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I greatly enjoyed this novel set in the 17th century that focuses on the accusations of witchcraft against Johannes Kepler's mother Katharina Kepler. Katharina is a memorable character. She is no-nonsense, but compassionate to both animals & those in her community. Her familiarity with herbal remedies & treatments is one of the pieces of “evidence“ used against her by those who come forward with accusations. One of the intriguing debates at the👇

Everyone thinks himself a Luther. I'm stealing that line.

I started this one last night & now 80 pages in. Really enjoying it so far.

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while writing this book and I think the parts I liked best were the statements made by neighbors that she adapted from historical documents.This book still ended up being #morelikedthanloved.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

#CampToB

Is Katharina a witch, that‘s the question. Multiple voices, among which Katharina‘s own, tell their point of view. The result is a mash-up of funny, absurd, and serious parts.
Halfway through the answer to the question is yet unclear, but maybe we don‘t need one?
Share your thoughts on the last book of the summer tournament below!

#CampToB21 A really fun and original HF set in the early 1600‘s, Germany, at a time when villagers could accuse a neighbor of being a witch to explain/justify any calamities. Based on actual witch trial transcripts , Rivka Galchen reimagines the villagers pettiness and jealousies as they state their grievances against the widower Katerina Kepler. Audio narration was fabulous 🙌🏻♥️ I will admit to my mind wandering often😜👇🏼

Katharina Kepler is accused of being a witch in Germany in the early 1600s. Based on a true story we follow the narrative as it is told by her neighbour, Simon.

I loved the audio narration to start with but after a while it became a bit too intense and I had to ration it a little bit. I also felt that the book dipped slightly in the middle, becoming rather repetitive and slow-moving. Overall though, this was snarky, witty and clever.

#campToB

This novel is based on the true story of the mother of Johannes Kepler, the great German astronomer and mathematician. Katharina Kepler was a herbalist who was accused of being a witch in 1615. Told from her point of view and that of her neighbor, who assisted in her case, it is an interesting case study of small town pettiness and gossip snowballing into absurd accusations but the book is somewhat slow and repetitive.

Reading Envy Podcast Episode 226 - Cucumber Sandwiches with Lindy Pratch

Lindy joins me to talk books, where we discuss Canadian lit, vignettes and white space in writing, and what really makes a monster. @Lindy

Follow the link to listen and subscribe:
https://tinyurl.com/ReadingEnvy226

“Friendship,” he said. “I‘m not going to put down family. Family is a field of hay, a well of water, whatnot. But friendship is a sausage. Or, no, it‘s not a sausage. Romance is a sausage. Friendship is a lemon. Do you know what sailors take on their journeys to the here-be-monsters part of the maps? They take lemons, because lemons are steadfast. [Sailors are] the ones who tell me the lemon is a forever friend.

Also, I dreamed of strawberries. Of the seeds on the outside. I had always been skeptical of strawberries, growing so close to the ground, but in that prison, I dreamed of the strawberry as a noble fruit, and plentiful. The strawberry sets its seeds on the outside, for all to see. A strawberry has nothing to hide.

So much ill fortune follows from eating strawberries, which grow so close to the ground, where vapours are stale. But who warns us about strawberries? Only the people no one listens to.

Fictionalization of Johannes Kepler‘s mom being accused of being a witch in 1600s Germany told through testimonies, letters, and the accounts of the accused and her neighbor.

Enjoyable read, was a bit confusing when changing perspectives.

Vivid, humorous voice—that of an indomitable old woman—combined with the depressingly ignorant behaviour of townspeople who have accused her of witchcraft. I was riveted by this historical novel based on real people who lived in southern Germany in the early 17th century. Entertaining and sobering. I wish it didn‘t remind me so much of the fearful superstitions I see surrounding Covid vaccinations and other scientific stuff. #CanadianAuthor

I suspect the only thing I‘d be interested in reading would be a history. But I‘m told histories are hated, which is not surprising. People prefer to make it up themselves.

I had loved babies as a child, more than most people do, even. I loved their small fingernails. I loved the way they seemed to arrive older than their parents. I loved the courage they had to sleep as if there were no wolves, no soldiers.
(Internet photo)

“I apologize for having no horse,” he said cheerfully. He didn‘t look like he‘d ever had a horse. Or even had a close friend who had had a horse.

He asked me to sit, encouraged me to have a bite to eat. He had a slice of apple on a tiny spear of some sort.
“What is that toy you‘re holding?”
“It‘s a fork. And I know you know it‘s a fork.”
“It looks like the tail of a devil,” I said. “Not in a bad way.”

A hummingbird once rested near my shoulder. It was a very ill omen. For one who isn‘t a flower.

I had Greta‘s voice in my head, telling me that all people are the image of God. Why not all voles, then? All fleas? They were God‘s creations, too.