Mundie Moms

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Book Review- Father of Lies


By Ann Turner
Published by Harper Teen
Released on Feburary 8th, 2011
Source- ARC to read/review from publisher
3.5 stars- It's A Good Read

Truth or Lies?

Lidda knew, with a clarity that was like a candle in a dark room, that all had changed; something was loosed in the village—Devil or not—and they would pay for it, every last man, woman, and child.

Fourteen-year-old Lidda has always known she was different. She longs to escape Salem Village and its stifling rules—to be free to dance, to sing, to live as she chooses. But when a plague of accusations descends on the village and witch fever erupts, L idda begins to realize that she feels and sees things that others can't, or won't. But how will she expose the truth without being hung as a witch herself?

Gripping and emotional, Ann Turner's retelling of the Salem witch trials captures one girl's brave soul-searching amidst a backdrop of fear and blame (quoted from Goodreads)

Father of Lies is the re-telling of the Salem Witch Trials, but with a few twists. Unlike some of the stories that are written surrounding this event, Ann Turner brings her story to life by keeping crucial historical parts of the story, as well as introducing a new perspective on these events. Keeping some of the names we've all read about it before, Ann introduces a fresh face to the story with her character Lidda. Ann not only puts Lidda at the center of the Witch Trails, but Lidda hears and sees the devil, whom is thought to be the reason why so many of the village's people are going crazy. Lucian doesn't mean any harm to Lidda, in fact, she's drawn to this dark, good looking, powerful being, who lurks in her shadows. She realizes that Lucian has nothing to do with the evil that has come to Salem.

What drew me to Lidda is she's one of the few characters to think for herself. So goes against the norm as so many of the Puritan women and even people during this time do not think for themselves and allow the "father" to think for them. Through out the story I found myself torn between thinking Lidda is either hallucinating, like so many of the other towns people are as they claim to see the devil in various forms, or she has bi-polar. Lucian is constantly communicating with her, and no one else, as no one can see or hear him except Lidda. I liked at the end of the story Ann talks about both bi-polar and the Salem Witch Trails more in depth, and outside of what is discussed in the story.

Ann molds her story perfectly, as it's so easy to understand why so many innocent people were killed and accused of being witches. Seeing this happen through Lidda's eyes brought realism to the story, as Lidda's friends where both the girls being accused and the ones going around accusing innocent people of being witches. Lidda is a character I came to admire, as in a time period when women weren't allowed to think for themselves, and let alone voice their opinions, she's the only one who stands up and says anything about the mass hysteria and all the lies that are being said. In the end you're left wondering if Lidda really is suffering from a mental illness or maybe she is telling the truth and really can see and talk to the devil. Either way, this girl has a strength and backbone no one else had.

I really enjoyed the setting, as it's rich in detail and I felt like I was getting a glimpse of what it was like in Salem, MA in the 1600's, with the social structure, beliefs, family dynamics and so on. I think Ann does the best job at bringing this story to life. If you're a fan of reading about this time period, I would recommend picking this book up.

1 comment:

  1. I remember visiting Salem, many a time, as a school girl (I grew up in MA)...and I've always loved stories about the Witch Trials. I'll have to look into this book, for sure.

    ReplyDelete

Labels