The Heretic's Daughter Mixed Review

Like Maggie, I too found this to be a difficult novel to read, but I am glad I read it. Unless a novel meets my "number one rule", I find it hard to keep reading. What is my "number one rule", you (may or may not) ask? It is this: Does this novel keep me wondering what is going to happen next?


If one already knows how a story will turn out, other aspects of the novel need to be strong enough to keep the pages turning. I think the author did an excellent job of describing the time and place. Her characters are very well-drawn. She obviously did her research. That the author was descended from the 'heretic' was interesting. But, these aspects were not enough to keep me coming back for more. It felt like all of this fine writing was not "going anywhere". But, I finally decided I was going to finish the book, so I read the last half through fairly quickly.



And, by the end, I was glad I decided to stick it out. I have a better understanding of the group dynamic that can lead to such atrocities. In this modern world, I sometimes forget how ignorant our ancestors were in almost every area except for religion and survival. The book confirms my belief that Puritanism is anti-human. Our human experience is an endless rich tapestry of emotions, experiences, and relationships. Puritanism demands the experience of life to be woven of plain gray cloth. Life is hard, it is a punishment, one must not experience joy or pleasure because our purpose here is to work and to serve authority. This view is part of our American heritage and has permeated our entire culture. Much of my life was influenced greatly by these beliefs. I now reject this view of life and "The Heretic's Daughter" helped to remind me why.

One thing I still do not understand. What connection did the father really have to the execution of King Charles I? And, what was the point of including this sub-plot in the story?



Finally, I recommend this novel, with the caveat that it is not a "fun" read, but you will be richer for it.