The Pisces: A Novel https://g.co/kgs/GBaiQU

I read this book some years ago. But I thought of it as a good recommendation for this group after reading that thread on the problem that is central message of The Little Mermaid.

This book essentially turns TLM on its head. It's told from the perspective of an older woman (mid 30s) unlucky in love and in her profession. She is licking her wounds at the home of her wealthy sister, and is pursued by a merman.

It's a very adult book. The main character is trying to find empowerment through this liberal feminist fantasy of "being in control of her sexuality" or whatever that means. She is not a great person, or a particularly responsible person. She is basically kicked around by men throughout the book, and continually seems to be trying to "take back her power" somehow through these empty gestures of performing femininity and sex.

Her relationship with the merman is such an interesting component of this, because he's a literal fantasy-- attentive, loving, everything women want from a real man that you can never find. And spoiler In the end, also predatory. This is all an illusion, a ploy to entice her to sacrifice herself for him.

The ending may be unsatisfactory to some, but spoiler As a mother, I found it relatable and personally satisfying. The only real, pure love available to women is between ourselves and other women or our children. The way to actually find a person who truly loves you is basically to make one. That's our option. Men never truly will and will never give you fulfillment, but a baby can. Or maybe the main character is setting herself up for another failure and heartbreak? Only time will tell. I hope the baby is a girl.

This book was a bit shocking in terms of its explicit sex scenes for me, but I think so honest about how those sorts of liaisons go. Very honest portrayal of what it's like to deal with real men as a heterosexual woman. I think of it often and I probably read it 5+ years ago? Maybe not that long, but several years. I do recommend this book, as I feel it does have a radfemmy message.