The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

Sierra told me something about this book that made me immediately want to read it: "As soon as I finished the last page, I wanted to flip to the front and start reading it all over again from the beginning!" Well, the only books I feel that way about are real winners, so I asked to borrow this book, and enjoyed it very much too. I didn't want to reread it, but I understood Sierra's reasoning. There are some mysteries in this book that unfold as the story unfolds, so it would be interesting to read it again, understanding more of the mysteries.

I only like to reread books that take me to rich and wonderful places, I think. This book, while intriguing and full of interesting characters, was a much darker place than I like to dwell when I have a choice! It is set in Salem, Massachusetts, and reveals a lot about the area and its history as well as its current association with witches and witchcraft. Throw in a weird ultra-fundamentalist religious cult who are fighting the witches, and you have the mileu.

The contextual pieces that I did enjoy were the references to the homes and sailing and the island. Barry made me feel familiar with the area, and I could almost feel the salt spray and the moonlight. Another delight in this book was the dialogue between Rafferty and Towner, the main character. That sparkled, at times, and both were deep and interesting characters.

It was an interesting, intriguing read, and one that helped me understand a bit more about Sierra's tastes. We both like mysteries, and this was a mystery of a different kind. I haven't talked with her (yet) about exactly why she liked it, but I think it's because she is fascinated by people and what makes them tick. She majored in Psychology, and Towner's mental challenges were rife with possibilities for study!

One other part I enjoyed: the idea of reading lace, and some of the metaphysical ideas in the Lace Reader's Guide. Some little gems there that were food for thought. Also acquainted me with something I knew NOTHING about! Cool.