October is upon us and with it comes the images of ghosts and ghouls in every store window. This Friday Book Pick is a story that echoes with the voices of accused witches. Susan Meissner’s The Shape of Mercy is a hauntingly beautiful novel that should not be missed.
Lauren, a young college student seeking independence from her wealthy family, answers an ad for a literary assistant to help Abigail Boyles with the transcription of an old family diary. The diary, which has in turn haunted and shaped Abigail’s life, contains the writings of Mercy Hayworth, a young colonial woman accused of witchcraft and sentenced to die. Mercy’s words cross the centuries to touch these women’s lives in a way that will change them both, forever.
The Shape of Mercy is the first novel that I have read completely in a digital format. I downloaded it from Amazon and read it on my new Motorola Droid phone. It was convenient to tuck the book (phone) into my pocket and take it with me wherever I went. The small screen was probabaly not as easy to read as the Kindle, Nook or iPad, but those units also do not fit in my pocket. I have to admit, flicking through the digital pages of this novel (in which the characters are wearing gloves to carefully handle the fragile pages of an old diary) seemed rather ironic.
So, as we enter into another season decorated by the images of witches and monsters–make sure to pick up Mercy’s story. I guarantee–it will haunt you.