Reviews

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

pnelson384's review

5.0

I put off reading this, as the topics were a little close to home with some of my current frustrations and anger at world events, but when I finally sat down with this book, I couldn't put it down. Meals went unprepared, shopping undone, etc. The book is a story of a woman living in Puritan Boston in the early 1620s. The story is well written and crafted in a smart way with two larger events framing it. The characters were what had me hooked, however. Mary is the primary character, and her strength, resilience and confidence made her stand out. Constance is more of an ancillary character, but her perspective and confidence and wisdom made her another memorable character. It is not a spoiler or surprising to say that the Puritan life was hard on women, whose lives and reputations could swing quickly through unfounded accusations and gossip, but unfounded accusations and gossip turned toward a man were unacceptable behavior. I would highly recommend this book for book club discussions. There is a lot to talk about and there would be a great discussion point about what is different today? What is similar if not the same?

jennahunzeker's review

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

nschellhas's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring tense medium-paced

3.5

the_games_a_foot's review against another edition

There is nothing demonstrably wrong with book. It is not holding my interest. This is the 12th book this year I have DNFed to one degree or another! What the **ck is happening this year.

vegfashionista's review

2.0

This book took me quite a while—- and not because it was long. It immediately interested me only to meander off and become bogged down elsewhere. I wanted to know what happened, but getting there was tedious at times.

markatong's review against another edition

5.0

The true definition in unputdownable

sarcasticnerdette's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

louismunozjr's review

4.0

3.5 rounded up to 4, a bit grudgingly. I'm a sucker for this kind of historical fiction and this period, as well as some of the themes and plot lines that came up. However, I don't know that the author hit it out of the ballpark for me. Having said that, this was my first time reading Chris Bohjalian, and I'm still curious to read some of his other books.

vspinazola's review

4.0

More like a 3.5. The first half of this book truly aggravated me and I almost dropped it. I found the attempt to use historically accurate language supremely grating, but then it looked like it was spot on from the quotes taken from court documents, so I grew to accept it.

It is also super slow. I really don't remember anything happening in the first half if the book. Think the author took way to long to establish the pattern of domestic violence and the Puritan mindset - WAY too much obsessing over masturbation. I also just find that hard to digest from a male author writing for a female character.

But I committed to it and the second half moved faster. I was predisposed to want to like it because it tells the story of DV, early divorce, and a woman standing up for herself. Went downhill a little again at the end because a while lot happens in like 5 pages which again, compared to the first 200 pages where nothing really happens, just seems off pace.

faithflume's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0