The concept of the pink-haired witch is an intriguing and fascinating one. It brings to mind a unique blend of whimsical charm and mystical power. The vibrant shade of pink hair adds a touch of quirkiness and individuality to the traditional image of a witch. In folklore and popular culture, witches are often depicted with long, flowing hair in dark shades such as black or deep brown. The introduction of pink hair creates a striking contrast and challenges the established norms. It symbolizes a departure from tradition and a celebration of personal expression.
It symbolizes a departure from tradition and a celebration of personal expression. The pink-haired witch challenges stereotypes and defies expectations. She is not bound by conventional notions of beauty or appearance.
Kate’s Review: “Hour of the Witch”
Where Did I Get This Book: I received an eARC from NetGalley.
Book Description: A young Puritan woman–faithful, resourceful, but afraid of the demons that dog her soul–plots her escape from a violent marriage in this riveting and propulsive historical thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant.
Boston, 1662. Mary Deerfield is twenty-four-years-old. Her skin is porcelain, her eyes delft blue, and in England she might have had many suitors. But here in the New World, amid this community of saints, Mary is the second wife of Thomas Deerfield, a man as cruel as he is powerful. When Thomas, prone to drunken rage, drives a three-tined fork into the back of Mary’s hand, she resolves that she must divorce him to save her life. But in a world where every neighbor is watching for signs of the devil, a woman like Mary–a woman who harbors secret desires and finds it difficult to tolerate the brazen hypocrisy of so many men in the colony–soon finds herself the object of suspicion and rumor. When tainted objects are discovered buried in Mary’s garden, when a boy she has treated with herbs and simples dies, and when their servant girl runs screaming in fright from her home, Mary must fight to not only escape her marriage, but also the gallows. A twisting, tightly plotted thriller from one of our greatest storytellers, Hour of the Witch is a timely and terrifying novel of socially sanctioned brutality and the original American witch hunt.
Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!
Back in middle school I decided to read “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, after my drama class chose it as one of the scenes that we’d perform and I was voted to be Mary Warren in said scene. After reading the whole play my thirteen year old self was super indignant, and I basically have had a seething anger deep in my soul for any kind of witchcraft or Satanic Panic fueled hysteria ever since. Because of this, I was eager to snatch up the new historical fiction thriller “Hour of the Witch” by Chris Bohjalian. I’ve enjoyed Bohjalian’s stories in the past, I love me a good historical fiction thriller, and demolishing the Patriarchy in Puritan times? We ALL know how I feel about that!
Yes please. (source)Now I don’t want anyone thinking that “Hour of the Witch” is a pro-Witchcraft-As-Way-To-Smash-Misogyny kind of tale. Instead, Bohjalian takes the idea of a community turning on a strong minded woman and tries to tell it in a way that would be realistic towards the time and culture. Mary isn’t a woman who ends up turning to Satan because it’s the only clear path to agency in her life. Instead, we get a tale of a woman who dares stand up for herself and wants to advocate for her health and happiness against an abusive husband while still being God fearing and devout, and while also questioning power structures that are hypocritical. I admittedly don’t have as much breadth of knowledge in this part of American history and Puritan times, but from the historical notes in the back it seems like Bohjalian did his very best to make it realistic, and therein I found Mary to be believable. Her story of trying to divorce her abusive husband Thomas, and being the target of scorn and then witchcraft accusations for daring to push against the misogynistic norms, is suspenseful, frustrating, and incredibly readable. I loved Mary as a character, and seeing her fight in the face of powerful and abusive men was both cathartic, but also tense, as we all know how the power structures during the Puritan times could easily cry ‘witch’ and have a person killed (that said, while this story really does a good job of addressing the oppression that women faced, little is noted of the Indigenous groups in the area. I’m not sure how Bohjalian could have tackled such a huge aspect from Mary’s perspective without feeding into paternalistic or oppressive views, but when the groups were mentioned it felt like a nod without doing much work beyond that. Take that as you will).
In terms of plot, “Hour of the Witch” is definitely steeped in suspense, as well as a little bit of mystery. Working against Mary in her endeavors are her husband’s standing in the community, the fact that no one has seen him hurt her as he’s always careful to do it when they are alone, and the fact that some three tined forks were found buried in her yard, which at the time were thought to be ‘the devils tines’ due to the three prongs resembling a pitchfork (side note: when I worked at a historic fort that had a context set during the Georgian period, a dining demonstration did mention the lack of three tined forks in America in spite of the fact they were prevalent in Europe. We didn’t talk about ‘the devils tines’ aspect, however). The questions are 1) is Mary going to be able to escape her husband without being convicted of witchcraft, and 2) who IS the one who is setting her up to look like a witch? Such moments will make you shake with rage, but it also just goes to show that some things never change. Mary is accused of lying for attention, lying to offset the fact she hasn’t been able to have children as of yet, lying because she’s lustful, and lying because she’s a witch. These days, maybe we don’t see as much ‘witch’ stuff, but the rest of those accusations against an abused woman in hopes of painting her as a liar are all too familiar. And as for what is really going on with the buried forks in her yard, I really enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on there, as Bohjalian has a whole SLEW of suspects and possibilities, some one which are not as they seem. I was left on pins and needles worrying about what was going to happen to Mary, as well as wanting to spit nails out of rage when looking at how the men in the community (with a couple exceptions) and some of the women were treating her because of the misogyny that was rife. BE PREPARED TO BE MAD.
Overall, I thought that “Hour of the Witch” was a pretty good read, with a unique setting that felt timeless all the same. It may not be the Satanic feminism that I tend to love, but I still enjoyed it!
Rating 8: Suspenseful and unique in voice and setting, “Hour of the Witch” tells a tale as old as time about misogyny, women, and a society that uses one to keep the other in its place no matter what the outcome.
Reader’s Advisory:
“Hour of the Witch” is included on the Goodreads lists “Witch Hunts in Historical Fiction”, and “2021 Gothic”.
Find “Hour of the Witch” at your library using WorldCat, or a local independent bookstore using IndieBound!
Rating 8: Suspenseful and unique in voice and setting, “Hour of the Witch” tells a tale as old as time about misogyny, women, and a society that uses one to keep the other in its place no matter what the outcome.
Instead, she embraces her individuality and embraces her power. The choice to don pink hair is a conscious decision to stand out from the crowd and to assert oneself as a force to be reckoned with. This unconventional depiction of a witch reflects a shift in cultural paradigms. It embodies the idea that power can be found in embracing one's unique qualities, rather than conforming to societal standards. It encourages individuals to embrace their own magic and to find strength in their differences. The pink-haired witch is not only visually captivating but also carries a deeper message. She represents the idea of embracing one's true self and unapologetically embracing one's own magic. Through her colorful appearance, she challenges us to break free from societal norms and embrace our own unique power. In conclusion, the concept of the pink-haired witch is a captivating and empowering representation. It challenges traditional stereotypes and encourages individuals to embrace their individuality and personal expression. With her vibrant hair and mystical power, the pink-haired witch serves as a symbol of strength, authenticity, and self-acceptance..
Reviews for "The Witchy Transformation: Unleashing the Power of Pink Hair"
1. John Doe - 2/5 stars - I found "Pink Haired Witch" to be a disappointment. The story felt scattered and lacked coherence. The main character was poorly developed, and I couldn't relate to her at all. The dialogue was unrealistic and often forced. Additionally, the ending was abrupt and left me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I was hoping for more from this book and was left underwhelmed.
2. Jane Smith - 1/5 stars - I couldn't get past the first few chapters of "Pink Haired Witchh". The writing style was incredibly convoluted and confusing. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be unique and ended up sacrificing clarity and readability. The plot was difficult to follow, with unnecessary subplots and characters that didn't add much to the story. I finally gave up on trying to understand what was going on and decided to put the book down. It was simply not for me.
3. David Johnson - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Pink Haired Witchh" based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The world-building was also lacking, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. The protagonist's motives were unclear, and her actions often felt contrived. While the concept had potential, it failed to deliver a compelling and engaging narrative. I struggled to stay invested throughout and ultimately felt disappointed with the overall execution.