I think I'll go ahead and put the blame of my pathetic lack of reading on this book. Because it bored me to no end. And I being a Type-A personality, cannot just leave a book unfinished and move on. Nope, I have to sit there and drown myself in all 332 pages of blahness. Thanks Dad, you get the credit for that one. :-PThe Heretic's Daughter was a huge disappointment to me. It was chosen as our November book club pick and I went into it with pretty huge expectations. But unfortunately it fell super short for me. By the time I was about 200 pages in, it started to get interesting, but then the scenery didn't change for like another 100 pages and I was ready to poke my eyes out with a pencil. (Sorry Kathleen, I really hope you're not reading this.) True, there were parts in the story that were completely gut-wrenching and the fact that so much of it is based on history, is just horrific to me. But the delivery just really lacked for me, and I think it was because the story was told from the young daughter's perspective, whereas I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was written from the mom's. And the red book! What on earth? Can someone please explain that to me??!! That was the thread of motivation I was holding onto and then what the heck happened? I didn't get it - so were they witches? Were they not? SO confused here people.
Description: Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived. Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendant of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.
Recommend: Not really, unless you're a huge history buff - then you might really enjoy it.Rating: **
6 comments:
Hi Kimmers - I deleted my 'Tween the Pages blog a long time ago. My ReSoNate blog is turning into more of a book blog, though since most of my bloggin' energy is now spent on the adoption blog.
This book sounds interesting to me. :) Is it a novel or based on history?
The author is a descendent of Martha Carrier, one of the women convicted at the Salem Witch Trials. Its "based" on history, but has her own fictional spin on it, if that makes sense. There are some quotes of actual historical documents inside the chapters that you might find very fascinating.
I completely agree with everything you wrote here about this book... it was such a disappointment!
Lol--I do the same thing--keep reading even when I don't like the book. But I think I'm going to have to skip a book that might make me want to poke my eyes out with a pencil!
I thought this one was super boring too; in fact I only read about 50 pages or so before giving it up. Sorry you slugged all the way through!
I so love your honesty! I will be sure to steer clear of this book!
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