"Kissing the Witch" is a collection of thirteen interconnected feminist fairy tales written by Irish author Emma Donoghue. Published in 1997, the book retells well-known fairy tales from a feminist perspective, offering a fresh and thought-provoking interpretation of these traditional stories. In "Kissing the Witch," Donoghue takes classic tales such as Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Hansel and Gretel, and subverts their traditional narratives. Each story is linked to the next, with characters from one tale appearing in the next tale as a supporting character or narrator. This structure creates a coherent and interconnected world, where the characters and their stories blend into one another. What sets "Kissing the Witch" apart from other fairy tale retellings is its focus on female empowerment and agency.
"Chris Bohjalian's latest thriller is a nail-biting historical novel about a woman whose quest for a divorce in 1662 Boston might just end with her being branded as a witch. In Hour of the Witch, 24-year-old Mary Deerfield is desperate to escape her violent husband, Thomas. But in the New World, where every woman is under suspicion for being a witch, her desire to escape her marriage may end up sending her to the gallows if she isn't careful."
—Pop Sugar
"Themes of women’s agency in a patriarchal society are common in historical novels, but this fast-moving, darkly suspenseful novel stands out with Bohjalian’s extraordinary world-building skills. . . Will have readers racing toward the ending.”
—Historical Novels Review
"Hour of the Witch is a gripping page-turner, written with beautiful prose and enthrallingly developed characters.”
—Mystery and Suspense Magazine
But in the New World, where every woman is under suspicion for being a witch, her desire to escape her marriage may end up sending her to the gallows if she isn t careful. 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.
What sets "Kissing the Witch" apart from other fairy tale retellings is its focus on female empowerment and agency. Donoghue's rewriting dismantles the traditional gender roles and expectations found in classic fairy tales. The female characters in the book become more than just passive objects awaiting rescue; they become active participants in shaping their own destinies.
Chris Bohjalian’s thriller ‘Hour of the Witch’ is historical fiction at its best
Mary Deerfield, the main character of Chris Bohjalian’s new novel, “Hour of the Witch,” is a poster child for the proverb, “Marry in haste, repent at leisure.” Having come to Boston as a teenager with her wealthy Puritan parents and lacking sufficiently suitable suitors in this rough, half-civilized place, she marries a well-to-do widower twice her age, one Thomas Deerfield. It doesn’t go well. Deerfield’s courting manners soon vanish, revealing him as mean and petty in speech, given to drink and physically cruel. Worse: He can’t get her pregnant but not for lack of trying.
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This is 1662. Plainly, if a married woman isn’t pregnant, she’s barren, and Mary’s feelings of failure don’t help her sex life. She discovers private joy and considers it a gift from God as minor compensation for her marriage, barren of happiness as well as children. Mary finds plenty of material for her nightly fantasies in visions of comely young men she glimpses on the docks or in her father’s office.
If a Puritan woman with a powerful and unashamed sex drive makes you blink, you may want to check your expectations at the door when you open this book. Given the title, the cover design and the time period, readers might assume that the story deals with a presumption of black magic, public suspicions of women as workers of same, and a witch trial. You do get those things — but that’s not all.
AdvertisementDespite her husband’s noticeable flaws, Mary is a dutiful wife and takes pains to hide her bruises. Until the night when her husband, drunk yet again, snatches up one of the newfangled three-tined forks that Mary’s father — a wealthy merchant — has given her and stabs it through her hand. Mary is dutiful, but not a doormat, and shocked and enraged, she makes up her mind to divorce her husband.
Readers always bring themselves to a book. Thus, when reading a historical tale, a shadow of the present always falls upon the past. Our assumptions about morality and behavior swim just under the surface of the reading, and our half-conscious responses to a story set in a time not our own are echoes of what we see as “right.” Historical fiction holds up a mirror to the past; good historical fiction holds up a mirror to the present.
“Hour of the Witch” is very good historical fiction. One of Bohjalian’s great strengths is his research; another is his sense of humanity. By the accretion of lavish detail, he’s able to show us a real world and the people who live in it. He also gives us someone with whom to empathize: Mary is admirable in her determination, independence and clearheadedness. At the same time, she is a person of her own time, and Bohjalian makes clear how the systems of that time work.
AdvertisementWe’re subtly brought to understand how a community that hanged a small, female Quaker for the crime of preaching in public also has a judicial system that gives a voice to abused or neglected wives. Divorce wasn’t common in 17th-century Boston, particularly if the complainant was a woman, but it was done.
Share this article ShareYou might think you know where this is going: Young, intelligent woman who dares to exert her own agency is warned about causing trouble but does it anyway, filled with a sense of her own righteousness. She is, of course, then denounced as a witch and railroaded by malice, ignorance, superstition and the universal tendency of human beings to catch hysteria from one another and tell lies from boredom, self-interest or a desire for importance (see Twitter, any day of the week).
Such things happen; still, it’s not the patriarchal frame-up you might expect. We see, in minute and inexorable detail, just how evidence can be manipulated, ignored, created, and the law itself be traduced. But the tale is told against a solid background of domestic violence, female rivalries and solidarity, and an evenhanded sense of fairness regarding the community in which these events take place. The importance of the religious nature of daily life is woven into the story, not imposed upon it. God and the Devil are real to the Puritans of Boston and the “praying Indians” to whom they’ve spread their faith — sufficiently real that Mary at one point speculates as to the Devil’s gender, concluding (with some cause) that “He most definitely wears breeches. The Devil can only be a man.”
Throughout the collection, Donoghue explores themes of love, power, identity, and self-discovery. The tales often confront societal norms and expectations, challenging readers to question traditional narratives and gender roles. By giving voice to the often-marginalized female characters in these stories, Donoghue celebrates their strength, resilience, and ability to defy expectations. The stories in "Kissing the Witch" are beautifully written, filled with rich descriptions and captivating storytelling. Donoghue's prose vividly brings to life each fairy tale world, creating a powerful atmosphere that draws readers in. Her writing style is engaging, poetic, and sometimes haunting, making for an unforgettable reading experience. Overall, "Kissing the Witch" is a remarkable collection that breathes new life into familiar tales. By reimagining these stories through a feminist lens, Emma Donoghue invites readers to view fairy tales in a fresh and empowering light. The book serves as a reminder that even in the fantastical worlds of fairy tales, women have the power to shape their own narratives and break free from societal constraints..
Reviews for "The Witch's Lips: Exploring the Mystical Powers of a Kiss"
1. John Smith - 2/5 - I found "Kissing the Witch" to be overly confusing and disjointed. The storyline jumped from one fairy tale to another without any clear connection. It was difficult to follow the characters and their motivations, and I often found myself lost in the narrative. Additionally, I did not feel any emotional connection to the stories or the characters, which made it hard for me to engage with the book. Overall, I was disappointed and felt like it was a missed opportunity to explore interesting themes in a more coherent and compelling way.
2. Sarah Johnson - 3/5 - I wanted to like "Kissing the Witch" as I am a fan of fairy tales, but I found the retellings in this book to be lacking depth and originality. The stories felt rushed and underdeveloped, lacking the richness and complexity that makes fairy tales so timeless. The language and writing style were also quite simplistic, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the stories. While I appreciate the idea of exploring feminist themes through fairy tales, I feel like "Kissing the Witch" fell short in its execution, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied.
3. Robert Davis - 2/5 - I struggled to find any enjoyment in "Kissing the Witch". The book lacked clear structure and coherence, making it hard to follow the individual stories and their connections. Additionally, I found the writing to be overly pretentious and unnecessarily convoluted, making it a chore to read. The attempt to reinvent fairy tales with a feminist twist felt forced and contrived, adding little value to the overall narrative. Overall, I was disappointed with "Kissing the Witch" and would not recommend it to others.