Aquamarine

Book Description

Olympic swimmer Jesse Austin is seduced and consequently edged out for a gold medal by her Australian rival. From there, Anshaw intricately traces three possible paths for Jesse, spinning exhilarating variations on the themes of lost love and parallel lives unlived. Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina, writes, "I found myself wishing I could buy a dozen copies and start a discussion group, just so I'd be able to debate all the questions this astonishing novel provokes." A Reader's Guide is available.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, well-written read.......2006-07-20

Anshaw's telling of three different paths a single life can take is very refreshing. I liked how the cast of characters remained the same in each scenario, but their relationships with each other varied.

Most readers will probably find this book refreshing as Anshaw is a wonderful story-teller and the ending is quite unique.

Alternate ending.......2003-10-19

Aquamarine begins in the summer of 1968 at the Olympics in the swimming pool. Jesse, the teenager who comes in with the silver medal, falls in love with Marty, her teammate, but...
Then the novel leaps forward to 1990, and three different scenarios are played out. The first is that Jesse marries, has a child, and feels she missed her one chance for perfect happiness. The second is that she's about to come out to her mom as a lesbian. In the third, she's divorced with 2 kids and hoping not to repeat her own mother's mistakes surrounding gender ID issues.
Interesting.

A variation on themes of lost love and emotional ties.......2003-10-13

In 1968 at the Mexico City Olympics, Jesse Autsin wins a silver medal in the Women's 100-Meters Freestyle. She would have won the gold if it hadn't been for her closest competition, the mysterious and seductive Marty Finch.

Flash forward to July 1990. Jesse is about to turn 40, but is she happy with the choice she made immediately after winning the silver? In an unusual novel, author Carol Anshaw gives us a look into three posibile presents for Jesse.

In the first, she has been married for 20 years to Neal Pratt and still lives in her small hometown of New Jerusalem, Missouri. Her mentally retarded brother lives with them and helps with the upkeeep of Pratt's Caverns, the small business left to them by Neal's parents. Her godmother, Hallie, talks of the upcoming retirement party for Jesse's mother, an English teacher at the local high school. Jesse is content but still wonders about her first love, Marty Finch.

In the second, Jesse is an English professor in New York City, something she thought her mother would be proud of, but isn't. She also lives with her lover, Kit, who plays vampy Nurse Rhonda on a soap opera. Jesse is taking her to her mother's retirement party in New Jerusalem, Missouri, unsure of how the family will react to the two of them together. Her godmother Hallie has always known. Jesse thinks that Kit is going to leave her, especially when Jesse's mother asks her to take in her retarded brother Willie. But, in the back of her mind, she still wonders if she was being used by Marty Finch on that day in Mexico City.

In the third, a divorced Jesse lives in Venus Beach, Florida, with her children Anthony and Sharon. Anthony's had a run-in with the law, and now, his father is on his way from New York to "take care of things." Just what Jesse needs. Her godmother Hallie, who moved to Florida a few years after Jesse, is returning from Jesse's mother's retirement party back in Missouri. She feels as though life has passed her by and wonders if anything really happened between her and Marty Finch, or if it were all just a dream.

Each scenario has many of the same characters (Kit, Hallie, Willie, Jesse's mother, Marty Finch) and similar situations, giving the reader a feeling of looking at lives running parallel to one another. This novel does a marvelous job of weaving together these three scenarios of choices made or passed by and how these choices affect the future and the emotional ties between Jesse and the people in her past. A thought-provoking book, definitely worth reading.

Another author recommended this one, however..........2003-10-11

Michael Cunningham (who wrote the fabulous book THE HOURS) recommended this book. I can see how he liked the stance of a woman who is a champion swimmer and takes a dive into three different scenarios of how her life could have been. I suppose it's up to the reader to decide which is the TRUE story (if one wants to go that route). Alas, the book didn't flow as well as I would have liked. There were some memorable lines though: "I don't want you to think I'm after your secrets. I'm not. I'm just looking for a way in." I would have rather it been ONE FULL STORY with her psychological feelings all wrapped together. I guess its just another author trying to be creative. The writer wrote: THE NEXT MINUTE IS AN AQUAMARINE BLUR. I find that amusing now because most of the book will ultimately be a blur. I wouldn't strongly recommend this as it's easy to put down and NOT pick up again. It took some strain for me to finish. I like a book that I can't wait to read...try MEMOIRS OF HECATE COUNTY by Edmund Wilson instead--quite a literary find!

Beautiful.......2002-08-29

I was fortunate enough to have been required to read this book for a Women's Studies class, and am thankful to my instructor. Anshaw's examination of the effect of the decisions made at pivotal points in our lives on our selves, our paths and our relationships with others is captivating and a wonderful read. Whether the heroine is lesbian or heterosexual is almost besides the point - the book is an exploration of possibilities, her answer to the "what if..." questions we all ask ourselves.

Average customer rating:

Comparable to sea glass - rare and beautiful
Mermaid Tale
Aquamarine
The Crazy Discovery
Aquamarine

Aquamarine
Alice Hoffman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439098645

Amazon.com

This wide-eyed, magical tale by distinguished author Alice Hoffman reflects the pale blue hue of two 12-year-old friends about to be parted at summer's end. Hailey and Claire have lived next door to each other and have been best friends all their lives, but now Claire's family is going to move away to Florida. The two hang out at the neighborhood beach club in the blistering heat, dreading the end of things. The Capri Beach Club, too, is coming to an end--neglected and shabby, due to be bulldozed at the end of the season.

Despite the girls' fear of change, everything shifts with a summer storm. At the beach club the next morning, Hailey and Claire find that the storm has left its mark, filling the cloudy waters of the swimming pool with jellyfish and seaweed. Hailey boldly dives in and discovers that the waves have also brought a delicate blue and white mermaid who is extremely grouchy at her predicament. The girls scheme to return the fish-woman to the sea, but she obstinately refuses to leave the vicinity of Raymond, the handsome boy who runs the gift shop. Alarmed at the mermaid's growing weakness, Hailey and Claire extract her promise to go back to the sea in exchange for one evening with Raymond. They set up a blind date, dress her in a long blue dress to hide her tail, and take her to the rendezvous in a wheelchair. But the next morning the dying mermaid is in love, and the patio is full of partygoers. Can the girls sneak her past all those eyes to save her life? And will she let them? Young teens will be entranced by the strange dreaminess of this poignant little story about love and loss. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

Hailey and Claire are spending their last summer together when they discover something at the bottom of the murky pool at the Capri Beach Club. There in the depths is a mysterious and beautiful creature with a sharp tongue and a broken heart: a mermaid named Aquamarine who has left her six sisters to search for love on land. Now, as this mythological yet very real being starts to fade in the burning August sun, a rescue is begun. On the edge of growing up, during a summer that is the hottest on record, Hailey and Claire are discovering that life can take an unpredictable course, friendship is forever, and magic can be found in the most unexpected places.

Customer Reviews:

Comparable to sea glass - rare and beautiful.......2007-05-31

This summer, the Capri Beach Club may look similar to a shipwreck, what with the tractors surrounding the once-beautiful resort, and the washed up starfish and seashells scattered everywhere. Not to mention the cloudiness in the pool water, or the fact that the smell of burned hamburgers no longer linger's throughout the premises. But to Hailey and Claire, the Capri Beach Club couldn't be more beautiful. Hailey and Claire have been best friends and next-door neighbors for as long as they can remember. But the two girls are polar opposites. While Hailey loves nothing more than to dive headfirst into just about any body of water, Claire finds herself frightened of the wet escape, preferring to stay on dry land, where at least she knows she's safe. Ever since they can remember, the two friends have spent their summers at the Capri Beach Club. They know that Raymond - the snack bar attendant - loves to read, and has read over one-hundred books since they've been visiting the Club. They also know that he has never learned how to grill a burger without burning it, but that hasn't stopped people from eating the charred meat. This year, though, things are different. For one, at the end of the summer, the Capri Beach Club will be no more. After years of standing, and being a vacation spot to families and people of all ages, it will close its gates, and never re-open them again. To the two friends, this is one of the worst things that can happen. But there's more. After years of being next-door neighbors, Hailey and Claire will have to say goodbye, for Claire's grandparents have decided that the time has come for them to move to Florida, and Claire is being forced to accompany them. Claire has never known any other home, and can't stand the thought of parting with Hailey. The two of them have grown-up together, and done everything side by side. They even have their own codes and signals for one another. But all of that will be history come August 31, when Claire waves goodbye for the last time. Which is why the two friends have decided to make this the summer of a lifetime. They have decided that, even though the Capri Beach Club is practically empty, they will spend every single day of the summer at their home away from home, simply enjoying each other's company, and bracing themselves for the end of summer. When they discover something strange lying at the murky bottom of the Beach Club's pool, however, they realize that this is their chance to make the summer more memorable than any other. Aquamarine is a mermaid who was swept ashore during a recent storm, and has taken up residence in the condemned pool. She's a beautiful creature, with long, flowing hair, and a tongue as sharp as her tail. Ignoring the call of her six sisters, who wish that she would return home, Aquamarine has left the ocean in an attempt to find love on land, but has only managed to find a broken heart. Hailey and Claire can't bear to see Aquamarine so sad, and, in an attempt to save her life, they come up with a plan that will give her the chance to have one magical night. A night that will be just as special to Hailey and Claire, as it is to Aquamarine.

I finally purchased Alice Hoffman's AQUAMARINE when I heard about the film being released. However, I placed it in my room, and forgot about it until just last night, when I decided that it would be a perfect way to kick off the summer. From the moment I began the story, I found myself pulled in to the world of Hailey, Claire, and Aquamarine. In just a short amount of time - clocking in at a mere 105 pages - Hoffman manages to weave a story that is unforgettable. Mixing mythology with present day, Hoffman creates a coming-of-age novel that is easy to identify with, that must be read in one sitting. The contrasting personalities of Hailey and Claire play off one another perfectly, and make it obvious just how strong their friendship is. Hailey seems more daring, and ready to leap into the unknown; while Claire, who has experienced tragedy in her life over the years, seems more reserved, wanting to think things over, and contemplate a plan, before pursuing anything. Their relationship and bond is so strong, that the reader instantly feels for the girls, wishing that they could stay side-by-side forever, as opposed to being separated by the end of the summer. Aquamarine is also an interesting character. Hoffman paints a picture of mermaids not always being the sweet, angelic creatures they are portrayed to be in cartoons. She breathes new life into the mythological creature, making Aquamarine snippy, and, oft-times, downright rude. However, it's obvious that Aquamarine's slightly nasty attitude is truly just masking her sadness, and is not intended to offend either Hailey or Claire. While so many books on the market appeal to readers because they center around vicious girls, looking to call each other names, or play nasty jokes on one another; AQUAMARINE's appeal is that it is the complete opposite, embracing friendship, and the joy of helping others. Gone are the catty remarks, and the backstabbing. In their place is beauty and love. Hoffman's imagery doesn't disappoint either. Her descriptions of seashells, and aquatic life are lovely; and she truly makes the reader see colors such as silver and blue in a new light. Hoffman packs quite a punch with this tiny book that leaves an extremely strong impact. Comparable to sea glass - rare and beautiful.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Mermaid Tale.......2007-04-26

Hailey and Claire have always been best friends and have always lived next door to each other. Every summer they have spent their time at the Capri, a beach club nearby. Now, in the summer when they are twelve, the Capri is falling down and they are the only ones who go there, besides Raymond, the teenager who works at the snack bar. At the end of the summer, Claire will be moving to Florida, far away from her best friend.

Every day that passes is closer to moving day. The two girls spend every day at the Capri, wishing that something would happen to make things better, and simply dreading the day when Claire would have to move. Someone new would move into Claire's house, the Capri beach club would be torn down, and perhaps these two best friends would forget each other. Every day is tragic.

Then one day after a huge storm, the girls look through the weeds in the beach club pool and see a mermaid there. She is beautiful and snobbish, and can't live away from the sea for very long. However, when she sees Raymond she falls in love and refuses to leave the pool unless she can meet him. Hailey and Claire now have something to think about besides themselves. They need to find a way for this mermaid and Raymond to meet, so they can then convince her to go back to the ocean where she can become healthy again. Through this experience, Hailey and Claire share something special that brings them even closer together, while at the same time making it easier for them to part.

I liked the fantasy aspect of this book, and I liked how the feeling of the girls that their lives were falling apart was paralleled by the falling down conditions of the Capri beach club.

However, I thought there was pretty poor character development, and I didn't care nearly as much about anyone in the story as I should have.

Aquamarine.......2007-04-25

Aquamarine is a book about two young girls Hayley and Claire who spend everyday in the summer together. They wanted to spend time together because Claire was moving to Florida with her grandparents. A huge storm came and washed into the pool and the girls found Aquamarine and took care of her. Aquamarine wanted to do everything Heather and Claire did.

My Favorite part of the book is when Aquamarine and Raymond go on a date. She has to get rolled in a wheel chair because of her tail. SHe gave Haley and Claire had three wishes. When the third wish is done Aquamarine has to go back and live with her family.

I would reccomend Aquamarine if you need a short read. The downside of the book is that it is not detailed a lot. You can relate to the book if you best friend is moving.

The Crazy Discovery.......2007-04-12

The book Aquamarine is abput two girls named Hailey and Claire, who are best friends. Hailey and Claire then find out that Claire is moving to florida with her grandparents so they paln on having the best summer ever. Until there is a big storm and it destroys the beach club that they hung out at almost everyday. So the girls go down to the club to see what it looks like and to their surprise there is a mermaid named Aquamarine in the pool.
There are many great parts in this book so it was hard just to choose one. My favorite part of the book is in the begining when the girls fist find the mermaid in the pool. This is my favorite part of the book because it is sort of funny when the girls get scared when Aquamarine just says boo. This is also my favorite part because who would expect a mermaid to be in a pool. I also like that the author did not make Aquamarine sound like the Littli Mermaid. This is just one of the great parts of Aquamarine.
I would definitley recommend this book becuase I am the type of person that does not like to read so for me to like this book I know that it has to be good. This is a good short read but it is also a great story. Aquamarine is definitley a fictional story so anyone that likes fiction books should read this story. I would only recommend this book to girls because I do not really think that guys would like reading about mermaids and girls talking about love. All in all Aquamarine was very good book that just made you want to see what would happen next.

Aquamarine.......2007-04-12

Aquamarine is a book about two girls named Hailey and Claire. They are spending their last summer together because Claire is moving away to Florida. Something happens during this summer, the girls meet a mermaid. Even when the two girls barley know Aquamarine they help her to get a date with Ray. After the day of this date, Claire is moving, Aquamarine is going back out to sea, and Ray is going away for college, so everyone has to seperate.

My favorite part of this book was near the beginning. My favorite part was when Claire and Hailey meet Aquamarine. The reason this part was so good was because the two girls did not seem to be frightened,surprised, or anything they just wanted helped the mermaid. This came to a surprise to me because if i saw a mermaid i would be very surprised, i would not just start talking to it. I also thought that it was interesting how the two girls spent their last day together helping someone that they barley knew.

I would definetly recommend this book. Even though it is an easy read, it is very interesting. While reading this book i found it hard to put down at times because i would want to find out what was going to happen next. It tells you about mermaids and that they can be real. Even though this is a fiction book, it gives you something to believe in.

Aquamarine Blue 5: Personal Stories Of College Students With Autism

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Job Difficulties, Asperger, highlighted in Aquamarine Blue 5, Dawn Prince-Hughes
I wish I could have read a book like this ten years ago...
The inside story of Autistic students in college
Understanding the college scene when you have AS
Making Sense of the Senses

Aquamarine Blue 5: Personal Stories Of College Students With Autism
Dawn Prince-Hughes
Manufacturer: Swallow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Pathologies | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0804010544

Book Description

The first book to be written by autistic college students who have been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, or High Functioning Autism, Aquamarine Blue 5 demonstrates their unique way of looking at and solving problems and the challenges they face. These readable essays detail the struggles of a highly sensitive group and show that there are gifts specific to autistic students that enrich the university system, scholarship, and the world as a whole. Containing the stories of a dozen autistic students, the book deals with everything from learning to eat in dormitory dining halls to making friends to exploring sexuality.

Customer Reviews:

Job Difficulties, Asperger, highlighted in Aquamarine Blue 5, Dawn Prince-Hughes.......2007-05-11

As one of the contributors to Aquamarine Blue 5, I know employment is a not only a matter of difficulty for people with Asperger syndrome, it is frequently a matter of sheer injustice.

The movie Independence Day strikes such a chord with me because at one point, a B-2 stealth bomber launches a thermonuclear stand-off missile at the space ship over Houston. Except for General William Grey (Robert Loggia), the military leaders are sure they nailed it. Until the ground crew verifies that the ship's shield withstood even a nuclear warhead.

It is aggravating to throw the best you have at something like searching for a job and full adult community participation, like your mates from college and graduate school, but to be restricted from full participation. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn't just fighting African American injustice. Once I was an oppressed Caucasian man.

Later, however, another solution does work to eliminate the aliens from Earth.

My story does have a happy ending. I did not get to use certain parts of my Asperger mind for the specific occupational purposes of planning and executing research studies or for multivariate analysis by computer. But I have used the same parts of my mind for identical mental tasks: planning, writing, and executing computer programs and Web pages, and the ability to handle quite a few software applications beyond SPSS, and even beyond Access: SQL Server. And it may be better paid than the first career.

There is plenty to challenge everyone with autism and Asperger. Full employment does not make that fact go away. Namely, it might be hard finding someone to share your well-earned joy and success with. And we will never completely eliminate occasional prejudice from the human race. Because challenges persist for life so must our understanding and support. Indeed, we have become more sympathetic as human beings thanks to life experience, and our life experience often helps us be thankful spiritually too.

I recommend Aquamarine Blue 5 for its emphasis on issues relevant to the young Asperger adult.

I wish I could have read a book like this ten years ago..........2006-01-29

This is a collection of writings by college / university students on the autistic spectrum, talking about both their challenges and their gifts, as well providing an insight into their lives. This will probably be of most use to those planning to go into higher education who might want to get a better idea of what it will be like and what situations they may face, but will be of interest to anyone who enjoys reading about the experiences of others. The only thing that disappointed me a little was that many of the contributors were studying similar courses and had similar experiences, so it didn't cover the wide range of experiences I hoped it would, but it was a good read all the same.

The inside story of Autistic students in college.......2005-10-26

This book contains about a dozen essays written by high-functioning autistic people who have made it to the university level of education. These are their stories, and, as the editor makes clear, she spent little time in editing them -- confining herself basically to grammar issues. "Normal" People who deal with autistics are always wondering what's it like for them in our society and this book makes it clear how difficult it is.

Only the highest-functioning autistic people will make it to a university and that population is the one that is addressed by this book. The editor is herself autistic but has received her Ph.D. and is a professor at a university. So, the message is that autistic people can "make it" in "normal" society but it is not easy. Her essay concludes the book and describes her own personal journey to get to where she is.

When autism is mentioned, the image that frequently arises is of the person who is non-communicative, withdrawn into their own world and perhaps makes noises or weird motions. But there is another stereotype that can come into play. This being "the absent-minded professor." in this stereotype the person is frequently so engrossed in their affairs or research that they do not wear the latest fashions, may have unique eating and hygiene habits, and are frequently seen meandering around with a lost look on their faces. I have known such university professors as academia seems to both draw them in and nourish their mental needs. This stereotype also describes people who are on the autism spectrum. Today, many younger people are diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome who show such traits.

So, there is a place for high-functioning autistic people in such places. Areas where they can contribute significantly to society even if "normal" society considers them strange. A place where they are not seen as abnormal but are tolerated in a very fond way.

In this book, we hear the personal recollections of twelve students as to their roads to get to a university and even graduate from it with degrees. In every one of the stories, the elementary and high school experiences are described as absolutely rotten. Which points out how bad their experiences are with the "normal" members of society. It is not hard to envision and even feel the sadness of these teens as they are ostracized and picked upon due to their unique habits and needs.

Not all the stories have a happy ending. Several of the essays in the book show that some of the autistic people retreat into their own worlds and shut down from the rest of the world. Even though that is a small portion of the essays given here, I believe those essays probably represent the majority of autistic people who attempt university. And, conversely, the majority of the essays represent the minority of the people. But, even given that, it was encouraging to read about the sometimes heroic struggles that these people went through and to realize how much they accomplished in a world and society that is not set up for them.

This is a good book to read if you are involved with autistic children and wonder what will happen to them once they are past the stage where the state and family try to cater to their every need. It points out one desireable path that they can take in which they will end up accepted and even welcomed as productive components of society. For that reason, this is a recommended read.

Understanding the college scene when you have AS.......2005-10-12

Since my son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome 7 years ago, I've watched the information on this issue explode. Information about adults with AS is just appearing on the market. This is one such book. Written by college students with AS, each essay contributes a unique understanding of what it means to enter adulthood with AS.

The editor, Dawn Prince-Hughes, consciously maintained the intergrity of each writer's unique style. At times the use of train of thought might be a little tricky for a neurotypical person to follow. But this is a lesson in and of itself: The person with AS has a different perspective of the world and we need to learn to embrace those differences.

Any parent with a teen with AS and any teen/college student with AS should read these first hand accounts of the lives of real people with real issues.

Making Sense of the Senses.......2004-08-23

This is an excellent book that explains what adults with autism/Asperger's contend with. This book is composed of essays by university students who provide personal accounts of what living with autism/Asperger's means and how they have coped and made giant steps forward.

I like the passage about synesthesia, that is linked sensory modes. One contributor explains how numbers and letters have colors; henceforth the title "Aquamarine Blue 5." She explains how certain sounds can have colors; this sensory condition has until very recently received little press.

Synesthesia can take on many forms. For certain people on the a/A spectrum, synesthesia is part of the sensory package. Some people can taste and smell certain words; colors can have an auditory component and in some cases, people have reported being able to see music.

How I wish I had this book when I was a university student! This sterling gem of a book helps clarify so much of what the Autism/Asperger's experience is all about for so many people.

I wish I could rate this one even more stars. This book is truly outstanding.

Average customer rating:

GREAT
Not a great book
One of the best books i've ever read
2 Not-That-Great books
good book

Aquamarine And Indigo - Water Tales
Alice Hoffman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Mermaids | Obsessions | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0439474140

Book Description

Friendships are forever. Love knows no bounds. The supernatural graces the everyday in unexpected ways. These themes have made Alice Hoffman a cherished best selling author across the country. Now, with AQUAMARINE and INDIGO, she gives us wonderful magic realism for all ages. Unforgettable stories of love, loss, hope, and amazement -- in one mass market volume.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT.......2006-08-09

I would give the Aquamarine part of this book a 4 because.....
When i first read it i kind of got bored.But when i got into the book i felt like i was in a magical world or in peter pan.,Sarah

Not a great book.......2005-11-19

I love to read. Espeacially fantasies. I was so excited to see this book sitting on the shelf, after reading a great mermaid book I had to read more. This book was not at all intended for me. It was a story collection and none were very good. I thought a lot more work could have been added and more descriptions. I only recomend it to children in 3rd grade, though it does not have pictures for the younger. I highly suggest that if you are any older then don't read it. I disliked it a lot, the stories were really cheesy.

One of the best books i've ever read.......2005-07-28

I loved the book. I'm not a big reader. I HATE reading but this book was good. I never could find a good book until AQUAMARIANE AND INDIGO. I think you sould read it. And or buy it. Well thats my opinon.But then, I don't know yours. HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 Not-That-Great books.......2004-12-05

Aquamarine: This book had the potential of being interesting and fun to read. But instead this book was just bland.

Hailey and Claire are best friends and they have one summer together before Claire has to move to Florida, leaving Hailey beind. Their 'hang-out' is the nearly abandoned country club, with it's very green, dirty pool. One day they find a mermaid in the pool and when the mermaid asks them to set her up on a date with the only employee of the country club, they help her fulfill this wish before putting her back in the ocean.

Indigo: I got the impression that I was like I wasn't even reading a real book; it was more like reading something that a 4 year old dreams about. And not in a good way. This book has a stupid plot line.

Martha, Eli and Trevor are best friends. They live in the very dry town of Oak Grove. All the people of Oak Grove are terrified of water because of a flood that the town had a few years prior. But Martha, Eli and Trevor all want to see the ocean, despite their parent's wishes to have stay on dry land all their lives. So the children all start walking one day to get to the ocean. A storm comes and a tree branch falls onto Martha and hurts her, so they turn back to Oak Grove. And Eli and Trevor save Martha and all the townspeople because they can naturally swim, because they are offspring to mermaids.

I do not recomend this book. Not worth buying, let alone reading.

~Atalanta

good book.......2004-03-12

i think that aquariem was awesome i read it 2 times. i think that it should have a newbarry award. my favroite part was when they found the mermaide. i also like the part when she go's on a date with the man that worked at the shack.the sadest part was when the mermaid was getting sick and she was falling apart.well at least they got her back inside of the sea.
i thought that indigo was my favroite in the hole story i would rate it 5 stars. i think that it was wrong to even put up that wall so that they could not see the pretty view of the ocean. that was such a great book i loved it ecspeacally when they found there mom.

Beryl and Its Color Varieties: Aquamarine, Heliodor, Morganite, Goshenite, Emerald and Red Beryl

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Beryl and Its Color Varieties: Aquamarine, Heliodor, Morganite, Goshenite, Emerald and Red Beryl

Manufacturer: Lapis International, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 097153716X

Book Description

Emerald and aquamarine have been known and cherished since Antiquity, but it is only in the last few centuries that science has realized that these two coveted gems are actually different varieties of the same mineral -- Beryl. Number 7 in the popular extraLapis English mineralogy monograph series, "Beryl and Its Color Varieties" surveys the mineralogy and localities of this popular gemstone.

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Original Future World: Fascinating & Mysterious
HI MEL
Is there a doctor in the house?
a great book
Not Mel's Best

Aquamarine
Mel Keegan
Manufacturer: GMP Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1902852141

Customer Reviews:

Original Future World: Fascinating & Mysterious.......2007-09-30

If you are tired of the run-of-the-mill sci-fi/fantasy, swords & sorcery genre; if you are a fan of fine writers, such as: Jim Grimsley, Michael Lowenthal, Trebor Healy; if you enjoy the tales of: Tanith Lee and Storm Constantine, then plunge into this unique intriguing future world.
A wonderful original romantic thriller which takes place after Global Warming has all but destroyed the earth which is now mostly covered by ocean.
The gay characters are refreshing and enjoyable, albeit one is a "new aqua-human".
Keegan is a treasure. After reading this, I will seek out all of his other works.

HI MEL.......2006-08-16

I really enjoy your books. I have all the books that Amazon has sold. I am sorry to see that they do not sell anymore. I really enjoy reading them. I did however found your new site so that I can order from them. At least I can keep up on your novels. Way to go Mel.

Is there a doctor in the house?.......2004-12-14

A book doctor that is.

I'm a fan of Keegan's earlier work, but I believe his later efforts (Aquamarine, White Rose, etc.) suffer from the lack of a real editor. And I don't mean a copy editor. Unlike some readers I wasn't put off by British spellings, a few typos, etc. But I am put off by lackluster characterizations and a plot swamped by an author indulging his own philosophical ramblings and a tidal wave of non-essential detail.

In Aquamarine, plot and character pay the price of exhaustive world-building and research overkill. Somewhere along the way Keegan seems to have forgotten that the best plots are character driven. And in these novels particularly, which lean heavily on romance / sexual tension between the leads, the characters and their conflicts become crucial. Keegan is unbeatable at creating great characters with emotional and psychological depth, but his weakness has always been developing believable conflicts that make the romantic subplot truly gripping-and in this novel the weakness becomes crippling. The main characters of Russell and Eric simply do not engage, and there is no "romance." Any tension or conflict is instantly resolved, wrecking any kind of plot or dramatic arc.

As for the convoluted main plot-the action (Keegan's strength) is buried in pages of long-winded STUFF that doesn't advance the story a jot or enhance the characters an iota. Maybe Keegan is losing his critical inner eye, or maybe it's just hard for any author to be ruthless with his own work, but this is where a tough-minded editor could make a vital difference.

This is the first time I've left a Keegan book unfinished. And while I will certainly buy his next book, it's the third time in a row Keegan has left me frustrated and disappointed-not promising for future sales.

a great book.......2004-08-11

this story is not so much science fiction but a story of the future with out space ships and laser guns earth has been floded and land is in short suply a scientis has mutated humna genes to create a speices of aquatic man he sees this as humanitys hope for the future russle and eric are the heros russle a human and eric one of the hybrid aquatic next generation in human evalution they inadvertantly insult a crime lord who wanted to use them for some deep sea diving when they tell him no the action begins kidnaping eric and shooting russle the use him to salvaghe a myserious cargo whilel russle recovers and searches for his lover when they esacpe the action beigins with a fight to stay alive to say anymore would be giving away to much plot i stumbled apon this title on mel keegans web sight and im glad i did

Not Mel's Best.......2002-02-25

Having read Fortunes of War, I was really psyched for more Mel Keegan, but Aquamarine was a disappointment. It wasn't horrible - I read it, all of it, and it
wasn't painful, but it wasn't the kind of thing I just couldn't put down, either. Eric, the Aquarian, was the only character with more than two dimensions.
Although most of the novel is written from Russell's point of view, there is an odd place near the end where suddenly Eric is narrating, and it might have been
interesting if only Eric's voice had been just the tiniest bit different from Russell's. Unfortunately the character development just isn't there, so the romance
aspect was weak and I didn't really feel anything for the characters. It was hard to work up any real interest in them or inwhat happened to them, because the intensity of
emotion and the painstaking character development in Fortunes of War just doesn't exist in Aquamarine.

As sci fi, it also misses. The concepts don't "wow" you at any point, and the world seems more or less exactly as it is today except that most of it is under
water. It just doesn't have that post-apocalyptic feel to it. Life and culture don't seem to have been affected much at all, and the feel of the setting is more of a beach resort
than a man-made island suspended in a vast ocean. The fact that the world is under water seems somewhat incidental to the story, and the only thing of
interest is the fact that it has inspired the creation of the Aquarian race. This is perhaps the only original point in the novel; the conflict between Eric as
Russell's lab rat, Eric as Russell's lover, and Eric as a member of a minority race. But even that has not really been exploited to the fullest extent, and it
seemed there should have been a lot more tension between Eric and Russell and the directors of the Aquarian program. Eric's resentment over being treated
like a lab rat is never really expressed in more than dark looks and a bit of sulkiness, and it never really made sense to me that he and Russell just went along
with anything and everthing. It made them unconvincing.

As an adventure story, it has the same weaknesses as Ice, Wind and Fire and Fortunes of War. The plot is often naive, in that there are no real plot twists
and things always seem to go just a little too smoothly. I'm always waiting for something to go wrong, but it almost never happens. People are exactly what
they seem, and you can expect them to behave accordingly at all times.

Book Description

This book thoroughly covers Colorado's famous aquamarine occurrence, with 90 black & white illustrations and 18 color photographs; with chapters on how and where to collect, mineral descriptions, geology descriptions and information, history and discoveries of the gems and crystals on this famous mountain; 7 x 10 inch format, 126 pages; softcover and hardcover.

Average customer rating:

Aquamarine
Madeleine Ker
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PCCS4O

Average customer rating:

Aquamarine
Alice Hoffman
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0545016126

Average customer rating:

From the back cover

Aquamarine
Madeleine Ker
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1853891398

Customer Reviews:

From the back cover.......2007-02-01

Foolishly she'd never stopped loving him.

Leon had swept the young and innocent Chloe into marriage, but there was no happy ending for them, for there would always be Marisa.

Marisa, obsessive and possessive about her stepbrother, implied a relationship between them that could never be. She claimed a wife was only needed to diguise their sin.

So Chloe, disgusted and confused, ran away.

But a Greek's pride could not accept a wife's desertion, and he tricked her into returning. She hated and despised him - but could not deny she still wanted him...

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