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rgyger's review
5.0
This book just found itself on my favorites list. It was awesome.
First I liked the whole premise about a girl during prohibition. I have not read another book in that time period and thought it was great. Most authors, I believe, do not want to get into the "is alcohol evil or not?" so they leave this time in history alone. To me that is a sad thing because it was such an important time in American history and has such applicable lessons for today. Ann Tatlock earned my respect in that she tackled this and that she did such an amazing job with it.
The research done for this book is completely evident without feeling like a history textbook. Details, dates, and facts all blended seamlessly with fiction. The characters unique and their issues were handled beautifully. My personal favorite was Jones, though many might not agree with me, because he seemed so real. Link had to be my second as he made me laugh.
The facts about Al Capone were interesting to me. I remember learn about him in middle school, but we did not learn some of the things mentioned in this book. Not only was Capone a criminal in this book, but he was a person, something I believe many people forget.
To see what other books I back, go to my blog at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/
First I liked the whole premise about a girl during prohibition. I have not read another book in that time period and thought it was great. Most authors, I believe, do not want to get into the "is alcohol evil or not?" so they leave this time in history alone. To me that is a sad thing because it was such an important time in American history and has such applicable lessons for today. Ann Tatlock earned my respect in that she tackled this and that she did such an amazing job with it.
The research done for this book is completely evident without feeling like a history textbook. Details, dates, and facts all blended seamlessly with fiction. The characters unique and their issues were handled beautifully. My personal favorite was Jones, though many might not agree with me, because he seemed so real. Link had to be my second as he made me laugh.
The facts about Al Capone were interesting to me. I remember learn about him in middle school, but we did not learn some of the things mentioned in this book. Not only was Capone a criminal in this book, but he was a person, something I believe many people forget.
To see what other books I back, go to my blog at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/
punnygirl789's review
3.0
I'd give this 3-1/2 if that was an option. I liked some aspects but overall it was a little too slow for me & hard to get into. couldn't quite relate to either the main character or her father.
machadofam8's review
3.0
I definitely liked this - like the way the story wove through all the happenings at the resort. I figured out what the deal was with Link but it still had enough tension to keep me going through to the end.
reneesuz's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book although my friend RAnn loved it even more. Here is her review: http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-sweet-mercy.html
gabs_myfullbookshelf's review
4.0
Read more of my reviews at My Full Bookshelf Reviews
I just finished Sweet Mercy. And I loved it. It was just so good. The characters, the story...everything. It was Christian, but it wasn't preachy. It was just wonderful.
I'll start with Eve. Eve was an interesting character, and I am still not 100% sure what I think of her. I'll admit that at the beginning I didn't like her as much, because she was the kind of person that thinks she's a perfect saint compared to everyone else. But she grows, a lot. Her elderly self ponders how she was, and says that something she learned is that (and this isn't verbatim) no one is all bad, just like no one is all good.
The Christian elements in this book did not overtake the whole entire plot. I'll be honest, I wouldn't have been apalled if they did, but a common complaint with Christian fiction is that it becomes overly preachy after a bit. I don't think this one does at all. It's message is subtle, but poignant.
Also, Sweet Mercy is an amazing example of historical fiction. This might sound strange, but I really felt like I was in that era while I was reading. This isn't a "hey kids, today we're going to learn about the Great Depression!" kind of story. It felt real.
This is some of the best Christian fiction I've read in a long time, as well as the best Historical Fiction I've read in a long time. It's the kind of book that I won't get tired of rereading again and again!
I received this book via Goodreads First Reads. This in no way affects my review.
I just finished Sweet Mercy. And I loved it. It was just so good. The characters, the story...everything. It was Christian, but it wasn't preachy. It was just wonderful.
I'll start with Eve. Eve was an interesting character, and I am still not 100% sure what I think of her. I'll admit that at the beginning I didn't like her as much, because she was the kind of person that thinks she's a perfect saint compared to everyone else. But she grows, a lot. Her elderly self ponders how she was, and says that something she learned is that (and this isn't verbatim) no one is all bad, just like no one is all good.
The Christian elements in this book did not overtake the whole entire plot. I'll be honest, I wouldn't have been apalled if they did, but a common complaint with Christian fiction is that it becomes overly preachy after a bit. I don't think this one does at all. It's message is subtle, but poignant.
Also, Sweet Mercy is an amazing example of historical fiction. This might sound strange, but I really felt like I was in that era while I was reading. This isn't a "hey kids, today we're going to learn about the Great Depression!" kind of story. It felt real.
This is some of the best Christian fiction I've read in a long time, as well as the best Historical Fiction I've read in a long time. It's the kind of book that I won't get tired of rereading again and again!
I received this book via Goodreads First Reads. This in no way affects my review.
vixenchick's review
5.0
Sweet Mercy is a coming of age story set in the time of Prohibition. eve Marryat moves with her parent's to her uncle's lodge after her father is laid off from Ford. Eve is definitely a smart cookie and starts picking up on weird happenings. I found Eve to be a naive goody goody, but I'm guessing that's how 17 year olds were back then. But I loved the character and world building in Sweet Mercy. I think Ann Tatlock did a phenomenal job in that respect. I don't see that very often. I also find it fun to be reading and come across brand names snuck in here and there. This was an easy and fun read. It was smooth without jumping all around. There were a few surprises throughout the book that made me want to keep reading. Overall, this was a fantastic book and I will be seeking out more of Ann's books.
evamadera1's review
2.0
I really dislike it when I find a favorite author, add all of her books to my to read list and then start making my way through those books and become increasingly disappointed because her skill and etc go downhill with each book.
That's the point where I'm at with Tatlock's books. Again, the ending is picture-perfect. Beyond that, the entire book feels incredibly simplistic, driven in large part by the utterly naive protagonist. I even predicted the "twist" within the first third of the book.
I finished this book 4 days ago. When I looked back at my notes, I actually couldn't remember what the book was about. That's how forgettable it is. It took looking at the cover when I pulled up the book listing on Goodreads to remember anything about the book.
I do not recommend this book at all and probably will not read any more Tatlock books, unless they are already on my to read list, of course.
That's the point where I'm at with Tatlock's books. Again, the ending is picture-perfect. Beyond that, the entire book feels incredibly simplistic, driven in large part by the utterly naive protagonist. I even predicted the "twist" within the first third of the book.
I finished this book 4 days ago. When I looked back at my notes, I actually couldn't remember what the book was about. That's how forgettable it is. It took looking at the cover when I pulled up the book listing on Goodreads to remember anything about the book.
I do not recommend this book at all and probably will not read any more Tatlock books, unless they are already on my to read list, of course.
hbananaw's review
Other books got into the way of finishing this one, it became a bit of a drag about halfway through which contributed to my incompletion
ohiosarah's review
5.0
Having never read Ann Tatlock before I wasn't sure what to expect for her writing, especially since it's a coming of age novel. That being said I'm glad that I chose this novel to read because it sucked me from the first page - Eve is tired of living around and seeing crime, even seeing a man shot in front of her so moving to Ohio is a dream come true. I think that too, played a part that this book is set in Ohio somewhere between Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati - I was hoping that there really was a Marryat Ballroom but like other fiction it doesn't exist.
I could feel the frustration that Eve felt when finding out there was an illegal liquor operation across the way - but things get more tangled as the story goes on. Eve believes that only bad people drink and that there is no way a good person would break the law to have a little beer. She meets others who opens her eyes to a way of seeing things that she hasn't thought about before - but it is liquor that ends up tearing apart her blissful life in Ohio. The story just flowed together and I loved how it began with Eve telling her story to her Grandson when searching for a special box and it was a delightful read.
**I was provided a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for posting my own opinion,no other compensation was given.
I could feel the frustration that Eve felt when finding out there was an illegal liquor operation across the way - but things get more tangled as the story goes on. Eve believes that only bad people drink and that there is no way a good person would break the law to have a little beer. She meets others who opens her eyes to a way of seeing things that she hasn't thought about before - but it is liquor that ends up tearing apart her blissful life in Ohio. The story just flowed together and I loved how it began with Eve telling her story to her Grandson when searching for a special box and it was a delightful read.
**I was provided a copy of this book from Bethany House in exchange for posting my own opinion,no other compensation was given.
artemishi's review
4.0
Sweet Mercy was a sweet beachside or airplane read type of book. It's a coming of age for Eve, the main character- primarily centered on her growing understanding that the world isn't black and white. I liked her naivete, which seemed genuine and stemmed from experience and her age-appropriate following of her father's opinion. I also liked that not every male was her romantic interest, and that her "first love" was really just a crush (again, believable).
Stylistically, and tonally, this book was very sweet, complete, and well put-together. I did struggle with the "instalove" that is brought into play (which is ridiculously unbelievable, even for the 1920s), and with the hard-nosed "Al Capone sought forgiveness" heavily-Christian rhetoric in the epilogue.
Things were wrapped up too neatly for me, with everyone reaping what they sow and all of Eve's expectations met. We all know that real life isn't like that; struggling with the grey areas of life includes struggling with the reality that good isn't rewarded and evil isn't punished and we have to learn to change our opinions about things.
I felt like we were brought into Eve's world on the cusp of change, but that somehow she wrenched that change into a fairy tale for herself...simply by being good and obedient, I suppose. Personally, I was more interested in her sister's story, and some of the Greek Chorus folks who were more function than character.
I would recommend this for anyone needing a sweet story on a plane trip or vacation, anyone interested in Prohibition and classic gangsters, fans of coming of age stories, and those who enjoy fiction geared toward both adults and teenagers.
Stylistically, and tonally, this book was very sweet, complete, and well put-together. I did struggle with the "instalove" that is brought into play (which is ridiculously unbelievable, even for the 1920s), and with the hard-nosed "Al Capone sought forgiveness" heavily-Christian rhetoric in the epilogue.
Things were wrapped up too neatly for me, with everyone reaping what they sow and all of Eve's expectations met. We all know that real life isn't like that; struggling with the grey areas of life includes struggling with the reality that good isn't rewarded and evil isn't punished and we have to learn to change our opinions about things.
I felt like we were brought into Eve's world on the cusp of change, but that somehow she wrenched that change into a fairy tale for herself...simply by being good and obedient, I suppose. Personally, I was more interested in her sister's story, and some of the Greek Chorus folks who were more function than character.
I would recommend this for anyone needing a sweet story on a plane trip or vacation, anyone interested in Prohibition and classic gangsters, fans of coming of age stories, and those who enjoy fiction geared toward both adults and teenagers.
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