The Hidden Mirror of La Porete
Marguerite Porete has walked a dark path and came out with a new understanding of the Far-Near One. She writes and shares her beliefs about God’s love with others. However, this gains the wrong attention from church leaders, who forbid women from teaching. In 1308, when she’s called by the Inquisitor of France to answer the charges of heresy, Marguerite’s words about God’s love will be on trial against the laws and words of men.
Shooter’s prose immerses readers into the period. References, turns of phrase, and the structure of her sentences all work to enliven the historical setting. The style is lyrically packed with insight and emotion. The narratives start by weaving gently through time. At first, it’s effective in introducing us to Marguerite and the suffering she is fighting to overcome. However, as the novel progresses, the time-jumps grow chaotic. It quickly becomes not only difficult but also frustrating to follow plot direction and character growth. Chapter after chapter, we’re given the result of something without knowing what it is, where it begins, or why it’s significant. Many readers won’t come into this story with much advance knowledge of the main character, so a linear plot structure would more effectively convey the life of this intriguing figure and help readers understand the weight of her journey. The cast is dense, and their relationship to Marguerite equally difficult to keep straight. A glossary and/or a character list would be appreciated.
The story is strongly researched, which is a delight. Marguerite’s faithful words and actions are the heartbeat of the novel. Regretfully, there isn’t a foundation for readers to build on as the author continuously puts the cart before the horse.
