March~The Shape of Mercy

Hey everyone, sorry this is a day late. I have to admit this month was pretty busy for me and I just finished the book.

First, before we get to the questions from the back of the book I have to say, wow. This book, The Shape of Mercy, has such a great message and a really neat parallel between Puritan America and 21st Century America. If any of you know anything about the Salem Witch trials, like I had to go find out while reading this book, there were a lot of innocent young women hanged for faults accusations. This book really did do a great job in letting us enter the life of one of these girls.

Questions from the back of the book, page 306:

1. The Shape of Mercy is about three distinct women from vastly different generations: Mercy, Abigail, and Lauren. What do you feel they have in common? What separates them?

2. The diary's pages reveal a time and place of tragic historical significance. What emotions did the diary evoke in you? If you were faced with Mercy's choices, which would you have chosen? Why?

3. When Lauren first meets Raul, she assumes he is a member of the catering staff. Later she assumes he is a rich, upwardly mobile, premed student who cavalierly rolls up the sleeves of two-hundred-dollar Armani shirts. Discuss how you believe we fall into the trap of such assumptions. Think of a personal experience when, based on first impressions, you assumed someone to be different than they actually were.

4. What do you think of Mercy's final act of compassion? Did she do the right thing?

5. The Shape of Mercy is a story about choices, stigma, and preconceived notions. In light of these themes, what did you discover about yourself?


I really hope you all enjoyed this book as much as I did. Looking forward to hearing/reading your thoughts.