Mermaids in Paradise Audiobook By Lydia Millet cover art

Mermaids in Paradise

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Mermaids in Paradise

By: Lydia Millet
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
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In this hilarious novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Lydia Millet, a honeymooning couple makes friends with a marine biologist who discovers genuine mermaids in a coral reef - and who, the next night, apparently drowns in her hotel bathtub. As a resort chain swoops in to corner the market on mermaids, the newlyweds (opinionated, skeptical narrator Deb and handsome online gamer Chip, the world's friendliest man) join forces with other vacationers - including an ex-Navy SEAL with a love of explosives and a hipster Tokyo VJ - to protect the mermaids from the corporate "Venture of Marvels" that wants to turn their habitat into a theme park.

©2014 Lydia Millet (P)2014 Dreamscape Media, LLC Dark Humor Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Satire Funny Witty Mermaids & Mermen

Critic reviews

"An admirable example of a funny novel with a serious message that works swimmingly. Dive in." (Kirkus Reviews)
All stars
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Where does Mermaids in Paradise rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I love many of the audiobooks I listen to - I dislike a very small number and don't even finish many of those. This one is an odd one that falls a bit more in the middle. I liked it a lot, but didn't absolutely love it.

What did you like best about this story?

A good story about mermaids is hard to find.

What does Cassandra Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think I would have put down the book actually. There was something warm about her tone despite the thick irony at the beginning.

If you could rename Mermaids in Paradise, what would you call it?

Wouldn't rename it.

Any additional comments?

As I have indicated - a bit too ironic and sarcastic at the beginning but I was rewarded for staying the distance. The story all catches up with itself and is very entertaining and interesting once you break through.

Rewarded for hanging in with this one

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The story is unremarkable, giving way to the terribly obvious attempts at proper elocution from the narrator. I do not recommend.

Somebody had elocution lessons!

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The story could have been interesting if it weren't for the cliche phrases & feigned intellectualism. Not what I was looking for in what I thought would be a fun beach read. I won't start on the narrator... Someone should get her a cup of coffee & have her try again.

monotone...

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Omg painful to listen to. The author labors on with annoying tangents. I actively hated the main character narrating the book after 15 minutes. Didn't get past the 1st chapter.

Awful

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This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Somebody who wants purely escapist fiction who has a low bar of quality.

Would you ever listen to anything by Lydia Millet again?

Not likely.

Any additional comments?

I ordered this because it was on several "Best of the Year' books. I can't imagine why.

What a silly story.

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narrator is fine - just speed up the recording!
I like the story and the writing,

Whimsical with some darkness

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

It is written by a character who is sarcastic and negative about everything from the first sentence. Gets very tiresome quickly. Almost like a valley girl recitation

What was most disappointing about Lydia Millet’s story?

It is trivial to the point of the absurd

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her voice was a constant reminder of a spoiled rich bratty valley girl

Any additional comments?

I have deleted after the 2nd chapter.

Sarcastic waste of time

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I am surprised this was a Booker finalist. The main protagonist is simpering and irritating. A disappointing listen. I would not recommend this book or recording.

Awful!

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