A diary from the Salem Witch trials,
a young college student looking to make it on her own,
and old lady looking for a reason...
what will be discovered?
The Shape of Mercy
by
Susan Meissner
a young college student looking to make it on her own,
and old lady looking for a reason...
what will be discovered?
The Shape of Mercy
by
Susan Meissner
A young woman in college answers an ad for a job that leads her to transcribing an old diary for a very old lady. The diary... from a young woman (Mercy) in the Salem Witch Trials in the 1690s. The old lady (Abigail)... a direct descendant of the diary writer. The young woman (Lauren)... drawn into this job and not willing to stop until it is finished.
An amazing story which I just loved, I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and so I enjoyed digging deeper into that part of history. Just what would make a God-fearing group of people start believing that those that worked with, lived among and were friends of theirs were all of a sudden possessed by the devil? Shape of Mercy goes back and forth from the past to the present yet is easy to follow unlike some books that I have seen employ this technique before. In addition to a great story, Susan throws in some twists and turns that make it impossible to know what exactly will happen or just how it will all end. We see parts of the lives of all 3 women and I just cried and smiled and at the end I was gasping for breath. It was a bittersweet ending (I knew Mercy would die, her life happened hundreds of years before, but I still wasn't really prepared for it) but the journey to get there was so worth it. A beautiful story, expertly told by Susan Meissner - I loved it!
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If you would like a chance to win an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book directly from Susan Meissner herself (maybe even autographed :-) then leave me a comment telling me what historical event, like the Salem Witch Trials, has always fascinated you. Leave your email so I can reach you and I will pull one lucky winner! Good luck!
34 comments:
I am not very familiar with American history but the Salem witch trials have been written so much about that its etched into my memory. The last book I read on it was rather sad as well. You dont say whether overseas visitors are allowed but I am always hopeful they would be allowed!!!!
Mystica
I have always been fascinated about the Boston Massacre, it always is fun to read about it and learn more of the facts.
Please enter me. :)
~BookBegger
lyzziebit(at)yahoo(dot)com
Shawna Lewis
weloveourdogs@juno.com
"The Trail of Tears" and anything that has to do with Native Americans.
Love it just can't get enough of it!!!!
This sounds like a great book. I have always been fascianted by the Salem Witch trials. But another historical event I have always liked reading about was Prohibition in Chicago.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Jana, I loved this book! Don't enter me because I already have my copy. I wanted to tell everyone how much I loved this book!
~Mimi B
The Salem Witch trials are events that have always interested me. I wrote a paper in highschool on the Jonestown massacre - any of those types of events that I don't really understand the hows and whys of really intrigue me.
melacan at hotmail dot com
I have always been fascinated by the Holocaust in Nazi Germany. It never ceases to amaze me that something this horrific and evil occurred on such a grand scale.
Thanks so much for the generous giveaway!
Aimee
sierranelsby (at) gmail (dot) com
The first book I ever read that brought me to tears was "Mila 18" by Leon Uris about the Warsaw Ghetto during WW II. I am amzed at what people lived thru but mostly I think I am inspired by stories of those who helped despite the danger to themselves.
This book looks so good! I'd love to win a copy!
The first book I ever read that brought me to tears was "Mila 18" by Leon Uris about the Warsaw Ghetto during WW II. I am amzed at what people lived thru but mostly I think I am inspired by stories of those who helped despite the danger to themselves.
This book looks so good! I'd love to win a copy!
I LOVE History, and have many favorite time periods. I have always been especially fascinated with Pompeii (& the eruptian of Mt. Vesuvius). Then there's Egypt (pharaoh's, pyramid's, mummies, etc...), Rome (and the gladiator's), and more recently in the U.S... the holocaust, the oregan trail, the orphan trains & mail order brides. :)
Please enter me in your drawing!
asyouwiiiiish@gmail.com
I've always been fascinated with many events in history, the Salem Witch trials being one of them, as well as ancient history, i.e. Bible times, Greece, Egypt, etc., as well as American history such as the Pilgrims, the Wild West, etc.
Please enter me and thanks for the giveaway!
Anna W.
writer_weaver at yahoo dot com
I'm fascinated by anything to do with World War II.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
Ooooh, so, so many. I have my degree in history and my passion for it runs deep. The American Civil War, The Salem Witch Trials, the Bonfire of the Vanities, The Spanish Inquisition...
But I am going to have to say that the event that always gets me is Fall of Rome. Rather, the attack by the barbarians that was the real catalyst for the fall.
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
I have read so many good things about this book. I would love to read it as I am fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials. I am also interested in reading anything about the persecution of the Christians under the Roman Empire.
Mariag
I have read many books about Europe during WWII, so many times I have wondered how such things could happen. Susan Meissner is a very good author, I have hardly been able to put down her books.
What has always fascinated me is Custer's last stand at the Little Big Horn. Really anything about the old west interests me.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Salem Witch Trials have always interested me. I also enjoy Civil War stories and stories set during the California Gold Rush.
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol DOT com
The most interesting historical event that I am interested in but have never read alot about...is the Vikings. I actually have ancestors who came from the Isle of Man (which I have never heard anyone talk about!) and the whole Viking thing.
That being said, I have been trying to win a copy of "The Shape of Mercy" for a long long time.
Blessings,
Lucie
LucieInCA [at] aol [dot ] com
I have always like to read or watch historical movies/books about the Civil War. The pirate period is interesting too.
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com
I love the era when the New World was being discovered and people weren't sure where everything was yet!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Not an entry; just a note that we've posted about this at Winning Readings:
http://winningreadings.blogspot.com/2009/08/shape-of-mercy.html
The Civil War, the underground railroad and the Emancipation Proclamation all interest me.
Please sign me up for this marvelous book drawing. Thanks very much!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Oh, please pick me! I've been wanting to read this for SO SO long...
The reformation period is my favourite!
Can Canadians enter...please?
I love reading about the history of American Indians.. Anything and everything.. =)
joshandstarla at gmail dot com
Sorry I forgot to leave my email.
Is it too late to enter?
I love this author.
le15307@msn.com
The Salem Witch trials have always fascinated me.
Please enter me in the drawing.
Thanks
dwhite802002@yahoo.com
Actually, I'm quite interested in the Salem witch trials as I've been to Salem several times and it's quite amazing what went on there. Other than that, perhaps the goings on at Versailles!
BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com
The holocaust and how Jewish refugees were greeted in North America has always facinated me. Reading about how they were treated makes me ashamed to be Canadian.
For example this is something I read a while ago....In June 1938, when the St. Louis, a boat carrying nine hundred Jews forced out of Germany by the Nazis, attempted to land in Canada the Canadian government held firm. This was not a "Canadian problem," said the prime minister, and he did not wish to make it one by admitting these refugees. There were no exceptions. Turned away by Cuba, the United States, and Canada, the so-called Voyage ofthe Damned headed back to Europe, where many of the ship's passengers would die in the gas chambers of the Third Reich.
carolynnwald[at]hotmail[dot]com
This really sounds like my type of book. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
The life and death of the legendary queen of Egypt, Cleopatra.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
Mary Robertson
rcmjrobertson(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
I love the Civil War. I like reading fiction books but also non-fiction. It was a very sad time in our history.
esterried@yahoo.com
And the winner is...
Aik!
Congratulations!
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