I love a good story about the conflicts between mothers and daughters. Those stories usually have some bit we can relate to or at least understand. In Lisa Carey's debut novel, The Mermaids Singing, she presents the reader with a generational story of the lives of three Irish-American women.
Shifting from viewpoints, place and time, Carey tells the story of Cliona who came to the States with dreams of saving money and one day pursuing a career in nursing, but things don't necessarily go as planned and Cliona is soon raising the willful and temperamental Grace.
Although the novel tries to give fair time to all the characters I think this story belongs to Grainne, Grace's fifteen year old daughter. At the start of the novel, Grace is dying of breast cancer and Grainne is trying to deal with the reality of it all. Cliona and Grainne will have many clashes due to the fact that Grainne was kept in the dark about her past, and she will also have to come to terms with her new life in Ireland.
I think Lisa Carey did a great job of portraying a teen who is hurting and has had her world turned upside down. Her rebellion and the way she sabotages new relationships speaks of her emotional immaturity and can be understood. I found it much harder however to relate to Grace who seemed to be unstable at best.
Another sticking point for me was Seamus' character, and that I could never understand his actions. I know this is a story about the women but he was an important part of their lives. In the end, this was an easy read and I certainly didn't mind reading about the beautiful island of Inis Muruch.
Added 06/07