juliamason11's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
3.75
hadu's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this book would be a little more exciting. Although well researched it eventually became very repetitive and kind of a chore to read. But I'm glad I did read it because I've always been interested in the Salem witch trials and now I feel more informed.
mistercrow's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic read. Very thorough and enjoyed all of it.
Of course, since it's about the witch trails, a lot of the people drove me absolutely crazy, luckily, they all dead now :)
(Yes, this is a review...)
Of course, since it's about the witch trails, a lot of the people drove me absolutely crazy, luckily, they all dead now :)
(Yes, this is a review...)
theliterateporcupine's review against another edition
4.0
The Salem Witcraft trials is a part of history that has always fascinated me. Having visited Salem in 2015, I was able to see all the famous landmarks, but unfortunately, the place was so overrun with cheap witchy miscellany and ghost stories that its historical importance was pushed to the backburner. I've been wanting to read this book but was a little intimidated with the length. I got it on audiobook and was able to get through it much faster while enjoying it just as much.
Schiff is an excellent storyteller, weaving historical facts into a narrative that isn't dense or too hard to understand. I felt transported back to the time of witch hunts and mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts as an observer, watching the events unfold. I also loved the descriptions of medicinal practices by the early settlers and how they believed a random concoction of natural materials could solve mental and physical ailments. Thank goodness for modern medicine! I had hoped that the author would discuss the theories as to how a handful of adolescent girls convinced a whole town that they were cursed by witches. While I wasn't expecting a groundbreaking conclusion, I was hoping for a section discussing possible causes of the mass hysteria.
Thorough, Lively, and Illuminating, this work reads like a vivid fictional story.
Schiff is an excellent storyteller, weaving historical facts into a narrative that isn't dense or too hard to understand. I felt transported back to the time of witch hunts and mass hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts as an observer, watching the events unfold. I also loved the descriptions of medicinal practices by the early settlers and how they believed a random concoction of natural materials could solve mental and physical ailments. Thank goodness for modern medicine! I had hoped that the author would discuss the theories as to how a handful of adolescent girls convinced a whole town that they were cursed by witches. While I wasn't expecting a groundbreaking conclusion, I was hoping for a section discussing possible causes of the mass hysteria.
Thorough, Lively, and Illuminating, this work reads like a vivid fictional story.
lydia_annette7's review against another edition
Dnf’ing at page 240, after trying to push through this book for a month I’m saving myself from hysteria and accepting I can’t keep reading this. The book is very well researched and has some very interesting parts with new-to-me information, but it’s starting to feel like I’m reading the same paragraph over and over again.
sydnihilton's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book super interesting as someone who didn't know many factual details about the Salem Witch Trials. I did get a bit annoyed at all the foot notes interrupting the flow, but some of them provided helpful info. It could have been more concise but I didn't find it repetitive or including irrelevant things so I didn't mind the length.