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Hester
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
69 posts | 66 read | 57 to read
A vivid reimagining of the woman who inspired Hester Prynne, the tragic heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, and a journey into the enduring legacy of New England's witchcraft trials. Who is the real Hester Prynne? 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 medicleaving 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 gallowswhile 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? In this sensuous and hypnotizing tale, a young immigrant woman grapples with our country's complicated past, and learns that America's ideas of freedom and liberty often fall short of their promise. Interwoven with Isobel and Nathaniel's story is a vivid interrogation of who gets to be a "real" American in the first half of the 19th century, a depiction of the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, and atmospheric interstitials that capture the long history of "unusual" women being accused of witchcraft. Meticulously researched yet evocatively imagined, Hester is a timeless tale of art, ambition, and desire that examines the roots of female creative power and the men who try to shut it down.
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kspenmoll
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Eggs Beautiful cover🍁💞 4mo
47 likes1 stack add1 comment
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wen4blu
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Weekend plans

Meshell1313 Ooh I LOVED this! 8mo
33 likes1 stack add1 comment
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guinsgirlreads
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Thank you @Pogue ! I‘ve been wanting to read this for so long! Happy holidays! #jolabokaflod

AmyG I loved this book. Enjoy. 10mo
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TracyReadsBooks
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I liked it—it‘s an entertaining story speculating about the inspiration for Hawthorne‘s The Scarlett Letter & if you go in wondering, “what if?!?” there‘s a lot to like. This even though you know what the end must inevitably be even though it‘s clear the Isobel Gamble, whose story it is, has no idea. The legacy of the Salem witch trials looms large over this story about a young woman who refuses to conform or be dependent on the men in her life.

SilversReviews I liked this one too. 11mo
25 likes1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Started this one last night and am enjoying it so far.

kspenmoll In my TBR. Let me know your thoughts. 11mo
AmyG I loved this one. Enjoy! 11mo
24 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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#bookhaul
My work staff gifted me a more than generous $100 Barnes & Noble gift certificate as a get well gift. Obviously, they know me well! Visited the store today and left with four books. 💛📚❤️‍🩹

MaureenMc 😍📚😍 12mo
Librarybelle Nice stack! 12mo
AnnR Wow! What a nice gift. 12mo
jlhammar How thoughtful! You made great use of it. I have Other Birds waiting on my shelves and have been wanting Flight. 12mo
MittenGirlPeach Great stack! Other Birds is one of my favorites of the year. 12mo
73 likes5 comments
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Victoriahoperose
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Mehso-so

This was a little slow for me. It was an interesting retelling and spin on the original story but it just felt like it drug on for me. After the first half, I had a hard time staying interested. It just didn‘t have a whole lot going on for most of the book. Great writing and interesting story, just not my favorite.

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GerardtheBookworm
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

A lyrical historical fiction filled beautiful prose. A talented seamstress married to a fraudulent Scottish Apothecary arrives in America and meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, who makes her his muse for The Scarlet Letter. Making this story unique is the protagonist struggling with synaesthesia, the ability to see colors through sounds and words. An amazing interpretation of the classic!

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AWebOfStories
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Mehso-so

The Scarlet Letter is one of my absolute favorite novels, which may be why this book wasn‘t successful for me. The writing was lovely, but I felt it assumed an interpretation of Hawthorne‘s work with which I do not agree. I also felt that Albanese tried to tackle far too much here.

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Serenity_Within86
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

An amazing book ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Kristy_K
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Mehso-so

While I thought the writing was great, I did find the story itself slow. I don‘t think having Nathaniel Hawthorne be a part of the plot was essential. He could have been any man and Isobel‘s story would have been the same.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

#botm #historicalretelling

Cinfhen Totally agree! Book was a bit of a disappointment 1y
Kristy_K @Cinfhen If it wasn‘t for the pretty cover and promise of a fictionalized account of an author‘s inspiration, I don‘t think I would have been picked this up. So kudos for its marketing at least! 1y
Cinfhen 💯!!!!!! 1y
66 likes4 comments
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Serenity_Within86
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Really loving it 😍

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TEArificbooks
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I enjoyed many aspects of this book. I don‘t think all the brief flashbacks to historical figures were necessary. Also I think the author tried to make it relevant to today‘s issues by having the main character constantly having her white privilege thrown in her face. But it is a good historical fiction about a woman that may have inspired the Hester Prynne character in the Scarlet Letter.

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Cazxxx
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

"I daresay the Scottish wish for enchantments too Mrs. Gamble. Isn't that why you weave magical creatures into your clothing and make little amulets to carry in your pockets?"

Loved this book so much! 4 ⭐️

AmyG This was the lovliest surprise. I had no clue about this one and wound up loving it, too. 1y
Cazxxx @AmyG I did think it would be one I would enjoy but was surprised how much I loved it. Glad you liked it too 😊 1y
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staci.reads
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I really liked this one. It's inspired by the Scarlet Letter, imagining events in Hawthorne's life that could have inspired such a tale. Isobel is a wonderful character, and I found the ending very satisfying. This was my June #Bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
TheBookHippie I enjoyed this one! Good summer read! 1y
58 likes2 comments
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mom_of_4
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Starting this one. I love the cover.

Meshell1313 Oooh it was goooood. Enjoy! 1y
mom_of_4 @Meshell1313 wow 1829. This will be the oldest setting i have ever read. 1y
31 likes2 comments
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Meshell1313
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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April pick was my super 5 ⭐️ read Hester! Still maintaining that nothing will beat Priory as my all around best read of the year, but it is only April. Who knows? Can‘t wait to see what May brings! #readingbracket2023 #2023readingbracket

CBee Hester was my favorite for March 🙌🏻🙌🏻 2y
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Meshell1313
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

#TBRtarot @CBee I could not put this down! I used to teach Scarlet Letter all the time but this retelling was super fun and unique. I loved how the author wove Nathanial Hawthorne‘s life and real history into this. It was so well done. I often teach Hester as America‘s first female heroine defying norms and the rules of men and this really showed that from her perspective. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ super 5 star read!

CBee Yay!!! I wasn‘t a fan of the Scarlet Letter, *but* it‘s probably because high school was gross and awful and it was required reading 😂😂 But I LOVED this. I loved how Isobel came into her own and embraced her gifts (the colors) 🌈 2y
AmyG I also loved this book, too. Took me by surprise…how much I enjoyed it. 2y
Meshell1313 @CBee yes! I was SUPER relieved at the happy ending! What a rollercoaster! 🎢 2y
Meshell1313 @AmyG yes! Not at all what I expected! 2y
CBee @Meshell1313 same!! 2y
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Julsmarshall
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Such a brilliant book! The way the author wove true and imagined pieces of history together was ingenious and made for a compelling, beautiful story. The synesthesia perspective was fascinating and I loved how her embroidery skills moved that part of the story forward. I will be thinking about this book for a long time! And it, finishing it last night in the car means I blacked out my #BookspinBingo card! @TheAromaofBooks Coming in under the wire!

Becker Reading this now and really enjoying it. 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
53 likes2 comments
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CBee
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Hester was my absolute fave for March! Though I‘m currently reading (and should finish today) The Once and Future Witches which is EXCELLENT. Tough choice between those two (a lot of similarities between them). #readingbracket2023 @chasjjlee

CatMS How did i get the reading bracket? Wouldlove to join. 2y
CBee @CatMS hi! @chasjjlee created the template and you can find it on her page! 😊 2y
55 likes2 comments
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amma-keep-reading
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
Pickpick

Thank goodness for book clubs and the new books they bring into my life!

A recommended read for those who enjoy character growth, the empowering of women, and love stories with a twist.

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CBee
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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AmyG So good!!! 2y
Clwojick Woohoo! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Did you read ? I saw it on your list. 2y
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CBee @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I haven‘t read that yet! I loved his first book! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @CBee I‘ll send it to you! ❤️ 2y
CBee @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks you‘re so sweet! We‘re swapping his books 😊😊 2y
Librariana I love the subtle (and very smart!) detail of the letter 'A' in "A Novel" paying a stylistic nod to the Scarlet Letter ?? (Hi sis!! ??) 2y
CBee @Librariana hiiiii!!! Yes, the way the “A” is hidden throughout the book is fantastic. It‘s such a great read!! 2y
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CBee
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I loved this! Will absolutely be a 2023 favorite. I despised The Scarlet Letter and MUCH prefer this 😂#booked2023 #moderntakeonaclassic

TheBookHippie I love them both!!! @AmyG sent me Hester. Sooo good. 2y
CBee @TheBookHippie I will say that I read it in high school. So my view might be a bit skewed in a cloud of teenage angst 😂😂 2y
TheBookHippie @CBee I read it in high school too but then I read it as a secret feminist book view with some younger people and you pointed out all the feminist ground breaking things that were written that no one says anything about. It was amazing. 2y
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CBee @TheBookHippie see, I could swing that. Sounds amazing. 2y
AmyG I am so happy you liked this. I loved it, too. (Ha, more than The Scarlett Letter, yes) And I loved the ending. (edited) 2y
CBee @AmyG the ending ♥️♥️♥️ I savored every word of this! 2y
Librariana Will need to add this to the never-ending TBR list! 2y
85 likes6 stack adds8 comments
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HettyG
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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I began this book last weekend on audio, I‘m very much enjoying it so far, although I really don‘t like the flashback scenes to the witch trials, and I think the novel could have stood on its own with just the story of Isobel as she tells it.

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rmaclean4
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Mehso-so
rmaclean4 It does have a beautiful cover!! 2y
BarbaraBB So many mixed reviews, I think I‘ll let it pass 2y
squirrelbrain I agree with both of you @rmaclean4 @BarbaraBB - gorgeous cover, but doesn‘t sound like a must-read. 😁 2y
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rmaclean4 @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain there are so many great books to read. This is worth a pass. 2y
batsy Hi, do you mind removing me from the tags as I'm not doing this challenge. Thank you! 2y
rmaclean4 @batsy will do. Sorry for any inconvenience. 2y
batsy @rmaclean4 No problem! It's just that I'm using the Android app and the notifications tab doesn't separate the likes from the mentions, so if it's for a challenge I'm not participating in the tab gets pretty busy 🙂 2y
22 likes7 comments
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BookwormAHN
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I loved this book. It revolves around Isobel a young seamstress who has just made it to Salem. There she become the infatuation of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #Booked2023 #propernounintitle @alisiakae @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage #Pantone2023 #PinkCosmos @Clwojick

Clwojick Great match! Love this cover💖 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
Cinfhen Love this cover… 2y
65 likes3 comments
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GinaKButler
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Carline reading. I‘m using this one for the Book Girls Club Reading Around The States Challenge.

#bookspinbingo

AmyG I loved this one. 2y
GinaKButler @AmyG This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me! 2y
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ChaoticMissAdventures
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

3.5⭐
The writing is lyrical and descriptive w/o being pretentious or overwrought. The topic is interesting, the outskirts of Nathaniel Hawthorne's life, I don't know anything about that man's life, so I am taking this book as complete make believe
I like how the conversation around enslaved people was pulled into the narrative, and am really happy this was a true historical fiction - have been really annoyed w/ half contemporary "historical" books

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angieinwonderland
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
Pickpick

I must confess that I have never read The Scarlett Letter more than the coles notes in school. This retelling or telling from her pov made me really love and appreciate the story. It was such a powerful story that weaved together many social injustices and inequalities.

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Zbayardo
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

The story of Isobel, a Scottish stitcher that immigrates to the United States. She has synesthesia which is a blending of the senses - hearing music and seeing colors in your mind is an example of synesthesia.

She has an affair with Nathaniel Hawthorne and from that inspires the character of Hester Pryne from The Scarlet Letter A.

All I gotta say is, UGH!!! MEN!!!

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LaraReads
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

While I felt the weight of the story dragged at times, I was highly invested in all the characters. Tales of witchcraft, the Underground Railroad, and forbidden love woven seamlessly. I fully admire Isobel‘s backbone and grit! There were a few surprising twists, and I rather enjoyed the ending.
#52bookclub23 #titlestartingwiththeletterH

Librarybelle I meant to read this last year! 2y
Deblovestoread On my shelf and great one for the prompt! 😊 2y
See All 8 Comments
AshleyHoss820 My Mom got this for her BOTM and really enjoyed it! My sister has first dibs, but I‘m looking forward to it! 2y
BarbaraBB Great review and picture 🥰 2y
squirrelbrain What a lovely picture! ❤️ 2y
LaraReads @Librarybelle @Deblovestoread @AshleyHoss820 if you are a fan of historical fictions/reimagining of true events, I definitely recommend! 2y
LaraReads @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain thank you! ☺️ (edited) 2y
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BookishMeandering
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Five stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved this book. Full review on my Goodreads and Instagram.

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Nicolapollard
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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4 likes2 stack adds
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rachelm
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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My current conundrum

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Read_By_Red
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

This is an entertaining story imagining the events that inspired the character of Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter. I liked the originality of this novel, as well as the characters. I especially liked Mercy. Not only is she a strong, fierce woman, she is very self aware, as well as being exceptionally wise about the realities of society at that time, and I loved her desire and drive to help fix some of society‘s wrongs.

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Cathyloves2read
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
Pickpick

There was a lot of information packed into this novel. In its pages, the author wrote about the Salem witch trials, slavery, the sea trade, embroidery, and Nathaniel Hawthorne (not necessarily in this order). I haven‘t read The Scarlet Letter yet, but have a feeling that I will be reading it at some point soon after having finished this novel. I‘ve been to Salem many times, but now see it in a different light.

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suvata
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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suvata
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

• BOTM for October 2022

#StoryGraph: fiction historical literary emotional reflective medium-paced
336 pages | first published 2022

Hester is a powerful reimagining of Nathaniel Hawthorne‘s classic tale, The Scarlet Letter — but the women get to tell their sides of the story this time around. You'll never look at the Scarlet A the same after reading this quintessential New England tale of power and desire.

Suet624 I‘ve seen such great reviews of this book. Stacked! 2y
suvata @Suet624 Good choice 2y
57 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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NikkiKey94
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I‘ve always loved the story of The Scarlet Letter so I knew I had to read this book and I loved it! I thought he story was great and I just couldn‘t put it down.

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BookBosomed1
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ I loved this book! It is a fictionalized tale of real-life events that centers strong characters. While the core of the story is about prejudices against women, esp those of a certain class and race, the book features men who are also good people. If you enjoy books of historical fiction that are character-driven and committed to the power of women, I highly recommend this book. Full review: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59807978

AmyG I also recommend this. I loved it, too. 2y
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megnews
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Excellent.

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Rissa1
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. The strong female characters make this book amazing. Finished it while on a work/vacation trip, and this is taken from the property my patents will live out their retirement on.

keys_on_fire So pretty! Reminds me of the Laurel Highlands in western PA 2y
Rissa1 Northeastern Tennessee 2y
27 likes2 comments
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underground_bks
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Inspired by The Scarlet Letter and set in the early days of the Underground Railroad in New England, this historical novel about creativity and mutual-liberation imagines an ill-fated affair between the young Nat Hawthorne, haunted by his ancestors‘ role in the Witch Trials, and Mrs. Isobel Gamble, a Scottish immigrant to Salem and a seamstress whose hereditary synesthesia inspires not only her gifted embroidery but also fear and suspicion.

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BeeMagical
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Book 186📚 4.5⭐️

I‘m in love with this cover - it even feels embroidered🌹

I never read The Scarlet Letter in HS, but based on the story told, I can tell I prefer Isobels version❤️

So much the history woven into these pages as well. A must read!

Reminded me of Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry💙

KristiAhlers I loved this story! It‘s been one of my favorites this year. Than again I LOVE Nathaniel Hawthorn as well so there you go. I re-read the Scarlet Letter after reading this one. I can see how he reading of the story inspired her to write this one. 2y
BeeMagical @KristiAhlers The Scarlet Letter has definitely been bumped up on my TBR list because of this one! 2y
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marleed
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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Pickpick

Two hundred years after the Salem witch trials and Massachusetts now reckons with the treatment of non white Northerners and less with witchcraft. Women may not be hung for witchy rumors, but still, life sucks for an 1800s woman who does not fit the moral mold. I‘m never comfortable when a religious code of conduct extends beyond its congregation and is expected to be adhered to by the larger community.

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these_dreams
Hester: A Novel | Laurie Lico Albanese
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This was a struggle to do! I‘m going to miss that blue box this month. #botm