I have not read this book, The Scarlet Letter in ten years. This is the third time reading it.
The first time reading this book was in high school and I immediately fell in love with the character Hester. The legalism and how people reacted to ONE sin above another, is so much the town I live in, and so much the hypocrisy I was living in then and now; some sins are forgiven and okay, some are not and you get to wear them like a brand on you for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Like Hester and eventually her daughter Pearl. It gave me insight that I wasn’t the only person living in this type of religious culture.
My daughter had to read it as well in high school, so we read it together and discussed it so much, and in such depth that my husband once asked us at the dinner table if we were discussing real people or people in a book. It’s an amazingly good book for discussion.
I recently found an old old copy at a book sale and picked it up again. It was like visiting an old friend. I have the same feelings and unfortunately even after 30 plus years, some people in my town are actually the exact same religious people. I can just see clearer now how very wrong they are.
I recently saw a leather bound copy that is sold and a new adaptation with pictures that I may be picking up in the future. I have found people either love or hate this book. I for one still love it after all these years.
Peace.
