Hester

Jan 04, 2010 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: hist-fic

In the fairly new tradition of modern authors writing “sequels” to classics, especially those of Jane Austen, Paula Reed has imagined a future for Hester Prynne, one of the icons of English literature. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter is brooding and evocative of its time and place, yet simultaneously ageless in what it reveals about human nature. Now Reed presents us with an older Hester, widowed and leaving New England to claim her daughter’s inheritance in England.

This plot hinges on...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Anita rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

While most readers will be somewhat familiar with Hester from the classic "Scarlet Letter", you may find Hester too changed to be absorbed by this rather fantastical novel.
Okay, we know Mrs Prynne goes to England since daughter Pearl was left money by the old snake Dimmsdale, but after that, things get a bit harder to accept. Hester and Pearl move in with an old friend, but England is under the rule of Cromwell and a glum Puritanism prevails. Despite this, Hester,-who now has the gift of "vision...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-advance-reading

I read the Scarlet Letter in high school. Back then, I hated it. I re-read it a few years ago and found it much more interesting, which prompted my choosing this book. I was not impressed.

First star to take off: I didn't like the way it was written. There seem to be no moments where Hester "lets her hair down" and drops her completely upright manner of speaking. Each time I picked the book back up, I had a hard time getting into the austere rhythm. I know part of that is because of the time per...more I read the Scarlet Letter in high school. Back then, I hated it. I re-read it a few years ago and found it much more interesting, which prompted my choosing this book. I was not impressed.

First star to take off: I didn't like the way it was written. There seem to be no moments where Hester "lets her hair down" and drops her completely upright manner of speaking. Each time I picked the book back up, I had a hard time getting into the austere rhythm. I know part of that is because of the time period, but it made it harder for me to enjoy the book. I hardly ever take more than a week to finish a book containing fewer than 500 pages and this took me over a month.

Second star to take off: I'm not a historical / political fiction fan. "The Scarlet Letter" had nothing to do with politics, but this entire book centers on Hester's role in political / historical events. I was bored to tears by all the details that I suppose some other readers would see as "intrigue" and "suspense." I felt this book just showed the rest of her life to be nothing but marrying her daughter (though through very unconventional methods) and then coming to nothing. Hester's "sight" was too odd an addition to the original story for me, as well.

I had hoped this would give me adventure and excitement, and happines for Hester. In the end, it brought her more of things she didn't want, and the only "happiness" in her life was in securing a marriage of love for her daughter. While that's great, I had truly hoped to see her find a relationship or some other means of true happines for herself. "Letter" was so sad for her that I was looking for some rainbows and sunshine, as opposed to more of the same. This left me feeling as though Hester's life was just a series of disappointments. This will not be a book I re-read, and I think I will stick to creating a happier ending for Hester from my own imagination.

Overall, I felt as though Reed was trying too hard. I admire anyone who attempts to fill in the gaps of books they did not originally write, but this attempt was, for me, disappointing. 3 stars out of 5 because I didn't HATE the book, and I did finish it just to see if there would be any redemption in the ending. I feel a bit cheated for Hester... Why couldn't she have just been happy for a while? (less)

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Feb 21, 2010 Stephanie D. rated it 3 of 5 stars

"If it is a lonely life to be the embodiment of sin, lonelier still it is to be a legend...In truth the tale of the letter I wear was but the beginning of my journey. That story may fade as it will, until it is little more than a footnote in some public record house. Herein lies the events of my years away---the middle of my story. For myself, it is my favorite part."

Near the end of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, as you may recall, Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne's malevolent husb...more "If it is a lonely life to be the embodiment of sin, lonelier still it is to be a legend...In truth the tale of the letter I wear was but the beginning of my journey. That story may fade as it will, until it is little more than a footnote in some public record house. Herein lies the events of my years away---the middle of my story. For myself, it is my favorite part."

Near the end of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, as you may recall, Roger Chillingworth, Hester Prynne's malevolent husband, dies, but mysteriously leaves his considerable fortune to Pearl, Hester's illegitimate daughter. With this money, Hester and little Pearl leave New England to go abroad. Hester returns many years later, without Pearl, to live humbly once again in the village that had once ostracized her. Hawthorne never tells us what Hester did during that time. In Hester: The Missing Years of The Scarlet Letter, Paula Reed imagines what may have happened during those years when Hester went away.

Reed, a former high school English teacher (who probably taught The Scarlet Letter countless times) certainly is well-versed in the important details and themes of the original: Hester's skill in needlepoint and love of embellishment, at odds with her wish to remain unnoticed and in the background, the contrast between what is hidden and what is apparent. Reed seizes and embroiders upon on the original Hester's gift/curse of being able to see other people's sins, though they may try to hide it. When Hester and Pearl go to England to start a new life, it is this gift which will bring her to the attention of one of the most famous and tyrannical Puritans of all time, Oliver Cromwell, and place her and those she loves in the center of dangerous political times. Once again, Hester's fate is subject to the whims of a powerful man.

I thought back to all those years of shame and degradation, the slow and steady climb that I had made from the depths of ignominy. Well, I knew upon what steps had I made that climb. The truth. Every day, everyone I saw knew the worst there was to know of me. They had done the worst that they could do, laying me bare to their judgment, taking my kindness and my charity and throwing it in my face. In time, I had nowhere to go but up. And they? After a while, the letter I wore became a burden upon their souls, a constant reminder of their darkest secrets.

There is plenty of political intrigue in Hester; by the book's end, I felt very familiar with the England of Cromwell's time, a rather grim and unhappy place (Cromwell apparently made Christmas illegal). Against this gray backdrop, Reed embroiders fantastical what ifs - what if Hester Prynne unwillingly became Cromwell's pawn, able to influence historical events? What if Hester was caught between Cromwell and Charles II? What if Hester had been a spy?

As historical fiction, Hester is a richly woven tapestry. However, I was hoping for more of the juicy stuff - you know, what we were denied in the original. Maybe lengthy, detailed flashback scenes with Arthur Dimmesdale, the courtship, the sinning (BTW, did you know that the word "adultery" never once appears in The Scarlet Letter? - weird, huh?). Reed gives us just a glimpse and also explains Hester's marriage to the decrepit Roger Chillingworth. The Hester here is appropriately muted, like somebody who's been publicly humiliated for seven years because of one indiscretion. Somehow, though, I thought once she escaped Salem, Hester would succumb to her wild nature --- start dancing on tables or something, have a myriad of lovers, find a man worthy of her spirit. Pearl, too, who was such a strange child in the original is now much tamer, until towards the end when it seemed that she might follow in her mother's footsteps.

Hester: The Missing Years of The Scarlet Letter by Paula Reed is a nice companion book to the original. You can enjoy it not having read The Scarlett Letter - but at least knowing the bare bones of the story, which Reed touches upon in the beginning.
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Feb 27, 2011 Diane Sallans rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I had this book for a couple weeks before I started reading it; I was looking at it like a homework assignment thinking that every once in a while I should read something a little more high-brow than my usual light escapism romances. I read an online notes of the Scarlet Letter since it had been so long since rading it in high school. I just wanted to get the basic facts straight. For a few references in the book I'm glad I had done that, so I would suggest an aquaintence with the Scarlet Letter...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Rosanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Many times I have wondered what happens “then” at the end of a good novel. As a rule, I have never really appreciated a sequel because it usually doesn’t deliver what the original possessed; however, “Hester” by Paula Reed maybe the exception to my rule. The “Scarlet Letter”, certainly not written in modern times, was a true classic. The reading of it left you with questions about Hester and Pearl. These questions were left to your imagination to answer. I applaud the work of Paula Reed in “Hest...more

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Jan 03, 2010 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I recently won an advance copy of Hester: A Novel from goodreads.com. Many of us have read and loved The Scarlet Letter, but according to novelist, Paula Reed, that morality tale of human frailties and deceit was “but the beginning” of Hester and Pearl’s odyssey. Though limited by the frame of the original, Reed weaves a believable and exciting narrative that incorporates and explains important events of Hawthorne’s plot without resorting to simple summary. In fact, this is done so well that a r...more I recently won an advance copy of Hester: A Novel from goodreads.com. Many of us have read and loved The Scarlet Letter, but according to novelist, Paula Reed, that morality tale of human frailties and deceit was “but the beginning” of Hester and Pearl’s odyssey. Though limited by the frame of the original, Reed weaves a believable and exciting narrative that incorporates and explains important events of Hawthorne’s plot without resorting to simple summary. In fact, this is done so well that a reader could easily manage this novel without having read the first at all.

The author tells us what happens to Hester and her daughter after Roger passes away and leaves Pearl his fortune, something Hawthorne only cryptically mentions in his denouement. The novel follows these two across the Atlantic as Hester returns to her English village in hopes of beginning life anew and securing Pearl a place in high society. There have been many changes in England that do not bode well. The England of Hester’s youth is gone, her father dead and the nation is in the throes of the Puritan Revolution. The England she returns to is not measurably different from the New England she left behind. Hester also learns that for a woman during this turbulent time, wealth is not a sufficient means to acquire happiness or peace of mind. Hester is reminded that, as she puts it, men are “necessities in my life.” Since her father is dead, and it is unseemly for a woman to live alone, Hester avails herself of the hospitality of a childhood friend, Mary and her Puritan brigadier general husband, Robert. Initially, Hester believes that this situation will give her the important social connections she needs to introduce Pearl into high society, but soon learns these connections have strings attached.

Hester still has the “unwanted knowledge of my fellow man,” the gift she earned by having her private acts made public. As Mary puts it, Hester is “a mirror.” This gift made her a pariah in her old village and isolates her again in this new place until Robert sees a way to use it to advance his position. He introduces her to Britain’s Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, who forces her to use this inner sight to determine who is guilty of crimes against the State. These sessions of questioning suspects leave Hester conflicted. She is torn between the need to protect and provide for her daughter by working for the Puritans and helping to protect and stabilize her country by working against the Puritans. Our heroine by turns aids both the Roundheads and the Royalists, but her loyalty to Pearl never wavers.

Hester seems resolved to have some happiness for herself, and is finished paying for an act that was not to her a sin. She meets John Manning, a man who, like Hester, feels no guilt and so is not intimidated to meet her gaze. Their relationship is honest, based on respect and physical need. The author’s attempt here to make Hester a more rounded character and move her past the loss of Arthur, Pearl’s father, is thwarted by the limitations of Hawthorne’s original storyline. We know, because Hawthorne has already told us that in the end Hester will return to New England and die alone. Hawthorne tells us also that she mourns Arthur to the end. Reed’s Hester proclaims Arthur weak and expresses anger at his treating his love for her as sin. It is difficult for the reader to reconcile Hester’s self awareness and growth in this new novel with a return to Old Salem and her old ways. Some may find it disappointing, but in the end, the author had to allow Hawthorne his way with our brave protagonist.

Paula Reed teaches at Columbine High School and decided to follow her passion for writing in the aftermath of the tragic events there. She has chosen a worthy heroine and has done well by her.
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Nov 08, 2011 Kimberly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, uk

Normally I'm rather hesitant about reading books that are modern sequels or retellings of classics. I do often wonder "what happened next" when I finish a book, but don't want classics ruined by unqualified modern authors. However, Reed's book far exceeded my expectations, she did a very good job. When I saw Hester posted as a giveaway and read the description I decided to enter. I was delighted to win this book from a Goodreads firstreads giveaway and was excited to read the book.

This book was...more Normally I'm rather hesitant about reading books that are modern sequels or retellings of classics. I do often wonder "what happened next" when I finish a book, but don't want classics ruined by unqualified modern authors. However, Reed's book far exceeded my expectations, she did a very good job. When I saw Hester posted as a giveaway and read the description I decided to enter. I was delighted to win this book from a Goodreads firstreads giveaway and was excited to read the book.

This book was really quite good. I haven't read the Scarlet Letter in years, but I remembered the storyline well enough. I felt like Reed did a good job of keeping the book historically accurate to the Commonwealth period, given my limited studies of the time period.

The storyline was truly enjoyable, Hester's ability is portrayed as both a blessing and a curse. She fled the New England shame and distain in order to make a better life in England. However once she returns people are unsettled by her ability and she is still an outsider. Seeing her get thrown into politics and the ruling circles of England and her struggles to learn to leverage her ability to her advantage was an interesting process. Imagining a woman having such influence with Cromwell and King Charles II made for an unusual contrast to all the other submissive, austere Puritan women Hester was surrounded with. Watching Pearl grow up and eventually make her own life was both exciting and bittersweet.

Reed got inside the heads of her characters and made the reader invest in the outcome. Hester, Pearl, Mary, Robert and John were all shown as humans who made their choices and then were forced to deal with the consequences of their actions. I really liked this book, and I feel like I understand Hester and the situations in Commonwealth England much better. I'm not sure if Hawthorne himself would approve of the book, but for me this book made The Scarlet Letter more accessible. I'm pretty sure I will be re-reading it in the near future.(less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Patricia O'Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Hester overall, however, some things about the book are very frustrating.

1. The publisher did a shoddy job formatting the novel for kindle. Paragraphs run together making it difficult to figure out which character is speaking the dialogue.
2. The political history is very dense. Reed has a great handle on the English Interregnum, but too often long passages about Cromwell's investigations into treasonous activity in the realm bog down the narrative and later political events discussed...more

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May 11, 2010 Terra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hester Prynne is finally free from the persecution of the New England peoples who placed the imposing Scarlet Letter on her for the crime of adultery. This book takes place some eight years later after both her lover and her husband have died. Upon her husband's death he names Hester's daughter Pearl his sole heir and all his wealth then goes to the child. At a bit of encouragement from the locals Hester takes Pearl and goes back home to England to try and start a new life where no one knows of...more

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Feb 18, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this one. I liked it but didn't love it. I would recommend it to my historical fiction friends, but it's not one I could recommend to everyone.

On the plus side, I like historical fiction that has a little detail. I like hearing about clothing, food, etc. I like when the dialogue seems realistic and the characters aren't throwing around modern phrases or usages.

Also, I hate when people try to out-Austen Austen or out-Bronte the Brontes. The author did neither...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Peggy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads book. The Scarlet Letter is not one of my favorite books--as a matter of fact, I just read it to add it to my list of "classics everyone should read" list. That being said, I REALLY enjoyed this book. The author's love of the original shows, and the novel takes us to England and beyond with Hester. I wish that I knew more English history from the time period, but even without that background knowledge, the book was very interesting. I enjoyed follo...more

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Dec 22, 2009 Roxane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: agency-author, gender, mainstream, historical-fiction

I rarely ever read historical novels and I'm not quite sure why. Those I've read, I remember enjoying, but it's just not a genre I naturally turn to when looking for something to read.

I would never have picked this one up if I hadn't been asked to read it at work. Also, on a completely unrelated note, this is the first book I've read on my iphone thanks to the Stanza app and I must say that reading on the iphone felt as comfortable as reading on paper.

I'll shamelessly admit having never read The...more I rarely ever read historical novels and I'm not quite sure why. Those I've read, I remember enjoying, but it's just not a genre I naturally turn to when looking for something to read.

I would never have picked this one up if I hadn't been asked to read it at work. Also, on a completely unrelated note, this is the first book I've read on my iphone thanks to the Stanza app and I must say that reading on the iphone felt as comfortable as reading on paper.

I'll shamelessly admit having never read The Scarlet Letter. Sure, I've studied bits and pieces of it in class, but my most vivid memory of the book's content is the movie with Demi Moore. Well, it all comes down to the fact that we were studying Poe at the same time and well really, the latter took up most of my study time as you can imagine...

At the end of The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne tells his readers that the main character, Hester Prynne, leaves America with her young daughter Pearl, only to come back years later, alone. Paula Reed's novel fills in the blank left by the Scarlet Letter and recounts what became of Hester and Pearl as they journeyed back to England (then, under Oliver Cromwell) and reunite with old acquaintances of Hester's.

You really don't have to have read Hawthorne's novel to get into this book as the author makes a wonderful job at recounting here and there events of Hawthorne’s novel, as well as including certain elements when they provide for a greater understanding of the character’s motivations.

If the premise didn’t really strike me as particularly interesting, I was quickly grabbed by the author's rich and flowing style. It's a real pleasure to read.

Also, this is a story about women and how they fare in a world ruled by puritan men who see their female counterparts as little more than elaborate pieces of furniture capable of providing them with an heir... The mothers, daughters, sisters and friends in this story do what they can to bend the rules and work within the system to help and comfort one another... and really, some situations are not without resemblance to situations faced by some contemporary women.

My only complaint would be that, although the characters are well fleshed out, you never really feel worried or anxious regarding what may become of them. Unfortunate events do take place but Hester and Pearl are never irrevocably threatened by them. The reader simply knows that all will turn out fine for both of them and that's not just because you know all along that Hester will go back to America.

Still, this makes for a solid and wonderfully written story centred on women, which raises some interesting points about social conventions and religion. I would recommend it to all those who enjoy historical novels and 17th century England. Again, whether or not you’ve read or enjoyed The Scarlet Letter is of little consequence here.

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Dec 31, 2009 Kathleen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-won

I received an Advanced Reader's copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaway.

I was a little reluctant about reading this book because, in my experience, a book which is a retelling or a continuation of a classic can often be horrendous. When I first realized the book was a continuation of Hester and Pearl Prynne's story from the Scarlet Letter, I couldn't help thinking of the disastrous film starring Demi Moore that failed in capturing the original book. However, I was pleasantly surprised by P...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Karalee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, fiction-general, historical-fiction

In this book that chronicles the so-called "lost years" of Hester Prynne, Paula Reed brings back to life the stark political, moral and feminine themes of The Scarlett Letter. The book begins approximatly 8 years after Hester is branded with the scarlett letter, after the death of Arthur Dimmesdale. It begins with Hester being informed that Roger Chillingsworth has died and left his fortune to Pearl. With new advantages, Hester and Pearl travel to London, where they take up residence with a chil...more In this book that chronicles the so-called "lost years" of Hester Prynne, Paula Reed brings back to life the stark political, moral and feminine themes of The Scarlett Letter. The book begins approximatly 8 years after Hester is branded with the scarlett letter, after the death of Arthur Dimmesdale. It begins with Hester being informed that Roger Chillingsworth has died and left his fortune to Pearl. With new advantages, Hester and Pearl travel to London, where they take up residence with a childhood friend of Hester. England is in turmoil, however, during the reign of the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Much civil unrest and political intrigue is afoot, with many plots to reinstate a monarchy and bring Charles II to the throne. In a somewhat surprising twist, the book reveals that Hester, ever since her branding, has developed an almost supernatural ability to detect the sins of others, a "special sight" that lets her see into others' hearts and minds. This ability comes to the attention of Oliver Cromwell, who enlists Hester to advise him on the loyalties of many Englishman, both friend and foe to him, as he struggles to combat those who want to put Charles II on the throne.

The book is compelling and interesting and revisits many of the themes of the original work. Hester struggles to find her own place in life as well as position Pearl to make a strong marital match, without subjecting her to forced marriage that she suffered. Many themes, religious, political, moral, are explored in a way that is fresh and stimulating. The author captures the feel and tone of the original work, but without this novel feeling like a copy or a rip-off -- it would be good even as a standalone novel (although it is much stronger for having the roots in The Scarlett Letter that it does). Hester, even while she is an awkward woman struggling to find a place in society, is extremely compelling and interesting as the central character. Pearl is developed beautifully and her experience is irrevocably shaped by Hester's past and, yet, entirely her own. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who liked The Scarlett Letter but also think it has appeal to a wider audience.(less)

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May 03, 2010 Barb rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: vine, read-in-2010, hf-1600s, new-in-2010

I enjoyed this first novel from Paula Reed. In preparation I read Hawthorn's 'The Scarlet Letter' immediately before this continuation of Hester Prynne's story. I don't think that you need to have 'The Scarlet Letter' fresh in your mind in order to enjoy this novel but I'm glad I did. In doing so it was obvious to me that Paula Reed has spent a lot of time weaving her story to fit where the original leaves off.

Hester and her daughter Pearl leave Massachusetts and return to the land of Hester's...more I enjoyed this first novel from Paula Reed. In preparation I read Hawthorn's 'The Scarlet Letter' immediately before this continuation of Hester Prynne's story. I don't think that you need to have 'The Scarlet Letter' fresh in your mind in order to enjoy this novel but I'm glad I did. In doing so it was obvious to me that Paula Reed has spent a lot of time weaving her story to fit where the original leaves off.

Hester and her daughter Pearl leave Massachusetts and return to the land of Hester's birth. She seeks out her father in England and is taken in by an old girlhood friend Mary Starke now married to Colonel Robert Wright of the New Model Army, a staunch Puritan and supporter of Oliver Cromwell. Hester eventually finds herself pulled into Cromwell's inner circle, her special skill of seeing what lies in men's hearts is used to serve Cromwell's purposes. Amid the tense and dangerous political climate of Cromwell's reign as Lord Protector of England Hester struggles to protect her daughter's future and those she cares about as well.

I liked the Hester that Reed created and enjoyed seeing things from her point of view. I thought the relationships were interesting and for the most part realistic. I liked the relationship between Hester and John Manning. I'm not certain that it was as believable as the relationships between the other characters but it gave the story an element of excitement that added to my reading enjoyment. I also enjoyed learning a little about Oliver Cromwell and the Restoration of Charles II.

But my favorite relationship was the one between Hester and Pearl and my favorite part of the book was the ending, which focuses more attention on the mother daughter relationship and Pearl's wish to live a life unfulfilled even if it means that life is unconventional or even unacceptable to some.

I also enjoyed the way that Hester fits into society when she returns to Massachusetts at the end of the story. The reader knows that she will return to Boston because she says so in the prologue. And Reed takes what Hawthorn tells the reader at the end of 'The Scarlet Letter' and embellishes it with detail.

I thought this was an enjoyable and somewhat easy read though if you aren't familiar with the political history that could be a bit distracting but you don't have to comprehend the politics to enjoy it. I liked the feminist slant to the story which again ties in directly to Hawthorn's writing in the original story of Hester's life. (less)

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Jun 12, 2013 Deborah Schuff rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I love Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, which mentions a ten-year absence of Hester Prynne and her daughter Pearl and Hester's subsequent return alone to the Puritan village where she had been condemned to wear her scarlet letter. Paula Reed writes of his two characters ten years in England in the years of Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate and the beginning of Charles II's Restoration. This book (told by Hester herself) has politics, intrigue, Puritanism, and -- most important of all -- th...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Donna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this. It's been a few eons since I've read the Scarlet Letter and I can't say as I remember enjoying it a whole lot. I'm sure it's one of those books they make you read in high school but you're not really prepared to understand or enjoy until you are much older. Paula Reed obviously loves the Scarlet Letter and she did a very good job of tying this book into the other one and explaining her interpretation of Hawthorne without making it seem like an english assignment.

Her take on Heste...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: TSL fans

Recommended to Susan by: goodreads

Shelves: first-reads, mycollection, 2011read

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, which I suppose is fitting since years ago, I enjoyed The Scarlet Letter more than I thought I would. The main reason I was initially wary is that I often find historical fiction a bit boring or just difficult to read, but strong female characters often help. The downside to strong female protagonists is I've found they often seem to be somehow "better" than all the other characters in the novel. If you read my review for Girl with a Pearl Earring, I b...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Judith rated it 3 of 5 stars

A woman returns to London, after a sojourn in The Colonies, with her precocious, and wealthy, 8-year-old daughter. After settling in with old friends, she finds herself in the midst of the political machinations of Oliver Cromwell's England.....due to a certain "gift" of "seeing into the hearts of men".....her ability to spot lies and treason, while retaining her womanly propriety..While employed as such a Judge, she meets a hunky Sir John, who is playing both ends against the middle, politicall...more
A woman returns to London, after a sojourn in The Colonies, with her precocious, and wealthy, 8-year-old daughter. After settling in with old friends, she finds herself in the midst of the political machinations of Oliver Cromwell's England.....due to a certain "gift" of "seeing into the hearts of men".....her ability to spot lies and treason, while retaining her womanly propriety..While employed as such a Judge, she meets a hunky Sir John, who is playing both ends against the middle, politically. He's also pretty much of a libertine...Life continues...Cromwell "falls" and dies. The precocious daughter matures into a "boy crazy" drama queen, ultimately landing an "impossible" match.....marriage-wise. she hies of to Germany, pregnant but "in love"....satisfied to be a "kept woman" all her life..Mother returns to The Colonies....the site of her own past "sins"

This would be a pretty good Historical Romance, for those who fancy such, if not for the overt reference to The Scarlet Letter and the character of HESTER PRYNNE.

For one thing, any woman in possession of such a 'gift", as mentioned above, would more than likely have been condemned as a Witch and dispatched without qualms, or a trial. She would never have been given a seat in Oliver's STAR CHAMBER.

The back alley skulking betwixt her and Sir John probably did occur, but people made an art of Discretion in those days.....being Puritans and all

The intrusion of modern attitudes towards boys/men and sex were pretty un-subtle and annoying

I had a difficult time making a connection between Ms Reed's Hester, and Nathaniel Hawthorne's original...though I haven't read the original SCARLET LETTER in years, I seem to recall that Hester as being more of a slow burn.

With all of the historical detail present in this book, I am surprised at the anomalies I have mentioned. I found them to be rather jarring.....and a distraction from the story Ms Reed was trying to tell..Maybe that's my fault....but if the book had just been titled HESTER without the reference..i think it would have "gone down" easier

My rating:
4 stars for the story
3 stars for the delivery
3 1/2 stars total

* I got this book through the Library Thing EARLY REVIEWERS program*(less)

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Jan 13, 2010 Gretchen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads-win

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 17, 2011 Pkc181 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I received this book as part of an Early Reviewers program and was looking forward to reading it as the original "Scarlet Letter" was one of the few books we "had" to read in high school English class that actually held my attention. Which is not to mention my fond remembrance of the riveting 1979 mini-series ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078683/ ) starring Meg Foster who, for me, totally became Hawthorne's tragic heroine Hester Prynne. Thus, with these two items in mind, I embarked on this nov...more

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Jan 28, 2010 Chrystal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished-in-2010

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Aug 07, 2010 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, arc, england, scarlett-letter

This story tells about the missing years in Hester's life and gives you an idea of what happens to Pearl. After Roger Chillingworth dies and leaves his estate to Pearl, Hester takes her back to England. While in England, Hester becomes involved in affairs of state in a way that is unexpected. You get to see men of history like Oliver Cromwell through Hester's eyes. I found the storyline to be interesting and especially loved Pearl's character. I liked the way this book went along with The Scarle...more

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Aug 12, 2010 Kimm rated it 5 of 5 stars

I cannot remember much of the Scarlet Letter. There, I said it. Hester Prynne is a distant memory to me. Well, she was anyway….and then I read Hester.

Wow. I’m not going to find a lot of words to describe this one. It was a fantastic, wonderfully written, soul searching kind of read. Whereas Nathaniel Hawthorne is quite daunting to read, Paula Reed brings simplicity to Hester’s story, turning it into an interesting sequel of what “might have” happened in between Hawthorne’s accounts.

Hester leave...more I cannot remember much of the Scarlet Letter. There, I said it. Hester Prynne is a distant memory to me. Well, she was anyway….and then I read Hester.

Wow. I’m not going to find a lot of words to describe this one. It was a fantastic, wonderfully written, soul searching kind of read. Whereas Nathaniel Hawthorne is quite daunting to read, Paula Reed brings simplicity to Hester’s story, turning it into an interesting sequel of what “might have” happened in between Hawthorne’s accounts.

Hester leaves America to give her daughter, Pearl, a new life in England. Something away from being ostracized by the townsfolk. She wants a quiet life, but recognizes her responsibility to begin making the necessary connections for her daughter’s future success in life—which hinges heavily (despite her large inheritance) on an eligible marriage.

Once back in her home country. Hester finds herself back in the company of a childhood friend who has also married and had children of her own. Life with the Wright family ultimately moves Hester to the inner circles of England’s political system. The ability/gift to “see sin” in others brings Hester face to face with the horrible Oliver Cromwell. Cromwell is historical figure that I’ve never cared for (seriously, who has??). No disappointment in this book in terms of his nastiness…he stays true to character. (One small note here: the fact that Hester can “see sin” in others may be hard to accept for some readers, but I took it in stride and let the story unfold. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith with the author. It paid off for me!)

While, Hester is forced to help Cromwell ferret out traitors, she becomes introspective about her past and present. Ultimately, she untangles herself from Cromwell’s mess and flees to Bruges, where she meets up with Charles II. Time goes on and she finally finds herself back in England—only to leave it as well and return to New England.

An obvious focal point in Hester’s life during these times is Pearl. I enjoyed watching Pearl grow up. She’s a strong character, who is the best of what Hester could have been had she shown it to the world.. There’s a fearless quality to Pearl that struck a chord in me. I like that she took what she wanted without apology. Quite different from Hester, for whom, I’m afraid, the stigma of the scarlet letter will forever linger. To deny or embrace it may be the lesson learned here.

I’ll close in saying that Hester is one of my personal favorite reads of 2010. I hope to see more of the same caliber of writing from Paula Reed in the future.
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Apr 10, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Please read this excellent book. I found out I'm not scholar of English history, especially the Puritan phase. Obviously I know what the word means, but I've never really understood that time politically. Also, I have never (gasp!) even READ The Scarlet Letter, upon which this book is based. (I did go read the Spark Notes summary, though - does that count??)

The good news is, you need not know about Puritan history OR The Scarlet Letter to enjoy this book. It is exquisitely written and paced, and...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Megan Palasik rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction

I loved this book! I received this book as a First-Reads Giveaway and was excited to get it in the mail!

Having never read The Scarlett Letter (I tried to once in high school but quit) I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy Hester. However, Reed did not fail to deliver. Reed gave a bit of background about Hester and Pearl throughout the novel, but no more than was necessary and only when it would add to the story. I liked Hester's character and felt that I could understand her and the choices that...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book at first. I love how it connected to The Scarlet Letter and then they went to England. I think the whole Oliver Cromwell intrigue theme was inventive, but for some reason did nothing to hold my attention. I started feeling like it was assigned reading (which is funny because I loved The Scarlett Letter and it actually was an assigned book).
There were parts of the book that I found pretty interesting though. I loved the parts where she and Sir John talked about philoso...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction, 2011, review-copy

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Goodreads giveaway program from the publisher.

The first and last time I read The Scarlet Letter was the summer before junior year of high school. It, along with a list of other books, was assigned summer reading for AP English. I didn't much care for it, and didn't think much about after I was done and the assignment turned in. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started Hester. I contemplated re-reading The Scarlet Letter first but dismiss...more

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Apr 12, 2010 Evelyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

At the end of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the reader is told that Hester and her daughter Pearl travel to England, which is where this book begins. Pearl inherits a large sum of money from Roger Chillingworth and Hester wants to use it to find Pearl a proper match for a husband. Consequently, Hester reunites with a friend who is a close ally of Oliver Cromwell and she becomes deeply involved in the political intrigue of the times. Cromwell, the ultimate Puritan, is fascinated by Hester’s abi...more

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title link	preview: Hester: A Novel
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