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The Shape of Mercy
The Shape of Mercy
Author: Susan Messiner
Leaving a life of privlege to strike it out on own Lauren Durough breaks with her family's expectations and taks a part time job from eighty year old librarian Abilgail Boyles. The mysterious employer asks Lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor Mercy Hayworth a victim of the Salem Witch trials.
ISBN-13: 9781607513353
ISBN-10: 1607513358
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 307
Rating:
  • Currently 4.6/5 Stars.
 8

4.6 stars, based on 8 ratings
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Shape of Mercy on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I just read this book in a day. Not something I normally do, but I couldn't put it down. This is the story of two young women, one 18 year old girl living in a Puritan village near Salem town in the 17th century and a 20 year old college student who is transcribing a 300 year old diary. Each girl is dealing with the issue of how society perceives people, whether good or evil, or rich or poor. Both girls love to write.

Mercy is a young woman who is a believer living through a difficult time in American history, the Salem witch trials. She has already lost half her family and her father is ill. She loves to write stories that are constantly flying through her head, but the puritan society frowns upon this. Mercy does not quite fit in the the Puritan society, but there is a young man who cannot keep his eyes off her.

Lauren is a college student from a privileged family who wants to make her own way in life. She answers an add as a literary assistant and is hired to transcribe Mercy's diary. She has no idea how much Mercy's life will affect her own and challenge her own views of how she herself views people.

Susan's writing is just magical. Even though you know from the beginning that Mercy will die in the witch trials, it is still filled with suspense and things turned out in a very surprising way.
Mandamom62 avatar reviewed The Shape of Mercy on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed this book as a combination of a current-day story along with some historical fiction. The two stories flowed together well and helped to highlight each other nicely. If you enjoy reading about the Salem Witch Trials, this book will be a hit!
reviewed The Shape of Mercy on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. I had never read a book by this author and this one was a great first choice.
reviewed The Shape of Mercy on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Absoutely LOVED this book! I got the chance to meet Susan Meissner at a Christian Book Expo in Dallas recently and she is super nice. She told me that on her website (http://www.susanmeissner.com) on her blog, she has the continuing story. I have loved all the books by Susan I have read and she and another author have inspired me to write my own historical christian fiction book. Highly Recommended!
reviewed The Shape of Mercy on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first book by this author that I have read. It was very well written and the plot moved quickly and was very interesting would recomend to others.
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