Recipe From The Shape of Mercy:

In Chapter Eight of The Shape of Mercy, Lauren stays for dinner at Abigail’s house after an afternoon of transcribing Mercy’s diary. Esperanza makes bifana, a Portuguese dish, and Lauren and Abigail discuss love’s anguishes as seen in Great Expectations.

Esperanza’s Bifana

The Chutney
•    3/4 cup white sugar
•    1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
•    1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
•    1 tablespoon garlic powder
•    1 teaspoon ground cumin
•    1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•    1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
•    1/2 teaspoon dried red chili peppers
•    4 cups diced rhubarb, fresh if you can find it
•    1/2 cup chopped purple onion
•    1/3 cup golden raisins

•    1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
•    2 teaspoons ground cumin
•    salt and pepper to taste
•    1 tablespoon olive oil
•    fresh cilantro
Directions
1.    To make the chutney: Combine sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic, cumin, cinnamon, allspice and red pepper in a large saucepan. Bring to simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Add rhubarb, onion and raisins. Increase heat to medium-high and cook until rhubarb is tender and mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool.
2.    Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3.    Sprinkle pork with cumin, salt and pepper. Heat oil in large, heavy skillet over high heat and brown the loin on all sides, about 5 minutes.
4.    Transfer pork to roasting pan. Brush with ½ cup of the chutney. Place in preheated oven, brushing occasionally with more chutney. Cook until thermometer inserted into center registers 160 degrees, about 25 minutes. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve with remaining sauce.

Book Club Activities

One of the major themes running through The Shape of Mercy is the notion that we tend to make snap judgments about people without even realizing it, and that we unknowingly teach this behavior to the people around us. To increase your awareness of how often you make disapproving, stereotypical or judgmental remarks – no matter how benign or harmless – empower your kids, your spouse, your best friend to exact a toll from you every time you do it. Use pennies or buttons or some other token that represents something of value to you. If each penny is worth fifty cents, by the end of one week, you might owe your “helper” a nice little sum! And you will have learned to cover your comments with love, grace and mercy. You can also exact a toll from yourself every time you think a judgmental thought. Donate the sum to your favorite charity.

Publishers Weekly said of The Shape of Mercy that it makes you want to “call up old friends, lost loves or fallen-away family members to tell them that all is forgiven and that life is too short for holding grudges.” Is there someone you need to settle an old grudge with? Don’t wait another day. Take the first step toward reconciliation. If the person whom you need to forgive or who you’d like to forgive you has passed away, write the letter anyway and offer it as a prayer to God.

The character Tom Kimura made sense of his loss by writing poems. Write a poem (it doesn’t have to rhyme!) about how God has sustained you through times of loss. Use Psalm 91 and 116 for inspiration.

Lauren and Abigail both had a fondness for books, especially the classics. These books are mentioned in the book: Robinson Crusoe, Great Expectations, My Antonia. Pick one to read with a good friend and get together to discuss it over lunch on a sunny patio.

One of the things Lauren secretly enjoys about Abigail’s sitting room is the row of black-and-white photographs from Abigail’s past. Have a photograph party at your house where everyone brings the oldest family photos they have. Spend some time sharing the family stories behind those photos.

Clarissa was peeved when Lauren’s plans for the art gallery meant only the affluent could afford to visit it. Is there someone whom you know would love to see an art gallery or museum but whose budget won’t allow them to go? Take that person out for a special day at a gallery or museum. Take care to let them know you are taking them because they love art (or history) just like you do, rather than because you have the money and they don’t.

Mercy journaled her thoughts in a diary that allowed us to peek inside her heart and mind. If you have never journaled your thoughts, try it for one week. Write every day for just 5 to 10 minutes. If you’re struggling over what to write about, start with describing your earliest childhood memories.