag
     
    “Well-written and atmospheric . . . Bristow paints a vivid setting and knows how to tug on the heartstrings.” —Fantasy Literature
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOpen Road Integrated Media
    Release dateFeb 5, 2019
    ISBN9781609454999
    Sealskin
    Author

    Su Bristow

    Su Bristow won the Exeter Novel Prize with Sealskin (Europa, 2019). A consultant medical herbalist by day, she is also the author of several short stories, as well as two books on herbal medicine and the co-author of two on relationship skills. 

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    Reviews for Sealskin

    3.5/5

    26 ratings5 reviews

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    • 1/5
      Rape apology disguised as a novel. The poor selkie never even has a voice and is forced to lust after the man who raped her! Even at the end, when he's thinking of returning her stolen skin, he thinks that she'll make the "right decision"--staying with him, and he feels cheated when she doesn't.
    • 1/5
      A victim falls for her rapist while the narrative focuses on what he needs to learn to grow. What a waste of an opportunity to do something better and worthwhile with selkie stories.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      My wife suggested this book to me, and as the genre is 'magical realism' I doubt I would have ever come across it otherwise.It's a gem of a book! Set in a poor Scottish fishing village, it tells the story of a young man and the selkie he marries. But, of course, there is much more than that. The characters are sharply drawn, and the author wonderfully captures the changes as they grow.Wonderful stuff.
    • 3/5
      The life of a crofter is tough and relentless. One night he sees something that he thought was only a rumour. He makes a snap decision, commits a terrible act and begins of a chain of events that will change him and the close-knit community where he lives.

      His mother, Bridie, is quite shocked when he comes home with a girl. When she understands just what he has done and the implications behind it, she conceives a story to tell their friends and neighbours, and Donald becomes betrothed to Mairhi. But this stranger in the village is an unknown quantity, she cannot speak and she looks scared half to death most of the time. Bridie discovers when she takes her out to meet others in the village that she has a power that can bring calm and healing; but as some learn, threatening her can bring dread and fear like they have never known. Some call her a witch, but only Donald and Bridie know what she really is. Gradually tensions in the village disperse and people come to accept Mairhi and her two children.

      This is a good reworking of an ancient legend, written with sensitivity and aplomb. Bristow has kept the key elements whilst adding depth and plausible characters. It is full of love and anger, joy and sadness with a strong moral thread woven through the narrative. The writing is eloquent with evocative descriptions of the land and seascape. The main character, Donald has some depth, and even Mairhi develops well, neatly done as she does not utter a word. The remainder of the characters are there as a foil to these main ones. I know it ties it closer to the legend; however, there are a couple of unsavoury moments in the book. 3.5 stars.
    • 4/5
      In all honesty, books about myths and legends are not always my thing but I had heard so much about Sealskin, all fabulous, that I really wanted to read it. I knew that Selkies were seals that shed their skins and become people, but that was the extent of my very limited knowledge so I approached this book with interest.It starts with a scene that made me feel quite uncomfortable but I soon came to realise that it wasn't a clear cut situation and it was absolutely necessary to make the story work. Su Bristow did an excellent job of writing that scene with as little shock factor as possible and underplaying something that was probably needed to take the story further. Donald is a man who has sometimes found life very difficult and has been a bit of an outsider but when he sees the Selkies one night he takes a course of action that will change him and his life forever. I came to really like Donald, despite the opening section, as he grew as a consequence of his actions that night. I couldn't quite work out when the story was supposed to be set. I suppose that, like the legend, it's timeless. The setting itself, a small Scottish fishing village, was so vividly described that I could imagine it all so clearly. The house, the beach, the sea, I could almost feel the sea breeze in my hair and imagine looking out at the fishing boats or indeed, observing the very same sight as Donald that night.Donald, Mhairi and Donald's mother, Bridie, are the main characters but there are quite a few supporting characters too who all add to the sense of a small and enclosed community. Mhairi herself is so well-drawn and vibrant, no mean feat considering she had no words, and she is an immensely likeable and calm character.I found this to be a book which needed concentration, particularly at the beginning. It's an intense story and I read it quite slowly up to around the half way mark and then I was drawn right in and raced through to the poignant and heartrending conclusion.Sealskin is a tender, moving and gentle read. Whilst there is an obvious magical feel to it, it's so well written that it becomes almost believable. It's a really lovely story and one which I think will stay with me.

    Book preview

    Sealskin - Su Bristow

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