
The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.
Contents of a Mermaid’s Purse
by Phoebe Tsang
Published: 2009
Genre: Fairy Tales, Poetry
Paperback: 62 pages
Rating: 4
Printed on FSC-certified mixed sources paper 95% and Ancient Forest Friendly.
Description from the publisher:
Poems that are like incantations, love spells spoken in a young lyrical voice.
These poems are an existential exploration of love and mortality via fairytales and nature. Travelling freely among the shattered confines of identity and gender, travel and environment, the dreamlike narrative unfolds in lyric language, telling of love lost and found, and mythologies that inform the journey with passages in the rhythm of fairytales.
Favorite stanza:
and scatter from the eaves in a flurry
of feathers, cries, and bits of old leaves
as if the child who still wanders
the ruins of castle walls had thrown
a pebble at the dark lake face of night
only for it to teal again, blank
as a mirror. And this is the clostest
I ever get to living, her in Fulda.
- The Princess and the Pauper, page 28
Interesting factoid from author:
The Baroque City of Fulda in Hesse, Germany, was the inspiration for "The Princess and the Pauper." Hesse also happend to be the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm.
My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): serenading
Being that I like fairy tales, the theme of this book of poems was perfect for me.
I came across some pretty passages with scenes of love.
Would you like to give this a read...
Open to all.
Offer ends: November 28, 2010
TO DO:
The title of this book conjures fancifal images in my mind.
What item(s) would you imagine is in a Mermaid's Purse?
And, include your email in comments.

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Contest has ended - winner is here
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* review copy courtesy of publisher
* Read more about this campaign from the Green Books press release
this looks like an itereting book; I think a mermaids purse wouldnt be complete without a shell comb :)
ReplyDeletekai charles
mailkaicharles@yahoo.com
I would like to imagine that a mermaid would carry some sea water and algae lip gloss for emergencies.
ReplyDeleteLove that prose you posted too!
freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca
I feel that she would have scaling lotion. You know, like moisturizing lotion, but mermaids have scales.
ReplyDeleteSo they need scaling lotion.
I'll stop explaining the joke.
I reviewed a poetry book this time around too. I love poetry and fairy tales...sounds like a good combination here.
ReplyDeletesavvyverseandwit At gmail
Please enter me in contest. Sounds like a very interesting book. Tore923@aol.com
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking maybe some pearls and gold coins :)
ReplyDeleteMorganlafey86@aol.com
Not entering but I just had to exclaim and say I love the Green Books campaign -- such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI would think dry wipes (instead of wet wipes),some perfume to get rid of that fishy smell and a shell phone.
ReplyDeletetwoofakind12@yahoo.com
Really a cool-sounding book! When I think of what a mermaid's purse holds, I imagine: a comb (made of bone) and 2 perfect shells (1 to keep and 1 to give as a gift to someone special). And maybe a small packet of octopus snacks - never know when those might come in handy!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a mirror, a comb made from pearl, waterproof ipod featuring 'Under the Sea' & 'Kiss the Girl'. Most importantly, water resistant make up!!
ReplyDeletek_anon[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk
I love poetry and this sounds like a wonderful book!
ReplyDeletea Mermaid's Purse would need to contain a piece of mother of pearl polished so that it becomes a mirror...
Some beautiful jewelry made out of pearls and seashells or other fancy jewels found in the sea. And of course mermaid makeup :)
ReplyDeleteunforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail.com
This sounds beautiful, and the idea of a Mermaid's Purse fires the imagination! I love everybody's creative answers, and I think there might be also included a:
ReplyDeletePink pair of coral reef reading glasses complete with miniaturized wipers :D
Love the cover it's gorgeous wow mermaid purse i like the premise fairy tales with a unique twist thank u so much for the creative contest i think a clam wallet with sand dollar and kelp eyeliner , coral reef hair brush
ReplyDeleteshadowcat456 (at) hotmail.com
It sounds quite interesting. Thank you for your review! :D And I like the idea of Green Books.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of a fork in her purse, like Ariel The Little Mermaid would do.LOL
ReplyDeletedarlyn225 at gmail dot com
A mermaid's purse would have a fish bone comb and shell hair clips.
ReplyDeletedekad1(at)hotmail(dot)com