Scan barcode
ketutar's review against another edition
Want to read because it was mentioned in [b:I Capture the Castle|31122|I Capture the Castle|Dodie Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385316083l/31122._SX50_.jpg|950769]
bupdaddy's review
3.0
I think my favorite thing about this gothic romance is that one of the characters - an attorney working for the crown to ferret out witches (and who, historically, was the clerk of the county) - is just as bad as anybody else.
Ainsworth also, although it may have been unintentional, doesn't make clear which way he's going - whether the witchcraft is real, or the creation of a superstitious populace - for a good long while in the telling. But when he makes it clear, he puts the pedal to the metal and goes whole-hog.
It's a rip-roaring amount of fun.
Relatively speaking. You know, for an 1849 novel by a guy who was probably all stuffed shirt and took himself really seriously. Probably thought he was so great. He wasn't so great.
Ainsworth also, although it may have been unintentional, doesn't make clear which way he's going - whether the witchcraft is real, or the creation of a superstitious populace - for a good long while in the telling. But when he makes it clear, he puts the pedal to the metal and goes whole-hog.
It's a rip-roaring amount of fun.
Relatively speaking. You know, for an 1849 novel by a guy who was probably all stuffed shirt and took himself really seriously. Probably thought he was so great. He wasn't so great.
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
3.0
My mum bought me this book last year to remind of home (I'm from Lancashire, it's in my blood to love the Pendle witches, and I even wanna write my own fictional book on the events). I've only just gotten round to reading it because I had an idea: to write my 15,000 word dissertation on witches in Victorian lit. Yeah, I'm thinking of doing that.
This was interesting. Ainsworth's portrayal of the witches was really fascinating. He relied heavily on stereotypes - you know, witches on broomsticks, throwing stuff into a cauldron and chanting, etc. etc. etc. I really didn't mind this to be honest, it was typical but also fun.
I think the witches were the best part of this book, which, I'm assuming, you'd expect to be all 580 pages but no. A lot of this was just waffle, and not the good kind. This definitely could have been cut down, specifically removing all the irrelevant passages. It took me SoooOOOOooOOO long to get through; I wasn't motivated to pick it up because it took a while to get into the story, and when I did, it was just rambling for most of the time.
Now, I don't know whether to rate this 2.5 stars? Oh man, idk.
Anyway, might write my diss on this, we'll see.
This was interesting. Ainsworth's portrayal of the witches was really fascinating. He relied heavily on stereotypes - you know, witches on broomsticks, throwing stuff into a cauldron and chanting, etc. etc. etc. I really didn't mind this to be honest, it was typical but also fun.
I think the witches were the best part of this book, which, I'm assuming, you'd expect to be all 580 pages but no. A lot of this was just waffle, and not the good kind. This definitely could have been cut down, specifically removing all the irrelevant passages. It took me SoooOOOOooOOO long to get through; I wasn't motivated to pick it up because it took a while to get into the story, and when I did, it was just rambling for most of the time.
Now, I don't know whether to rate this 2.5 stars? Oh man, idk.
Anyway, might write my diss on this, we'll see.
claalaaa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
grubstlodger's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
james_patrick's review against another edition
4.0
Absolute hokum,and a bit slow in the middle, but an enjoyable story nonetheless. Demon child Jennet Device steals the whole book.
More...