Author: Kathleen Kent
Publisher:
Released: April 1, 2008
Series: None - Stand Alone
Website: http://www.kathleenkent.com/
Book Summary:
Martha Carrier was hanged on August 19th, 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts, unyielding in her refusal to admit to being a witch, going to her death rather than joining the ranks of men and women who confessed and were thereby spared execution. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and wilful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. In this startling novel, she narrates the story of her early life in Andover, near Salem. Her father is a farmer, English in origin, quietly stoical but with a secret history. Her mother is a herbalist, tough but loving, and above all a good mother. Often at odds with each other, Sarah and her mother have a close but also cold relationship, yet it is clear that Martha understands her daughter like no other. When Martha is accused of witchcraft, and the whisperings in the community escalate, she makes her daughter promise not to stand up for her if the case is taken to court. As Sarah and her brothers are hauled into the prison themselves, the vicious cruelty of the trials is apparent, as the Carrier family, along with other innocents, are starved and deprived of any decency, battling their way through the hysteria with the sheer willpower their mother has taught them.Once a month I attend a local book group with a bunch of my neighbors. In all honesty if this hadn't been a book group pick I likely would have lost interest and quit reading this book.
I really enjoyed the first half of The Heretic's Daughter which was a great historical fiction book. Once the seeds of witchcraft were sewn in the second half of the book I lost interest. This was the exact opposite of almost everyone at book group. They struggled through the first half of the book and enjoyed the second half.
If you enjoy historical fiction you should try this book. It felt authentic, is well written and based on stories of the author's ancestors. I just struggled with reading the craziness of how ignorant and superstitious the people were.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Source: Library
Content: Clean (although some of the things that happen are horrible)
I might have to pick this up as I do like the occasional historical fiction book, but I really love anything to do with the Salem witch trials! I think it's so awesome that you have a neighborhood book club!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounded so familiar I had to check to see if I'd read it but Nope! I love "witch trial" books but after a while they all do sort of tell the same story unless the author can find a unique angle. This doesn't sound like it does.
ReplyDeleteI read this 2 years ago after my dad highly recommended it. I enjoyed it, but like you, was kind of meh about it. I think maybe I would have liked it better in high school, when I was interested in the Salem witch trials and all that.
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad to think that, ironically, the majority of people convicted in the Salem witch trials were Christian. Not that you have a right to harm a person no matter what they believe, but still . . . sigh. Ironic.
ReplyDeleteLoved this book.
ReplyDelete