*While browsing social media during summer 2023, I came across a post from former President Barrack Obama. He listed the books he was reading during the summer. One of the titles was Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane. After a bit of "research", I decided to purchase this novel.
What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
*The story takes place in the summer of 1974 in the city of Boston.
*Jules is the daughter of Mary Pat and they both are morning the loss of Jules' brother to a drug overdose.
*Jules goes out one night with a few of her friends. Her mother begins to worry when Jules doesn't return home the next day.
*Her mother starts her own search for her daughter to bring her home safely.
*At the same time, a young black man is found dead on the local subway station tracks, and Mary Pat begins to wonder if the two events are related.
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
*This was a well-written story about life in Boston back in 1974.
*The author did a tremendous job of taking the reader and putting them front and center to the racial issues facing the city during that time.
*For me, some portions of the plot moved a bit slow and/or I didn't find myself invested.
*I was certainly curious about what happened to Jules and how it related to the death of the black man.
*The author didn't steer away from a "happily ever after" conclusion, and as the reader I appreciated the reality of the "fictional" plot.
Who Should Read It:
*Fans of Dennis Lehane will want to put his newest title on their TBR list. His most well-known novel is Mystic River. I have never read that story, but I definitely might in the near future. Readers who enjoy a well-written character driven story would be ideal for Small Mercies. Happy Reading!
Rating: 3 STARS out of 5 Stars
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