How Maggie Fuentes wished she could be a siren, to live out on the sea and sing for the ships. She believed in magical things like that. Unfortunately, her beau, Frank, didn’t. He was like the ocean tide—she never knew which way he’d turn. But on the afternoon walk through Coney Island, Frank became aggressive and violent with her. Why does she put up with him? There should be a law against cops dating nurses.
“It’s so easy to set limits with a stranger, but I can’t do it with my own boyfriend.” (20)
“In high school I had learned about sirens, and believed deep inside that I could turn into one. I identified with those myths, as my teacher called them. Sometimes I felt that the wails that unfurled from my chest, like those of the sea nymphs, would curl into the wind and ocean foam, and bring me the peace that could come with death.” (31)
While contending with Frank’s erratic mood swings, Maggie finds a connection with a coma patient at the hospital. Then significant aspects from an old journal seem to mirror her own life.
The writing was good, bursting with powerful and expressive language. You feel for Maggie and what she’s going through. There was some lag and complexity, especially where the mystery was concerned. It would seem there was a psychological inference to this whole thing, which leads to a mystical allure and open interpretation.
I’d say this was more of a lyrical read than anything else.
My rating: 3 stars
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