Serials and Scenarios ~ The Shape of Mercy

Book Description:

Lauren Durough is a college student longing to break free of family expectations when she stumbles into a project for eighty year old Abigail Boyles—transcribing the journals of Mercy Hayworth, a seventeenth-century victim of the Massachusetts witch trials. Almost immediately, Lauren finds herself drawn to this girl who lived and died four centuries ago. The strength of her affinity with Mercy forces Lauren to take a startling new look at her own life, including her relationships with the mysterious Abigail, her college roommate, and a young man named Raul. But on the way to discovering the candid truth, Lauren must earnestly ask if she is playing the role of helpless defendant or the misguided judge? Can she break free from her own perceptions and recognize who she really is?

In our high-pressure, success-oriented culture, readers will identify with Lauren’s struggle to forge her own identity separate from the plan her family designed for her. Offering intrigue, romance, and heartbreaking drama, this contemporary novel with a historical twist conveys the intense beauty that emerges when we see how our stories affect the lives of others.


My Review:

Susan Meissner captivates from page one. She takes a handful of people in quiet crisis of the soul and pulls them together into a story, weaving threads of mercy, love, grace and tragedy from present day to 1692.

The point of view and focus changes from ancient, fragile diary pages to modern here and now issues like relationships keeps the horror of the happenings during the Salem Witch Trials from becoming too much and too hard.

I know a book or a movie is pure gold if I walk away but can't leave the characters or the situations. I know a novel has gotten under my skin if I feel a sadness that colors how I think or absorb things for a few days. The Shape of Mercy is a golden sliver.

Some will not like it. Readers who don't care for deep literary styles or a glimpse into sorrow or evil be warned - heavy subjects are covered -- life, death, regret, love. Others might not want to read it if they expect all Christian fiction to have a gospel message clearly presented, there is only a light touch within these pages. However, there is a depth that will cause a reader to look within and ponder life and death.

Susan Meissner has yet to disappoint me. I hope her work continues to receives wider notice. Talent with all aspects of writing put her solidly in the category of must read.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~Monday Wisdom

My folks forwarded this news article to me.

I thought it was a refreshing outlook on life.

Omaha World-Herald 10/12/2008, Page E11 (if you click on the article it will get bigger.)

Super Cinema Saturday ~ Young at Heart

It's been awhile since I reviewed a movie. But here's one, after this little announcement, Happy Birthday 22! I'm off to a mall shopping marathon to celebrate.


My Review:


A documentary with so much heart I'm pretty sure it would be impossible to watch without a few moments of blinking back tears. A performing ensemble made up of those in their very golden years, has set out to throw themselves into music and into the entertainment business with a sweet twist and unique takes on a quirky array of songs. Stand out numbers were Sonic Youth's Schizophrenic and James Brown's I Feel Good. The performance of Cold Play's Fix You just about undid me.

There are hilarious moments like a car trip with an 86-year-old at the wheel. Touching moments including a song dedication that didn't leave a dry eye in my house, or the sell out audience for that matter. And in between were the moments that brought life and death to the surface. Those moments shared with dignity and honesty.

Other than a smattering of off-color/suggestive comments (PG rated), Young at Heart is great family viewing.

As with all documentaries, the winding stories and details of life may bore children. If you hate documentaries you might not be won over to the genre by Young at Heart, but you'll also be missing a fascinating and encouraging slice of life if you skip it.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Hometown Favorite

Whew. I power read this book for the book tour this week and just finished it.

Football fan? Looking for edgy? Read the first chapter here.



Click on the cover to find out more info, or check out the author's website.

My review:


I wouldn't have chosen this book to read for pure entertainment. My major reason is football. I'm not only not a fan, I don't get the game. I also do not care for omniscient point of view. The authors vocabularies and talent resulted in some overwriting as well. That said, I was won over by the story.

Though I skimmed football details fairly often, football non-fans can find something to enjoy in this story. I'm not going to give away many details since they would be spoilers. I will recommend this novel to folks who wouldn't have issues like mine as stated above, and who are looking for edgy Christian fiction. There are usages of slang and a smattering of curse words in this novel. Heavy subjects like child endangerment, violence, sexuality,drinking and drug use give the book a solid PG to PG-13 rating depending on your sensitivity.

The authors paint a picture of grace and hope. Despair pops up, forgiveness and restoration are covered. It's not a light read, but it could be just the ticket for some folks. Those who are fans of Creston Mapes novels may want to check out Hometown Favorite.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Paws Again.

Since I've started on a theme of pets and their spiritual personality, I can't leave out Freckles.

Sigh. Poor Freckles. She has succumbed to the great spiritual enemy of fear.

Freckles used to be bold. She used to rule the house. In fact, Freckles was at one point a bully in all her boldness. She weathered a 130 pound canine and took all he handed out and gave it back. She did develop a series of bladder infections because her litter box sat near his kennel, but that's beside the point. Who knew!?!

Freckles undoing is Feral. He has shaken her confidence and rocked her world. I've encouraged her, we've restricted his access to her, we've given her peptalks to no avail.

Until Freckles realizes Feral is just a little bitty kitty, she's going to be conquered over and over again.

Hmmm. Who or what is crushing your inner Freckles? Rah. Rah. Go, Freckles, go.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Paws for Part Two

Spirituality through the eyes of Feral Will.

If Lily is Pentecostal and Lola one of the frozen chosen, Feral is critter who serves himself. God is not on Feral's throne and if He is, Feral is sitting on His lap and demanding He do as commanded.

In spite of the dog cat difference toward worship and loyalty, I think it's pretty amazing that thousands of years after the creation of the first animal, that they continue to do what God programmed them to do. Creation does point to an Almighty Creator God. From the songs of a hundred types of birds to the flashes of color of feather, flora and fur, God's creativity reaches out to each of us.

But back to my furry friends. Feral is the most self-sufficient one in the household. The girls and skittish Freckles need, oh they need. Feral's only lack is his inability to pour his own food into his bowl. Occasionally he likes a soft, warm body to sleep on, but really, that is negotiable.

To dig for the positives, I do have to say that when I open the door to the room where his food is stored, he is always alert and present before both bowls are filled. I wish I was that sensitive to God's work and His blessing in my life. I tend to get so distracted that I forget to look for Him in the details. And I guess that Feral's food dance could be praise for provision.

Maybe he's not so unaware as I think. I guess there is something I can learn about Feral and his response to God's provision.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Paws for a Lesson

While reading my Bible today, I had the special privilege of having a bit of a lesson mauled into my very soul. ( I'm currently trying to type very, very quietly because the maulers are laying on the floor, dozing in the sun. Should they awaken, who knows what will appear in this post.It takes a lot of energy to lick all exposed skin from an entire human being. Especially if you have to bite and wrestle with your sister while doing so. Oh, and sniff the cats while playing keep-away-from-the-claws.)

It occurred to me when I pushed a furry muzzle out of my biznes only to have another insert itself, that maybe, I should look at the enthusiasm of our resident canines as a model for my spiritual walk.

Lily will chase down a blessing. The girl is pure Pentecostal. I'm a little jealous. I tend to be a little more like Lola who could be considered a frozen chosen. But Lily, if she was in a church wherein she could wear diaphanous dresses and waltz through the sanctuary while laying-on-of-hands and singing praises at full volume, she would, without hesitation. She would wrestle with God until He gave her a blessing or a biscuit. Unfortunately, Lily does kind of think grace is cheap. She uses it all up and counts on the promise of God's mercies being new every morning.

Lily also needs loads of concrete reinforcements, i.e. "Go pee-pee and get the treat. Look Lily, smell it, yummy treat, now go pee-pee. Just go pee-pee. Nope, not enough, go again. Good Girl!!!! Yay!!!!"

Lola, though a little more reserved does have a servant's heart. She is very content to stand back and let Lily bask in all the attention. She also is more inclined to obey just out of loyalty and love.

I'd like to be a spiritual blend of both. A Lola with a greater sense of abandon and the heart deep knowledge that God does want to bless me and it's okay to ask.

Tomorrow, Feral's spiritual condition. (Beyond the name, that is.)