Welcome to Litsy!

“Let me say: Perhaps we could have acted otherwise than to convict if we saw some humanity in the defendant. If it were simply that she had strayed, but wanted to return to our loving fold. If she showed some penance. Some emotion. Some consideration. Have we seen a single tear from Frau Kepler? We have not. We say to her, Kath-chen - for some of us have known her since she was a girl - can‘t you show us something of your heart?”

Starting a new book (recommended by my mom) while enjoying a latte and caprese egg sandwich 😋

Interesting read! The prose was a bit hard to get into, but definitely reflected the time period, if in a slightly disorientating way. Witch trials of the 1600s are really todays cancel culture and mean girls.

I really enjoyed this story set in 17th c. Germany about the mother of Johannes Kepler (of laws of planetary motion fame) who is accused of witchcraft by a neighbor. Katharina finds herself threatened with ruin, imprisonment, or possibly death. Told in the first person, the occasional official document, as well as the account of her official guardian, the story examines fear, jealousy, greed, superstition, agency & more. An entertaining book.

Started this one yesterday and I am loving it so far!

Went for a walk…picked up some books… 🚶🏻‍♀️📚

#Bookhaul

I‘m not sure if I would have liked this more if I had read it at a different time. Multiple people said it was humorous, I didn‘t see that at all.

I really enjoyed this book. It is part comedy and part tragedy. At a minimum, it is hard not to love the irreverence of Katherine.

So good! Loved the view into early 17 century Germany. Frustrated at times by the treatment of women, but the lovely, steady character of Kath-chen was awesome

I've had so much fun choosing gifts for my #BasicWitchSwap @AbigailJaneBlog I completely forgot it was a swap until my parcel arrived, lol. So tempted to open early but I waited and waited. Witches on Halloween, be like kids on Christmas morning 🖤🤗🖤
Thank you so much Abi, for all my gorgeous goodies. Actually did a happy dance. Thank you @sprainedbrain for all your organisation. It's been a blast xx

I enjoyed this. I thought the epistolary elements added an interesting touch, and I liked that it was based on true events yet didn‘t get caught up in 💯 accuracy.

Imperial mathematician Johannes Kepler‘s mother has been accused of witchcraft by the wife of a “third-rate glazier”. As the town chooses sides, Hans tries to mount a defense. The townspeople‘s testimonies and Hans‘ letters are shared in addition to Katharin‘s & her guardian‘s stories.

“Herein I begin my account, with the help of my neighbor Simon Satler, since I am unable to read or write.”

#FirstLineFridays

Now I know why you gave this just 3⭐️ @BarbaraBB 🤨🤣 I rather like the name Barbara!

Cecil and I are reading something other than textbooks again. I credit this book for getting me back in the groove.
#majorreadingslump

In 1618 Johannes Kepler‘s mother was accused of witchcraft. This novel imagines how this played out, with special attention to the accused and a neighbor who came to her aid. https://cannonballread.com/2022/08/everyone-knows-your-mother-is-a-witch-a-novel...

My favs bookseller ( Kate!) recommended this - it has funny in the cover ( which I usually avoid at all costs!) but is also has Margaret Atwood on the cover…. So going to give it a go! 🤞🏼

In 1618 Katharina is accused of being a witch. Katharina Is many things- a widow, a mother, illiterate, a busy body, incredibly fond of her cow. What she is not is a witch. Galchen did her research while writing this book and I think the parts I liked best were the statements made by neighbors that she adapted from historical documents.This book still ended up being #morelikedthanloved. It could be that I am a little over books about witch trials.

Book 41🎧 2⭐️

I‘m throwing in the flag at 75% on this one🏳️

I had high hopes for this one, being about the witch trials, but it just didn‘t grip me. It was missing something?

The book contains a lot of significant research on the authors part👏🏻 but it just find of fell flat for me. Constant BS from various towns people trying to convince the judge that Kat is a witch. (A list of over 40 reasons!)

I couldn‘t do the “gossip”🤷🏼‍♀️😕

I was intrigued by this one when it hit the TOB longlist, so I thought I‘d give it a try. On the surface, it‘s the novelization of Johannes Kepler‘s mother being accused of and tried for witchcraft, and is frankly a little odd at first. But, ultimately, this is a book about fear, the desire to blame something or someone for things we don‘t understand, and the willingness of humans to malign others. Really good book.

Historical aside developed into compelling plot in wry, straightforward prose: Johannes Kepler‘s mother accused of witchcraft. Narration shifts from Katharina to neighbor Simon to townspeople‘s testimonies. War. Plague. Crop failure. Explanation for accusation=? Jealousy? Greed? False flag? Societal anxiety turned on individual? Stubbornness of accused? Healers as criminals. Mob mentality. Fear of female strength. Quiet but suspenseful. 2021.

I found this a fascinating new technique for historical fiction. The writing style was creative and I loved the humor mixed throughout.

The author definitely did extensive research about witch hunts, and I enjoyed that this book felt more modern.

I can't say that I loved this book when I finished it, but it's very readable and entertaining with great characters.

This fictionalized witch hunt based on a historical witch trial gave me anxiety 😰
I can see where there is satire, and the narrative is extremely clever, but the pure accumulation of spite against an old woman wore on me anyway. So, #unpopularopinion here, I think. Anyone feel like trying to win me over?

#NewYearWhoDis #NYWD22 @TheKidUpstairs

A fresh voice, especially for historical fiction. It felt very different somehow. Modern but not at all anachronistic (for its early 1600‘s setting). Still, I wasn‘t *totally* enraptured. I think the narrative gets a trifle slow in the middle, where we lose Katharina‘s voice & just get the testimonies against her, accusing her of witchcraft. 👇🏻

“Heinrich didn‘t like to be corrected, or admonished, or disagreed with, or disliked, or, really, instructed or supervised; sometimes he didn‘t even like being spoken to.”

Wow, I feel called out. 😆

I don‘t think I‘m *that* bad. But I also don‘t think I‘m supposed to identify with Heinrich. 🙈 Ahem. Oops.

#12Booksof2021 #August

Katherina is one of my favourite characters of the year.

1. Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen (off of my #NYWD22 list from @TheKidUpstairs )

2. On Monday, I start my new position at work. Other than that, I don‘t really know what the year holds! Covid makes planning a tad difficult. 🙈

3. The past few years, I‘ve always resolved to “read more nonfiction.” I‘ve finally gotten to a point where I just do so naturally now! So, I‘m following #SundayFunday for ideas to steal. 😉

Starting here! #NYWD22 @TheKidUpstairs @Amandajoy

Happy New Year, everyone! ✨ And Happy First Day of #NewYearWhoDis #NYWD22!

Don‘t forget to post your stacks, tag me, & tag your match! Personally, I can‘t wait to get reading. I just have to decide which one to pick up first…

I‘ve also downloaded The Art of Leaving from Audible. My white whale is Blaze Island. My favorite research Librarian is on the case! She‘s doing a country-wide search & I‘ve even agreed to pay shipping! 🐋

@TheKidUpstairs

Went to B&N for “Everyone Knows…,” saw the “50% off all hardcovers” sign, and was immediately overcome by the urge to spend all my holiday cash like a tiny book goblin. It‘s the little things in life.

I‘m late posting my goals for November #20in4. After sitting down for the last time Thursday after pie time I informed the hubby that from the end of work Friday to Monday morning not to expect much in the way of movement from me. Naps and books are my only weekend agenda. I‘d like to finish all 5 books shown.

I wanted to read this for October but got delayed. Just finished and this one was a tremendously creative and clever book based in history related to mathematician Kepler‘s mother and the trials and tribulations of her being accused a witch in the 1600s. Europe was full of witch hunts for all sorts of reasons and the author did incredible research! Accessible language, funny, sad and scary. Five stars for me!

This is my first completed book for November, a carryover from witchy October. I was introduced to this on Litsy, and the title was intriguing. At first, this story of a 74 year old woman, a mother of three, was not capturing my attention. Thought it might be the time(1618) or the place(Germany). Slowly as I continued, it struck me how easy it is for people to spread rumors, and how difficult it is to explain the truth. Based on a true story.

My November #BookSpinBingo list. November‘s list is focused on group reads and gifted books from swaps.

Love the 2nd day of the month!

OMG, Meagon! Everything is so perfect! I hugged Dani with Binx and am so thrilled to add her to my Halloween decorations. The candle smells amazing! I‘ll be using the mug with my afternoon tea today with a snickers or two on the side. And the books! Saving the Redmond for #WinterGames. And starting the tagged today. It was one of my most wanted books. You spoiled me rotten and I love it! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Didn't finish up the last two books I was trying to get through but still a pretty good reading month. 21 in total, including some short comics.

Favorites: There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job and Light From Uncommon Star

A funny and original historical fiction, about what happened when the mother of Johannas Kepler was accused of being a witch. What this book proposes is: what if instead she was just a bit annoying and kind of a busybody? The narration was fun!

I‘m going to keep my eyes peeled for people with overexpressive hands!

Younger girls walking into their bloom, toward the center of their lives, and an elderly woman walking to the end of her life, toward her own perimeter. Occasionally I get a glimpse of this in my own life.

Looking for some witchy historical fiction this fall? Look no further. An elderly woman is accused of witchcraft by conniving neighbors and recounts her tale through a neighbor acting as her guardian. Told in a casual and familiar voice that makes the whole story feel quite endearing despite its difficult subject matter and the threat of torture and death the protagonist faces.

TW: mentions of anti-semitism and period-typical sexism

Inspired by true events, Katherina Kepler is an elderly widow who dotes on her cow, loves her children, and has very few f**ks left to give. Small town politics and gossip in 17th century Germany mean that, of course, she must be a witch. A trial ensues, neighbours either stand by or join the frenzy and pile on, and Katherina just tries to continue living. 👇

Katharina Kepler tells her story to her neighbour Simon. Her story is about being accused as a witch. In between we get Simon‘s story and the testimonies.

A story about how rumours get out of control and escalates.

I can‘t quite put my finger on, but for me something was missing in this story.

#CampToB

By reading the second half of the tagged book, we‘ve come to the end of #CampToB. Now it‘s time to vote for this one or Peaces. The winner (I have a feeling!) will be up against both other winners: Whereabouts and No One is Talking About This. I will make another post when it‘s time to make your final vote. For now let me know which of these two ⬆️⬆️ gets your vote!

It‘s witty and clever, but I found it a bit repetitive. Based on true events from 1618 Germany, an old woman(and mother of a famous astronomer) is accused of witchcraft by townsfolk.Told through fictionalized trial testimony interspersed with an imagined account told to her neighbor Simon, it dragged a bit in the middle. But it was a sharp look at how gossip and scaremongering and “fake news” with a big dash of misogyny is not a new thing at all.

Galchen reimagines the story of Katharina Kepler, astronomer Johannes Kepler's mother, who was accused of witchcraft in 1615. It's a bleak, horrifying subject, but Katharina & her neighbour Simon's voice are suffused with wit, dry humour, & intelligence. I kept highlighting every other line. Most of all, I appreciated the expansive, generous view of humanity during a particular historical period minus the sentimentalism or romance. #CampTOB

I love purple. I see no monsters. How to review this last book of the #TOBSummerCamp? I have never been captivated by “Camp” as this year. I read them all! ✔️ I don‘t think I‘ve participated since Fever Dream year. Anyway, THIS book. I am German by heritage; Lutheran by religious upbringing and THIS was a delightful listen!! For those reasons. Humor ✔️ my kind of humor ✔️ science! Women being awesome! Family support!!! GOOD STUFF

This book is lowkey striving for #spinsterlit status and I respect it 🧙🏾‍♀️

#CampTOB

I can‘t pinpoint why I didn‘t enjoy this book more than I actually did. The subject (based on real events), the different voices and pov‘s, the style, the wittiness of Katharina herself: all appeal to me. And yet it didn‘t really work for me. #CampToB