Violent Friendship Of Esther Johnson

One of Morgan-Cole's strengths is her ability to write a character in a way that makes us feel we know them, and that works well in historical fiction when there is no adventure or quest to make you turn the page. What makes you keep turning pages is that you get to like Esther Johnson, and you want to spend more time with her and get to know her better. Yes, you also want to see what happens to her, but it doesn't seem as important as just being with her and enjoying her world.


Esther Johnson is not without faults and weaknesses. But then characters without any faults or weaknesses are harder to like, aren't they? Even though none of the characters in this book are sugar coated, I still found myself sympathizing with them. Even Jonathon Swift, who I was told most people hated by the end of the book, was someone I could identify with. He was portrayed as a man who wanted more out of life and thought he deserved more. He was selfish, perhaps, but no more selfish than anyone with a any amount of ambition. The only point of the book where I could say I strongly disliked Swift was the last page, and even then his actions were in character.


The Violent Friendship of Esther Johnson deals with our place in the world and how we see that place. The Truth about Esther is revealed little by little, as much to Esther herself as it is to the reader. This is true of all of main characters especially Jonathan Swift and Becca Dingley. There is also something to be said of The Truth About Love and how difficult it can be for us to know it. Esther's understanding of love grows and changes as she ages, and sometimes she is not sure which understanding is correct or best.


I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I hope to see more writing from Trudy Morgan-Cole in the future

I never knew who Esther Johnson was until I read this very touching book. A woman dedicated to the friendship with Jonathan Swift through many years and many trials. This book is beautifully written and very well researched. It made me reflect on my own independence.