The village elders do not think it is wise that i know my letters. The shape of mercy by susan meissner penguin random house. Lauren, a young college student, is hired to transcribe a diary that belongs to abigail, a mysterious elderly woman who lives alone. The shape of mercy by susan meissner book cover, description, publication history. Books by susan meissner authors like susan meissner. This is what historical fiction should be like i used to hate history in school because it was dry and simply facts and dates. Lauren dreamed of mercy, and i dreamed of them all. Reading books by this author is extra special to me since we live in the same city. Our flaws are obvious, yet we are loved and able to love, if we choose, because there is that bit of the divine still smoldering in us. Books by susan meissner authors like susan meissner what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists.
The shape of mercy by susan meissner by rachel van herk on prezi. The characters in both time periods draw you in to want to know what happens. The shape of mercy by susan meissner 2008, paperback for. Siri mitchell, author of a constant heart the shape of mercy is a truly lovely story, one to savor again and again. The spiritual content is light, but the insights into perception and prejudice are stunning. Download read secrets of a charmed life 2000 by susan. The shape of mercy tulsa citycounty library overdrive. Leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, lauren durough breaks with convention and her familys expectations by choosing a state college over stanford and earning her own income over accepting her ample monthly allowance. Lauren durough, is a single young woman from a prestigious family. Rachel hauck september 29, 2008 1692, salem trials, shape of mercy, susan meissner, witch hunt leave a comment im really excited about this new book from friend and author susan meissner. Publishers weekly calls this novel potentially lifechanging, saying its the kind of inspirational fiction that prompts readers to call up old friends, lost loves or fallenaway family members to tell them that all is forgiven and that.
Susan meissner has been feeding her love of writing all her life. I read it about a month ago, and found the story engaging, haunting and stirring me to think. Robin lee hatcher, awardwinning author of wagered heart and when love blooms the shape of mercy is vintage susan meissner. Sep 16, 2008 the shape of mercy by susan meissner leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, lauren durough breaks with convention and her familys expectations by choosing a state college over stanford and earning her own income over accepting her ample monthly allowance. It is the eve of the release of my tenth novel, the shape of mercy. World war two is over, but the recovery from the most intimate of its horrors has only just begun for annaliese lange, a german ballerina desperate to escape her past, and simone deveraux, the wronged daughter of a french resistance spy. Susan meissner recently spoke about this book, and she relayed that this book. Download read a fall of marigolds 2014 by susan meissner. If you would like me to visit your book club by phone, facetime, or skype, a 30minutelong online or phone visit with your club is always free, and easy to arrange through novelnetwork, which is a service that matches book clubs with authors and arranges for author visits. Trying to get away from her haughty lifestyle, lauren goes to college, lives on campus with a roommate, and decides to get a job. Susan meissner is an american author from san diego, california that is best known for writing historical fiction and fiction with a christian slant.
Susan meissner susan meissner is a multipublished author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Meissner is to put yourself into the hands of that rarest kind of author. See all books authored by susan meissner, including a fall of marigolds, and secrets of a charmed life, and more on. The shape of mercy today s guest blogger, susan meissner author of the shape of mercy recalls the touching gift she was given by her parents one. The story of their lives, their loves, their dreams, and their decisions are in the pages of the book, which you can buy on the link below. Only a few of my childhood friends know how to write their names meissner 48. The shape of mercy is a hauntingly beautiful novel that should not be missed. The shape of mercy isbn 9781400074563 pdf epub susan. The kindle book format for this title is not supported on.
Lauren durough was brought into the world as a daughter in a wealthy family. The shape of mercy by susan meissner is a definite read. Through this book, i was taken into three different worlds and captivated. The shape of mercy by susan meissner overdrive rakuten. A friend with great taste pushed this paperback into my hands and told me to read it as soon as possible, which is my favorite way to discover a great book. The girl in between has learned that mercy is defined by its giver.
The shape of mercy salt lake county library services. This is the first story ive read by susan meissner, but certainly wont be my last. Additional gift options are available when buying one ebook at a time. Meissners books can be classified in the christian genre, secrets of a charmed life, due to certain relationships, does not.
Two women, one century apart, two nyc tragedies, one scarf that very loosely ties them tog. This gives factual accounts of people involved in the salem witch trials mixed with fiction surrounding a compelling story, making it amazingly fascinating. Meissner recalls a tale that must not be forgotten, about the tragedies and senseless cruelties which happen when we abandon grace and turn our backs on mercy. Shop for the shape of mercy, susan meissner and much more. Susan meissner born 1961 is an american author, columnist, and the former editor of a weekly newspaper. She takes a parttime job from 83yearold librarian abigail. Anyway, the shape of mercy is a great book to read alone or alongside the crucible like i did. In 2015, at stowon the wold in the english countryside, kendra van zant, a history major, interviews ninetythree year old isabel macfarland. New from bestselling authors mindy starns clark and susan meissner, the amish groom book 1 in the men of lancaster county series explores the men of an amish community in lancaster county, how their amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives. Secrets of a charmed life by susan meissner audiobook. Susan meissner is a multipublished author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. As a fan of dualtime period stories, i had no doubt id enjoy this story, but i was surprised at how much. Download or read a fall of marigolds 2014 in pdf, epub formats.
The shape of mercy by susan meissner susan meissner has grown tremendously as a writer, and nowhere is this more evident than in her ninth novel, the shape of mercy, a grabthehanky inspirational tale of one young womans search for identity and meaning. A wide range of christian bibles, books, music, movies, and gifts available on sale at. She takes a parttime job from 83yearold librarian abigail boyles, who asks lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor mercy hayworth, a victim of. I picked up susan meissners novel, the shape of mercy, in october when the images of ghosts and ghouls were in every store window. Leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, lauren durough breaks with convention and her familys expectations by choosing a state college over stanford and earning her own income over accepting her ample monthly. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers all about the shape of mercy by susan meissner. Sep 29, 2008 meissners prose is exquisite and she is a stunning storyteller. I unfortunately missed each time shes visited the book club i used to attend. Shape mercy of a novel susan meissner shape of mercy pages.
I picked up susan meissner s novel, the shape of mercy, in october when the images of ghosts and ghouls were in every store window. Zalerts allow you to be notified by email about the availability of new books according to your search query. Meissner has a gift for intriguing, meaningful stories, and this novel is no exception. I know i am often guilty of the same weakness my protagonist had to discover and admit about herself. Every book ive written ive invested into it threads of myself. She lived in england, germany, and minnesota as an adult. Meissner deftly weaves the stories of three women of vastly different generations, connecting them perfectly and crafting a winsome, interesting, powerful read. She, like me, like so many, judge better than we love. Buy the shape of mercy by susan meissner online at alibris. Stars over sunset boulevard isbn 9780451475992 pdf epub. The shape of mercy pikes peak library district overdrive. Meisssner was born the second child of three siblings, and always had a penchant for writing from a very young age.
Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Her novels include the shape of mercy, named by publishers weekly as one of the 100 best novels of 2008 and a carol award winner. The sociology of our day to day environment shapes us and often times it is to something that we do not like, but it is what it is and what we need to live with. Meissners newest novel is potentially lifechanging, the kind of inspirational fiction that prompts readers to call up old friends, lost loves or. Todays guest blogger, susan meissner author of the shape of mercy recalls the touching gift she was given by her parents one christmas to encourage the budding writer in her, and gives us. The artistic minds at berkley have created a lovely pdf reading guide for you to use with your book club. Life went on for me outside of this book, but the book never left my thoughts. Lauren, a college student, helps abigail boyles, an 80yearold recluse, transcribe the diary of abigails ancestral cousin, mercy hayworthwho was hanged for witchcraft. Liane moriarty kristin hannah ruth reichl adriana trigiani kate morton. The shape of mercy by susan meissner audiobook download. As secrets unfold, the extent to which the lives of these three women are connected comes to light, and both lauren and abigail find the very way they view the world. The lives of three women are connected in the shape of mercy by susan meissner, a powerful story about mercy, preconceived notions, and love. A perfect match for the season, this story echoes with the voices of accused witches. Susan meissner books list of books by author susan meissner.
Meissner deftly weaves the stories of three women of vastly different generations, connecting them perfectly and crafting a. Secrets of a charmed life, by susan meissner, is one of my favorite books ive read so far this year. Meissner was born and raised in san diego, california, where she attended point loma nazarene university. Susan meissner born 1961 is an american author, columnist, and the former editor of a. Susan says the concept behind the shape of mercy stayed with her long after she finished it. Jan 01, 2008 susan meissner, the shape of mercy i really loved this book about lauren and abilgail, a journal and the salem witch trials. I loved reading the journal entries and i think the historical aspects interested me more then what was happening in the. Both ladies were interesting characters, the story was fascinating and i finished it in a night. This acclaimed book by susan meissner is available at in several formats for your ereader. The amish groom by mindy starns clark overdrive rakuten. Sep 16, 2008 susan meissner has grown tremendously as a writer, and nowhere is this more evident than in her ninth novel, the shape of mercy, a grabthehanky inspirational tale of one young womans search for identity and meaning.
Susan meissner, the shape of mercy i really loved this book about lauren and abilgail, a journal and the salem witch trials. So i recently picked up the shape of mercy which was published in 2008, and i remembered several bloggers mentioning it and liking it, so i decided to give it a try. Laurens presentday life is mirrored in elderly abigails and again in the diary of mercy hayworth, who lived in the 17th century. The shape of mercy, by susan meissner rachel hauck. In minnesota, meissner was the editor of a weekly newspaper. The shape of mercy is a book by susan meissner on 20100602. A search query can be a title of the book, a name of the author, isbn or anything else. Athol dickson, christy awardwinning author of the cure and winter haven i loved the shape of mercy from beginning to end.
A novel and millions of other books are available for instant access. The shape of mercy is the story of three women, two living in contemporary time and one who penned a diary during the salem witch trials in 1692. On a 5star scale 5 huge starsi would like to thank susan meissenr for my advanced readers copy. The shape of mercy named to publishers weeklys best 100 novels for 2008, the ecpa fiction book of the year, a rita finalist, and carol award winner leaving a life of privilege to strike out on her own, lauren takes a parttime job from 83yearold librarian abigail boyles, who asks lauren to transcribe the journal entries of her ancestor. She has grown up with all the things money can bring her while growing up but she doesnt really like living that way. A bridge across the ocean isbn 9780451476005 pdf epub susan. The shape of mercy written by susan meissner is an amazing novel based on historical facts from the salem witch trials in the late 1600s. Her novels include a fall of marigolds, named by booklists top ten womens fiction titles for 2014, and the shape of mercy, named by publishers weekly as one of the 100 best novels of 2008. Its a beautifully told story, full of contemporary yearnings, historical intrigue and romance.
The shape of mercy by susan meissner fantastic fiction. Meissners prose sings, and her characters captured my interest from the start. Her first novel, why the sky is blue, was released in 2004, after she resigned her post as editor for a local newspaper in a rural minnesota town. Summary theme papa has told me not to make bold of my ability to read and write. As the fervor around the witch accusations increases, mercy becomes trapped in the worldview of the day, unable to fight the overwhelming influence of snap judgments and superstition, and lauren realizes that the secrets of mercy s story extend beyond the pages of her diary, living on in the mysterious, embittered abigail. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and record. Once i sat down to read this book, i had a hard time putting it down. Her novels include a fall of marigolds, named to booklists top ten womens fiction titles for 2014, and the shape of mercy, named by publishers weekly as one of the 100 best novels of 2008.
Wartime intrigue spans the lives of three womenpast and presentin the latest novel from the acclaimed author of secrets of a charmed life. Susan meissner is an incredible organizer of words that fits together some beautiful poetry and prose to give the shape of the ideal of mercy. Susan meissner author susan meissner has been feeding her love of writing all her life. I read susan meissner s lady in waiting last year and subsequently wanted to read more of her books. Click to read more about the shape of mercy by susan meissner.