Mercury

*Mercury* centers on Donald and Viv, a married couple in their forties living near Boston. Donald is an optometrist with his own practice, while Viv manages a suburban riding stable where she rediscovers her passion for horses. Their stable routine is disrupted when a new horse named Mercury arrives - a magnificent animal that captures Viv's full attention and begins to consume her thoughts and time. As Viv becomes increasingly focused on Mercury and competitive riding, the distance between her and Donald grows. The story tracks the mounting tensions in their marriage as each character makes choices that impact their relationship, their ethics, and their understanding of truth and responsibility. This contemporary novel explores themes of obsession, marriage, and the blurred lines between protection and possession, while raising questions about how well we can truly know those closest to us.

Readers describe Mercury as a psychological drama exploring marriage, truth, and obsession. Book clubs report productive discussions about moral choices and relationship dynamics. Readers highlight: - Complex character development, especially Donald's perspective - Horse-related details ring authentic to equestrians - Building tension and pacing in second half - Writing style captures New England setting Common criticisms: - Slow start before plot gains momentum - Some find ending unsatisfying/abrupt - Ginny's actions seem implausible to many - Secondary characters lack depth Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (180+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.6/5 (250+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The moral questions stayed with me long after finishing" - Goodreads reviewer "Expected more from the mystery elements" - Amazon review "Donald's chapters were compelling but Ginny's choices strained credibility" - LibraryThing member

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🔍 The book's exploration of vision and blindness was inspired by Livesey's own experience with severe myopia and multiple eye surgeries. 🐎 Mercury's equestrian elements draw from ancient mythology, where the god Mercury was often depicted riding Arion, a divine horse born from a union between Poseidon and Demeter. 📚 This was Livesey's eighth novel, published in 2016 after extensive research into both optometry and horse training techniques. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Though the novel is set in Massachusetts, Livesey grew up in the Scottish Highlands where she first developed her love of horses and riding. 🎓 The author teaches creative writing at Bowdoin College and has been a faculty member at numerous prestigious writing programs, including the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Warren Wilson College.