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The Mermaid and the Drunks (Paperback)

by Ben Richards (Author) "Turbulence! God how she hated it ..." (more)
2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (3 Jun 2004)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0753817756
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753817759
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 165,229 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #1 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > R > Richards, Ben
    #26 in  Books > Fiction > World > Latin American

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Product Description

THE SCOTSMAN (19.6.04)
'set in Chile and stuffed to bursting with local colour.'

Review
'A vividly written novel...The two main characters, Fresia, a Chilean exile, and Joe, a Scottish academic, are wonderful, and the way they fumble their way towards each other is a delight.' (SHERLOCK )

'An intriguing plot...[and an] articulate and humorous look at the role of the outsider analysing a foreign culture and set of politics.' (GUARDIAN (26.6.04) )

'set in Chile and stuffed to bursting with local colour.' (THE SCOTSMAN (19.6.04) )

'Extremely readable. It's full of great jokes and fascinating characters whilst the dark political undercurrents remind the reader of a turbulent and tragic piece of history.' (DAILY EXPRESS (16.7.04) )

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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Turbulence! God how she hated it. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Good evocation of Chile, but ultimately left me indifferent, 30 Jul 2004
Having been fortunate enough to have spent some time in Chile nearly 10 years ago, I felt that the book could not be faulted on portraying the idiosyncracies and quirks of the country. It made me smile to remember the little chilienismos,(not sure how to spell that) that dont translate back into understandable phrases back in Spain. He also brought into colour the fairly weird food and drink that I ate in abundannce (aji chileno - chilli sauce, schop - beer, completos - hotdogs) Although it did occur to me his liberal sprinkling of these specific chilean words with no translation might seem a little inaccessible, (obviously not according to Richard and Judy readers).It was also fun to remember the places I had visited and had all but forgotten. For me, the narrative of the book was dull and left me indifferent to the characters who never came to life. The characters seemed insipid and dreary and the book lurches from non event to non event. Nothing much really happens ultimately. If this had been a travelogue then i would have found it far more satisfying, as his descriptions of places in Chile are very evocative. In fact i would say that his peripheral 'landscape' characters have more life than his watery main characters, whose names i have already forgotten.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Chilean Charm!, 26 Aug 2004
A spicy mix of Chilean society, life, politics, history, relationships of love and friendship and the odd drop of Pisco (local tipple!).

Fresia was born in Chile but raised in Britain, when her parents were exiled in the 1970s. Her father never recovered from the break from his country and, after his tragic death, Fresia decides to sample life in her birth country, the land of her father, to free herself from old ghosts, find contentment and perhaps take her vocation of photography which she had given up after the loss of her beloved dad.

She meets Joe, a young Scottish lecturer, writing a book on Chilean history. Matters get complicated however. Joe is in love with Fresia, but Magdalena is in love with Joe. Magdalena is a local with big hair, bigger opinions. Something of an activist, her opinions and rioting can lead them to trouble...

I loved the mix of fiction, watching friendships grow and falter, local life in Chile, especially descriptions of mouth-watering food, sprinkled with a dabble of history and sociology, so the reader feels enriched, truly learning about another country, another culture, whilst following the character's lives.

I enjoyed this book and feel refreshed having learnt things I did not know.

A good holiday read, as the fact it is set in another country gets you in the vacation mood!

Travis Boos

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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Hyped up by Richard and Judy, 1 Aug 2004
By A Customer
As an avid reader of almost anything! It is very rare that I cannot finish a book. I am always determined to give a book a fair chance, but I am afraid that I got half way through this book and could not take anymore! It could not hold my interest. I am sure many people will buy it, as it was a recommended read by richard and Judy, but very disappointing!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Chilean Adventure
Fresia is returning to her homeland of Chile, she left as a baby when her parents escaped and finally moved to England. Read more
Published 8 months ago by soffitta1

1.0 out of 5 stars A badly written affair...
Ben Richards has attempted many things in The Mermaid and the Drunks, unfortunately he fails to achieve anything. Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2006 by A reader

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disapointing
Having traveled in Chile, I was quite excited when I bought this book. However, this made for a very disapointing read. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2005 by nicobidon

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be better
As others have written, the strength of this book lies in the evocation of life in Chile and the picture presented of a country still struggling to comes to terms with the... Read more
Published on 29 May 2005

2.0 out of 5 stars Just couldn't hold my interest.
I didn't buy this book because Richard and Judy had recommended it. I bought it because the title and cover blurb had interested me. Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Well I liked it!
Up until I found a copy of the book without Richard and Judy's sticker on it, I refused to buy this book. Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2004 by Miss Lucy E Giffen

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it for ever!!
Without any doubt one of the nicest surprises I had in the last few literary months. Beautifuly writen, it generates a radiant atmosfere of youth and passion that can't be ignored... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2004 by Jorge Filipe

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