Barbara’s review of The Mercies > Likes and Comments

I loved this book, Barbara. Hope you are enjoying...

An excellent review, Barbara! This sounds like such a moving and powerful story! I'm glad you thoroughly loved it! :)

"one of the best I have read this year or maybe in many years." You've got my attention. Thank you for your enticing review.

Terrific review, Barbara! I'm glad you enjoyed this gem too. "I felt the chill in my bones and the foreboding chill of what was coming" --- I did too!

Beautiful review!

Dark, suspenseful and chilling ....... you set the scene very well Barbara - this is already on my list and I’m looking forward to getting a copy. Great review!

Great review Barbara, I loved this book.

Paula wrote: "I loved this book, Barbara. Hope you are enjoying..."

Such a great book! I know why we are Goodread friends, Paula.

Yun wrote: "An excellent review, Barbara! This sounds like such a moving and powerful story! I'm glad you thoroughly loved it! :)"

Thanks so much, Yun. I hope you get a chance to read this great book.

Lisa wrote: ""one of the best I have read this year or maybe in many years." You've got my attention. Thank you for your enticing review."
I am glad that grabbed you, Lisa. It definitely had all the elements I feel are necessary for a fabulous book. Thanks for commenting.

Jenna wrote: "Terrific review, Barbara! I'm glad you enjoyed this gem too. "I felt the chill in my bones and the foreboding chill of what was coming" --- I did too!"
Hargrave did such a great job of making the reader feel, hear, smell everything: the cold, the sweat, the smell of human ashes - not pleasant, but so authentic. Thanks for commenting, Jenna.

Lisa wrote: "Beautiful review!"
I appreciate your kind words, Lisa.

Richard wrote: "Dark, suspenseful and chilling ....... you set the scene very well Barbara - this is already on my list and I’m looking forward to getting a copy. Great review!"
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, Richard. Thanks so much for your comment.

Maureen wrote: "Great review Barbara, I loved this book."

I'm glad we both had a positive experience with this book. Maureen. I am having trouble immersing in my current read as The Mercies haunts my thoughts. Thanks for commenting.

Wonderful review of a wonderful book Barbara! :-)

Fab review, Glad you enjoyed it. 🌹

wonderful review!!

A beautifully written review and a compelling endorsement of the book, Barbara! I love settings and stories like this one. You're right about strong women- the punishments may be more 'subtle' today, but it seems someone is always wanting to mete some out, or in the very least frown upon a woman's choices.

Barbara, what a beautiful and compelling review. I had to add it to my tbr.

Barbara wrote: "Paula wrote: "I loved this book, Barbara. Hope you are enjoying..."

Such a great book! I know why we are Goodread friends, Paula."

Absolutely so, Barbara!

Wonderful review, Barbara :)) Yes, you're so right! The novel engages all senses, so well said! :) I'm happy we both appreciated the writing! :)

Neale wrote: "Wonderful review of a wonderful book Barbara! :-)"

I'm glad we both loved the book. Thanks for commenting, Neale.

Mary Beth wrote: "Fab review, Glad you enjoyed it. 🌹"

Thank you very much, Mary Beth.

Pooja wrote: "wonderful review!!"

I appreciate your comment, Pooja.

What a beautiful, powerful review Barbara. It's already on my list after Jenna's review, and now bumping it up a little higher after yours. Excellent!

Candi wrote: "A beautifully written review and a compelling endorsement of the book, Barbara! I love settings and stories like this one. You're right about strong women- the punishments may be more 'subtle' toda..."

I really appreciate your comment, Candi. Thank goodness the punishments are more subtle today, but strong women will still be resented by many.

Anne (on semi-hiatus) wrote: "Barbara, what a beautiful and compelling review. I had to add it to my tbr."

I think you will also enjoy it, Anne. Thanks so much for your kind words.

Paula wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Paula wrote: "I loved this book, Barbara. Hope you are enjoying..."

Such a great book! I know why we are Goodread friends, Paula."

Absolutely so, Barbara!"
I'm sure your high rating of this book encouraged me to read it. I am so glad I did.

Beata wrote: "Wonderful review, Barbara :)) Yes, you're so right! The novel engages all senses, so well said! :) I'm happy we both appreciated the writing! :)"

Your review of this book, as well as other Goodread friends' endorsements encouraged me to read this book. It is wonderful having friends with such similar reading tastes. I so appreciate your comment, Beata.

Beautiful and powerful review, Barbara! I love how you describe the message of the book, "through love, courage, and friendship, women prevailed." 🧡

Nice review, Barbara! It’s my turn to make a selection for our next local book club meeting, and this is the one I picked. Your comments make me look forward to it even more. And thanks for tipping the hat to Helen Reddy and her iconic song. ✊

Libby wrote: "Beautiful and powerful review, Barbara! I love how you describe the message of the book, "through love, courage, and friendship, women prevailed." 🧡"

It certainly is a strong message,Libby.Thank your for your kind words.

Therese wrote: "Nice review, Barbara! It’s my turn to make a selection for our next local book club meeting, and this is the one I picked. Your comments make me look forward to it even more. And thanks for tipping..."
Please let me know how yearbook club likes it, Therese. I am recommending it to my book club too. Glad you liked the verse from the famous song.

Exceptional review, Barbara!! 💖

Julie wrote: "Exceptional review, Barbara!! 💖"

I appreciate your kind words, Julie.

Spendid review Barbara. I have had this book in my sights for a while but after reading your review I think I'll just go ahead an order it now because 5+ scores are rare.

I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did, Beth. Thanks so much for your kind words.

Adding it!

What a very fine review, Barbara!

Julie wrote: "Adding it!"

Thanks, Julie. Sorry for the delay in responding.

J.K. wrote: "What a very fine review, Barbara!"

Thanks so much for your kind words, J.K. I apologize for not responding sooner.

Superb review Barbara. I keep picking this up and putting it down. I just need to read after your review 💖

Margaret M wrote: "Superb review Barbara. I keep picking this up and putting it down. I just need to read after your review 💖"

I hope you get to it soon, Margaret. I apologize for my delay in responding to your kind words.

'There have been many beautiful reviews of this book. One more retelling is not necessary, but there could never be too many accolades.' I wholeheartedly endorse this. And this: 'Sometimes you read a historical book and you are aware of how much has changed, and sometimes the book screams things haven't changed much at all. The Mercies is one of the latter.' This is such a great point. In my own research I continually find that it is the not the oppression of women in the past that shocks me, but the fact that it has echoes in the present, that it never ended, and that we don't even know our own histories because they have been suppressed. I appreciated your excellent analysis.