The Virtue of Sin

YA dystopia 

"The girls never get a choice.

     Recite your prayers, report for lessons, respect your Elders.  Do unto others as you are told.  Keep your hair tidy and your thoughts to yourself.  There is no choosing--not of intentions, not of words, not of spouses.  This has always been our way in New Jerusalem."

     Miriam (16) has never lived anywhere but New Jerusalem, the home of a cult isolated in the California desert.  Sometimes she finds it hard to be as silent and demure as she's supposed to be.  Sometimes she resents girls and women doing all the menial work.  But she's sure she's better off than the denizens of the outside world--a den of iniquity, degradation, and suffering.  As long as she follows the many rules imposed by Daniel, the self proclaimed prophet of God who runs New Jerusalem, she'll be safe and assured of salvation at the end times.

     As Shannon Schuren's The Virtue of Sin begins Miriam is about to learn the name of her husband in an event called the Matrimony.  Daniel has interpreted the dreams of the teenage boys, using them as clues as to which girl each should marry.  Each boy will call out the name of his God chosen bride.

     Miriam is sure her beloved Caleb will choose her.

     " I am supposed to marry Miriam.

     This knowledge is a certainty.  So when Aaron, the Outsider, speaks her name I think I must have misheard.  The cave is crowded; his voice is muffled.  But then she is in my arms, we speak, and just as quickly, she is gone.  Taking vows.

     With Aaron."

     Jacob can't figure out what's gone wrong.  He's studied and prayed and followed all the rules.  He's dreamt of Miriam.  That's supposed to be the sign of God's favoring their union.  Surely Daniel will stop the travesty.  

     Only he doesn't.

     As they adjust to lives they never anticipated or wanted--Miriam as the wife of a man she barely knows, Caleb as a lonely adult bachelor (neither a boy nor an adult man in a society in which those are the only accepted roles)--they begin to see flaws in their seemingly perfect society, flaws that point to deep dark secrets and cruelties on Daniel's part.

     Is Daniel really the prophet of God, keeping his flock safe from eternal damnation?  I'd he instead the wolf in sheep's clothes fleecing them for his selfish purposes?  Would they be much safer in the "sinful" outside world?  Will they ever get the chance to find out?

     Fans of well crafted dystopias, especially those involving fundamentalist doomsday sects, will find The Virtue of Sin to be a must read.

On a purrrsonal note, Tuesday and Wednesday I ran canteen at the UMaine blood drive.  It went really well.  We had a lot of donors.  I had an excellent volunteer crew including some returning students.  I had planned an activity for donors and volunteers to do.  I brought in all the stuff they would need to make Valentines cards. People loved it! Did they ever get creative!  And we had a bunch of thank you gifts--hats, shirts, and water bottles with stickers to decorate them with--that were a big hit with the crowd.  

I also got to warn more people about the coming plunge in temps.  Honestly I hope they cancel classes. (Jules)

Jules will be home with me.  Three day weekend coming right up!  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in the blood drive.

Tobago and Jules Hathaway 

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