Many thanks to #stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies

 

In all of the analyzation of The Scarlet Letter done in my high school lit class, none of the discussion considered whether Hawthorne might have written it from personal experience. 

 

I think that’s why Albanese’s premise for Hester, where Hawthorne himself takes on the role of Dimmesdale, is so utterly intriguing.  

 

Yet.  

 

Labeled a feminist reimaging, I had high hopes for a female protagonist fighting against the patriarchal society. Someone bold.  Someone determined and strong.  

 

Instead, Isobel came across as whiny and stunted.  While talented and skillful, her success was largely based on other’s kindness.  The cycle of fear and poor judgment inhibited Isobel from crafting a future.  Rather than rescuing herself, she was continually saved by others.  

 

In contrast, it was her talent that created the most engaging plotline.  The usage of embroidery as a vehicle for self-discovery was exceptionally executed.  Deeply symbolic, Hester’s sewing allowed her to embrace the past (familial and self) while moving towards a different future.  I could almost envision the stitches as she laid bare her soul into the fabric.  

 

Too important not to mention:

-Artistic license is expected in fiction.  However, revisioning an historic figure in a way that vilifies without factual basis feels cringeworthy. 

-Equating the experience of immigrants (particularly Scottish) and black enslaved is not only historically inaccurate but also highly problematic.  

 

The usage of synesthesia as explanation of the mystifying felt unique and fresh.  However, I couldn’t quite flesh out whether the author leaned in to the magical (seen in side characters) or on explainable quirks. 

 

In spite of these criticisms, I was fully entertained by the story. And I wonder if that was largely due to the fabulous discussion I had with buddies @thats.one.for.the.books and @itslizreading

 

The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. And I found that I preferred it, with Maarleveld’s Scottish lilt, to the print version.