Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for June 30th, 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the small Puritan community of Stoneybrooke, Massachusetts, Susannah Phillips stands out both for her character and beauty. She wants only a simple life but soon finds herself pursued by the town’s wealthiest bachelor and by a roguish military captain sent to protect them. One is not what he seems and one is more than he seems.

In trying to discover true love’s path, Susannah is helped by the most unlikely of allies, a wounded woman who lives invisible and ignored in their town. As the depth, passion, and sacrifice of love is revealed to Susannah, she begins to question the rules and regulations of her childhood faith. In a community where grace is unknown, what price will she pay for embracing love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love’s Pursuit, go HERE
MY THOUGHTS

I have to admit I can recall reading only one other Puritan story – Hawthorne’s classic Scarlet Letter. I’m pretty sure I read some others as part of literature courses, but none stand out in my mind. As a historical novel, Love’s Pursuit opened up a whole new world and produced an interesting, compelling read.

The story’s premise is how does one deal with fitting the mold? Susannah is considered the “good” girl, but is the “good” girl always good or does she have a rebellious spirit inside? (How many of us have been in this same dilemma during our lifetimes?) How far is she willing to follow that rebellious spirit?

The love story in Love’s Pursuit is truly beautiful. Through the hero, Daniel, Susannah learns that not everything in life is as it seems. He also shows her that God gives grace, something her religion never taught her. I love how Susannah became her own person while around Daniel – she didn’t fit the mold.

My only “complaint” about the story is I was slightly confused when the first person point of view switched from Susannah to another character, Small-Hope. Other than a break to indicate that the scene had changed, the reader received no warning that she was suddenly in the head of a totally different character. As the story progressed, the verbal clues and writing style showed the difference between Susannah’s and Small-Hope’s scenes, but initially it was a little disconcerting.

Finally, one of the Reader’s Questions in the back stood out to me. It asks if the reader considers the story a tragedy or a romance. Given that the ending of Love’s Pursuit isn’t the typical book ending, I contemplated the question for awhile and decided that the correct answer isn’t listed. I believe it is a “tragic romance.” (How’s that for skirting the issue?) Love is pursued, found, lost. In the end, the reader knows that while Susannah is crushed by events, her life will go on – she’s young – and she’ll have many happy years.

If you enjoy stories that break outside of the box and don’t follow the usual plot sequence, Love’s Pursuit would make a great addition to your library. The historical details also make this a great book for anyone studying the Puritan era or lifestyle.