The Seduction of Water

There's a good story in here somewhere, full of lovely writing and interesting fairy tales and poignant themes of family legacy, but stumbling as it does over its own awkward pacing and muffled as it is under the unrelenting egotism of its protagonist, you'd never guess.

I've been reading some pretty dark suspense/mystery books, and my soul felt rather battered. This book was a wonderful antidote to hard-core realism -- a story within a story, mystery, and, despite some violence in it, a gentle tale of a daughter in search of her mother, or of her mother's story, both personal and a manuscript written before the mother died twenty years before. I loved the setting in the Hudson Valley, which made me want to return there for a visit, if only to catch that light once more before I die. I wish I could have seen the Hotel Equinox in its heyday, and to have seen the gazebo/chuppas built by Joseph. Thanks to Rebekkila for sending this book along to me. I'm going to leave my copy in Palo Alto, California, show more while I'm out here for our son's Stanford graduation, for someone to find via BookCrossing. show less

Carol Goodman is one of my favorite mystery authors and did not disappoint with this story. It's about an author, Iris Greenfede, who decides to solve a mystery about her mom. Her mom was also an author who wrote a hit story, but died before the sequel was published. Iris has to go back to the hotel where her parents worked and she grew up to do some sleuthing and writing. Add in the beauty of the Catskills, a dash of romance, and a helping of art community and you have the joy of this riddle.

It wasn't my favorite by Carol Goodman but I still enjoyed myself very much while escaping to the busy, intense summer of Iris.

This was a fun, quick read - less of a thriller & more of a love story. Goodman is a great writer & the use of fairy tales in this novel was well-executed (& one of my favorite things in books). I liked the characters & the story & the settings.

I also enjoyed The Lake of Dead Languages, although it is more thriller & less gothic than this one.

Iris Greenfeder, an aspiring writer is feeling overwhelmed by her various teaching jobs and the fact she hasn't finished her dissertation and she is not getting any writing done. Her boyfriend Jack is planning on spending the summer at an artists' retreat. Iris writes a short story based on a fairy-tale her mother, the deceased author Katherine Morrissey used to tell her growing up. Phoebe Nix, the publisher of the magazine that printed the short story, suggests Iris write a story about her mother.

Iris leaves Manhattan for the summer to work at Hotel Equinox, the place where Iris grew up, her parents managed the hotel. The Equinox has been bought by Harry Kron, who happens to be Phoebe's uncle. Iris is given the position that used to show more belong to her father, as hotel manager. She hires sexy and mysterious Aidan, a parolee she met while teaching at an upstate prison.

Iris searches for the truth about her mother's mysterious death and what could have happened to the third manuscript in a series her mother wrote about Selkies, who were half-woman, half-seals. Interspersed within the novel are the stories based on Irish folk-lore that Katherine used to tell. Harry invites a lot of past guests to the newly refurbished hotel, many of whom knew Iris's parents and tell her various things they remember about her mother.

This book is really well-written and both suspenseful and magical. The setting of the Equinox is in the Hudson Valley/ Catskills and the themes are based on Henry Hudson. I wanted to stay at this fictional hotel. The fairy tales are so beautiful, I have searched but been unsuccessful in finding books about the Selkies.
There is also, romance and suspense as Harry and Phoebe seem to have ulterior motives for wanting Iris to write this book. This is another book that is probably classified as chick-lit but has so many layers to it. Great location, great story, great characters; all make for a really amazing read.
Carol Goodman is also the author of The Lake of Dead Languages. show less

Carol Goodman is gifted with a smooth, hypnotic story teller's voice and she uses it to advantage in 'The Seduction of Water.'

Briefly, it's the story of Iris, unpublished want-to-be author, who ekes out a living teaching English to immigrants, prisoners, and ex-cons. The orphaned daughter of a hotel manager and a fantasy writer, her life is rather bland on the surface, until Iris decides to write an article about her mother and the missing final book in her trilogy. Then Iris's life begins to change in ways that mirror the Irish folk tales that formed the basis of her mother's stories.

Goodman's story teller's voice is true; her prose runs smoothly, her plotting is deft, and her characters - even her bit players - are intriguing.

The Seduction of the Water

Carol Goodman

Iris Greenfeder has a lot of almost's in her life, she's almost in an amazing relationship, almost (well, ok not almost) done with her dissertation and almost has all the knowledge she ever wants to know about her mother. While teaching English for new immigrants, indifferent art students and convicts she comes up with an assignment about Fairytales of peoples childhood. Her assignment inspires her to start writing about her mother, a famous novelist herself and sets her in motion to go back to the hotel she grew up in and find out everything there is to know about her mother and the unpublished third book of the trilogy she was writing. Along the way she falls for one of her ex students, meets up show more with old acquaintance and learns that there may be more interesting secrets in her mothers life than where she hid the manuscript.

Carol Goodman does an excellent job of depicting a Hotel rich in history and personality in the Hotel Equinox, where the majority of the story takes place. Her characters are rich with excellent and often quirky personalities. Iris herself often toes the line from so single minded she could end up annoying, but she always snaps back into a driven girl. Among other characters are Aidan, an ex-con with a great story and a huge heart, Aunt Sophie, who is strict but caring and Harry Kron who's Hotel chain and arts patronage saves Iris's childhood home.

The most compelling part of this story is the mixture between fairytale and real life. The Seduction of the Water starts with a short piece Iris wrote about a Selkie story her mother used to tell her. It sets the tone for all the other often overlooked tales that are incorporated in the book, such as the Tam-Lin and the Swan Wife. Most chapters are started with and excerpt for Tirra Glynn books her mother wrote that also incorporate old world fairy tales, a new and interesting fantasy work and snip-its of her own life.

While the story does have a mystery element it doesn't play as big of a part as the romantic themes and life searching moments that can be found throughout the novel. All in all it was a quick, compelling read. Definitely worth checking out at the library or buying as a paperback. show less