Hester: A Novel

As someone with synesthesia I was so excited to read a book about someone with it as well. It was a little slow at parts but overall a great read.

3.5. It was a really slow start for me

Content warning for graphic descriptions, violence, abuse, alcohol/drug abuse, enslavement, and related topics. I liked pieces of this novel, but the pace really kept me back. It was so slow and I felt like I heard the same conversation multiple times. I also feel like the ties to the Scarlet Letter were too tenuous and over-emphasized in the promotion of this book. I liked the dual timeline with Isobel's ancestor (also named Isobel), but I wish ...read more

My thoughts: This is one of my favorite books of the year. This book was inspired by the book The Scarlet Letter. You do not need to have read it to enjoy or understand this book. I read The Scarlet Letter in 10th grade, so it's been almost 20 years since I read it. Hester is a captivating character. The other characters presented in the book are complex and show the nuances of human experiences. I love how the story explores morality through mul...read more

I am familiar with, but have never read, The Scarlet Letter. Hester is a retelling of the classic novel with a feminist twist. Isobel has the ability to see words and letters in color, which is a trait that is considered wicked in the 1820s. I enjoyed the parts that were similar to the original story (adultery), but other than that, this book just wasn’t for me.

I was accidentally sent this book from BOTM and was encouraged to keep it after reach...read more