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A review by bibliorama
The Witches: Salem, 1692 by Stacy Schiff
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Enjoyment - 3.5
This was a hard start for me. I read this in audiobook form and I highly do not recommend. The beginning was all about laying out the people involved, which there were many, and getting the setting situated. It was too much information to try and process in audio form (granted I am more of a visual learner to begin with). Overall, the book was like getting lost in the trees without being able to see the whole forest, until the very end then it pulled somethings together more.
Start - 2
At many points, I wasn't sure why certain details were being given and how they were suppose to tie into the overarching point the author was trying to make. These details wound up overloading the front half of the book making it hard to follow. We also seemed to jump from person to person without a segway to connect the points.
Characters - 2.5
Therewere a lot of people involved with a ton of varying motivations between them all, I ended up feeling like a I need a corkboard with strings to keep them straight. This isn't necessarily the books fault because these people were all involved with what happened during the trials, but it probably would have been better if I read this book rather than do the audiobook.
Atmosphere - 3
I do think there were a lot of details added that gave insight as to what life in Salem in 1692 would have been like. The book laid out a harsh landscape that would play part of the catalyst for the witch trials.
Plot - 2.5
This is a 2.5 just because of how the author introduced some information and split up sections that didn't flow that well.
Ending - 3.75
The ending brought it up for me. The author started getting into the why and all the motivations that lead people to do what they did, but it was never too prescriptive which I appreciated. The author did a good job showing all sides to the story.
Style - 3
Overall - 3
This was a hard start for me. I read this in audiobook form and I highly do not recommend. The beginning was all about laying out the people involved, which there were many, and getting the setting situated. It was too much information to try and process in audio form (granted I am more of a visual learner to begin with). Overall, the book was like getting lost in the trees without being able to see the whole forest, until the very end then it pulled somethings together more.
Start - 2
At many points, I wasn't sure why certain details were being given and how they were suppose to tie into the overarching point the author was trying to make. These details wound up overloading the front half of the book making it hard to follow. We also seemed to jump from person to person without a segway to connect the points.
Characters - 2.5
Therewere a lot of people involved with a ton of varying motivations between them all, I ended up feeling like a I need a corkboard with strings to keep them straight. This isn't necessarily the books fault because these people were all involved with what happened during the trials, but it probably would have been better if I read this book rather than do the audiobook.
Atmosphere - 3
I do think there were a lot of details added that gave insight as to what life in Salem in 1692 would have been like. The book laid out a harsh landscape that would play part of the catalyst for the witch trials.
Plot - 2.5
This is a 2.5 just because of how the author introduced some information and split up sections that didn't flow that well.
Ending - 3.75
The ending brought it up for me. The author started getting into the why and all the motivations that lead people to do what they did, but it was never too prescriptive which I appreciated. The author did a good job showing all sides to the story.
Style - 3
Overall - 3