The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
Hardcover: 371 pages
Publisher: Hyperion (June 9, 2009)
Publisher: Hyperion (June 9, 2009)
Book Summary: Connie Goodwin should be spending her summer doing research for her Ph.D. dissertation in American History. But when her mother asks her to handle the sale of Connie's grandmother's abandoned home near Salem, she's compelled to help. It's not long before the time she's set aside for research is instead spent sorting through her grandmother's ancient possessions, discovering a woman she barely knew.
One day, while exploring the dusty bookshelves in the study, Connie discovers a key hidden within an old bible. And within the key is a brittle slip of paper with two words written on it: Deliverance Dane. Along with a handsome steeplejack named Sam, Connie begins to dig into the town's records, looking for references to Deliverance Dane. But even as the pieces begin to fall into place, Connie is haunted by visions of the witch trials so long ago, and she begins to fear that she is more tied to Salem's dark past than she could have ever imagined.
MY REVIEW: Howe gives us a new take on the Salem Witches. Connie is the main character, a History grad student, who has just passed her orals to become a candidate for her doctorate. The story begins to take off when the lives of women from the past are interspersed with Connie's. Connie is asked to prepare her grandmother's house by her "new agey" mother. At first, Connie is not thrilled to take on this task, but once there she begins to feel a connection to the old home. Besides the interesting cottage, we meet her roommate, Liz, grow fond of a very smart dog named Arlo, and discover an attractive steeplechase (and grad student) named Sam. All the secondary characters keep the story interesting.
Deliverance Dane was a woman who was persecuted as a witch in 1692 and the title's book was her spell book--a book Connie searches for after finding a key with a slip of paper and Dane's name written on it inside the family Bible. Spell books were not the stereotypical tomes filled with lewd items, but rather witches kept recipes of what herbs and other items to use for ailments and such. Witches were women of the community sought after for their guidance and assistance. They did not wear tall black hats and have warts on their noses.
The history of witchcraft has always intrigued me so I enjoyed Howe's insightful and crafty spin. There were times I felt there was too much description in some passages which made me want to skim through. Enjoyable mystery, slight love story with a lot of interesting history and lore mixed in.
RATING: +++1/2
BOOK SOURCE: Library.
MY REVIEW: Howe gives us a new take on the Salem Witches. Connie is the main character, a History grad student, who has just passed her orals to become a candidate for her doctorate. The story begins to take off when the lives of women from the past are interspersed with Connie's. Connie is asked to prepare her grandmother's house by her "new agey" mother. At first, Connie is not thrilled to take on this task, but once there she begins to feel a connection to the old home. Besides the interesting cottage, we meet her roommate, Liz, grow fond of a very smart dog named Arlo, and discover an attractive steeplechase (and grad student) named Sam. All the secondary characters keep the story interesting.
Deliverance Dane was a woman who was persecuted as a witch in 1692 and the title's book was her spell book--a book Connie searches for after finding a key with a slip of paper and Dane's name written on it inside the family Bible. Spell books were not the stereotypical tomes filled with lewd items, but rather witches kept recipes of what herbs and other items to use for ailments and such. Witches were women of the community sought after for their guidance and assistance. They did not wear tall black hats and have warts on their noses.
The history of witchcraft has always intrigued me so I enjoyed Howe's insightful and crafty spin. There were times I felt there was too much description in some passages which made me want to skim through. Enjoyable mystery, slight love story with a lot of interesting history and lore mixed in.
RATING: +++1/2
BOOK SOURCE: Library.
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