Anita A

A fantastic read. I definitely felt that this was one of oscar wilde's best works. I looked up a few analyses on this book to better understand it and not once did they mention homosexuality, which i felt was a huge theme in this book. It's never mentioned nor even vaguely hinted at, but I felt that even the smallest details, such as the use of strictly fantastical characters for the fisherman's love interests (mermaid and witch) was intentional, as using real women wouldn't make you think of the symbolism and using men was forbidden. how the only way the fisherman could be with his lover was by parting with his soul and the ending also, when the priest who preached of hatred and wrath in the name of god, upon realizing how deep the love between the mermaid and the fisherman really was, "spake not of the wrath of god, but of the god whose name is love. and why he so spake, he knew not," definitely felt like the priest having a realization that love is love and nothing can stand between lovers. I might be reaching and overthinking the moral of the book, but i think it's a plausible theory.

Truly the best dostoevsky book

Physically could not finish it. Sooo boring and sooo long. I like long and slow books at times, but not when there's 167 characters introduced and you can't differentiate between three seperate "Captains". Hated the writing style and i don't see how someone could genuinely enjoy reading it.