The narrator of “Chlorine” longs to escape her human body
Jade Song’s debut novel is a coming-of-age story with a touch of mystery and myth
The mermaids of folklore tend to be tragic figures, pining for legs and the love of human princes. But for Ren Yu, the teenage narrator of “Chlorine”, such tales misunderstand the otherworldly powers of these wondrous fish. Ren should know, since she insists she is a mermaid herself.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The teenager’s tail”
Culture
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From the March 25th 2023 edition
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