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karenluvstoread's review against another edition
3.5
I actually listened to the audiobook for this one and it was done with a full cast. This audiobook was phenomenally done and the way it was narrated at times made it feel very creepy in certain parts…the ominous tones of voices and chantings and such in the audiobook all made the read very atmospheric.
There were some things I really didn't like in this book; but to share about those would give spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt very sorry for John Proctor's wife.
Yet, despite the things I didn't like in the story, it's important to note that one of the points of this story is reminding readers of a true scenario that really happened in history involving the hysteria of witchcraft that swept Salem at that time, albeit in a fictionalized play where things may not have been 100% accurate. In that, I think it succeeded, especially in showing how accusations of witchcraft were used to get back at people.
I did find it interesting that Judge Hathorne was in this play. That’s a connection to my reading of The Scarlet Letter and learning more about Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Again, the audiobook was excellent and had me not wanting to put it down at times. Still, this wasn’t a favorite for mine honestly. I gave it 3.50 stars largely for the audiobook performance.
There were some things I really didn't like in this book; but to share about those would give spoilers. Suffice it to say, I felt very sorry for John Proctor's wife.
Yet, despite the things I didn't like in the story, it's important to note that one of the points of this story is reminding readers of a true scenario that really happened in history involving the hysteria of witchcraft that swept Salem at that time, albeit in a fictionalized play where things may not have been 100% accurate. In that, I think it succeeded, especially in showing how accusations of witchcraft were used to get back at people.
I did find it interesting that Judge Hathorne was in this play. That’s a connection to my reading of The Scarlet Letter and learning more about Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Again, the audiobook was excellent and had me not wanting to put it down at times. Still, this wasn’t a favorite for mine honestly. I gave it 3.50 stars largely for the audiobook performance.
jensebring's review against another edition
2.0
What say you never read this.... I think the language just annoyed me. Very irritating.
angie6's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
hanmacray's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
noorandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
"A wild thing may say wild things," Abigail giggles, before ending everyone's livelihoods.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
Miller was inspired to write this one by McCarthyism. The theme seems to continue to be relevant today. Morality is always subjective - and we are often liable to claim that those we don't like or whose opinions we don't agree with. In my country these days, Hindutava right-wing will label anyone not agreeing with their version of Nationalism. There was even a twitter bad spot-the-traitor trend on twitter. Of course anything anti-government will be called anti-national. The thing about witch hunts is that the accusation itself is also both a verdict and a part of punishment - an auto-de-fae. It is perhaps to save people from automated trails that we have laws which define exclusively acts punishable by law. It can not be immoral acts that are punished by society but acts defined by law as crimes. Of course, laws are open to abuse too.
Loved the presentation of mass hysteria. Isn't it one's own anger or fear that when grouped with that of others take the form of hysteria?
And yet these days, 'witch-hunting' is also the defense so many guilty people run to - what the 'Me too' accused did. You could think that the big difference is that in these later cases, the accustions is of an actual criminal conduct and not someone's abstract notions of what is religiously right, national or patriotic; and the accused is the powerful who have a way of getting away with criminal behavior even if prosecuted legally.
Loved the presentation of mass hysteria. Isn't it one's own anger or fear that when grouped with that of others take the form of hysteria?
And yet these days, 'witch-hunting' is also the defense so many guilty people run to - what the 'Me too' accused did. You could think that the big difference is that in these later cases, the accustions is of an actual criminal conduct and not someone's abstract notions of what is religiously right, national or patriotic; and the accused is the powerful who have a way of getting away with criminal behavior even if prosecuted legally.
honeybee_reads_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5