From the Bookshelf of Read Between the Wines…

The Scarlet Letter

Nathaniel Hawthorne

Start date: June 1, 2015

Finish date: June 30, 2015

Discussion: Book Club Discussions

Why we're reading this: This book was nominated by Jason.
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What Members Thought

Oct 11, 2012 Jason rated it really liked it

Shelves: wine-club, reviewed, project-gutenberg

Boom! Another case of youthful idiocy corrected.

Probably the biggest problem with The Scarlet Letter is that we make kids read it while they’re still too dumb to appreciate it. I was one of those dumb kids who thought it was over-written and dull. And yeah, it is over-written, but sort of in the same way that zombie scenes in The Walking Dead are over-written. It’s not a bad thing! And but by no means is this book dull, either. I was engaged from start to finish.

For those who have never heard of Boom! Another case of youthful idiocy corrected.

Probably the biggest problem with The Scarlet Letter is that we make kids read it while they’re still too dumb to appreciate it. I was one of those dumb kids who thought it was over-written and dull. And yeah, it is over-written, but sort of in the same way that zombie scenes in The Walking Dead are over-written. It’s not a bad thing! And but by no means is this book dull, either. I was engaged from start to finish.

For those who have never heard of “words” or “books” before, The Scarlet Letter is the story of Hester Prynne, a woman in mid–17th century Puritanical New England who is shunned for her participation in an extramarital affair—one that produced a child (which is probably what gave her away). But instead of the focus of the book being on Prynne herself and the hardships of her living among a bunch of judgy McJudgersons, it’s rather about the revenge that is sought by the man she has wronged (i.e. her husband). The situation that follows comes to redefine the idea of sin and moral decrepitude. Of course, we’re talking Puritanical sin here where it’s off to the gallows if your sleeves are too short or if you’re caught smoking in the street. (God only knows what might’ve happened if anyone discovered you receiving a blowie in the horse alley that one time.) In fact, those prudes are so careful not to appear improper that Hawthorne likens them—during a day on which they should be having the most fun ever, mind you—to infirmary patients.

Into this festal season of the year—as it already was, and continued to be during the greater part of two centuries—the Puritans compressed whatever mirth and public joy they deemed allowable to human infirmity; thereby so far dispelling the customary cloud, that, for the space of a single holiday, they appeared scarcely more grave than most other communities at a period of general affliction.

Anyway, I’ve gotten sidetracked again. The Scarlet Letter is superbly well written and I am glad for having given it the second chance it so deserved.

Hester Prynne, modern day, Boston, Massachusetts ...more

52 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2012 Becky rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: librivox-gutenberg-for-free, classics, women-s-studies

The ideas in the book are great. The plot is interesting. Hawthorne's narrative is lackluster. He is a much better writer than this, and its unfortunate that this seems to be the book he is known for. Still, its one of those books that people probably should read for its content. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review