Customer Reviews

Mercy Me

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Esmerelda is a spunky lady in a small North Carolina town. She's not nosy, but she is willing to advise anyone and everyone who comes along. Most of her advice is directed through phone and letter to her dear friend Beatrice who is having late in life romantic problems.

Her skills are put into the test when the AIDS crisis impacts this unlikely town. Her mercy and wisdom will be severely challenged as she is called upon to extend the hand of Christian love in what would be called above and beyond duty. She proves that love is love by what it produces, especially extended to strangers.

***** Esmerelda is an unlikely, folksy heroine that will remind you of Aunt Bea. She is a lady from another time in the modern world who exemplifies Christianity. *****

In this delightful romp through the daily life of a small-town Southern woman, Margaret A. Graham gets a chance to have some fun with her characters while poking a bit of fun at the church --- something I happen to adore. Esmeralda is an immediately likable character, an older woman who does not abide nonsense and takes utter pleasure in dispensing her always practical advice to others, even those "others" she knows will never heed her counsel. Mainly, of course, church folk.

But, as Graham wisely knows, it's those very same church folk who will be the ones to rally to support people in need and distress, as the church's Willing Workers do throughout --- helping those who grieve, those who are saddled with overwhelming responsibilities, those who need a warm casserole as much as a warm hug. Esmeralda finds herself on the receiving end of their generous gifts of time and food when she assumes responsibility for a woman dying of AIDS.

Throughout the book, Esmeralda writes letters to her lifelong friend Beatrice, a literary device Graham uses skillfully. Through the letters back and forth, we gain greater insight into what makes Esmeralda tick, and through her friend we eventually see a flawed aspect of her nature.

Anyone who has lived in the South, the real South, is bound to be amused by Graham's ear for the "language" --- the way real Southerners express their thoughts, their choice of words, and their charming way of simply making up words. Thus Esmeralda advises Beatrice that the "onliest doctor" she needs is Dr. Scholl, seeks out a "notary republic", and quotes Charles "Splurgeon" throughout. The book also has some hilarious moments, as when Esmeralda must make up a name for the dying Hispanic woman and can only think of "Carmen Miranda" (which admittedly may not be funny to those too young to remember her), or when she tries to resolve an immigration problem, gets shuffled from one office to another in the courthouse, and finally takes it upon herself to enter a door marked Problem Resolution Office, only to discover 45 minutes later that it's an IRS office.

And Graham's use of imagery shines throughout the book: "Her pauses are like when the washing machine stops then starts up again," Esmeralda says about Beatrice. Graham has most assuredly done her share of laundry, because only someone who has listened out for the end of the cycle countless times can relate to the way those pauses sound like a person holding her breath. "If Clara can't climb down your family tree to the bare roots, you don't get no clean bill of health," she says of another church member.

But there are some missteps. Esmeralda uncharacteristically comments on the number of Christians killed and tortured around the world, something that doesn't sound like her but instead sounds like the author trying to educate her audience. Then there's the mandatory salvation scene, in which one character practically grills another to find out if she led a woman to the Lord in precisely the "right" way. That one really grated on me.

Finally, toward the end of the book, Esmeralda convinces a godly man named Carl that he should cut what she calls his "pigtail" (a ponytail, maybe?) because no woman would want a man with hair like that, and, as she tells him, "it don't look right for a Christian man to go around looking like a leftover hippie." Here's a kind, godly man, but he isn't quite up to snuff as a Christian example because he wears his hair wrong? I hope not. And I suspect there are plenty of women out there, even Esmeralda's age, who would gladly accept a ponytail on a thoughtful, caring man.

Despite those and other minor flaws, what it all comes down to is this: MERCY ME is an enchanting, fun read, and Graham is an author to watch. Let's hope she has more in mind for Esmeralda.

Esmeralda, the heroine, is an outspoken and feisty church member, never afraid of giving advice - especially to her timid friend, Beatrice and other not-so-Christian acting church members!
Once you start to read "Mercy Me" you won't be able to put it down! Not only is it hilarious but also contains many truths about church members' behavior! Many of the characters will seem very familiar to any Evangelical church goer. Highly recommended!

This book was such a fun book to read. Esmeralda was an elderly character with a lot of spunk, who also went through some rough times with her husband when he came back from the war. It was so easy to love her. There was a lot of humor in this book--the church ladies following Horace to make sure the mule got a proper burial, Esmeralda giving dating advice to her friend, Beatrice, the church ladies all picking out a casket together, Maria's fake name. But with the humor, I saw a lot of "what would Jesus do" stuff spread throughout the book in a very subtle manner--Esmeralda taking in Maria when she was so sick, Esmeralda telling Beatrice to go out of her way to be friendly to her obnoxious neighbors, Esmeralda telling Beatrice to make sure that Carl is a godly man, Esmeralda being so kind to Horace when he was so spiteful towards her in the beginning of the book.

You will love this book and the characters.

I "enjoyed meeting" all the characters, they were very real, interesting and most of them were quite likable! I don't believe Esmeralda will ever allow her life to become boring. She may be a widow living alone but she does not allow herself to become "self-absorbed." I am hoping for a sequel or maybe even a series. I didn't really want to put the book down until I finished it. The author gives you a sense that "something is going to happen" but I was still surprised at what transpired in this quaint little southern town. A great book!

I nearly finished this book in one sitting. It was the first Christian fiction book I'd picked up in years. I had a few start and stops over the years, as this book was sitting on my shelf for quite some time. "Mercy Me" takes off like a slow train, but as I would eventually discover, it doesn't stay there. It will draw you in and pick up pace as you continue to read. I wonder now why it sat on my shelf so long.

Where other Christian fiction books may gloss over, candy-coat, or makes light of real issues in the Church (and its individuals), this book holds no punches. It is honest, enlightening, and embraces a seasoned wisdom that is rare on the shelves these days.

If you're looking for something fun and light but with more depth and maturity than is common, this is your book. I plan to read every book by this author now - and buy a few for my friends as well.

The title "Mercy Me" caught my eye in the library one day because I have a cat by that name! (and because of the Christian group) It was a wonderful, relaxing but inspiring read that I took on vacation. Then I wound up buying a copy for my Mom, because the character in it reminded me of her. She's a hard-working, ordinary older woman who is a widow. But she's always praying for people, and helping them when she can. She winds up learning some very up-to-date lessons from the people who come into her life. Mom passed away this fall, so now I have the book back! I think I'll loan it to my daughter-in-law. Great book!

The main character, Esmeralda, is a lady I would like to know. She doesn't have much "book learning" but she does have a whole lot of giving heart, her well thumbed copy of the Bible and a book by the famous Christian writer she often quotes. She mistakenly calls him Splurgeon which is funny, and Esmeralda uses words incorrectly to funny effect. She notes that her friend is almost "historical" with worry and grief. I enjoy these turns of phrase and how Esmeralda meets each needy person with the best Christian response of "how can I help you?". She takes someone with AIDS into her home without a backward glance and works to arrange for an adoption and lots more that I won't share here, so the book will be fresh for you. The mule on the cover has a role to play too. I aim to buy the second book in the series "Good Heavens".

I found Mercy Me to be a delightful, engaging tale that was hard to put down. The characters were well developed and the story interesting. Not the best book I have read this year, but worth reading.

I'm sorry but I got the feeling that this book was a rip-off of Ann B. Ross's Miss Julia stories. Both Esmerelda and Miss Julia are southern matrons with the conviction that they know what is best for all they meet. Both are basically good at heart but Esmerelda comes out on the short end of any comparison I can think of with Miss Julia. I can usually trust a consensus of Amazon reviews but this time I was mistaken.