Review - American Witches
Happy Halloween everyone! This is the day I wait for all year and it's finally here! In honor of the special occasion, I have one last spooky book review for you:
American Witches: A Broomstick Tour Through Four Centuries
by Susan Fair
release date 8/23/2016
Chapter length: long
5 out of 5 stars
According to the publisher, "Throughout history, the specter of witchcraft has both mesmerized and terrified us. But witches aren’t mere fairy book threats; American history is brimming with tales of their terror. From 19th-century murders to a bizarre monkey-faced creature straight from Hell to bewitched pigs hell-bent on revenge, American Witches: a Broomstick Tour through Four Centuries describes strange incidents that have long been banished to the margins of our history.
On a tour through four centuries of American witchcraft that’s both whimsical and startling, we’ll encounter 17th-century children flying around inside their New England home “like geese.” We’ll meet a father-son tag-team of pious Puritans who embarked on an anti-witch mission that involved undressing young ladies and overseeing hangings. And on the eve of the Civil War, we’ll accompany a reporter as he dons a dress and goes searching for witches in New York City’s most dangerous neighborhoods.
Entertainingly readable and rich in amazing details often left out of today’s texts, American Witches casts a flickering torchlight into the dark corners of American history. Shelf Awareness says: "American Witches is a delightful and thoughtful adventure into one of the darker superstitions that has plagued the country for centuries."
If there's one thing I've been consistently obsessed with my whole life, other than reading, it's witches! I don't typically choose many nonfiction books for myself, but as soon as I heard of American Witches, I knew I had to read it. I am thrilled to say, this definitely did not disappoint!
The best part about this book is that it taught me quite a bit about American history. When you think of witches in America, you most likely think of the Salem Witch Trials and leave it at that. I know that's definitely true for me personally. I've read up quite a bit on what happened in Salem, but I really didn't know any witch history existed beyond that. While this book does cover the witches of Salem in depth, it also talks about witches in later American history. I honestly had no idea that witchcraft was such a pervasive theme for Americans!
While this book is nonfiction, it is surprisingly funny. Reading about the Puritans can typically be a pretty dry activity, but the author frequently uses humor to tell these stories. There were quite a few times when I was actually laughing out loud!
If you're interested in history or trying to get in one last Halloween read, this is definitely the book for you. I cannot recommend it enough!
American Witches: A Broomstick Tour Through Four Centuries
by Susan Fair
release date 8/23/2016
Chapter length: long
5 out of 5 stars
According to the publisher, "Throughout history, the specter of witchcraft has both mesmerized and terrified us. But witches aren’t mere fairy book threats; American history is brimming with tales of their terror. From 19th-century murders to a bizarre monkey-faced creature straight from Hell to bewitched pigs hell-bent on revenge, American Witches: a Broomstick Tour through Four Centuries describes strange incidents that have long been banished to the margins of our history.
On a tour through four centuries of American witchcraft that’s both whimsical and startling, we’ll encounter 17th-century children flying around inside their New England home “like geese.” We’ll meet a father-son tag-team of pious Puritans who embarked on an anti-witch mission that involved undressing young ladies and overseeing hangings. And on the eve of the Civil War, we’ll accompany a reporter as he dons a dress and goes searching for witches in New York City’s most dangerous neighborhoods.
Entertainingly readable and rich in amazing details often left out of today’s texts, American Witches casts a flickering torchlight into the dark corners of American history. Shelf Awareness says: "American Witches is a delightful and thoughtful adventure into one of the darker superstitions that has plagued the country for centuries."
If there's one thing I've been consistently obsessed with my whole life, other than reading, it's witches! I don't typically choose many nonfiction books for myself, but as soon as I heard of American Witches, I knew I had to read it. I am thrilled to say, this definitely did not disappoint!
The best part about this book is that it taught me quite a bit about American history. When you think of witches in America, you most likely think of the Salem Witch Trials and leave it at that. I know that's definitely true for me personally. I've read up quite a bit on what happened in Salem, but I really didn't know any witch history existed beyond that. While this book does cover the witches of Salem in depth, it also talks about witches in later American history. I honestly had no idea that witchcraft was such a pervasive theme for Americans!
While this book is nonfiction, it is surprisingly funny. Reading about the Puritans can typically be a pretty dry activity, but the author frequently uses humor to tell these stories. There were quite a few times when I was actually laughing out loud!
If you're interested in history or trying to get in one last Halloween read, this is definitely the book for you. I cannot recommend it enough!
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