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A review by mingo08
Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian
3.0
I grew up in the generation of “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” and similar stories. I’ve been to Salem and visited the memorial to the women tried there as witches. And I’ve lived enough life to know that people, no matter how hard they try, are prone to all of the foibles of humanity - pride, jealousy, etc.
If the historical setting of this book - which is accurate, if not just a bit light on description - isn’t of interest, or the Puritan mindset seems surrealistic, this isn’t the book for you.
If you’ve never read any of the history and the many books out there about women/witchcraft and the Puritan era - this is as good as any with which to start.
It’s a nice change to read a story like this from the viewpoint of an intelligent woman who accepts her social mores and roles, while still refuting the assumptions placed upon her biology. She sees the duality, even calls it out, but it doesn’t become a manifesto to feminism. It’s “domestic” feminism - knowing, seeing, intuiting, and finally acting in a way that is necessary, but not demanding attention for the act.
I gave it three stars because I, personally, wouldn’t read this book again (that’s my 4-star rating; 5 stars are books I will read again and again as ”personal classics”). BUT, it’s probably pushing a 3.98 otherwise.
If the historical setting of this book - which is accurate, if not just a bit light on description - isn’t of interest, or the Puritan mindset seems surrealistic, this isn’t the book for you.
If you’ve never read any of the history and the many books out there about women/witchcraft and the Puritan era - this is as good as any with which to start.
It’s a nice change to read a story like this from the viewpoint of an intelligent woman who accepts her social mores and roles, while still refuting the assumptions placed upon her biology. She sees the duality, even calls it out, but it doesn’t become a manifesto to feminism. It’s “domestic” feminism - knowing, seeing, intuiting, and finally acting in a way that is necessary, but not demanding attention for the act.
I gave it three stars because I, personally, wouldn’t read this book again (that’s my 4-star rating; 5 stars are books I will read again and again as ”personal classics”). BUT, it’s probably pushing a 3.98 otherwise.