The Mercies

I love historical fiction, and was attracted to the fact that this was a new historical setting for me. Clearly I didn’t pay close enough attention to the tags, for halfway through the story it became a lesbian bodice-ripper. And one that seems to be written by someone not all that familiar with lesbians. I know, I know it’s all up for debate and interpretation. In my version, it’s obvious that Kirsten would play a much bigger role as romantic lead. I would have liked a little more focus on the events and the dynamics of the town. Or, alternatively, a more interesting and believable love story.

THE MERCIES. Wow. What a book. And inspired by true events: In Finnmark, Norway, 1617, a storm hits the small fishing town of Vard, and all the men in the town are killed at sea. The women in the town pull together to grieve and survive, until 3 years later, when the newly appointed Commisioner Absalom Cornet breaks into the solidarity of the women and arrives to install religious order to the community. Then begins a real-life witch hunt.

The story follows Ursa, Absaloms troubled wife, and Maren. Ursa moves to Vard; Maren was born there. The writing is gorgeous, lyrical, the relationships between the women, especially Ursa and Maren, are beautifully drawn. Learning about life in this small Arctic town was both fascinating and disturbing. I was there feeling the cold, filth, poverty, strength, and loneliness of these women. But its not an easy book to read. The author pulls no punches when describing the tragedies of gathering the dead from the sea to the days of the witch trials. Despite losing their husbands and sons, the women got it together, and its infuriating how the men responded from far and wide! Because men didnt trust the womens strength, and didnt trust that the men were killed by a freak storm, they swooped in and went looking for witches. You must be a witch if you can learn to sail a boat and fish to survive! This is a new book, published in February, that explores feminism, patriarchy, and religion in a world gone madthemes we continue to encounter today. I hope it doesnt become a movie.

I really enjoyed this book at first, it was complex and intriguing. I liked the historical references and learning about a different time and culture. But I didn’t appreciate the homosexual storyline. I wish I had known about it before I bought the book.

Can not say enough good things about this book. I’m trying not to rush through it. It has a great setting and amazing characters. I love the message as well. You will not be disappointed.

The modernisms absolutely kill this book. Why set it in the early 1600s in a remote island in northern Norway if you’re going to use words and phrases like “stuff” , “what am I doing wrong here?”, “no surprise there”, etc. Also throw in self awareness, lesbianism, feminism, and other contemporary concerns. Just awful.

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