An interesting topic here. I love historical fiction, and having cut my teeth on the sprawling novels of Edward Rutherfurd and the likes, have set myself a pretty high standard. September Williams is a heck of a wordsmith. Language is as an identifying a factor among writers as jersey numbers are on the shirts of basketball players, and she has got a wonderful gift of sentence-crafting. “Filling one hand with fictitiously injured mammary..” - I mean come on, that’s gold.
Just as importantly, though, is Williams’ ability to tell a story. The novel itself traces the paths of Forest and Sicily - two very interesting characters who make for an oddly complementary yet entirely appealing pair as they trot the globe during the height of the UN Minamata Convention. A love story, a suspense story, and history lesson all rolled into one with legitimately grade-A literary technique. Really good stuff, and I will look out for more of Williams’ work in the future.
This novel is written by an author who brings extremely unique, interesting fictional characters to life with their "real" personal stories and experiences. The underlying story is one of industrial pollution without regard for the environmental impact and resultant human loss due to mercury poisoning. "Chasing Mercury" is a novel that educates the reader and takes them outside of the comfort zone, into deep self-reflection--as the story is explored through its engaging characters.
5.0 out of 5 stars CHASING MERCURY -- The audacity to make us fall in love.BySarah Kornfeldon August 26, 2017Format: Kindle Edition|Verified PurchaseSeptember Williams has the audacity to make us fall in love with two people whom the world, and literature to often believe invisible. A love story of humans and humankind, CHASING MERCURY will make those who love epic stories, travel to worlds and cultures that expand our view of the world.For to those who adore Angela Davis and Bell Hooks, and the great tradition of social expose, Williams gives us the lyrical, erotic and embodied prose of resistance and resilience.Is it that Williams' own experience growing up in the civil rights movement, her experience as a bioethicist and African American woman informs this work in ways others have not yet touched? Perhaps, though, more likely, it is the dedication of a serious journalist and writer who can bring us close to love, coss-ethnicity and the burdens of toxic life and love. A tour de force from a voice we most desperately need.
5.0 out of 5 starsA total page turner, a great read!
BySharon Karpon December 19, 2017
Format: Audible Audio Edition|Verified Purchase
This is an amazing work! The subject matter, the pollution of the water, is perhaps the most important of all. “Water is life! Well done, September Williams!
Chasing Mercury is an engrossing book that brings attention to the fight for environmental justice. Seemingly simple and straightforward at first, the author packs it with references to key historical and social events making the story much deeper and relevant to our times now. The story is all the more amazing considering how much is based in fact. And as the epilogue states, "this is only the beginning of the story, what about the middle and the end?" I'm looking forward to September Williams' next book.
Chasing Mercury
by September Williams (Goodreads Author)
Jimmy Jefferson's review
Jul 04, 2017
it was amazing
A love explored across the world
Author September Williams does an amazing job of story telling. This story is of Forrest and Sicily. A young couple who meet in the Montreal airport. They are both traveling to Berlin and learn about each other as they traverse the globe making their way to the performance in Berlin. While in route Forrest opens a bank account and puts Sicily name on it and then he vanishes. The story is a romantic suspense that explores your deepest emotions and pulls you headlong into the journey which Sicily is on. Great characters and incredible story telling skills. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. A fun easy read with an easy to follow and attention catching story.
September Williams’ Chasing Mercury is more than a romance, it includes suspense and mystery. I enjoyed Williams’ storytelling techniques. Although the story begins in 1973, at the airport with ...Sicily and Forest’s meeting, the book will flash back to Sicily’s past. Sicily’s backstory is quite interesting, as the child of an activist, her childhood was filled with brunches with personalities such as Dorothy Parker and Edith Head. The chapters sometimes alternate between Sicily’s childhood and the 1973. These glimpses into Sicily’s past gives the reader a better picture of her journey to becoming a ballerina, and gives insight on Sicily’s relationship with her mother, who was very influential in her life.
September Williams Author of Chasing Mercury returns from the first conference of the Patrties signatory to the Minamata Converntion on Mercury in Geneva Switzerland. Where she was able to learn more about the plans to implement the Minamata Convention on Mercury by United Nations and Non Governmental Organizations. Most importantly she was able to meet Shinobu Sakamato a Minamata Disease Survivor and Activitst.
Along with four other writers ( Christopher Cook, Alan Lissik, Sarah E. Kornfeld and Ismail in a session sponsored by the National Writers Union at LitQuake/LitCrawl San Francisco at 5PM in the Mission in San Francisco, CA
There have been some spectacular reviews and reception to Chasing Mercury over the past two weeks.
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat Read!
ByDenise Lucason September 22, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Chasing Mercury written by September Williams is a wonderfully written story full of romance, environmentalism/activism, and family. The author does an amazing job with the details of every aspect of this story. I was very intrigued by this book, even just within the first few pages. Any story that can combine art (dance) and some Canadian history (speaking about the Quebecois) is a true page turner for me. The plot of this book is very unique and one that I believe any reader could really get into. There’s romance and politics thrown into the mix and is truly a unique story that I doubt anyone will have read about before. I really enjoyed the writing, the story, and the feelings the author was able to make me feel throughout the book. This romance suspense novel goes into detail about the effects of Mercury poisoning, and as the synopsis said, it honors the 2017 ratification of the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury. This is a great read, and I highly recommend it!
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4.0 out of 5 starsBenefit to Society
ByRenee Spicuzzaon September 22, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
September Williams’, “Chasing Mercury,” is a transcendent novel that takes on a moral stance, trying to explain things such as the environment and what needs to be done in order to protect it. We have two very diverse and unique characters that have a wonderful relationship that allows for growth that could occur in any direction (making the storyline that much more interesting, in my opinion. It helps identify the very serious issues that are occurring in our society now, even during a time that was suffering from different ailments of their society. I like the focus because it makes the novel more than just a superficial plot, and instead has an actual purpose, trying to achieve social justice. The characters are developed well and are most definitely flawed, which is appreciated in order to better connect with the reader. Overall, it is well written and hits on some important points, while still being entertaining and enjoyable to read.
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4.0 out of 5 starsIn Pursuit of Justice
ByBeautyFul Wordon September 21, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Chasing Mercury is a story of love, activism and perseverance. We first meet Sicily as she is traveling to an international dance conference. She quickly falls in love with Forest, a young Native American who is way more than he originally seems. The mystery surrounding him deepens when she finds he has some importance to the movement that her parents have been working on. The characters are well developed but not exactly relatable. She meets several different people like Rainy, Moni and Pilot that are highly intelligent and also draw her into the movement.
The story pace is evenly paced and I felt like the author's writing style was unique in the way it brought the social struggle to life. I felt like Sicily was the type of person most people admire for her beauty, talent and her quick wit. It surprising to me how in this time period how strong the prejudice was as well as the lengths the government went to help cover up the effects of mercury poisoning. I would say the only thing I didn't like was the flipping to 1st person because I felt like it would have flowed better in 3rd in describing Sicily's early years.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThought provoking
ByMatt Chapkoon September 21, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase