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Witches: Salem, 1692
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Cleopatra," the #1 national bestseller, unpacks the mystery of the Salem Witch Trials. It began in 1692, over an exceptionally raw Massachusetts winter, when a minister's daughter began to scream and convulse. It ended less than a year later, but not before 19 men and women had been hanged and an elderly man crushed to death. The panic spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in the colony. Neighbors accused neighbors, parents and children each other. Aside from suffrage, the Salem Witch Trials represent the only moment when women played the central role in American history. In curious ways, the trials would shape the future republic. As psychologically thrilling as it is historically seminal, THE WITCHES is Stacy Schiff's account of this fantastical story-the first great American mystery unveiled fully for the first time by one of our most acclaimed historians.
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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

So good! This deep, well researched, and expansive exploration of what happened during the 1692 Salem witch trials was compelling and propulsive. This is the perfect example of why narrative nonfiction is fantastic. Perfect for the season, this 18 hour tome flew by! #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheBookHippie Oooo I loved the Cleopatra book! Stacked! 13mo
TheAromaofBooks Great review!! 13mo
43 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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Pickpick

Finished this today. It was interesting. There were moments that I zoned out but they tended to coincide with being busy with work.
Salem 1692 witch trials. I understand ignorance of time, however the extent to which these mostly men went to use witchcraft boggles me. Looking back 300+ years it‘s obvious that the afflicted were acting out do to the lives they were forced to live, this book covers that briefly.
3.8 ⭐️ you won‘t learn anything new.

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marleed
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Pickpick

I believe this is the first nonfiction book I‘ve read about the Salem witch trial. I‘m glad I read it but it took me weeks to work my way through it. It‘s told from the perspective, notes and diaries of the Puritans. They didn‘t like the French, the Catholics, or the ‘Indians‘, and we read about the ‘Indians‘. We know better now so I was uncomfortable those fears were told without the perspective of the those indigenous to Massachusetts.

tpixie That‘s a thick book. I bought it in Salem a few years ago, but haven‘t been brave enough for the time commitment! 2y
marleed October #BookSpin - I‘m really glad this was my BS @TheAromaofBooks because it was my incentive to stay with this. I had the audiobook and the print so that was big help. 2y
marleed @tpixie it reads like a textbook at times so it‘s not easy to get through. I was curious enough about the nonfiction of it to stick with it. I also downloaded the audiobook and the combo of the two was what really helped me get to the end. 2y
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tpixie @marleed that‘s good to know. I might do an audio- book combo! 2y
Graywacke You deserve some credit for finishing! (I tried this on audio, but couldn‘t make it through.) 2y
MicheleinPhilly @Graywacke I bailed too. It felt like such hard work. 2y
marleed @Graywacke @MicheleinPhilly It was a hard read - maybe I‘ll wear a little read star on my forehead for the rest of the month! Even though I‘m glad I read it, I don‘t really feel like I‘m a better me for the effort. I did make me consider all the dissing of ‘woke‘. I‘m thinking doesn‘t it really mean when we know better we do better. We definitely know better than the 1690s - and should do better! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!!! 2y
marleed @TheAromaofBooks Neither my BS nor DS (Dracula) are easy reads. Both were languishing on my physical TBR so I‘m thrilled you helped me make them a priority! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Oh yeah, those are both kind of difficult/need focus reads. So glad to hear that this gave you the push you needed!!! 2y
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LibraryCin
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Mehso-so

I listened to the audio and did miss parts. What I heard more of, I would rate “good”. But it‘s unfortunate I missed the stuff I did as I got distracted from listening. I do feel like I might have taken in more if I‘d read it. I don‘t think I‘d previously read as much of the aftermath as this book included, not just in the surrounding areas but about the people after everything died down. I did like that the narrator also read the footnotes

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IMASLOWREADER
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Grrlbrarian
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Mehso-so

Calling my #Bookspin for #Spooktober! I managed three bingos as well as my #Bookspin and #Doublespin. I found Schiff‘s book thorough in detail but too prone to repetition and scattered musing. Trimming unnecessary ‘what-ifs‘ and digressions would have greatly improved the book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I‘ll be skipping the November #Bookspin to concentrate on a handful of longer nonfiction. Let‘s hope they read a little better than The Witches!

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Great month!!! 3y
18 likes1 comment
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Bailedbailed

Well. Now I know why this used book only had tabs from the previous reader for about 100 pages. Dry, repetitive, and the way she writes about the Native people felt gross.
I tried to listen on audio and got 7 hours into it, I cannot handle another 12.
#scarathlon #screamathon Book with Witch in title hope this counts even if I am bailing!! #teamHendrix @4thhouseontheleft

GinaKButler Someone from our Bookclub picked it a few years ago...I think only 2 out of the 9 of us finished it (and I wasn‘t one of the 2)! @Kelly326 3y
ChaoticMissAdventures @GinaKButler such a bummer, I read and enjoyed her Cleopatra so had high hopes for this one. 3y
GinaKButler @ChaoticMissAdventures One of the women who finished it said that it was a shame the author took such an interesting story and made it boring! 3y
ChaoticMissAdventures @GinaKButler agree! I can see tiny bits of interesting between all the other stuff it could be incredibly interesting if done well. 3y
27 likes4 comments
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Sumi
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Pickpick

Good - but really detailed & I have to say things worked weirdly back in 1692. Obviously, the legal system was not our legal system but somehow I expected it to seem closer. One odd fact: one of the accused was John Alden Jr from Plymouth. Turns out he was the son of John Alden & Priscilla Mullins of “Speak for yourself, John Alden” fame.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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#scarathlon #witch @Linsy

Forecast for the next week some dark and spooky reads for the season.

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mklong
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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Calling all witches and witch lovers! Signup is still open for the #BasicWitchSwap hosted by @sprainedbrain and myself. Use this link to sign up and be sure to do so before 8/31!! https://forms.gle/GyFwxboq1WQgk1Jw5

KatieDid927 I just sent Jenni an email, but I wanted to check to make sure my signup went through because I didn't get a confirmation. I might have made a mistake and not submitted it before I closed the window, just want to double check, thanks! 3y
mklong @KatieDid927 I just checked and you are signed up! 3y
KatieDid927 @mklong Awesome, thank you! Can‘t wait! 3y
LoverOfLearning Just signed up! 🧙‍♀️🧹 3y
30 likes4 comments
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Oryx
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Brought my manatea on holiday.

julesG 😍 4y
52 likes1 comment
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roseread
Mehso-so

Got halfway through and it just got dry, will likely go back and finish though

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mklong
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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The power of enthusiasm can be a double edged sword. I‘ve gone with enthusiasm of the worst sort. In their enthusiasm to keep Satan out of Salem Village, many innocent lives were lost and many more ruined.
#litfortunecookie

Let‘s get @LeahBergen and that gorgeous collection of hers in on this fun!

LeahBergen Oh, good choice and thanks for the tag! Hmm... 🤔 4y
LeahBergen And I love your photo! 🎃 (edited) 4y
KVanRead Ooh. Very true, enthusiasm can be dangerous. And love the photo. Thanks for playing 🎃 4y
40 likes3 comments
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TheBookbabeblog84
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Bailedbailed

This is the second time I‘ve read a Schiff book and was over whelmed with it. So I bailed it. I may come back to it at another time but I had to let it go last night.

8little_paws Yeah I remember reading this one. Her stuff is informative, but DENSE. I am hoping to crack open Cleopatra some time and re-read this one as well. 4y
annahenke Her Cleopatra is my fave biography ever. I couldn‘t get into this one though either. 4y
TheBookbabeblog84 @annahenke I had to come back to Cleopatra. It took me a long to read it. 4y
10 likes3 comments
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K.Wielechowski
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book! I haven‘t read a ton about the trials and it was nice to have the whole story, beginning to end, in one place.
On a side note, one of my ancestors was a neighbor of John Proctor, who was tried and hanged as a witch during this time.

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Sleepswithbooks
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Blame it on Litsy 📖

AmyG Thank you so much for your sweet thank you note, my friend. 😘😘😘 4y
Sleepswithbooks @AmyG - 🤗💛🌼 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love your new profile pic ❤️❤️ 4y
56 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Kelly326
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My July #bookspin list. This months list is a mix of library books off my stack at home, book club summer picks, and unread books on my shelves. I left one free choice. I read 8 on my list last month. Hoping to beat that in July! . @TheAromaofBooks I am excited about #bookspinbingo.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y
6 likes1 comment
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Cortg
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Day 19: For fun, I am going to post one book per day from my extensive to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new. Don‘t judge me - I have a lot of books. Join the fun if you want. #bookstoread #tbrpile @StaceyKondla

StaceyKondla I listened to the audiobook of this one - the people of Salem at this time were completely bonkers 5y
Cortg @StaceyKondla Cool!! I see mixed reviews but I like NF and I lived as a kid near Salem and have always been intrigued to learn more than my elementary school self picked up on visits there! 5y
CarolineLovesToRead I have this book as well and have yet to read it. Might be my next book. I've been intrigued since I visited Salem a few years back. I love the cute village and history 5y
39 likes3 comments
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thelizflynn
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 I wanted to like this book more than I actually did, but I still enjoyed the journey and learned a lot. It‘s quite dense and kind of confusing at times, so close reading is required! Recommended for anyone who loves history and loves nonfiction. #nonfiction #witches

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Carla
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“In These Hellish Meetings”...buddy reading The Witches: Salem, 1692 with my best friend long-distance, wishing he were here and I could buy him a chai latte. #christmas #salem #buddyreads

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AnotherAngstyTeen
Pickpick

I would highly recommend this to history junkies and fans of The Crucible. It is beyond informative, recounting the Salem witch trials with close attention to detail and beautiful writing. Whether you‘re reading for pleasure or for a high school lit class, you will appreciate it. It may get boring at times, but the book leaves you feeling more informed of the dark time in history.

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Carla
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I think I have found the source for That Line in the horror movie The Witch: “Dost thou wish to live deliciously?”
71-year-old Amesbury widow Susannah Martin was accused by a man from Salisbury of witchcraft. He said she offered him the devil‘s book to sign so that he would receive “all the delectable things, person, and places that he could imagine”.

Dost thou wish butter? And fine dresses? Dost thou wish to live deliciously? #horror #history

VioletBramble In Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix) the witches have on a few occasions described their satan given powers as delicious. I didn‘t realize that was a witchy thing. 5y
Carla Another reference! @violetbramble I need to watch Sabrina. I have read the first 2 issues of the comic it is based upon and have enjoyed it so far. (edited) 5y
2 likes2 comments
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mklong
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@Catsandbooks oh my goodness, thank you so much for my #BasicWitchSwap package! I love everything and you have given me all I need for a perfect cozy Halloween! I‘ll be curling up with the tagged book, in my new cozy socks, with a glass of red wine, and candles burning on this chilly, rainy Halloween. Thank you!!

Huge thank you too to @sprainedbrain and @Meaw_catlady for organizing such a fun swap!!

BethM Those socks! 5y
Meaw_catlady Ooh sounds so cozy! Happy Halloween 🖤 5y
Catsandbooks So glad you like everything! I had so much fun finding stuff! Happy Halloween! 🧡🖤 5y
sprainedbrain Awesome gifts! Happy Halloween to you! 🎃 5y
mklong @catsandbooks @sprainedbrain @meaw_catlady Happy Halloween to you too! Thank you for making this one so much fun! 5y
47 likes5 comments
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FantasyChick
This post contains spoilers
show me
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1. Wicked Witch of the East
2. Maleficent
3. Jadis
4. Glinda
5. Sabrina
6. Samantha
7. Wicked Witch of the West
8. Ursula
9. Tia Dalma
10. The Pendle Witch Child
11. Winifred, Sarah, Mary
12. Grimhilde
13. Melisandre
14. Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon
15. Bewitched

#scarathlon #teamslaughter @Clwojick

Clwojick 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 🙌 5y
4 likes1 comment
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VioletBramble
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#screamathonphotochallenge
#witchy
@4thhouseontheleft

Here‘s a small sample of witch related fiction and nonfiction from my TBR shelf. Most of them have been there for a while now.

alisiakae Almost all of these are on my tbr! 5y
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kd_lawson
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“Salem is in part a story of what happens when a set of unanswerable questions meets a set of unquestioned answers.”

Mariposa_Bookworm I just bought this two days ago at work! 5y
kd_lawson @Mariposa_Bookworm Awesome! I really enjoyed it. 5y
6 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Tex2Flo
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Without being too literal, midway through the history of the Salem trials, Schiff starts really poking fun.
#spooktober #witches @Eggs
“Meanwhile, most of Essex County seemed to be flying through the air, on very crowded sticks.”

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Meaw_catlady
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Here‘s my drawing for #inktober for today the prompt was witch! Pretty happy with how it came out. This process has really helped with my creativity and drawing skills. Loving getting to do spooky and witchy themed drawings ! #basicwitchswap #witches

wanderinglynn Great job! 👍🏻 5y
Meaw_catlady @wanderinglynn thanks love 💕 5y
DaveGreen7777 I love it! It‘s so hypnotic! 🤩🤩🤩 5y
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sprainedbrain Love it! 5y
Meaw_catlady @DaveGreen7777 ooh yes that‘s what I was going for!! 5y
Meaw_catlady @sprainedbrain thanks sister!‘ 😊🖤😊 5y
JoScho Looks amazing! 🖤🔮 5y
Meaw_catlady @joscho thanks so much love !! 🖤💕 5y
35 likes8 comments
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Tex2Flo
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I‘m glad I started this early in the month because this heavily researched and extremely detailed book is taking a long time to get through. Densely packed pages of small print and smaller footnotes! It‘s taken me DAYS to get 1/3 way done.

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Carla
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Plans for Saturday: reading The Witches in tandem with my best friend, Joshua—we have started our own little two-person long-distance book club—organizing my planner, spending some time in my reading journal, and organizing my podcast planning notebook, and reading for episode 53 of There Might Be Cupcakes podcast—the second episode on the Three Mothers series (Suspiria, etc.) of horror movies. Gonna be a good nerdy day. 🧁 🎧 #podcast

6 likes2 stack adds
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Meaw_catlady
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Witches, wizards, Yogi‘s, goddesses, children of the moon! Only 2 more days to sign up for this witchy swap! #basicwitchswap don‘t miss out! join us!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckjsmgphBlkftGRGgacz8QY3x2lC4M7bbYLdkE...

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MatschMomma
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Pickpick

Interesting read.

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StaceyKondla
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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I am hardcore on a non-fiction audiobook jag - this one is up next 👍

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youneverarrived
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Bit reading time on the train back to Newcastle. Actually going to be sociable tonight 😩😂

This book is so fascinating! It‘s dense with information & it‘s not always easy to keep the names in order but I don‘t want to put it down. I loved her other book on Cleopatra, too.

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Ericalambbrown
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Pickpick

So I finished this bonkers book tonight. 😳 It‘s a pick for me, though it may not be for everyone. It‘s a “just the facts” sort of history book that may bore some as a textbook would. But I would argue it‘s an excellent and pretty well annotated resource if you are looking for information that isn‘t additionally sensationalized (the folks at the time did enough of that themselves). Just don‘t expect sexy ladies in bathtubs 😉

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Lizpixie
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#BookMail Pt7 The 2nd last book from last week is a non fiction about the Salem Witch trials in 1692. I love witches, ever since I was a kid when my favorite tv show was Bewitched. So when I saw all the great reviews for this I had to get it. After this week, the book mail will be almost nonexistent unfortunately. The hubby, who knows how much reading means to me & is happy to fund me, has had a mild fit about the #MountTBRStacksOfDoom🙇🏻‍♀️

Crazeedi I've been looking at this one 6y
50 likes1 comment
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Christinak
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“Cotton Mather spoke to the same fears in 1690, when he preached on New England in a state of “distress and danger as it never saw before.” His was a law-enforcing, discipline-endorsing address; in their sins and discontents they had brought down “whole armies of Indians and Gallic blood #hounds.” The authorities had failed in protecting the flock.”

#QuotsyMar19 #31DaysOfNonFiction

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MoonWitch94
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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Bailedbailed

I LOVE me a witch book, especially a historical one. Since I was a child I have been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials. This book was SUCH a disappointment! I bailed because it was more textbook than anything and 200 pages in I had learned nothing new. Should‘ve known since it was on the $5 Deal table at Barnes & Noble.

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GypsyKat
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These are a few of the books that we got at B&N today. #BookHaul

Birdsong28 The Witches is such a good book! 😘📚📖 6y
102 likes1 comment
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Kimberlone
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We are the granddaughters of the witches you could not burn.

#InternationalWomensDay

wildwoodreads I love that 6y
youneverarrived 🖤🖤 6y
Librarybelle Love it! 6y
See All 9 Comments
sprainedbrain Oooooh! Love! ❤️ 6y
Kimberlone @megzlynn @youneverarrived @Librarybelle @sprainedbrain thank you! It was a gift from my sister @saknicole. I know she found it on the internet but I don‘t know where... 6y
sprainedbrain Oh thank you for the link! I‘m totally getting one. 😃 6y
youneverarrived Thanks for the link 😘 6y
54 likes9 comments
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Librarybelle
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1692, in what is could kind of be considered #TheSuburbs of modern day Boston, a group of young girls started accusing townspeople of Salem of witchcraft. What transpired from that led to hundreds of accusations in the Boston area. #TimbitTunes

Cinfhen I‘m so curious about this piece of history. Although I‘ve seen mixed reviews on this particular book. 6y
Librarybelle @Cinfhen I‘ve read parts of this particular book and had to put it down to read other books for various reasons. It‘s not narrative nonfiction. It‘s definitely a drier narrative. 6y
TheKidUpstairs I've got this one on my TBR. I've heard that it's a dry read, as you said, rather than narrative, so I need to be in the right mood to read it! 6y
Lauram I made it through this one a few years ago and find that I appreciate it more now that a few years have passed. @Cinfhen @Librarybelle @TheKidUpstairs (edited) 6y
110 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Mehso-so

Taking cold medicine that puts you to sleep causes you forever to finish a book. Finished taking Medicine, yesterday, and finished book today.

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MonicaLoves2Read
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Been sick with cold. Went to Dr Tuesday and feeling better today. Of course, it helps when you sleep all day, which I did yesterday. Plan on reading after I run some errands this morning.

Jee_HookedOnBookz Feel better soon! ❤️❤️ 6y
LizzieChantree Get well soon. 6y
16 likes4 comments
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MonicaLoves2Read
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Had this from the library for awhile. The Salem Witch trails have always fascinated me. Hoping this book is good. Looking at past litsy's that have read it, not so sure it will be good, but I am going to give it a go.

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HighLadyoftheStacks
Bailedbailed

I‘ve been attempting to finish this book for a year and as it‘s now 2019 I‘m calling it. Gotta start the year off right.

Bookzombie I bailed on this one too. I thought it was just all over the place. I was bummed. 6y
9 likes1 comment
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Victoriahoperose
Witches: Salem, 1692 | Stacy Schiff
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Panpan

Not a fan of this one. I feel like honestly it was unnecessary. It‘s nothing I haven‘t read in history textbooks or The Crucible. I was hoping it would have something unique. But, not so much.

IamIamIam I got this as a gift and I had a seriously difficult time getting into it. 6y
Victoriahoperose @IamIamIam agreed. I thought it would bring something original and was disappointed that it didn‘t! 6y
IamIamIam I remember being really confused at the beginning and it wasn't in a way that made me curious. LOL 6y
Amiable I agree. I wanted to like it, but it was a slog to get through. 6y
28 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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QuoteQueen
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Reading at my daughter‘s Twirling practice when I stumble upon the author quoting Harry Potter. 😊

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Amiable
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Mehso-so

I wanted to like this book more than I did. There was a lot of interesting information about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but it was written in such a way that it was a slog to get through it all. 3 stars, but barely.

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aquariusnat
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Pickpick

This was a really interesting history book . The author did great job with her research . Glad I read it .