Book Review: 'What Do Mermaids Eat?' by John Rachel
Seafood, of course!
This delightful mashup requires little effort and no potato.
Available in gorgeous trade paperback gift book on brilliant glossy stock - or Kindle (which will show color on capable devices).
I used to think my friend and colleague John Rachel was a serious person. The book has a practical purpose. It’s not necessarily silly.
But he can’t deny it’s whimsical.
It’s a picture book with pinups of gorgeous (fictional?) mermaids -
- accompanied by a juggernaut’s travelogue with color photos.
Captivating pinups and engaging slide shows from exotic locations. Here is Isabelle and her habitual landfall in Ibiza, Spain. John refuses to tell me how she got into his hotel room!
It’s also an expert chef’s cookbook, offering John’s original recipes of what might be termed Asian fusion - with seafood, of course.
John’s recipe for Scallop Cevice accompanies Isabella’s entry. He claims the dish will take only two steps to prepare. Perhaps he didn’t want to leave her alone in the living room for too long?
Author chef and citizen of the world John Rachel. He looks serious enough here, but there is something of the prankster in that gaze.
I’m at a loss to explain how or why this enterprising author began to wonder about the dietary preferences of aquatic humanoids. I fear that any speculation I might offer would miss the point. Perhaps you can find some clues in the brief bio he includes on the cover:
John Rachel has a B.A. in Philosophy, is a novelist, music producer, peace activist, and political blogger. He has written ten novels, six political and two creative non-fiction books. His short stories and poems have appeared in numerous online and print magazines.
Since leaving the U.S. in 2006, he has lived in and explored 35 countries. He now permanently resides in a traditional, rural community about an hour from Osaka, Japan, where he lives with his wife of twelve years.
Could it be that mermaids just want to have fun?