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ninakrasnoff's review against another edition
5.0
This is beautiful & extremely well-written & gut-wrenching & just so, so depressing. Probably the best book on abortion I’ve read
eleanormharte's review against another edition
4.0
I have complicated feelings on this book, in that I'm not exactly sure how I feel. I first saw it at the bookstore, where I wanted to buy it for the pretty cover, and then thought, "hmm, maybe get it from the library instead."
The book opens with Claudia, a woman in her early 40s who works at a women's health clinic in downtown Boston. She counsels patients, on their pregnancies, both wanted and unwanted. Outside the clinic, there are anti-abortion protestors every day. Some of them she comes to recognize. She visits her weed dealer, Timmy, and spends the rest of her time went not at work either high or rudderless or sometimes both. Timmy's other customer is Anthony, a man who lives in his mom's basement, makes money from accident disability insurance and updating his church website, and is internet best friends with Excelsior11. Excelsior11 is the screen name for Victor Price, an anti abortion activist and white supremacist.
We follow these characters through one miserable winter (more on that later) and see how they are connected and disconnected. I don't want to give things away, but I thought things were going to happen in one way and instead they took a more character-centered approach. It was hard to read the sections of this book that take place in Victor's head. Given that he is a white supremacist, it's not a surprise that he has horrible beliefs, says horrible things about women and people of color, and runs an anti abortion website where he shames white women who have them. There's definitely a needed content warning in this book for all of those things.
The sense of place in MERCY STREET is transformative. The book takes place in the winter of 2015, and I was immediately taken back to that year in Boston where it snowed 110 inches in one winter. (The very reason I moved to California.) The actions of the book take place against this backdrop, of snow and cold and five winter storms in five weeks and every just so goddamn sick of shoveling and then having to shovel it all again.
Overall, I'm glad I read it and would recommend it if it sounds interesting to you!
The book opens with Claudia, a woman in her early 40s who works at a women's health clinic in downtown Boston. She counsels patients, on their pregnancies, both wanted and unwanted. Outside the clinic, there are anti-abortion protestors every day. Some of them she comes to recognize. She visits her weed dealer, Timmy, and spends the rest of her time went not at work either high or rudderless or sometimes both. Timmy's other customer is Anthony, a man who lives in his mom's basement, makes money from accident disability insurance and updating his church website, and is internet best friends with Excelsior11. Excelsior11 is the screen name for Victor Price, an anti abortion activist and white supremacist.
We follow these characters through one miserable winter (more on that later) and see how they are connected and disconnected. I don't want to give things away, but I thought things were going to happen in one way and instead they took a more character-centered approach. It was hard to read the sections of this book that take place in Victor's head. Given that he is a white supremacist, it's not a surprise that he has horrible beliefs, says horrible things about women and people of color, and runs an anti abortion website where he shames white women who have them. There's definitely a needed content warning in this book for all of those things.
The sense of place in MERCY STREET is transformative. The book takes place in the winter of 2015, and I was immediately taken back to that year in Boston where it snowed 110 inches in one winter. (The very reason I moved to California.) The actions of the book take place against this backdrop, of snow and cold and five winter storms in five weeks and every just so goddamn sick of shoveling and then having to shovel it all again.
Overall, I'm glad I read it and would recommend it if it sounds interesting to you!
ranotraino's review against another edition
3.0
Character-driven storytelling wrapped around potent commentary on one of the biggest hot-button issues right now: the right to get an abortion. In a good way, I had no idea where "Mercy Street" would take me when I started reading, and by the end I found myself having sympathized for (but not excused the actions of) some of the worst members of our society.
Haigh does a fantastic job of making every character feel like a real person with complex morals, complex values, and a full story arc. Everyone whose point of view is explored (there are four) is unique from the other and grapples with their own struggles. Perhaps this is how she's able to pull off writing a novel about abortion (and insert plenty of commentary) without coming across as hamfisted.
7/10
Haigh does a fantastic job of making every character feel like a real person with complex morals, complex values, and a full story arc. Everyone whose point of view is explored (there are four) is unique from the other and grapples with their own struggles. Perhaps this is how she's able to pull off writing a novel about abortion (and insert plenty of commentary) without coming across as hamfisted.
7/10
ljenkinsboston's review against another edition
Frustrating. Main character makes so many bad decisions.
readerjim's review against another edition
5.0
This novel explores the realities of abortion in America through the eyes of several different characters. Claudia, a counselor at a clinic in Boston, is the most dynamic and complex. Expertly crafted, this book presents the real lives beyond the rhetoric as innately and incredibly human.
piyali's review against another edition
4.0
A bold novel that explores the burning issues in America - abortion, racism, legalization of Marijuana, addiction, mental health.
There is clinic for reproductive health on Mercy Street in Boston.
Claudia, a staff, is used to the protestors outside their clinic. But someone has been taking photos of the women who come in to the clinic for abortion and those photos are appearing on a website called Hall of Shame.
Timmy Flynn sells weed and tries to find ways he can bring his son the Tuna to live with him in Boston and stop paying child support to his ex wife.
Anthony lives off his disability checks after an accident in his work place and gets through his life with the help of his Cathoic faith.
Victor Prine is determined to make sure White women fulfill their duty of procreation so the Blacks and people of other races do not undermine white power.
The paths of these different characters are destined to collide and what happens if the collision takes place?
The novel has been called "propulsive" and "urgent" by reviewers. Propulsive it is because I obsessively turned the pages to read what happens in the plot. It was also fascinating to live for a short while in the heads of a white supremacist, a person with severe mental health issues, a well meaning drug dealer and a middle aged women's health expert who has come from an impoverished background. I found this book riveting, thought provoking and although hair raising at the pacing of the story as well as plot twists, not necessarily without hope. I can, however, only suggest this book to readers who want to read gritty, honest truth about women's choices and those who are adamant that they should not have any.
There is clinic for reproductive health on Mercy Street in Boston.
Claudia, a staff, is used to the protestors outside their clinic. But someone has been taking photos of the women who come in to the clinic for abortion and those photos are appearing on a website called Hall of Shame.
Timmy Flynn sells weed and tries to find ways he can bring his son the Tuna to live with him in Boston and stop paying child support to his ex wife.
Anthony lives off his disability checks after an accident in his work place and gets through his life with the help of his Cathoic faith.
Victor Prine is determined to make sure White women fulfill their duty of procreation so the Blacks and people of other races do not undermine white power.
The paths of these different characters are destined to collide and what happens if the collision takes place?
The novel has been called "propulsive" and "urgent" by reviewers. Propulsive it is because I obsessively turned the pages to read what happens in the plot. It was also fascinating to live for a short while in the heads of a white supremacist, a person with severe mental health issues, a well meaning drug dealer and a middle aged women's health expert who has come from an impoverished background. I found this book riveting, thought provoking and although hair raising at the pacing of the story as well as plot twists, not necessarily without hope. I can, however, only suggest this book to readers who want to read gritty, honest truth about women's choices and those who are adamant that they should not have any.
bibliobethica's review against another edition
5.0
I love reading novels that handle timely topics. Mercy Street is just that. It offers great insight through the characters about the issue of abortion. It really made me think. The ending is shocking and still has me thinking about it. A compelling read!
bwtimme's review against another edition
3.0
This book was totally mediocre to me. I kept waiting for something to happen, the plot seemed kind of random to me. Mercy Street clinic is the connection point for all the characters but it was just a very loose book in my opinion.
aafromwv's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting characters, interesting story. Worth a read.
kelseytosh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75