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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
informative
inspiring
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
Witchcraft by Marion Gibson
3/5
ARC via Netgalley
I am fascinated by witchcraft trials. When I was in school, I used to find any opportunity to assert opinions on controversial topics wherever I could, and one was the Salem Witch Trials and how mass hysteria can be deadly. So seeing this, I was all in.
I’m struggling with this review because, though it started off decently talking about how people were persecuted for supposedly being witches, and the research was obviously extensive, as she goes on the situations of witchcraft that she speaks about seem more far-fetched. It went from a novel of situations of witchcraft persecution and turned to men controlling women in any way possible with a very weak idea that it can be similar to the references towards the beginning of the book. Maybe that was her point the entire time, however I was reading for the history of witchcraft and for me, that part was very much lacking. Another big issues is the style of writing. As stated before, she did her research and it shows, however it came across very dry a lot of times and was a struggle to focus and keep reading. It read more like I was given a school textbook to do homework from, and that’s a way of writing that I stay away from because I just don’t enjoy. I really wanted to like this book, and I did finish it, but after awhile it felt more like reading because I had to rather than reading because I wanted to.
Read if you like: history of witchcraft, well researched studies
3/5
ARC via Netgalley
I am fascinated by witchcraft trials. When I was in school, I used to find any opportunity to assert opinions on controversial topics wherever I could, and one was the Salem Witch Trials and how mass hysteria can be deadly. So seeing this, I was all in.
I’m struggling with this review because, though it started off decently talking about how people were persecuted for supposedly being witches, and the research was obviously extensive, as she goes on the situations of witchcraft that she speaks about seem more far-fetched. It went from a novel of situations of witchcraft persecution and turned to men controlling women in any way possible with a very weak idea that it can be similar to the references towards the beginning of the book. Maybe that was her point the entire time, however I was reading for the history of witchcraft and for me, that part was very much lacking. Another big issues is the style of writing. As stated before, she did her research and it shows, however it came across very dry a lot of times and was a struggle to focus and keep reading. It read more like I was given a school textbook to do homework from, and that’s a way of writing that I stay away from because I just don’t enjoy. I really wanted to like this book, and I did finish it, but after awhile it felt more like reading because I had to rather than reading because I wanted to.
Read if you like: history of witchcraft, well researched studies
informative
reflective
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I’ve always found the topic of witch trials fascinating - I remember being obsessed with The Crucible when I read it in high school. This was a well-documented and empathic account over several centuries focusing on the way witch trials are used as a weapon to uphold patriarchy and control women, especially women of colour, the poor, the disabled, and women who try to exercise their rights (e.g. questioning religion, sexual and financial freedom, etc). I only wish the second half in particular could have explored other continents or cultures other than just Africa and Europe, like the Pacific Islands, South America and Asia. I would have loved less on how straight white cis men have “used” the witch label to paint themselves as a victim and more on women who actually continue to be victimised by accusations of witchcraft.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book is full of very interesting history told in an engaging way. I learned lots. I am glad I read this book.
Thank you S&S for the ARC.
Thank you S&S for the ARC.