The Shape of Mercy

by Susan Meissner

“We understand what we want to understand.”

Leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, Lauren Durough breaks with convention and her family’s expectations by choosing a state college over Stanford and earning her own income over accepting her ample monthly allowance. She takes a part-time job from 83-year-old librarian Abigail Boyles, who asks Lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor Mercy Hayworth, a victim of the Salem witch trials.

Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. As the fervor around the witch accusations increases, Mercy becomes trapped in the worldview of the day, unable to fight the overwhelming influence of snap judgments and superstition, and Lauren realizes that the secrets of Mercy’s story extend beyond the pages of her diary, living on in the mysterious, embittered Abigail.

The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to the truth, will Lauren find herself playing the helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and see who she really is?

• ISBN10: 0307731553
• ISBN13: 9780307731555
• Publish Date: 10 July 2012 (first published 16 September 2008)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Random House USA Inc
• Imprint: Three Rivers Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 340
• Language: English

Reviews

[cherryblossommj]

*This is a review fresh post from one originally written in 2008.
This post has been updated, thanks to my new format with the
Ultimate Book Blogger Plugin on August 11, 2015.*
This is one of the most deeply moving novels that I have ever read, and without a doubt it is going on my favorites' shelf in my permanent library. The Shape of Mercy is a story that crosses generations and is both historical and contemporary. I can easily find myself relating to Mercy from early American history as well as Lauren from contemporary life. Life and love is an incredibly deep concept and is amazing how they affect our day to day lives and decisions. As human beings, no matter what century we live in, we care about what other people think (no matter how much we argue it) and live our lives in a small manner to fit into a specific place. The sociology of our day to day environment shapes us and often times it is to something that we do not like, but it is what it is and what we need to live with. Susan Meissner is an incredible organizer of words that fits together some beautiful poetry and prose to give the shape of the ideal of mercy. Through this book, I was taken into three different worlds and captivated. Life went on for me outside of this book, but the book never left my thoughts. Lauren dreamed of Mercy, and I dreamed of them all. Susan created a masterpiece that stays with you and makes you think. This is the first I have read from her, and I cannot wait to pick up something else equally as inspirational and convicting. I do not know how to go pick up another book after such an experience.


This review was originally posted on www.CreativeMadnessMama.com

[ladygrey]

The Shape of Mercy is beautifully written, touching and interesting. 

First and foremost, I loved Susan Meissner's writing like I like few authors. There was something so simple but really beautiful about the way she writes, something particularly moving about her way of encapsulating truths in just the right words. I was rather impressed.

The characters are interesting and confounding and kept me engaged in a story that was incredibly touching. It seems like a deceptively simple book, but there was so much depth and truth in Mercy's story and Lauren's story and Abigail's story that it resonated with me long after I finished reading.