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The Lost Book of Salem
The Lost Book of Salem | Katherine Howe
105 posts | 189 read | 111 to read
While clearing out her grandmothers cottage for sale, Connie Goodwin finds a parchment inscribed with the name Deliverance Dane. And so begins the hunt to uncover the woman behind the name, a hunt that takes her back to Salem in 1692 . . . and the infamous witchcraft trials. But nothing is entirely as it seems and when Connie unearths the existence of Deliverances spell book, the Physick Book, the situation takes on a menacing edge as interested parties reveal their desperation to find this precious artefact at any cost. What secrets does the Physick Book contain? What magic is scrawled across its parchment pages? Connie must race to answer these questions and reveal the truth about Salems women before an ancient family curse once more fulfils its dark and devastating prophecy . . .
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Tkimsal
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Current read.

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BookwormAHN
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36 likes1 stack add
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BookwormAHN
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Mehso-so

I have mixed feelings about this book. The main timeline involving Connie is rather dry and condescending. Hence, my new pet peeve the witch books that are critical of modern witches trope. Connie is a researcher who studies early colonialism but for the summer, she is clearing out her mother's childhood home. The other timelines are mostly from Deliverance and Mercy, who were caught in the Salem witch trials.
#BlackCatCrew #Scarathlon

51 likes6 comments
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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

I forgot to review this book. I finished it earlier this week. Once we got past all the bad accents, I really enjoyed this book. It was pretty obvious who the “bad guy” was. But I love books where they‘re historians and have to do research. (This book has such bad reviews)

#teammonstermash #scarathlon2022 #witchathon #spookoween #31by31 #pointsathon #littenlisten

Erinreadsthebooks Love the pig skeleton! 2y
DieAReader 🎉🎉🎉 2y
TheSpineView Awesome 2y
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🎃🖤 2y
52 likes1 stack add4 comments
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mrp27
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Mehso-so

#spookoween2022 #overbookedclub

I enjoyed the subject matter of the book, the infamous Salem witches, a witch trial and the real possibility of the existence of witches, but I found the writing dense and a tad on the boring side. Glad I knocked it off my tbr thanks to October #bookspin

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
TheBookHippie I agree. 2y
TheSpineView Well done 2y
26 likes1 stack add3 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 These two titles come to mind and I liked them both. 2y
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sblbooks I read The Crucible in school. Last year for middle grade March I read 2y
megnews I had to read Blackbird Pond in elementary school. @mrp27 I enjoyed A Break with Charity as I do all of Rinaldi‘s novels. I loved 2y
megnews And (edited) 2y
mrp27 Oh yeah, I forgot about Blackbird Pond. I liked that one too. Anyone going to read 2y
mrp27 @megnews I really enjoy all of Rinaldi‘s books too. All of them so good. (edited) 2y
TheBookHippie Religion and the Decline of Magic: Studies in Popular Beliefs in Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century England 2y
TheBookHippie Tituba, Reluctant Witch of Salem: Devilish Indians and Puritan Fantasies 2y
TheBookHippie I try to read all nonfiction of witches unless it paints them in a good light or closer to truth of what a witch is. 2y
TheBookHippie Thanks for leading! I think this makes me all caught up from COVID! I do like the books you all chose. Helps stretch my mind. Thanks ♥️ 2y
sblbooks @TheBookHippie @megnews @mrp27 Sorry for the delayed response my internet was down all afternoon yesterday. Thanks for joining in the discussion. 2y
8 likes16 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 I‘ve always wondered about that and why she did. (edited) 2y
sblbooks I watched the documentary about the Salem witch trials once that said, she was beaten so bad that she confessed. It also said there was a possibility she just admitted it to escape hanging. 2y
megnews who can really know now? Many confessed thinking it would bode differently for them but death was the end result guilty or not. Accusers still gain inaccurate confessions from people today under stressful circumstances so it‘s not hard to believe an innocent person would confess. The other thing is if she held such beliefs denying your beliefs is not an option to many. 2y
TheBookHippie Who can know. I don‘t think it should be used one way or the other. Personally I think unless it‘s you, how can we judge under such extremes. 2y
4 likes5 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 I‘ve always been fascinated by the witch trials. So many lessons to be learned but always have to remind myself of the context. 1692 was a long time ago before we knew much about anything. Sadly though it still happens in today‘s world just in a different context. 2y
sblbooks @mrp27 True, fear and greed will make people do crazy things. 2y
megnews @mrp27 I‘ve always been fascinated with the witch trials as well. It‘s mass hysteria which is difficult to understand how that happens from an outside perspective. 2y
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mrp27 @megnews Agreed. Though I‘ll never understand how those girls could live with themselves, sending people to their deaths. This gn I read awhile ago is written from Ann Putnam‘s perspective and offers a look at her remorse. 2y
TheBookHippie @mrp27 @megnews Exactly and it was not witches, it was healers, midwives etc that they burned, killed, sacrificed because of the perceived power that the masses thought these women had over themselves and possibly them, the woman could not be controlled by the religion the masses thought they should be…….I‘m pretty salty on this subject. Nothings changed they just use different wording. Maddening. 2y
mrp27 @TheBookHippie I couldn‘t agree more. 2y
4 likes6 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 I need to go back and reread that scene but I think/feel it was all about her convictions and staying true to them. 2y
mrp27 She told Mercy she didn‘t want innocent people to die in her place. So she did hold true to her convictions because she did do what she was accused of. 2y
sblbooks @mrp27 exactly 2y
megnews @mrp27 agree. In the witch-hunt hysteria, someone was going to pay the price. Deliverance didn‘t deny what she did and didn‘t leave others to pay for it. 2y
TheBookHippie @mrp27 I agree. 2y
5 likes5 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 I was surprised by the use of Christianity in this kind of story but it put an interesting spin on witchcraft which kinda makes it not witchcraft. 2y
sblbooks @mrp27 I was surprised too. 😳 The author described Christianity and Witchcraft as complementary in this novel. In reality, Christianity is contradictory to witchcraft. Read 2 Chronicles chapter 33. 2y
megnews I was surprised by the use of Christianity in the story as well @mrp27 While other religions sometimes allow for incorporation of Christianity into their religion, Christianity does not. I will say so much that was historically punished as witchcraft seems to have been women acting as healers using naturally available plants, which it seems clear God gave us for those purposes so I don‘t think that stands opposed to Christianity. 2y
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mrp27 @megnews Exactly! That is what came to my mind. My great grandmother was a curandera, a Spanish word for natural healer who used plants and homemade remedies to help the sick. People would joke and jest that she was a witch. She was a devout catholic that was resourceful with what she had. Not witchcraft at all. 2y
TheBookHippie @megnews I agree. What people called witches 99 percent of the time were in fact healers. 2y
TheBookHippie Honestly I thought it was hilarious only because certain people I know would literally pass right out by the thought of it. I have no idea what the author was trying to say. Judaism has mystics but it doesn‘t mean all -same for orthodox. Christianity is Protestant and evangelical and catholic and even catholic mystics and many many more people who refer to self as so, etc🤷🏻‍♀️. 2y
4 likes6 comments
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sblbooks
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megnews Many more opportunities. And while in the surface it may seem the obligations have changed incredibly, women are still the keepers of family lore and traditions, the ones most associated with responsibilities of child rearing and homemaking. 2y
TheBookHippie Honestly not as much as we think. We do carry the culture and religion I‘d say the majority of the time generationally. As for the rest, it‘s traveling back to that time at a steady pace unfortunately. 2y
4 likes2 comments
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sblbooks
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mrp27 I liked the relationship between Connie and Grace and Deliverance and Mercy. They both seemed loving and kind. Mercy and Prudence relationship seemed full of disdain from Prudence and I don‘t feel I got true insight to Grave and Sophia‘s relationship other than they didn‘t get along. 2y
sblbooks @mrp27 agreed. Deliverance and Mercy were my favorite. I can relate more to them because my Mom and I have a close relationship. 2y
megnews I identified most with Connie and Grace and Grace and Sophia‘s relationships because unfortunately my mother and I aren‘t that close. 2y
TheBookHippie @megnews I didn‘t really with any of them, my mother did not want me and then I had the audacity to be born female, and take up space but I‘d have to agree with you. 2y
4 likes4 comments
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sarahbellum
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Bailedbailed

I forgot to take a picture of the book before I returned it to the library, so you all get to enjoy a picture of Gus snuggled up instead. It was only 70 degrees in LA 😂🥶

I might return to this book one day, but work is stressful right now and reading about the MC‘s struggles with academia while I also struggle with academia was too much and giving me anxiety. On to fluffier and/or more escapist reads!
#overbookedclub #dogsoflitsy

LeahBergen Oh, Gus. 😆 2y
batsy Gus! 😍 2y
sarahbellum @LeahBergen @batsy He recently discovered the joy of burrowing under blankets 😇 2y
MaGoose Fabulous pup 😆💕 2y
sarahbellum @MaGoose 🐶💕 2y
63 likes5 comments
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megnews
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Pickpick

A great pick for October‘s #OverBookedClub read. Looking forward to discussion.

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sblbooks
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#OverbookedClub discussion in 2 weeks. @sarahbellum @shellleigh33 @mrp27 @julieclair @megnews If there's anyone else who would like to join just let me know.

megnews I started it. Enjoying it so far. 2y
Chrissyreadit I‘m still hoping I will read it it‘s on my shelf physically- I just am always slow these days… 2y
sblbooks @Chrissyreadit I'll be sure to tag you. 2y
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Readswithcoffee Just finished this. Looking forward to the discussion. 2y
Readswithcoffee Just finished this. Looking forward to the discussion. 2y
sblbooks @Readswithcoffee I'll add you to the list. 2y
Readswithcoffee Sorry for the double comment above. 🤦‍♀️ 2y
sblbooks @Readswithcoffee no problem😉 2y
julieclair My library hold came in today! Please tag me, but I might be late to the discussion as we‘re traveling on Saturday. Looking forward to discussing with you all! (edited) 2y
35 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Laughterhp
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This book is driving me nuts. It‘s set in Salem, so they need to have “Boston accents”.

Like I‘m pretty sure the girls name is Martha and the other girls name is Mercy (but the accent makes it Mahchy). I literally have no idea what the last name is supposed to be.

And “shah” is supposed to be sure..

It‘s taking so much work to interpret what they‘re saying and I‘m from RI/MA!!

Gah!!

vlwelser I mean those north shore accents are extra but that seems a bit much. 2y
Laughterhp @vlwelser And I feel like they wouldn‘t have been that strong in the 1690s but 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ 2y
38 likes2 comments
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mrp27
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Now that #bookspin numbers have been posted I can post my finalized tbr for October and #spookoween2022 Ambitious as always but tagged book is both a buddy read and bookspin pick and The Maid is for IRL book club so I have a good chance for completion.

TheSpineView Looks good!📚📚📚 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Good luck!!! 2y
22 likes2 comments
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megnews
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#OverBookedClub picks for October, November, and December. Join in!

Readswithcoffee Thanks! I just got the book for September. I‘m a little late to the party😂 Will get this book NOW! 2y
mrp27 Oh! Think I‘ll join in for October sine that book has been on my tbr for ages! 2y
sarahbellum Count me in for October! 👻 2y
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kspenmoll I will join in Nov. & Dec., but skip October. 2y
shellleigh33 Count me in for Oct. this has been on my TBR forever and ❤️ Love Little House in the Big Woods. 2y
Sparklemn Count me in for the Little House buddy read! I've read them all several times when I was younger but it will be fun to revisit them and discuss with the group. 2y
40 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BarkingMadRead
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#nextup for #roll100 a book that‘s been on my wishlist for awhile and I finally got it!

42 likes2 stack adds
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Laughterhp
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@Gaylagal2 Thank you so much for everything!! I love the books, can‘t wait to spend all day tomorrow reading Once and Future Witches! I‘ve never read Stephen King, so we‘ll see how I do with that one.

So much candy! I‘m already hiding it from my husband so I can eat it all myself! 😊

I love the decorations! It‘s raining today, but I‘m going to put the flag up tomorrow!

Thanks so much again! I love it all and it was wrapped so nicely! #HHS

AmyG Oooo look at all those M & Ms 🙌🏻 (I hide candy from my husband, too 😂) (edited) 3y
wanderinglynn Awesome! 🎃🧡 3y
BethM Love the garden flag! 3y
58 likes3 comments
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EadieB
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#Two4Tuesday @TheSpineView Thanks for the tag!

1. I don‘t read a lot of witch or wizard 🧙‍♂️ books.

2. I have enjoyed The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and The Salem Witch Trials.

Can you play?
@SeaToSkyes @zezeki @Amiable @IuliaC @Twainy @Chili @JacqMac @emmaturi @BookishBelle

TheSpineView You're welcome! Thanks for Playing !🧡🎃🖤🧙‍♀️🧡 3y
BookishBelle Thanks for the tag! 😊 3y
EadieB @BookishBelle You‘re welcome! 3y
IuliaC Thanks for the tag! 😊 3y
Crazeedi I'm the same, I don't read many of this genre, I did like the physick book too! 3y
40 likes5 comments
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mrp27
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#littensdressedinblood #bookofspells

Another book about Salem witches from my tbr pile. Wondering if there are any spells in this one. 🔮🧹

Crazeedi I don't remember any spells, but I liked the book 3y
mrp27 @Crazeedi I‘ve heard good things about it, I hope to get to it soon. 3y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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DinoMom
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Bedtime tonight brought to you by a little bit of science and a little bit of goofy! Now that the little man is asleep. Time for me to tuck myself into bed with my book. #metime #kidsbooks #learningisfun

17 likes1 stack add
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DinoMom
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Bedtime at our house always has story time for my little guy. Curling up in the cozy warm bed and sharing my love of reading with him always warms my heart and makes even the crappies days melt away. Tonight we read this one (for the millionth time)! He is only 5 and this book was printed in 1988, 27 years before he was born but Dinosaurs never go out of style! #dinosaurs #kidsbooks #oldiebutagoodie

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DinoMom
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My birthday was yesterday and my little guy was so proud of the bookmark he picked out for me as a present. I am about half way through this book and I am undecided at this point what my thoughts on it are. #bookmark #witch #momlife #birthday

TheRiehlDeal Happy belated birthday! 4y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Love. 💕 Happy Belated. 4y
BookishTrish Happy belated birthday! That is a FINE bookmark. 4y
14 likes3 comments
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Macnjen
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Pickpick

This was a reread for my book club this month. It‘s a fun time of year to read about witches and witchcraft. I liked the writing, it was a fun telling of some of the Salem witch trials and 1692, and a modern day descendent. I‘m glad I reread it, it was a fast read.

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BookwormAHN
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@iread2much The Physical Book of Deliverance Dane is here. Thank you so much Rachel 😺
#LitsyLove

iread2much So glad it made it! You are very welcome. 4y
54 likes1 comment
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abookishbutterfly
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I got this book secondhand. I‘ve had it for about two years. I did not know, until this very moment, that it was an autographed copy!

Smarkies Love finding books in second hand bookshops because of coincidences like these! ♥️ 4y
Skyrimir I love when this happens!! 4y
64 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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SaraHasClass
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Mehso-so

Harvard researcher Connie, finds an unusual primary source while cleaning up her deceased grandmother's place--a source that is perfect for her dissertation, a source that defines her. A little too dense in its explanations of alchemy and herbal witchcraft and a bit tedious in its historical references (I'm a history teacher so I don't say that lightly), this story was nonetheless an interesting read.

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Texreader
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BarbaraBB Your mom is wonderful. 5y
GingerAntics That sounds interesting. I‘d give that a go. Your mom‘s reviews are great! 5y
KarouBlue I love these mom reviews! 5y
Texreader @BarbaraBB @GingerAntics @MellieAntoinette Thanks! She reads the reviews here on Litsy but she‘s old school. Still gives me her reviews on the post-its. Always fun to read when I find them again in my library. 5y
GingerAntics Oh, she puts the books back in your library and you just have to wait until you pull the book out again? lol That sounds kind of fun, actually. 5y
84 likes1 stack add5 comments
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BacklistReader
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#beatthebacklist

Pretty by Don Broco - Cover Love

A great witchy read both times I read it.

#btbfebruary2020

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VeryLazyDaisy
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I couldn‘t decide what to read, so I did a random shelf pull. Hmm, Salem witches? Yes please! #decklededges #prettybooks

sprainedbrain I really liked this one! 5y
3 likes1 comment
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juliegumdrop
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I‘ve wanted to read this book for a decade and I‘m finally getting to it, thanks to my #bookclub. I love #historicalfiction and this one‘s about the Salem witches of the late 1600s. A nice way to round up the month of October.

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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Impressive, really, that this was a debut. I found it to be a well-written, entertaining read intertwining the story of a woman accused of being a witch in the 17th c. with that of a graduate student starting her dissertation research. There are many of the usual things you expect to find—a love interest, a creaky house, nefarious professors—but that‘s ok. It‘s kind of what you want in this sort of story. It is a great read for this time of year.

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Chili
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#scarathlon #TeamStoker This was meh. I really thought it would be better, witches, witchcraft and Salem. But no. It fits the team and theme but it was boring.

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
17 likes1 comment
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NeedsMoreBooks
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Pickpick

Hadn‘t read any witchy books in a long time. This seemed perfect for fall. It has 2 storylines- 1690s Salem where Deliverance Dane lives and 1991 where Constance Goodwin, a Harvard PhD student of history lives. I enjoyed it because of the magical elements; the problems of advisors, oral exams, graduate candidacy and academia; and the multi-generational women, mothers, and daughters. The pace was a bit slow but a perfect fall book.

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TracyReadsBooks
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Diving into my TBR pile for my weekend read.

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Brie
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Pickpick

This was a great witchy read to usher in the fall season. I just can‘t resist a book with plot points pertaining to the Salem witch trials. Though some parts were predictable (I could see the villain coming from a mile away) I still got sucked into the details of the story.

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Christy2318
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I remember very little about this other than I liked it when I read it and there was a #spell book involved. Photo cred Home is Where the Boat Is blog #chillingbookchallenge #scarathlon #teamstoker @TheReadingMermaid

BeansPage 🧟‍♀️ 5y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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MrsBibliophile
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Pickpick

What a great book to kick off Fall! I also jump ahead of myself this time of year and decorate early, bringing out all of my Fall/Halloween decorations and books. This was a late year purchase before we moved and I loved finding it tucked away in the library.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in the history of witches or the Salem Witch Trials.

📚📚 Happy Reading! 📚📚

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MsRadioSilence
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1. Tagged! The witches and anywhere north of Virginia just make me think of autumn. ☺️
2. Nope! Just between school and home for the Queen City Mischief and Magic (aka Staunton‘s Potter Party) and Oktoberfest early next month.
3. Me! Haha

#wondrouswednesday #autumn #school #college #travel #fall

Eggs Good old fashioned fall fun!!! 5y
12 likes1 comment
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HeatherBlue
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Today‘s highlights included a pointless two hour meeting and dropping a big glob of hot glue directly onto my finger. Never have I looked forward to a bubble bath with my book more.

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HeatherBlue
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Teachers had to go back to work today. Sigh. Finally home curled up with my book 🖤

47 likes2 stack adds
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Fantasyfan
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When you‘re 2 days from moving sand 3 days from vacation your book mark becomes whatever you can find still lying around. 😏

annahenke Love this book. 5y
21 likes1 comment
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Read_By_Red
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Pickpick

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane was a fun story to read, with plenty of jaw-dropping moments. It centers around Connie, a college student who is searching for the elusive Physick Book. Little does she know she is not the only one looking for the Physick Book, and some will stop at nothing to find it. Howe creates wonderful, fully developed main characters, and I was engrossed in Connie‘s and Deliverance‘s stories from start to finish.

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Read_By_Red
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What do you do when you are 10% through The #DaughtersofTemperanceHobbs and loving it? You stop reading it and go get the first book in the series! #PhysickBook of Deliverance Dane!

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PatriciaU
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I am listening to this tonight because I just got the ARC of Howe‘s new book and wanted to refresh my memory. It‘s as good as I remember and now I don‘t want to go to bed. I may listen all night!

sprainedbrain I didn‘t know there was another book coming! I‘ve just requested it from both of my libraries. Loved this book. ❤️ 6y
PatriciaU @sprainedbrain Jenni, this one is so, so good. Even better the second time around. Can‘t wait to delve into Daughters of Temperance Hobbs! 6y
59 likes2 comments
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Areader2
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Pickpick

This is an over due review
The story starts with Connie Goodwin who‘s attending Harvard as a Historian of Colonial life.She is asked by her mother to clean out and sell her grandmothers house in Marblehead Ma.the story goes back and forth to colonel Salem during the witch trials and the present. Connie finds many mysteries in the house about a woman named Deliverance Dane, it‘s a little slow but worth the great detail needed to come together.

Crazeedi I really enjoyed this book 6y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BacklistReader
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1: My Dolphin PillowPet.
2: About 5 hours (I think...)
3: milk chocolate or salted caramel
4: once a year. I have yet to find someone I like. (With the exception of my bf‘s hair cutter but that‘s to far away at the moment)
5: Absolutely recommend. I loved it both times I read it.

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BacklistReader
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Pickpick

This was my second time reading this book and I enjoyed it immensely. Howe really does spin a great witchy story that mixes the present with the past.