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The Witch of Lime Street
The Witch of Lime Street: Sance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World | David Jaher
History comes alive in this textured account of the rivalry between Harry Houdini and the so-called Witch of Lime Street, whose iconic lives intersected at a time when science was on the verge of embracing the paranormal.The 1920s are famous as the golden age of jazz and glamour, but it was also an era of fevered yearning for communion with the spirit world, after the loss of tens of millions in the First World War and the Spanish-flu epidemic. A desperate search for reunion with dead loved ones precipitated a tidal wave of self-proclaimed psychicsand, as reputable media sought stories on occult phenomena, mediums became celebrities. Against this backdrop, in 1924, the pretty wife of a distinguished Boston surgeon came to embody the raging national debate over Spiritualism, a movement devoted to communication with the dead. Reporters dubbed her the blonde Witch of Lime Street, but she was known to her followers simply as Margery. Her most vocal advocate was none other than Sherlock Holmes' creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believed so thoroughly in Margery's powers that he urged her to enter a controversial contest, sponsored by Scientific American and offering a large cash prize to the first medium declared authentic by its impressive five-man investigative committee. Admired for both her exceptional charm and her dazzling effects, Margery was the best hope for the psychic practice to be empirically verified. Her supernatural gifts beguiled four of the judges. There was only one left to convince...the acclaimed escape artist, Harry Houdini.David Jaher's extraordinary debut culminates in the showdown between Houdini, a relentless unmasker of charlatans, and Margery, the nation's most credible spirit medium. The Witch of Lime Street, the first book to capture their electric public rivalry and the competition that brought them into each others orbit, returns us to an oft-mythologized era to deepen our understanding of its history, all while igniting our imagination and engaging with the timeless question: Is there life after death?From the Hardcover edition.
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mollyrotondo
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This story is amazing! It is the true account of the Scientific American magazine‘s search for a real Spiritualist who could communicate with the dead. And Houdini was a judge on the panel. It is a fascinating story. I highly recommend for nonfiction lovers. This was my #bookspinbingo No. 6 pick.

TheAromaofBooks Sometimes history really is weirder than fiction!! 4y
mollyrotondo @TheAromaofBooks It was like reading a fictional story. It was freaky. And the relationship between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Houdini was also a strange one. It was a great read lol 4y
50 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
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Thank you @Avanders for the awesome #LMPBC package! So much goodness. Of course, my favorite is the shark cozie, but the pencils are a close second. I've wanted the tagged book for a while now. Thank you!
I am very much a slacker and I have not shipped out yours yet @TK421 I will send it out priority for you.
@Bklover @BethM

TK421 No worries. You can slow boat that box if you want to. 😊 5y
Avanders 👏🏽👏🏽♥️😘yay! That shark cozy was impossible to pass up 😁😁 5y
Bklover @BethM Yours went out priority yesterday. 😊 5y
BethM Lovely! @Bklover no worries! We‘re driving home from vacation today anyway! 5y
66 likes4 comments
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msford88
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Pickpick

History comes alive in this textured account of the rivalry between Harry Houdini and the so-called Witch of Lime Street, whose iconic lives intersected at a time when science was on the verge of embracing the paranormal. This is a wonderful account of a truly bizarre time in history. I couldn't put this book down once I started it.

74 likes8 stack adds
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RamsFan1963
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Panpan

I was very interested in the subject matter, but the glacial pace of the story made me want to bail several times. I finished 6 other books while plodding through this. 1 🏅 out of 5

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RamsFan1963
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BeththeBookDragon
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I'm having trouble getting into this one...

JPeterson I tried it on audio, and just couldn't get into the narrator. His voice just put me to sleep. I keep meaning to pick up a physical copy and try that at some point... 7y
BeththeBookDragon @JPeterson The audio got better... at least the characters stayed consistent and follow-able after a bit. 7y
57 likes1 stack add2 comments
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LitHousewife
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Bailedbailed

I have learned that I have ZERO interest in spiritualism, mediums, or anything else like that. It matters not that this book was about Houdini and prominently featured Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 💤💤💤

I could listen to Simon Vance forever. Had this book been narrated by anyone else, I would have DNFd it after the first section. As it was, three hours was enough. I'd much rather spend my precious Vance time with a book that makes me happy.

Reviewsbylola This book is exactly the type of book I like EXCEPT for the spiritual/medium aspect. Glad I skipped it. 8y
LitHousewife @Reviewsbylola Unless you care about that, you would just be bored. Avoid. 8y
8leagueboot I have to say I am completely interested in those topics and still read this book incredibly slowly, so I think there may be more to it than the subject matter. 8y
51 likes3 comments
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LitHousewife
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I've been craving a Simon Vance narration for a while now. I'm not sure if this is going to work for me or not, but I'll give it a try. Anything to listen to Simon Vance. #obsessed

47 likes2 stack adds
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8leagueboot
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Still pushing through this one, after reading ten pages here and ten pages there for months. The story is fascinating and right in my wheelhouse, so I'm trying to pick apart what isn't doing it for me. Hopefully I will turn the final page this very night!

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MrsAlexanderHamilton
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Pickpick

With grad school, this took me forever to read compared to my usual pace. But it was so good. I already have a soft spot for Houdini. I also like nonfiction accounts that are dramatized a little, so this was a good match for me. Excellent.

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MrsAlexanderHamilton
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Me too, Harry. Me too.

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irregularreader
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Pickpick

new #bookreview at www.theirregularreaderblog.wordpress.com! the Witch of lime street features Harry Houdini as he seeks to unmask a clever psychic, while setting himself against Sir Arthur Conan Doyle! A great nonfiction read! thanks #bloggingforbooks

Alfoster Great pic! 8y
rubyslippersreads Love this photo! 8y
Bette Nice pic! 👍❤️ 8y
17 likes1 stack add4 comments
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StaceyKondla
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I got some book mail to add to Mt. TBR 😁

Cinfhen Haha, I like that "Mt TBR" ? 8y
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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irregularreader
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MrsAlexanderHamilton
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MrsAlexanderHamilton
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"... you have nothing to lose but your position and very likely you can readily get another if you are wrong, but if I am wrong it will mean the loss of reputation."

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MrsAlexanderHamilton

"Some of the things you believe to be solemn are really to be laughed at."

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kristyliekwhoa
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Just finished reading The Witch of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World by David Jaher.

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GoldenGirl
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Got this gorgeous book in the mail today and can't wait to begin reading it!

brendanmleonard I have heard great things about this one! 8y
19 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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MrsAlexanderHamilton

And how awful it is when a superhero lies broken on the pavement.

2 likes1 comment
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MrsAlexanderHamilton

But since we cannot dissect the soul ... we deny its existence.

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MrsAlexanderHamilton
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I have a small obsession (okay, crush) on Harry Houdini. He grew up where I did, so he's always on my radar. Got this for free in exchange for an honest review and I'm really stoked to start it.

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UnabridgedTomes
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Panpan

When NPR Books recommends something, I take it as gospel. Sadly, this recommendation leaves much to be desired. It's desperately in need of an editor, it was sold as nonfiction that reads as a novel but is so over-blown it just feels like soap opera. It's an exhausting book and I was so relieved when it was over.

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SarahBZ
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Curling up with a little bit of spiritualism history and gin #booksandbooze

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JPeterson
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This narrator has a friendly, soothing grandfather type voice. The type that tells the best bed-time story to little kids. Which is great! Except when driving in the early morning, and all you want is to go back to bed. 😂

BookishFeminist Haha oh no! At least it's Friday. 8y
BookwormBeth I've been meaning to get this but the closest bookstore to me never has it so I've put it off but I'm not sure I can much longer lol. How is it? 8y
readinginthedark That's how I felt when I listened to The Silmarillion on audio! 😆 8y
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JPeterson @BookishFeminist TGIF, for sure! @BookwormBeth I do like it, but I'm honestly just thinking of getting the actual book. The voice is too soothing, I start to zone out. @readinginthedark 😂 I'll keep that in mind not to listen to that one either! Unless I want to be lulled to sleep! 8y
BookwormBeth I can't do audio I zone out on everything lol. I'll def check out the book even if I have to order it 8y
readinginthedark @JPeterson I guess it was less sleepiness and more comfy storytime. But I wasn't driving early in the morning, so it might be the same for you. 😋 8y
64 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Poohza
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Another fabulous bargain find from Book and Bar in Portsmouth NH

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8leagueboot
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I am so ready for this.

BookwormBeth I've looked for this three times when I've went in books-a-million and they haven't had it. Dying to read it please let me know what you think of it. It sounds sooo good 😁 8y
8leagueboot I quibbled over it for so long because of that dang hardcover price, but I finally couldn't bear waiting any longer! I'll let you know how it is. It is definitely my hot date for after work tonight! 8y
12 likes5 stack adds2 comments
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LitHousewife
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After seeing a video Simon Vance made about this book, I headed straight to Audible. I can't wait to give this audiobook a listen.

missfarin I'm curious what you think! I tried to read this in print and abandoned ship. 9y
Landagail Looks good! 9y
LitHousewife I will let you know, @missfarin. Simon Vance makes everything better. 🙂 9y
Sue Hope you enjoy it - I found it fascinating (and Simon Vance is awesome :)) 9y
LitHousewife @Sue On Simon Vance we can agree. 😊 9y
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librariankris
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Pickpick

I thoroughly enjoyed this history of the Scientific American's quest to find a bonafide physical medium with Harry Houdini taking on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "Margery" (the witch), and Margery's creepy doctor husband.

LyndseyReads I read this in the fall! I loved learning about the rise of spiritualism after this war and that Doyle, who is now known for a character that is logic embodied, was a major proponent. Fascinating. 9y
librariankris Right?! And I had no idea Houdini and Doyle were frenemies. Of course now I want to know more. 9y
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