Shape of Mercy

By: Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

Two women, the ailing Abigail Boyles and exuberant, wealthy Lauren Durough, are brought together by their love of books and the discovery of a diary written by a young woman, Mercy Hayworth, who was burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials. Her inspiring, yearning, romantic diary proves to be an inspiration to both Abigail and Lauren, teaching them to cherish friendships, love, and life.

©2008 Susan Meissner (P)2008 christianaudio.com

Fantastic Listen

I could not put this down. Very surprising because I did not like the protagonist at all. Some of the voices of certain characters were not particularly good, but this was only a slight distraction from the story.

Loved this Book!

I loved every minute of this Book! It was a great story, the performance was good and the story moved at a good pace.

Bound by Circumstance, Can You Break Free?

If you could sum up Shape of Mercy in three words, what would they be?

Generational. Challenging convention.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shape of Mercy?

Lauren invites her college roommate home with her. Clarissa is thrilled to experience the wealthy lifestyle for a weekend. It sets up other parts of the story for Lauren to grapple with how she perceives people and the assumptions she makes. Is she any different that those who judged Mercy?

Which character – as performed by Tavia Gilbert – was your favorite?

I loved the main character, Lauren, from the start but I also really appreciated how she portrayed Raquel.

Who was the most memorable character of Shape of Mercy and why?

Abigail Boyles is a dignified older woman who is wrestling with her past. In many ways, her story is in the background until the end. Once it is uncovered it deeply impacted me and speaks to the nature of the quality of mercy for others and, even more so, for ourselves.

Any additional comments?

The Shape of Mercy shines a different light on the Salem Witch Trials while wresting with the facades and misconceptions of modern lives.

Loved this book, couldn't stop listening

My first time reading about the Salem witch trials. Hard to believe it ever even happened! The story flowed. You will grow to love Mercy.The narration was excellent. It was a quick read, but one I won't soon forget.

Three Women, Three Tales, Different Eras

This story of the diary of young Mercy Hayworth who was tried during the Salem witch trials, brings together the story of three women from three different eras in American history: Mercy from 1692, the elderly Abigail Boyles, age 83 (a descendant of Mercy), and Lauren a young college student, who Abigail hires to translate the diary. Lauren comes from a wealthy family, protected from life and from making her own decisions. Abigail lives a life of regret, having given up her only chance at love decades earlier. The secrecy with which she keeps the diary and the clues about Mercy’s death is a bit odd, as is her behavior towards Lauren, refusing to allow her to look any of the history about Mercy on the internet. The publisher’s summary about the death of Mercy isn’t accurate either. Overall the book is okay, with some good nuggets of wisdom. But the oddness of the secrecy and the ending of the book was off to me. However, I LOVE this author, and I have to say that I am a big fan of her books, especially her later ones.

Summer Read

Trouble getting into this book, but I stayed with it. Overall an ok summer read.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful stories I have been blessed with

Self realization is an act of the Holy Spirit turning a soul to eternal good.

Enjoyed this book, shape of mercy

Interesting story. Worth reading. Enjoyed the characters. I would read this book. Loved the history

SPECTACULAR READ!

Susan Meissner has the uncanny ability to entertain, enlighten, teach and touch a much deeper you. Because of this book and her other book I have read, “As Bright As Heaven, she has taught me to be more introspective and not to assume or judge. Now that is some author!! My thanks and blessings go to her!! Tavia Gilbert is an excellent narrator! Marie

Enjoyable Read

The Shape of Mercy is a lovely fiction book that teaches about the Salem witch trials and about making judgments about other people and making decisions that you will have to live with all your life. I probably didn't learn much from this book; I am a bit of a feminist history buff and I am old enough to be living with decisions I am glad I made, for the most part. Still this is a pleasant read.