The Mercies
Ratings59
Average rating3.8
Interesting book about a part of the world that's very foreign to me, and the hated patriarchy and how people use religion – which is supposed to be about love – to justify doing hateful things.
This book made me incredibly angry the entire time I read it but because things like this actually happened back then but the writing was so beautiful that I can't help but love it.
Should not have reviewed this one immediately after finishing it. After sleeping on it, I've revised my rating to 3 stars. The writing is fantastic, but definitely don't make the mistake of going into this one thinking you'll emerge emotionally unscathed.
Moving tale
It took me a bit to get into, but once I did, I devoured this book. It is a lovely, detailed period piece about religious fervor gone wrong, and the petty enmities that tear a community apart. Out is also, importantly, about racism and sexism, against an indigenous culture and against women, respectively. With a doomed lesbian romance.
''The storm comes in like a finger snap. That's how they'll speak in the months and years after, when it stops being only an ache behind their eyes and crushing at the base of their throats. When it finally fits into stories. Even then, it doesn't tell how it actually was. There are ways words fall down: they give shape too easily, carelessly. And there was no grace, no ease to what Maren saw.''
Norway, 17th century. Isolated from the mainland, the women of Vardø, a fishing village, have remained alone to support themselves, after a terrible storm that led to the death of almost every man of the village. Loyal to the traditions of their homeland, they haven't forgotten to pay homage to the myths of old along with their Christian faith. But hostility does live among them, and when a strange man (who is actually a witch hunter) arrives escorted by his young, frightened wife, danger is more tangible than ever. Whispers of witchcraft get louder and louder and no woman is safe anymore.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave has created an ambitious work, composed of a number of themes often found in today's Historical Fiction novels. The era when witch trials monopolized the people's interest, a time when men (and women) used religion as a means to get rid of the ones who were brave enough to follow their own route, serves as the backdrop for a story of womanhood and bravery.
Centred around a beautiful relationship, the strength of Maren and Ursa demonstrates the power of women who are united, supporting each other, protectors and nurturers. And we are also shown the results of discord when hostility and envy bring about imminent danger. Naturally, men use this to their advantage. The writing is beautiful and atmospheric. The details of the daily life of women, the chores, their gatherings are depicted to perfection. The harsh land, the whimsical sea, the wind, the fire, the traditions, everything that comes in our minds when we think of Norway can be found within the pages of this beautiful novel.
However, there are a few problems, in my opinion. I felt that the story became easily predictable, especially if the reader has read tons and tons of Historical Fiction. There are many repetitive references to Ursa's past in Bergen and, truthfully, I am quite tired of seeing the trope of ugly sex between wives and husbands. It's been done to death and modern writers are not D.H.Lawrence. The most important problem I faced was the dialogue. At times, it seemed a victim of the syndrome of the YA writer who decided to write a novel for adults. It is not as jarring as in other similar cases, but it is there.
The Mercies is one more example of a successfully constructed Historical Fiction novel that inserts contemporary issues in fine unison with History without being too modern or implausible. Populated with interesting characters, centred around two marvellous women and their relationship, rich in Norwegian atmosphere. It may not be perfect, but we sure do need more novels such as this.
''She knows what they are: hallowed ground, blessed by a man of God, holding naught but the remains of their men. But here, with the wind whistling through the open channels of their island, and the lit houses at her back, walking towards them seems as ill-fated as stepping from a cliff. She imagines them crashing up, thrashing down and the world seems to rock beneath her feet.''
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
Though his touch is gentle it feels bruising even through clothes: she can't suffer a man to touch her, however well meant.
2.5 stars
This review can also be found on my blog.
I wonder if I would've gotten along better with this had I not consumed so much media about the Salem witch trials over the course of my life (fun fact: one of my ancestors was in the trials). While the setting is different, the story is largely similar to those out of Salem – but make it gay. The novel is based on true events, though. My issue is just that I didn't feel Hargrave brought anything new to the table with it; it was easy for me to see what was coming and I dreaded picking the book up. While I love my fair share of sad stories, I feel like I always get something out of them and that just wasn't the case here. If you haven't been inundated with stories of witch trials, I think this would work better for you. For me, it just felt like another of the same.
content warnings: death of a loved one, sexual assault, miscarriage
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A really interesting and intriguing read. This is a historical fiction novel based around the first Vardø witch trials (yes, there were more than one there!). At this point in time I have been living in Norway for about 10 years, so reading more stories set in an around my adopted country is appealing to me. This one grabbed me with its interesting concept and cool looking cover (yes, I occasionally judge a book by its cover). The setting of 17th century Norway is not one I am so familiar with - it is away from the modern day reality that Nordic noir tends to focus on and the earlier Viking period or norse mythology, which form the backbone of a lot of peoples image of Norway. I know there is a lot literary fiction set in 19th century Norway (eg the works of the ‘four greats': Kielland, Ibsen, Bjørnsen and Lie), but I always found that a bit heavy to dive into.
Norway is such a large country that even into the 17th century the reach of the church was still limited, especially up in the far north. Here the Norwegian people and the Sami people coexisted to a certain extent - the Norwegians practicing chritianity, but the Sami holding to older traditional beliefs. Certain religious elements found this very objectionable, and led to many Sami being tried as witches. The Vardø witch trials were something a bit different in that they were the first in which Norwegian women were tried as witches. This provides the background history for the story.
Essentially the story here is how petty grievances can lead to drastic and brutal outcomes in the settings of paranoia that such religious persecution generates in small and isolated communities. The plight of the various people involved is harrowing and the sense of paranoia generated feels visceral at times. You get a real sense that the instigators do not understand the consequences until it is too late. A harrowing read.
This book was powerful and pretty and sad and the ending made me choke up but I would read it all over again. I really am on a streak of great books this year.