Book Blurb:
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese: Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Edinburgh for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they’ve arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible. When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward’s safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?
My Review: 4.5 stars
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese has written a brilliant reimagining of The Scarlet Letter from the female perspective. The Scarlet Letter is often part of high school curriculum, at least it was in my day, and honestly, I recall very little of it. After reading this, I’m hopeful that English teachers require reading of both the The Scarlet Letter and Hester, to compare POV, pacing and characterization. As a huge fan of her last book, Stolen Beauty, I was anxiously awaiting this one.
The book focuses on Isobel Gamble who is heavy with secrets about her synesthesia, her opium addicted husband and the stirring she feels when she first sets her eyes on Nathanial Hawthorne. Albanese brings the time-period to life with her use of language and setting. Just the way she’d describe the detailed designs Isobel stitched with her imaginative colors were incredibly portrayed.
Additionally, the author seamlessly brought both the Underground Railroad and the Salem Witch Trial to life, which added more depth and breadth to the storyline. There’s no doubt this book will be a popular pick for years to come. Well done!
Quotes I liked:
I want to know him down to the soul.”
“It is me, bent into the wind, fleeing home with my colors and my needle and my own set of needs and dreams. It is me with my red letter secreted away.”
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