Kat with a K

Review: The Scarlet Letter

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Genre: Literature, classic
Pages: 180
Rating: 4.8

I have no idea why it took me so long to read The Scarlet Letter. Well, I guess I missed the part of high school when they read it, and then in college I read a bunch of Hawthorne's short stories but none of his novels. And maybe I was a little bit scared by all the people - people who read serious, literary stuff - telling me how hard it was. Especially the introduction. That infamous introduction...

In any case, I finally read it, and loved it. Even the introduction. Sure, it wasn't the quickest read, but I loved every word. Hawthorne's language is mesmerizing, the plot is compelling (even though I knew the outline), and some surprisingly modern issues are dealt with in interesting ways. I have visited various Hawthorne sites in Salem and Concord, MA, and this definitely added to my enjoyment of the book. If you're in the area, I'd definitely visit the real House of the Seven Gables and then give Hawthorne a try.