Salem with a twist
Having studied 'The Crucible' at school in my teenage years and more recently watching the film version, I was immediately intrigued by the title and jumped into the novel wholeheartedly. I wasn't disappointed ! I immediately connected with most of the characters, recognising the Salem witch trial protagonists and shuddering at the vivid details described by the author. Aunt Isobel and the central character, Jennet, are both captivating timeless heroines, grounded in their historic setting but with a feminist feistiness which wouldn't be out of place in today's "chicklit" novels ! The story was a real page-turner, by turns uplifting and poignant. However, I had trouble reconciling myself to a couple of the author's techniques - he appears to be a chronic name dropper , intertwining countless historical celebrities' lives into the narrative, which left me wondering at times whether I was supposed to be reading a work of fiction or something more historically accurate. I had difficulties drawing the line between the factual and the fantastical, particularly when the narrative was at times "hijacked" by a talking book, and I must admit that the final mention of the book partaking in physical lovemaking with Jennet took the suspension of disbelief a little too far !! All in all, it was an entertaining read, possibly educational but with the reader left questioning the factual basis of the scientific and biographical elements !