Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Based on accounts of Kent's ancestor, Martha Carrier, this novel examines the lives of one family during the Salem Witch Trials. When the Carrier family moves to Andover to live in Martha's mother's home, they are immediately considered outcasts - the family is held responsible for a small pox outbreak several years before in neighboring Billerica. When Martha's son Andrew falls ill to small pox in Andover, the entire family is quarantined and are considered dangerous in the community. Sarah Carrier, Martha's eldest daughter and the narrator for the novel, recounts her bitterness towards her mother's lack of affection for the family and her outspokenness, causing even harsher treatment of the family by neighbors and townsmen. Soon, information from nearby Salem arrives in Andover, telling about young girls accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Eventually, Martha is accused of witchcraft, forcing Sarah to make the hardest decision of her life and opening her eyes to the real power of love.
Kent's writing style flows very smoothly, making the reader want to continue reading until the very last page. She takes great care in crafting her ancestors as characters in the novel: she combines family folklore and stories about the Carriers to paint an unforgettable portrait of the family and especially of a strong and defiant Martha Carrier. I loved the descriptions of daily life and shuddered at the pictures in my mind of prison conditions and the horrors facing those on trial. Kent even includes transcripts from Martha's trial, showing the many accusations placed against her ancestor. For me, the end of the novel is an emotional rollercoaster, an ending that will not be easy to forget. The Heretic's Daughter is one of the best books I have read this year and an amazing novel by a debut author.
Anyone who loves history will enjoy reading this fictional account about one of the darker periods in American history. To learn more about the Carrier family and of the Salem Witch Trials, Kent has a wonderful website: www.thehereticsdaughter.com
Reviewed by Jessica
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell
Age Level: Adult
Format: Book
Vowell takes readers on a historical trip to the days of the Puritans, from their voyage to North America to their struggles to create a civilized society in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Focusing on primary resources from John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Cotton Mather, and other prominent Puritans, Vowell writes a history that explores the Puritans in a witty, and sometimes cynical, way. Ever think there could be a connection between the Puritans and The Brady Bunch? Read the book…there is. Vowell paints a very broad sketch of Puritan life, highlighting the major events, such as Roger Williams’ and Anne Hutchinson’s banishment from the Massachusetts settlement, up to before the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Maybe not the ideal book to use for a report on the Puritans, but this serves as an excellent starting point in learning a little history and gaining a new insight and perspective on a group of people who would never win a “life of the party” award.
My first encounter with Vowell’s writing was her 2005 Assassination Vacation, which I highly recommend. Assassination Vacation acts as part history, part travelogue; Vowell tours important spots related to president assassinations while giving a witty history about each assassination. I anxiously awaited the arrival of The Wordy Shipmates, which did not disappoint me. It is a fast read full of historical information and strange links to contemporary issues and social customs – I was personally amazed by the genealogical connections between current political leaders and Massachusetts Bay citizens.
Many readers may find her humor a little off the mark or flippant, but I find her to be quite entertaining. However, Vowell has lots of opinions, and she is not afraid to lay them out in the book; her political opinions may turn some readers away. Whether you agree with her or not, this is an entertaining historical nonfiction read which I recommend to anyone who loves history!
Reviewed by Jessica
Format: Book
Vowell takes readers on a historical trip to the days of the Puritans, from their voyage to North America to their struggles to create a civilized society in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Focusing on primary resources from John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Cotton Mather, and other prominent Puritans, Vowell writes a history that explores the Puritans in a witty, and sometimes cynical, way. Ever think there could be a connection between the Puritans and The Brady Bunch? Read the book…there is. Vowell paints a very broad sketch of Puritan life, highlighting the major events, such as Roger Williams’ and Anne Hutchinson’s banishment from the Massachusetts settlement, up to before the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. Maybe not the ideal book to use for a report on the Puritans, but this serves as an excellent starting point in learning a little history and gaining a new insight and perspective on a group of people who would never win a “life of the party” award.
My first encounter with Vowell’s writing was her 2005 Assassination Vacation, which I highly recommend. Assassination Vacation acts as part history, part travelogue; Vowell tours important spots related to president assassinations while giving a witty history about each assassination. I anxiously awaited the arrival of The Wordy Shipmates, which did not disappoint me. It is a fast read full of historical information and strange links to contemporary issues and social customs – I was personally amazed by the genealogical connections between current political leaders and Massachusetts Bay citizens.
Many readers may find her humor a little off the mark or flippant, but I find her to be quite entertaining. However, Vowell has lots of opinions, and she is not afraid to lay them out in the book; her political opinions may turn some readers away. Whether you agree with her or not, this is an entertaining historical nonfiction read which I recommend to anyone who loves history!
Reviewed by Jessica
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