Sometime ago I was looking for recommendations to read about the witch trials.I didn't get much responses, so based on ChatGPT's recommendation I read this one. Hope this review helps someone else who wants to read about the same.
This book was a 3.5-star read for me. There were elements I liked immensely, while others irritated me. It offers a comprehensive overview of the Salem witch trials, and the language is impressively advanced — my vocabulary definitely feels enriched after reading it. It also satisfied my curiosity about why witchcraft was believable in the past centuries.
What I liked particularly:
The author's dry wit. Given the tragic subject matter, her sarcasm and dry humor kept the book from feeling overwhelmingly heavy, allowing me to keep going even through the darkest parts.
She also knows when to dial it back. In the most poignant moments — like Burroughs’ speech before his execution or the indictment of Rebecca Nurse — she evokes emotion with grace and power.
What I didn’t like:
The book could have been a bit shorter. I appreciate the depth of historical detail, but some tangents, especially the lengthy backgrounds of key authorities, felt excessive. I often found myself wanting to skip them.
Also, Cotton Mather appears far too often. Maybe this is my ignorance, but the repeated criticisms of him felt a bit much. His frequent presence didn’t seem to significantly advance the story.
by Famous-Explanation56
1 Comment
Why the hell would you read a book based on a recommendation from chatgpt. Go to goodreada and put some effort into actually reading reviews by, you know, motivated humans rather than a bullshit milquetoast statistical summary