Review and Giveaway: The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner

About the Book: Lauren Durough is a college student longing to break free of family expectations when she stumbles into a project for eighty year old Abigail Boyles—transcribing the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with the mysterious Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to discovering the candid truth, Lauren must earnestly ask if she is playing the role of helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and recognize who she really is?
My Review: I started hearing buzz about this book a few months ago and instantly wanted to read it. I loved the title. A good title can really really draw me in. (It's amazing how many different things a book needs to get right...title, cover, blurb...sigh)
So when the book arrived just before I went on a plane trip, I popped it into my bag to take along. I was instantly drawn into the story. There's just something about the Salem Witch Trials that is so deeply fascinating in its horror. (I also love The Crucible...seeing that play was a very powerful experience) Additionally, Lauren's internal struggle was very interesting to me. Born into privilege she wanted to discover a little of what it meant to be outside of herself. And Mercy was absolutely loveable.
It was interesting to read the trials unfold from the first person viewpoint. It was horrifying to realize the things that would eventually condemn Mercy and be helpless to intervene and stop it. And as Lauren processed it all, so did I.
This book is a great story and a great look at the nature of the judgements we form. Riveting and page-turning, I cried, I reflected, and I devoured it. I highly recommend this book.

I have two copies to give away. Yay for you! If you would like to be entered to win, leave me a comment with a valid email address and tell me about your favorite book/film etc about the Salem Witch Trials. Open worldwide. I'll draw some winners and email them next week on October 19th. If you would like to triple your chances to win blog about this contest with a link back to this post and then leave me a comment telling me you've done so.