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The Seduction of Water
by Carol Goodman
Iris Greenfeder is a self proclaimed ABD, all but dissertation. She is adjunct professor at a local college, teaching mainly immigrant adults and also teaches English at a nearby prison. She has never married, lives alone and has a very structured romance with an artist. She seems at peace with her predictable life until the day she assigns the fairy tale lesson to all of her students.
Reflecting on the story that her mother told her, handed down from generation to generation of women, Iris shares the story of the Selkie's Daughter with her students. She reads her own essay on how the memory of her mother is wrapped up in the telling of that story. Iris asks her students to retell their own fairy tale, informing their own family stories.
This assignment brings out memories of Iris' own childhood and the stories of her mother that bring about events that change Iris' world. The Seduction of Water is a breathtakingly beautiful book about story, family and love. The settings in this book are just as detailed and powerful as the characters. Goodman's story development is superb and blossoms into a compelling tale that twists and turns. I couldn't put it down, and was sad when it was over. I'm rushing to the library to see what other of her books are available. I think I might have found a new favorite author!
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