diziet's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I really liked the first parts of the book - the short chapters and quick shifts in perspective. But several of the characters were not that interesting or relevant. The DA - and especially his wife and son. Would much rather have had Willies mothers perspective - the chapters with his dad Frank are excellent and touching.
All the white characters - except for Ora and Dale - where just like spectators and made me think of the popular quote ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ Not to diminish the risks of speaking out in US South in the 1940s.
The ending for me with the seemed to misdirect from the tragedy and cruelty Willie is subjected to. It did not add anything to the story - and seemed a tad apologist. Like ‘white people also suffered’ - and really they did not - and do not - in comparison. But then this is just how I read it. Perhaps there is better way to interpret it?
Still a good book and worth a read.
All the white characters - except for Ora and Dale - where just like spectators and made me think of the popular quote ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ Not to diminish the risks of speaking out in US South in the 1940s.
The ending for me with the
Spoiler
assault/killing? of DA’s sonStill a good book and worth a read.
berivan_krt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
mslourens's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sunny76's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, one evening and a little bit of the next morning is the time frame for this book. It's told from 9 character's points of view. These nine characters are: Lane, a prison trustee; Dale, a gas station owner; Ora, wife of Dale; Willie, the convicted and sentenced to die prisoner; Frank, Willie's dad; Father Hannigan, priest; Gabe, prosecuter's son; Nell, Gabe's mom; and Polly, the prosecuter and Gabe's dad. There is not time for a lot of character development in a day, but each of these people touched me in different ways - some made me feel good and some made me feel sorry for them. There are additional characters we know a little about some of them also touched me even when talked of in passing: Grace, Willie's girlfriend; Tobe, Dale and Ora's son; Elma, Willie's mom; and Bess, Frank's mule. Yes, even Frank's mule touched me. I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the south in the 40s. My only issue I have with this book is Gabe's piece of the ending and I generally don't mind endings like this.
readerjim's review
5.0
A compelling story that draws you on and won’t let you go until the final page.
indiabulman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
awful and gut-wrenching, but well written. very short chapters which i loved, i am simple. particularly resonated with polly, father hannigan, frank and willies sections. hard to read but good.
sineadmck's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
emmapaigereads's review against another edition
4.0
Very reminiscent of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” but darker and with an open end. Painful but an excellent and necessary read.
keeperofpages's review against another edition
3.0
Set against the backdrop of WWII, with themes of race, injustice and community, The Mercy Seat is an emotionally charged read. When I first started reading this novel, I was thrown by how quickly the perspectives changed, I wondered how I was ever going to settle into the novel, and get to know the characters, if I only heard from them for a few pages at a time. Little did I know just how powerful this snap shot narration would be. With a constant change of perspective every few pages, it was vital Winthrop was, not only able to convey the progression of this plot but also, able to convey the emotion of each character, and to my delight, this was achieved. The writing, at times, is so beautiful and thought-provoking. Not only does this novel shine a light on the prejudices rife in Louisiana in 1943, but it also raises questions on the use of the death penalty.
It isn’t obvious at first, but as the novel progresses, you see how each person’s perspective is connected and this brings the plot together nicely. You see those who are certain of Will’s guilt, and those believe in his innocent, those gearing up to watch the electrocution, and those who believe it’s wrong to sentence a man to death.
The strongest perspective in this novel, for me, came from Will’s father, Frank – you can just feel that Frank has had a hard life, a black man in Louisiana in 1943, knowing his son is due to die at midnight, trying his best to get back in time to see him one last time before it’s too late. I can’t even put into word how much I felt Frank’s narration in my heart.
There’s no denying this novel is, in places, exceptionally powerful, thought-provoking and heartfelt but…. of the nine perspectives, only two of them were black. A story of a possible wrongful conviction, wrought with racial tension, a black man is about to be electrocuted – a novel that promotes discussion on justice and race, you can’t help but see the imbalance in perspectives. Interestingly, Will’s narration didn’t feel at the centre of this plot. A young man alone in his cell waiting for death with nothing but acceptance to keep him company – acceptance that death is coming, yet, I never really felt like this novel was Will’s story. Now, it’s worth mentioning this is a white female author writing the perspective of a young black male facing the death penalty, so you have to allow for a bit of leeway in the narration; I can imagine Will’s, and Frank’s, perspectives were incredibly hard to write, and Winthrop did an amazing job writing them, Frank’s in particular. But, one has to wonder, this novel is about how a community reacts to a black man sentenced to death, why is it so heavily focused on how white people feel about this potential injustice? They’re not on the receiving end of this racial prejudice, yet their perspective on this racial prejudice is dominant….
The ending of this novel came as a real surprise, it’s an open ending, but a powerful one, one that leaves you questioning law and justice. To end the novel this way was a very clever move by Winthrop, because it ensure you stay thinking about it.
Overall, I do recommend this novel, it is highly heartfelt and very well-written. It is intentionally slow-paced, so you have time to process the emotions you’ll feel as you read it, I just wish the character creation was a little more diverse.
*My thanks to the publisher (Sceptre) for providing me with a copy of this book*
It isn’t obvious at first, but as the novel progresses, you see how each person’s perspective is connected and this brings the plot together nicely. You see those who are certain of Will’s guilt, and those believe in his innocent, those gearing up to watch the electrocution, and those who believe it’s wrong to sentence a man to death.
The strongest perspective in this novel, for me, came from Will’s father, Frank – you can just feel that Frank has had a hard life, a black man in Louisiana in 1943, knowing his son is due to die at midnight, trying his best to get back in time to see him one last time before it’s too late. I can’t even put into word how much I felt Frank’s narration in my heart.
There’s no denying this novel is, in places, exceptionally powerful, thought-provoking and heartfelt but…. of the nine perspectives, only two of them were black. A story of a possible wrongful conviction, wrought with racial tension, a black man is about to be electrocuted – a novel that promotes discussion on justice and race, you can’t help but see the imbalance in perspectives. Interestingly, Will’s narration didn’t feel at the centre of this plot. A young man alone in his cell waiting for death with nothing but acceptance to keep him company – acceptance that death is coming, yet, I never really felt like this novel was Will’s story. Now, it’s worth mentioning this is a white female author writing the perspective of a young black male facing the death penalty, so you have to allow for a bit of leeway in the narration; I can imagine Will’s, and Frank’s, perspectives were incredibly hard to write, and Winthrop did an amazing job writing them, Frank’s in particular. But, one has to wonder, this novel is about how a community reacts to a black man sentenced to death, why is it so heavily focused on how white people feel about this potential injustice? They’re not on the receiving end of this racial prejudice, yet their perspective on this racial prejudice is dominant….
The ending of this novel came as a real surprise, it’s an open ending, but a powerful one, one that leaves you questioning law and justice. To end the novel this way was a very clever move by Winthrop, because it ensure you stay thinking about it.
Overall, I do recommend this novel, it is highly heartfelt and very well-written. It is intentionally slow-paced, so you have time to process the emotions you’ll feel as you read it, I just wish the character creation was a little more diverse.
*My thanks to the publisher (Sceptre) for providing me with a copy of this book*
readbymegs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault