#105 ~ Sisters of Misery
October 7, 2008 at 11:33 am | Posted in Books, Culture, Reading, Religion, Secrets and Lies | 5 CommentsTags: Megan Kelly Hall, new age, runes, Sisters of Misery, The Lost Sister, witch trials, Young Adult
Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelly Hall
A special thanks to Andi from Andi Lit for sending this to me for review. Her lack of reading time was truly my gain.
Maddie Crane has everything her mother ever wanted, she has a prestigious New England last name and is a member of the Sisters of Misery. Unfortunately, the pressure of living up to her mother’s expectations and being in this group led by Kate Endicott made life in Hawthorne feel anything but happy and secure. With the exception of her grandmother, Maddie can’t be herself with anyone. She isn’t really sure who she is. When her grandmother Tess allows her estranged aunt Rebecca and cousin Cordelia to return to Hawthrone and live with them, Maddie is hoping to find the sense of belonging she’s been searching for in this life.
What makes Maddie’s story about discovering who she is within her relationships and finding a home for her heart unique is the involvement of the supernatural in a town haunted by its history with witch trials and its proximity to Salem, Massachusetts. Although her mother likes to brush the fact that her family is more attuned to other dimensions, Rebecca and Cordelia’s arrival in Hawthorne bring it out into the open, at least superficially. When Rebecca and Cordelia open a new age store in Hawthorne, the Sisters of Misery quickly hone in on it in part of their campaign to ostracize Cordelia. When a Sisters of Misery induction ritual goes horribly out of control and Maddie, unaware of the intentions of the rest of the group, does and cannot do anything to stop it, her family is never the same again. It is only then when Maddie decides to let go of fear, stand up against Kate and her ilk, and embrace her family’s gifts. Hopefully it won’t be too late and Cordelia will forgive her.
Sisters of Misery is targeted to the Young Adult audience. The main characters are in high school and are facing some of the standard issues presented to girls as they are finishing high school and preparing for adulthood. I had no issues with the content, but there were sexual situations, hints of sexual violence, and language that took me by surprise given the intended audience. Much has changed since I last read a Young Adult novel. I would not discourage any mature teenager from reading this novel. At the same time, I feel it bears mentioning that this novel has a sharper edge to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The story moved quickly and I cared for Maddie, Rebecca, Cordelia, and Tess. It brought back some of the darker sides of high school life and, while there were elements of the supernatural, it felt very true. I also enjoyed how runes were incorporated into each chapter. The secrets throughout the story were interesting and well revealed. Still, there is much left unfinished and I am excited that Megan Kelly Hall is writing a sequel. I feel that there is something more going on with her mother and I’m hoping this comes to light in The Lost Sister. I will be first in line to read it in August of 2009 to find out what happens to Maddie, Cordelia, and the Sisters of Misery now that they are college age.
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To buy this novel, click here.
#58 ~ The Witch’s Trinity
February 15, 2008 at 12:22 pm | Posted in Books, Brain Food for Thought, Culture, Family, Historical Fiction, LIfe, Religion | 1 CommentTags: catty women, Erika Mailman, Gude Muller, mistreatment of the elderly, The Witch's Trinity, witch trials

The Witch’s Trinity: A Novel by Erika Mailman
I’ve been reading a lot of historical fiction recently and most of it has centered on London. The greatest portion of that has taken place during the reigns of the Tudor monarchs. I wanted to change things up. So, when I read the list of Divia’s holiday bounty, I instantly took notice of The Witch’s Trinity. Not only does it take place in Germany, it had a paranormal twist. This made it very much different from my usual fare. It was a quick read that did not disappoint.
The Witch’s Trinity tells the story of Güde Müller, an elderly grandmother who lives with her only son Jost and his family. They live in Tierkinddorf, Germany and have been experiencing two years of extreme famine. The strain of living without adequate food is taking its toll on the family and the town as a whole. Güde can tell how much Irmeltrud, Jost’s wife, resents her being alive and taking food that would ordinarily go to her children. After a Catholic priest is called in to investigate whether witches are to blame for the town’s hard luck, one of Güde’s childhood friend is burned at the stake. Still, the town is desperate. The able-bodied men leave the village in search of food. While they are gone, the village starts to turn on one another and it seems that no one is safe from being accused of witchcraft.
This book had a powerful affect on me. It made it difficult for me to sleep well for almost a week. It’s unbelievable the things that humans will do to one another and it’s frightening how open women and the elderly are abuses of many kinds. It’s especially shameful how women turn on each other instead of supporting each other. The terror experienced by Güde and other helpless citizens of Tierkinddorf was so believable that there were entire sections of this book that had my heart racing. I left this book feeling thankful to be alive in 2008 instead of 1608. Witch trials make workplace cattiness seem like child’s play.
As with many books, The Witch’s Trinity was tidied up too quickly and neatly. I would still suggest that anyone interested in witch trials or the plight of women or the elderly read it. You will continue to think about this book and its themes long after you’ve finished it. That certainly sets this novel by Erika Mailman apart from the rest.
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To buy this novel, click here.
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