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Reviews tagging 'Child death'
The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill
10 reviews
sheriffrockyraccoon's review
3.0
Gaskill’s writing is beautiful and visual, I loved being able to read about this history from a novel-like perspective as it truly helped immerse me in 1650 Springfield. I did find the pacing to be a bit slow at first, however, with Gaskill repeating himself each chapter almost word for word at some points. It was a bit frustrating, especially considering this book really seems to be about witches and witch trials when in reality it is much more focused on colonial society. If you are expecting a courtroom drama or magical testimonies- look elsewhere. That being said, I do believe the book is incredibly interesting and provides small details about life in New England you would not get in a history book covering a well known event.
The one thing I truly struggled with was the Epilogue, its narrative completely changed the entire book. For one, Gaskill’s biases come out in full force in a way that makes me question the point of his research. He speaks very ill of modern Springfield, which I found disappointing, but that’s more of a personal issue because I tend not to like many British people. Anyway, I wish the Epilogue had focused more on his research (like his “Sources and Methods”) and had been less explicit. He writes about Hugh and Mary helping form Springfield and being ultimately forgotten, but it felt so absolute that it took away the reader’s ability to draw conclusions from the story themselves. I felt talked at, rather than felt I learned.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in American colonial history, with much less of a focus on religion and superstition. The content is interesting and new, even if the pacing is a bit awkward at first.
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katek's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Colonisation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Slavery, Religious bigotry, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
gbmillar2002's review against another edition
4.75
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism
phoebemurtagh's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Infertility, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
georgewhite92's review against another edition
4.0
The story of what happened to the Parsons is a sobering one which Gaskill does well in bringing to life.
Minor: Child death, Death, Mental illness, and War
pebbletown's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child death
rcsreads's review against another edition
1.0
If you live in Springfield and want a really dry account of the towns founding and early years then this is for you. If you want to read about witch trials or in any way not be bored to tears then give it a miss!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
pwindmill's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
reizh's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Child death
mondovertigo's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Misogyny and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Pregnancy, and War