CindyJean's Full Review: Susan Meissner - The Shape of Mercy
INTRODUCTION
It wasn’t too long ago that I opened my mailbox and found a multitude of package pick-up slips sitting in there. It seems that a few different Christian publicists had books to be sent out at the same time—and they all reached me on the same day.
One of the many novels I received on that day was an advanced review copy of “The Shape of Mercy” by Susan Meissner. I had never heard of her before, but the promotional material made the book look really interesting so I decided to dive right in.
“The Shape of Mercy” by Susan Meissner
Brief Synopsis Lauren “Lars” Durough has led a life that most people would love to lead. Born to wealth and privilege, she is accustomed to the finer things in life. Still, she feels a pull towards ‘rebellion’ but trying not to revel in it. She bucks tradition and goes to a state school rather than a private college, she chooses dorm life over her own place, and she chooses to get a job. The job she ends up finding is a job transcribing a diary for an elderly woman. This is not just any diary, it’s the diary of a young woman who falls victim to the Salem witchcraft trials in 1692. The diary has been in the woman’s family for centuries, and she wants it preserved before it’s lost forever. As Lauren faces the wrongs and prejudices that Mercy Hayworth lived with, she must face the prejudices in her own life—and realize that she just might not be as enlightened and unspoiled as she like to think she is.
Okay, right off the bat I have to say that the idea of a Christian fiction novel centering on the Salem witchcraft trials might never, ever have crossed my mind so I was really intrigued by the concept behind “The Shape of Mercy.” I really never knew much about the witchcraft trials, but I always found them interesting as a historical concept. I never really thought about it enough to think of the innocent victims as real people with lives, hopes and dreams like those of us walking around today, so this novel really set this tragic piece of American history into an entirely new context for me.
Susan Meissner was able to create a story that was vivid and realistic, with enough detail that it felt like you were walking alongside the characters. What was really impressive to me was the way she blended three seemingly unrelated stories—those of Mercy Hayworth (the accused witch), Abigail (the owner of the diary) and Lauren—into a very relevant tale. By the time the novel finished you can see how the stories fit together, and it’s almost seamless.
I am a fan of novels that have flashback elements, as long as they area easily distinguished and not confusing. The jumping from time period to time period in “The Shape of Mercy” was easy to follow and the timing of the jumps was logical in its sequencing.
CONCLUSION
I found “The Shape of Mercy” to be very well written, easy to follow and vivid in its imagery. It’s simply a pleasure to sit down and read, the quality and subject matter leaving this novel above a large percentage of its peers.
The topic of the Salem witchcraft trials is a bit heavy in and of itself, and there are elements to this novel that reflect that heaviness. Readers that are particularly sensitive might not enjoy “The Shape of Mercy” as much as I did. I would not really suggest it for younger readers, though older teens would probably enjoy it very much.
“The Shape of Mercy” is an excellent novel that most Christian fiction fans will enjoy, and I recommend it highly.
Lauren Durough is a West Coast English major at the proverbial age of discovery. Sheltered in her childhood years by family wealth, she is just beginn...More at Christianbook.com
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