Mercy Among the Children

Humanity so real it hurts.

12 months ago

This remarkable novel is one of the most profoundly sad and difficult fiction reads I've encountered in a long time. I would remind myself that it was a work of fiction, and feel grateful. Richards creates characters that evoke empathy in ways that were completely unexpected. Yes, I felt empathy with the unfortunate Hendersons -- Sydney the father who made a pact never to knowingly "hurt" only to scar his young son Lyle in ways he never truly understood. And Lyle, the boy so determined to… + read more

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Evil is as evil does

This review is from: Mercy Among the Children (Hardcover)

13 months ago

Having picked up far too many books at the library on my last visit, I thought I wasn’t going to have the opportunity to finish Mercy Among the Children before its due date, but I made it a priority once hearing it was a Canada Reads 2009 selection. I will happily pay the late fees when entertained with such thought provoking and affecting storytelling as this. Our narrator, Lyle Henderson, has the misfortune of being a descendent of a father and grand-father who have been outcasts in their… + read more

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The worst book I have ever read.

13 months ago

I don't say that lightly. I don't even have a novel that is looking in from second place. I read constantly, but this is the first time I feel visceral anger at a novel. Every time someone was about to do something cruel to the Hendersons, there is a 5 page introspection as to why they are going to do it. And I still never understand their motivations. I have been trying to find a friend willing to read this book in order to find out if it is just me. Unfortunately, I think I have made my… + read more

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This book was absolutely ATROCIOUS

This review is from: Mercy Among the Children (Hardcover)

16 months ago

BY FAR THE WORST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ!!! The entire novel consists of a whiney brat complaining about all of the "tragedies" in his life. This book should be burned. I would pay money if i could un-read the book!

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Much Deserving of Five Stars!

2 years ago

From start to finish, I could find no fault with this book. It quickly pulls the reader into its wonderfully woven web of deceit and hardships, love and hate, regret and redemption. Set in a time when the Catholic Church still looms ever present and ever powerful, a classic struggle of good verses evil plays out between the Hendersons and the Pits; the Lumber Lord McVicer and the little men who struggle to make a living. The manufactured lies ran rampant against the one man, Sydney… + read more

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Interesting...

2 years ago

The writing in itself was quite decent and kept your interest. However the storyline itself was miserable beyond all reckoning.

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No mercy for the Hendersons...

2 years ago

Fantastic novel! The story is a finely woven tapestry featuring no less than a half dozen fascinating characters that intrigue the reader throughout. Definitely deserving of the attention of anyone whom has resided in a small town; but this book can and will be enjoyed by fans of uniquely Canadian fiction everywhere. I eagerly look forward to immersing myself further into the world of David Adams Richards.

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THE BEST BOOK EVER!

3 years ago

I have read a lot of fiction, and this book is without a doubt the absolutely best novel I have ever read in my life! I thought Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird was unrivalled, but Mercy Among The Children beats even that! It is the saddest, most touching, and best-written novel I have ever come across; and it will change the way you see and treat people. It is extremely thought-provoking, and did I mention - VERY sad... But an absolutely astoundingly amazingly brilliantly excellent book… + read more

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Mercy Among the Children

5 years ago

Wow. This book was so full of small town friction. I found it hard to accept that Sydney wouldn't stand up to the rest of the town. His family suffered so much! I can't even imagine what that kind of poverty would be like, in this decade. Sad and frustrating but it was a satisfying read... + read more

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Thought provoking

5 years ago

The anger and sorrow in this book is a little overwhelming. I found it refreshing for the hero not to be leading a charmed life. This is a story of how people live and how we treat each other. I admired the courage of Sidney for standing by his pact with God but felt a lot of sadness for the suffering of his family. For part of this book I felt anger toward Sidney and sadness for Lyle's suffering but over time I found myself feeling admiration for a man who stood by his word. All he had… + read more

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Just finished

6 years ago

Like 'Fall on your knees', I had to keep reminding myself this was fiction or I wouldn't have made it through. Nonetheless, it made me cry, the characters are the embodiment of us all. Amazing writing style. When I've recovered, I will go back for more. + read more

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Hardy lives again - in New Brunswick!

6 years ago

One of the back cover reviews of this book compares it to Thomas Hardy. How true! I was annoyed that the Henderson family seemed incapable of fighting back - father was convinced that all would work out according to God's plan. Well, I agree with the son, Lyle. Father was a fool. A good man, even perhaps a saint but a fool none the less. The book is interesting and worth reading, but be prepared for sadness and grief. I found that there were, like Hardy. too many co-incidences. Read… + read more

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Incredible

7 years ago

I have put this novel on the top of my list. What an incredibly talented writer Richards is! Sydney invaded my thoughts for a long time after I had closed the book, and is a character I will never forget. I was so moved by this story, and often found myself weeping for the pain endured by Sydney and his family. Richards has given us a true depiction of how humanity can be so cruel, and yet how personal conviction can withstand unrelenting persecution. A beautiful story. + read more

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Witness human nature at its best and its worst

7 years ago

In this Giller Prize-winner, narrator Lyle Henderson tells the story of his family in small-town NB. As a child, his father Sydney vowed to God that he would never harm a soul and he holds true to that promise. Others see this as mere weakness and pity him or see it as an opportunity to take advantage of him. Witnessing this as a child, Lyle takes a different and more aggressive attitude towards the world, and we witness how it all works out for both of them. An intriguing writing style… + read more

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Excellent

7 years ago

This is a very good book. One word of advice - go back and read the beginning when you're done. It ties everything together very nicely. + read more

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Bravo

7 years ago

An excellent choice for Heather's Picks. I recommend it to everyone I talk to. When you try to paraphrase it for someone it sounds very depressing (father of very poor family is falsely accused of several things and the book deals with the effect this has on the family). For some strange reason I found it uplifting and very filling, as though I'd just pulled myself away from the table after a wonderful meal. I'm glad Heather pointed it out to me!

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Touching Description of Humanity

8 years ago

This book paints a tragic picture of how a family can be destroyed by a hatefull society. Wonderful novel, one of the most touching i have ever experienced.

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Very Challenging Read

8 years ago

This was a book chosen for our book club. I was actually looking forward to this book because I had read the cover before. The last time I felt this worn out reading was in high school. If you are able to pass this one up. It may be award winning but it was the longest read of my life.

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It's got it all.

This review is from: Mercy Among the Children (Hardcover)

9 years ago

I'm using this book for my M.A. thesis at Acadia University, and I've read it three times, now. It's got everything! Richards so poingantly describes the sort of problems we all must deal with in our lives: finding and keeping love, growing old, fitting in. Essentially, this book, like much of Richards's fiction is essentially about holding onto the humanity, the inherent goodness, that we all possess, in the face of the hardships we face as we grow: bureaucratic red tape, political and… + read more

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