Customer Reviews

Mercy Among the Children

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is among the very best fiction I have read in a long long while. And yet, it was given to me by a friend who could not endure reading any further than the first few chapters. I think it is the kind of story you either love or hate, it is dark and frustrating and definitely not a "feel-good". I can see how some could feel smothered and weary with the relentless pessimistic Hardyesque fatalism that Richards marinates this thing in... it's like Jude The Obsure meets the biblical Book of Job! But I like Hardy. And Job for that matter! So I did not mind the constant question that revolves in "Mercy" which is, "How is the Henderson family going to survive the terrible injustice, shame and misfortune that is hurled against them?" Does truth matter?

Set in rural New Brunswick, Lyle Henderson, now nineteen years old, narrates the history of his family... the misfortune and ostracism that began with his grandfather and was passed on down to Lyle's father Sydney. At the age of twelve, an accident happens and Sydney, mistaking his friend for dead and believing himself responsible, makes a rash vow to God. If the boy lives, Sydney will never harm another living soul. The boy gets up and walks away. Lyle's recollections chronicle the result of Sydney's radical superhuman commitment to an unlimited "turn-the-other-cheek" pacifism. Sydney subjects himself, and in turn, subjects his family to a life of utter poverty and ridicule in the face of escalating accusations and abuse that come from a community that is only too willing to take advantage of his non-resistance. As Lyle says at one point "My mother and father's dreams were always dispensable to certain people, who for some reason believed that they themselves and their dreams were indispensable."
Sydney's life-philosophy is this: "No one can do an injury to you without doing an injury to themselves." And secondly, "In man's heart is the only truth that matters."
For the bulk of the book Richards does a tremendous job of showing us the frustration that comes from trying to actually live out the implications of Sydney's philosophy. Because here, as in real life, love and power are diametrically opposed. He who loves the most has the least power, and we find ourselves at times siding with Lyle... who is terribly sick of being trampled. But what's the alternative? To become a villain? It's not until the story comes full circle that we nod in agreement with Constable Delano, when he concludes about the Henderson family "The truth does matter!" You will be surprised at how much it matters.

What a profound and deeply moving, beautifully crafted book. You will love the victims, and you will loathe the villains. But, even some of the villains you will learn to love (or at least pity), because in the end, there is mercy among the children.

Here is a book about poverty, both of the spirit and of the pocket. Written in spare, tidy prose with exceptional characterizations, it is a dark tale periodically shot through with veins of pure gold; moments of such exquisite sweetness (in the character of little Percy, or the aging but quietly heroic Jay Beard) that they are painful. There is nothing stock about the narrative or about the characters who are among the most fully realized I've ever read. The good people (the Hendersons) are all forgivably flawed in some small way. And the bad people are understandable in their angry manipulations, in their negative strengths and human weaknesses. This is not light reading but it is potent and powerful, an evocation of the lengths to which the very poor can be driven. Lyle Henderson, son of the Job-like Sydney, narrator of the family history is a most believably tortured and loving soul. One hopes, throughout this book, for affirming moments that never materialize. Yet there is such truth here that I found it impossible not to keep reading.

I am dismayed that I didn't know of the award-winning David Adams Richards before reading this book, but I will certainly be reading his other books at the first possible opportunity. The author's talent is rare and wonderful; his eye is clear and he wastes no time on frilly adjectives. This is prose (and truth) at its purest--a truly remarkable achievement.

My highest recommendation.

There is a quote, that I must have picked up somewhere, that says that you can tell art is good when it stays with you. When those scenes from a certain film, that line of poetry, or that section of a novel comes back into your head time and time again - it's a sure sign that the work is great.

For me this is one of those books. The number of times it has come into my life and my thoughts I cannot count.

I think it might have broken my heart.

Although fictional, Mercy among the children portrays what could be a real life drama. From beginning to end, Richards shows great insight and understanding of human nature. His characters through the generations are believable and consistent. The issues of Morality and Justice intertwined throughout the story lines evoke strong emotions. This was a book I couldn't put down and when finished, wanted to share with others. It was easy to read, even though the themes continues to haunt.

If I was rating this book on the writing alone, it would certainly be worth five stars. However as the other reviewers have stated this book is ripe with painful almost unbearable material, and the sheer difficulty of slogging through the misfortunes of the Henderson family makes for some mighty depressing reading. You will likely find yourself saying "Enough already, how much more can these poor people take!" That said this is still an excellent book, and well worth your time to read. Just remember if you are looking for a "feelgood" read this is probably not the book for you.

The author really held my interest, I had difficulty putting the book down. I kept expecting that something good surely would happen to the characters as one tragedy followed another. It was a depressing book although well written.

I'm not being over the top, when I say that this book is one of the best I have ever read. An incredible piece of writing, I found it hard to put down.

The characters are gritty and compelling. If you can read the whole book without a tear, I'd be surprised. Buy the book!

It has been over two years since I have read this book - to see the names of these characters again (Sydney, Lyle, Percy etc.) brings to mind why I liked this book so much ... the characters are timeless! What a great contrast of human nature.
It seems as if I just read the book in that each character comes to mind as a whole person, clearly definable and memorable in their unique way.

Richards writes with humility and with great insight into the stuggle of disadvantaged people without being overly dramatic. You have to respect his work.

Although the story is a major "bummer" in many ways, it is also a testament to the beauty of personal strength and love.

On one hand, Richards made me feel enormously sorry for these people and on the other hand he made me fully envious of them. (especially Sydney).

(I had the opportunity to hear Richards comment at a reading that he thinks the character Lyle is as least as great a man as his father Sydney - what an interresting thought.)

If you like this book and would like something of similar quality/nature you may enjoy Alistair MacLeod's work - especially his short stories.

This is the best book I have read so far in my 49 years. The author must have lived many lives in order to have portrayed humanity so perfectly.
Would strongly recommend this fabulous read to anyone who knows what it is like to live with injustice.........and who hasn't?

I usually do not read a lot, nor do I enjoy reading a Canadian novel, however from the second I picked this book up, I found it incrediably diffucult to put it back down. Richards, is an amazing writer and can easily capture the works of the human mind very easily. There is no suprise as to why he was nominated for the Giller Prize. I could see why others would find in depressing and boring, however one must look deeper into the book to find its real truth and the meaning he was trying to convey to his readers. I cannot wait to read the rest of his work.