The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

This is the discussion thread for the Winter 2024 Group Read The Witches: Salem, 1692, in the category Non-Fiction-Witch Trials. Please post your comments here. This thread is not restricted to those choosing this book for task 20.10, feel free to join in the discussion. Warning- spoilers ahead!

The requirement for task 20.10: You must participate in the book's discussion thread below with at least one post about the contents of the book or your reaction to the book after you have read the book.

The Witches: Salem, 1692 is a great book. It tells the story with more than the somber matter-of-factness that permeates other tellings of this story. The horror of the accusations brought against these 20 people who died as a result of -- what? -- whim? political retribution? Puritanical zeal? -- tells us all that a naturalistic sense of doom, no matter what, is immenent for any one of us. This sense of doom looms over each individual and lessens the effect of the fact that a relatively small number of people were actually put to death unneccessarily.

I read this book when it first came out. Therefore, I cannot count it for this challenge -- unless I were to re-read it. I opt not to re-read, not because it is not good -- it is very good! But it is long, and the point is made and re-made. It's a good read, though. I would encourage anyone interested in the topic to delve into it for an experience beyond the gloom.

I am interested in the topic and wish another selection might have won out in the polls. But I hope that someone might take an interest in this wonderful retelling of the story before the challenge ends.

Nick wrote: "The Witches: Salem, 1692 is a great book. It tells the story with more than the somber matter-of-factness that permeates other tellings of this story. The horror of the accusations ..."

I had debated reading (and or listenign to this one) - but i went with Weyward - but its still on my pile to get to eventually