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.

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.

Very good story by Susan Meissner

I did like the narrator and she does the audio for several authors. I enjoyed the story of the Salem Witch trials. it was something you hear about, but I did not know, or remember that much about them. I enjoyed the love story entwined in it. I did not care for the ending as the earth is only 6000 some years old not 10,000. also, not much Christian about this book, but it was still a page turner.

A treasure trove!

I chose this book as I loved Fall of the Marigolds and The Loss of Fragility and because of my interest in the Salem witch trials. Like her other books theSalem history was excellent but the story was also rich in other well developed themes on wealth, relationships and beautiful love stories. I could hardly it it down!

Shape of Mercy

I love this book it brought back so many memories of the one I loved so very deeply

Awesome in Every Way

Haunting and unforgettable. A revelation of human tendencies and weaknesses through various lives and several generations. And ultimately of forgiveness and self-sacrificial love.