Fiction

Mercy Street: A Novel

Mercy Street: A Novel

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  • Create Date：2022-02-21 08:21:43
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jennifer Haigh
  • ISBN：B093ZY68J4
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Summary

The highly anticipated new novel by acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Haigh is a tense， riveting story about the disparate lives that intersect at a women's clinic in Boston。

For almost a decade， Claudia has counseled patients at Mercy Street， a clinic in the heart of the city。 The work is consuming， the unending dramas of women in crisis。 For its patients， Mercy Street offers more than health care; for many， it is a second chance。

But outside the clinic， the reality is different。 Anonymous threats are frequent。 A small， determined group of anti-abortion demonstrators appears each morning at its door。 As the protests intensify， fear creeps into Claudia's days， a humming anxiety she manages with frequent visits to Timmy， an affable pot dealer in the midst of his own existential crisis。 At Timmy's， she encounters a random assortment of customers， including Anthony， a lost soul who spends most of his life online， chatting with the mysterious Excelsior11--the screenname of Victor Prine， an anti-abortion crusader who has set his sights on Mercy Street and is ready to risk it all for his beliefs。

Mercy Street is a novel for right now， a story of the polarized American present。 Jennifer Haigh has written a groundbreaking novel， a fearless examination of one of the most divisive issues of our time。

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Reviews

Katie ，

This story is told in the perspectives of a woman who works at a women's health/abortion clinic， a protestor， a drug dealer， and a right wing extremist。 Though not always （or in some cases， not at all） likeable， these characters were interesting and well-developed。 Parts of the book dragged a bit， and the ending tied up too neatly for my tastes， but this was definitely another great book from Jennifer Haigh。Read It Because:I've loved Haigh's books for a while， Baker Towers was one of the first a This story is told in the perspectives of a woman who works at a women's health/abortion clinic， a protestor， a drug dealer， and a right wing extremist。 Though not always （or in some cases， not at all） likeable， these characters were interesting and well-developed。 Parts of the book dragged a bit， and the ending tied up too neatly for my tastes， but this was definitely another great book from Jennifer Haigh。Read It Because:I've loved Haigh's books for a while， Baker Towers was one of the first audiobooks I listened to and I've been hooked since 。。。more

Barbara ，

Claudia the protagonist is beautifully drawn in all her complexity， her work is depicted accurately and compassionately， the villains are given 3 dimensions and motivations without excusing them in any way， and the entire crux of the novel hinges on a morally neutral character。 There are a couple of “deus ex machinas” at the end， but they are far less egregious than those in Jodi Picoult’s “A Spark of Light。”

Rich Johnson ，

Audio

Miriam Solomon ，

The author has mercy for all of the characters in this novel that ends up a lot gentler than advertised。 I loved it。

Sally Drake ，

A brilliant novel—a must read to understand New England， personal politics， rural poverty， and American extremism。 Pitch perfect， complex characters， smart and poignant。 This will be one of the best books I read all year。

Amanda ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Goddammit。 I am so disappointed in how this book ended。 Up until the last 15 pages， it was an easy 5 star read。A protagonist over 40 years old， divorced， childless， and content to stay that way？ Yes， please。 Claudia works at an abortion clinic， which was the whole reason why I picked up this book to start with。 The politics at play in the abortion debate were wonderfully sketched by the author， and the characters were very true to life， including the delusional， misogynistic "defender of the unb Goddammit。 I am so disappointed in how this book ended。 Up until the last 15 pages， it was an easy 5 star read。A protagonist over 40 years old， divorced， childless， and content to stay that way？ Yes， please。 Claudia works at an abortion clinic， which was the whole reason why I picked up this book to start with。 The politics at play in the abortion debate were wonderfully sketched by the author， and the characters were very true to life， including the delusional， misogynistic "defender of the unborn" and the unwitting church-goer who ended up involved as a protester more out of a sense of loneliness than anything。 I loved the unapologetic portrayal of abortion and the people who work at - and protest in front of - the Mercy Street Clinic。 This book was hitting all the right notes for me， and I was absolutely savoring it。Until， of course， at the very end， Claudia becomes pregnant unexpectedly， and despite never before wanting a child， she decides to become a mother。 Because fucking of course she did。 Yet another story ending with the worn-out plot device of the redemptive power of motherhood。 She was vaguely unhappy and wanted to compensate for her shitty childhood， so the perfect way to do that is to raise a child alone， seeing as the weed dealer who impregnated her ended up in jail soon after their night together。I know the surprise pregnancy trope will never go out of style as a deus ex machina for concluding a woman's entire character arc， but goddamn this one caught me off guard。 Given the way this book started out， I genuinely thought it would be an exploration of a woman treading a different path in life。 But no， a woman's reason for existing must inevitably lead to reproduction。Goddammit。 。。。more

Jenny ，

I enjoy reading Jennifer Haigh’s books。 I love how she describes her characters in a style that makes me empathize with every one of them。 Very talented writer。 The subject matter of this book could be difficult for some to read but the plot is so much more than the Mercy Street Clinic。

Holly ，

I've enjoyed novels by Jennifer Haigh and I like her writing style。 I'm "into" character development and this book surely is a character-driven one rather than plot-driven。 In fact， very little happens in this book other than learning about the characters。 They all intersect in interesting ways but it's the characters themselves who are the shining stars。 Haigh also does a great job creating the scene in Boston。 Her descriptions of place and time are spot on and the characters fit appropriately。 I've enjoyed novels by Jennifer Haigh and I like her writing style。 I'm "into" character development and this book surely is a character-driven one rather than plot-driven。 In fact， very little happens in this book other than learning about the characters。 They all intersect in interesting ways but it's the characters themselves who are the shining stars。 Haigh also does a great job creating the scene in Boston。 Her descriptions of place and time are spot on and the characters fit appropriately。 。。。more

Sheri Cardo ，

An insightful and compelling novel tackling key issues dividing America today。 I’m looking forward to reading more by this author。

Kathy ，

"All the lonely people， where do they all come from？"Mercy Street is the location of a women's health clinic in Boston that performs abortions。 Claudia is a social worker who works there。 She grew up in a single wide trailer in Maine， the child of a teenage mother。 She had a brief marriage and a brief career working for a fashion magazine before renouncing it all to become a social worker。 Timmy is her friendly， neighborhood weed dealer who sees that his "career" will soon be over when marijuana "All the lonely people， where do they all come from？"Mercy Street is the location of a women's health clinic in Boston that performs abortions。 Claudia is a social worker who works there。 She grew up in a single wide trailer in Maine， the child of a teenage mother。 She had a brief marriage and a brief career working for a fashion magazine before renouncing it all to become a social worker。 Timmy is her friendly， neighborhood weed dealer who sees that his "career" will soon be over when marijuana is legalized and decides to make one last， big deal。 Anthony is an incel who following a traumatic brain injury， spends his days going to mass， eating donuts and protesting outside of the Mercy Street Clinic。 Anthony is in touch with someone on line （his "second best friend"） whom he knows only as Excelsior11。 Excelsior11 is actually Victor Prine， a racist truck driver who is losing his sight and who is obsessed by the notion that white women are decimating the Caucasian race by having too many abortions。 He sets up a "Hall of Shame" on line with pictures of women entering clinics such as the one at Mercy Street。 This is my third book by Jennifer Haigh and I have enjoyed them all。 The characters are all well-written。 Even the ones that were personally distasteful were written in a way that humanized them。 I did find this book to be a little light on plot （the plot itself primarily revolved around threats to the employees and women in the clinic and Claudia's personal life）。 Theme of second chances， both for the women entering the Mercy Street Clinic but also for Claudia and Anthony。 。。。more

Michelle ，

Mercy Street is embedded in modern times， centered on an abortion clinic， with characters that are flawed yet sympathetic。 There is not much of a plot， the book is more of a character study， with differing perspectives on several topics of debate （marijuana use/legalization， gun rights， abortion/right to life）。 While I found the characters interesting， I did not really like or feel empathy for any of the characters， which interfered a bit with my enjoyment of the book。

Dale ，

I didn't love this book but I found it very interesting - the character development of the anti-abortion men was a perspective I had not previously considered。 It has a very interesting ending。 I didn't love this book but I found it very interesting - the character development of the anti-abortion men was a perspective I had not previously considered。 It has a very interesting ending。 。。。more

Suzan Jackson ，

Immersive & compelling story about some very different characters whose lives intersect at a women's clinic in Boston。 I love her novels！ My review， audio sample & interview w/author: https://bookbybook。blogspot。com/2022/。。。 Immersive & compelling story about some very different characters whose lives intersect at a women's clinic in Boston。 I love her novels！ My review， audio sample & interview w/author: https://bookbybook。blogspot。com/2022/。。。 。。。more

Cindy ，

2。5 stars。 I have read 4 other books by Haigh and gave them 4 stars。 This one disappointed me。 Maybe it was the subject matter， abortion。 Also the story was heavy on drugs with even guns thrown in。 I felt no connection to the characters except for Claudia the main character。 I skimmed many pages as I lost interest in the plot。 Review is solely my opinion。

Marian ，

3 1/2 stars rounded up。

Shirl Kennedy ，

I kept waiting for it to get better， but it never really rose above mediocre。。。at least to me。 It rung shallow。 Based on reviews， I kept hoping it would get better， but。。。 OTOH， I didn't bail。 I kept waiting for it to get better， but it never really rose above mediocre。。。at least to me。 It rung shallow。 Based on reviews， I kept hoping it would get better， but。。。 OTOH， I didn't bail。 。。。more

Lauren ，

At a time when I had a hard time getting into any book， this one kept my interest。 It revolves around a "women's clinic，" and the cast of characters includes both an employee and a would-be terrorist， both of whose backstories are colored in admirably。 At a time when I had a hard time getting into any book， this one kept my interest。 It revolves around a "women's clinic，" and the cast of characters includes both an employee and a would-be terrorist， both of whose backstories are colored in admirably。 。。。more

Gary Branson ，

There was a disconnect with me and this book。 I didn’t connect with it on any level。 I appreciate Haigh’s writing and was looking forward to this one， ultimately feeling a sense of meh at the end。

Mark Medland ，

The description for this book is misleading。 While Claudia is the main character and she and her clinic connect the characters， the story is told from 4 unique perspectives。 I personally appreciated that the book wasn’t neat and tidy and didn’t exactly go deep or tie things up neatly。 Life happens and life goes on。

Joyce Hamel ，

Current Hot TopicI always harangue that if men could get pregnant， the horrific laws （especially those that are emerging）， abortion would be a wondrous and customary ritual。 Women become pregnant and if the sanctimonious powers do not approve， they are not always allowed to decide what to do since they “fell” pregnant。 Haigh uses some old-time words which make sense with the outdated rulings。Claudia Birch， the main character， is in her 40’s and works as a counselor on Mercy Street。 She deals wit Current Hot TopicI always harangue that if men could get pregnant， the horrific laws （especially those that are emerging）， abortion would be a wondrous and customary ritual。 Women become pregnant and if the sanctimonious powers do not approve， they are not always allowed to decide what to do since they “fell” pregnant。 Haigh uses some old-time words which make sense with the outdated rulings。Claudia Birch， the main character， is in her 40’s and works as a counselor on Mercy Street。 She deals with pregnant women of all backgrounds who come to the clinic for help。 Claudia does not pass judgment; she asks them questions which help shape her opinion of their imminent needs。 Everything involves time during a new pregnancy， especially if the woman wants to abort。 During the novel， there is always a crowd outside to scorn and disdain the women seeking help and the employees who work at the women’s at this Boston’s women’s clinic。Claudia was born to a seventeen-year- old woman， who did not want her。 Deb， rather than raise Claudia， took in foster children for money leaving Claudia to raise them while Deb also earned more money from an outside job。 Talk about “working the system，” Deb was a pro。The story begins on Ash Wednesday as Claudia fields calls and interviews。 She personally resents those women who can afford to delete their pregnancies without needing money or governments sanctions。 Claudia also takes umbrage with the addicts who do not care about their fetuses。 She sympathizes with those who are penniless and ill。 The public protest lasts until Lent。There is much irony in this excellent novel。 The men in the book are varied and mostly lowlifes， who represent the white supremacists who hate these women。 There is a wide acceptance that nothing impairs the life of the men who impregnated the women。 It’s so bad that the women continually say， “it was my fault。” There are some deviant men， virulent women-haters。 Their hate is to an extreme， cursing white women who are “outbred” by black and brown women。 These thoughts become action， despite their incoherence， they become fervent white supremacists。I am not sure if Ms。 Haigh meant for some of these characters and philosophies to reflect our current situation。 I am sure the author is objective， and she certainly is a sharp observer of choices。My gratitude to NetGalley and Ecco for this pre-published book。 All opinions expressed are my own。 。。。more

Katie ，

Content warnings: abortion， misogyny， bigotry， drug useThere was a lot of character development （and characters） and it took a bit to see how they all fit together。 Once that puzzle came together， it seemed to end （IMO） kind of quickly and to me wasn’t resolved as much as I would have liked。 I did notice the nod to her previous books in regards to Baker Towers， which was one of my favorite books。

Sarah ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 The beginning hooked me， the middle was pretty good， but the ending didn’t quite resolve enough for me。

Amanda ，

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway。 God， I wanted to love this。 The writing is phenomenal。 Unfortunately， it goes absolutely nowhere。 The intricately developed characters spend 3/4 of the books finding a way to intersect with each other， and when they do。。。 nothing。 There was so much potential， and it was worth reading for the quality of the writing， but I was so very disappointed in the ending， or lack thereof。

Paul ，

It's disconcerting to learn that you've been stalked。That's not a spoiler for "Mercy Street，" （well， it sort of is， but whatever） it's a statement of admiration， since I would not be surprised to learn that Ms。 Haigh has been haunting the fringes of my life for the last 30 or so years， which I have spent working service-industry jobs and escorting women into abortion clinics。 She captures my milieu so perfectly that the tiny handful of details that seem unfamiliar have me wondering why I'm so un It's disconcerting to learn that you've been stalked。That's not a spoiler for "Mercy Street，" （well， it sort of is， but whatever） it's a statement of admiration， since I would not be surprised to learn that Ms。 Haigh has been haunting the fringes of my life for the last 30 or so years， which I have spent working service-industry jobs and escorting women into abortion clinics。 She captures my milieu so perfectly that the tiny handful of details that seem unfamiliar have me wondering why I'm so unobservant。 So if I found "Mercy Street" a brilliantly uncomfortable reading experience， will you？I can't answer that。 If I tell you that the title is not just a setting but an allusion to an Anne Sexton poem （no， not the Peter Gabriel song it inspired）， you're probably nervous。 If I tell you that the central characters in "Mercy Street" are a counselor at an abortion clinic， her weed dealer， and two pro-life zealots， well 。 。 。 I've probably primed you for catastrophe as sure as all the Boston weather forecasters predicting heavy snowstorms for most of the novel。 Does "Mercy Street" deliver on the bleakness？ I'm not going to tell you， you have to read it。 And when I say you have to read it， I mean that in every sense of the word， "Mercy Street" deserves to be the most important book of the decade。 And finally， "Mercy Street" joins the list of great 21st Century American novels about poverty。 （See also "The Night Always Comes" by Willy Vlautin， "Abundance" by Willy Vlautin and "The Five Wounds" by Kristin Valdez Quade。） Why should the 2000s be the Golden Age Of Underclass Literature？ Not sure， maybe it's because the millennium's multiple catastrophes have finally awakened us to the constant possibility of downward mobility。 （Well， re-awakened us， a few people figured it out during the Depression but they're all dead or senile by now。） Every decade of the late 20th century produced a new attitude toward the poor: in the 70's， we pitied them; in the 80's， we despised them; in the 90's， we assumed they were all going to get jobs at Starbucks and achieve the American dream。 Twenty-two years into a new century， we've had to suffer through terrorist attacks， endless unwinnable wars， economic collapses， pandemics， and the rise of fascism before we realized that a segment of society was born f--ked and likely to stay that way。 Sorry to be so aphoristic， but "Mercy Street" has me thinking that way。 Ms。 Haigh's cynicism is more earned than mine， though。 。。。more

Lisa Roberts ，

2。5 confusing messages about abortion and the story is a bit herky jerky missing important parts。 I was enjoying it as it moved along but now that I am finished， I left thinking， huh？

Susan ，

I am reviewing this audiobook after receiving a complimentary ALC from Libro。fmI would probably have given 5 stars if not for the end。 While the thing I was dreading throughout the novel never actually happened， what did happen seemed a bit contradictory。 However， I can acknowledge that the author may not have set out to write a novel about characters who all follow the predictable arcs described by a reader's first impression， and having a course correction in the third act doesn't necessarily I am reviewing this audiobook after receiving a complimentary ALC from Libro。fmI would probably have given 5 stars if not for the end。 While the thing I was dreading throughout the novel never actually happened， what did happen seemed a bit contradictory。 However， I can acknowledge that the author may not have set out to write a novel about characters who all follow the predictable arcs described by a reader's first impression， and having a course correction in the third act doesn't necessarily make something bad， even if I personally didn't like the correction。Victor will still haunt my nightmares because he is entirely too realistic。I would highly recommend Mercy Street to those who enjoy fiction centered on the topic of what it means to have or inherit a legacy。 Claudia's relationships with her family， Anthony's relationship to the church， Timmy's relationship to his son， and Victor's relationship to his race （barf） are all examples of real or imagined legacies which these characters must accommodate in their lives。 While I may not have been wholly satisfied by the end， I found that the journey was compelling enough that I'm not mad about it。 。。。more

Donna ，

A well written， unique character-driven story all who are linked to a women’s health clinic on Mercy Street。 Regardless of how they are connected， each is struggling to find human connection， balance， and to survive life。 Reality is tough。 They and the world around them is at a crossroads。 Central is a look at one of the most polarizing issues of 2022。“He was like water spilled everywhere。 He no longer had a container for his life。”

JILL R。 QUINN ，

Well crafted。 This book tells the story of four people。 It would have been a different story if they had actually collided， but instead， they merely brush up against each other。 Yet still， they influence each other's lives。 The contrasts between the characters and how their lives were shaped is the driving force of this book and makes it memorable。 And it reads really well。 Well crafted。 This book tells the story of four people。 It would have been a different story if they had actually collided， but instead， they merely brush up against each other。 Yet still， they influence each other's lives。 The contrasts between the characters and how their lives were shaped is the driving force of this book and makes it memorable。 And it reads really well。 。。。more

Sarah ，

Gotta respect a book that doesn't shy away from controversial topics。 Gotta respect a book that doesn't shy away from controversial topics。 。。。more

Abe ，

An impressive novel which encompasses so much of today's America。 An impressive novel which encompasses so much of today's America。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Mercy Street: A Novel

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Mercy Street: A Novel&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Mercy Street: A Novel&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0