Agawam Pageturners Book Club's Discussion of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

The group had an interesting discussion about the book. Some liked it. Some liked it, but did not love it. Some disliked the book. Some read it for the geography of Salem and Marblehead Massachusetts. The book goes back and forth from the present to the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Connie goes to Marblehead to clean out her grandmother's house. She goes on a quest to find the book of Deliverance Dane. Deliverance was her ancestor, who was convicted of being a witch. The group discussed possibilities for the Salem Witch Trials: the young girl accusers eating moldy bread that caused them to hallucinate; mass hysteria; mentality of a religion of restrictions. A lot of the discussion was spent talking about personal experiences with magic. Magic takes place in the book in the present and during the Salem Witch Trials. The magic that Deliverance Dane had was passed down through the generations to even Connie's grandmother, mother, and even Connie, a Harvard PhD. candidate. Someone said there are elements of magic and mysticism in every religion. Another person said she was too rationale for all that type of talk. The group also talked about how the "witches" used herbs and practical common sense for treating the body. Chilton Manning, Connie's PhD. adviser was also discussed. He became obsessed with finding the philosopher's stone, and he thought Connie's book would have the information. Someone pointed out that he is what is wrong with Old Boston. A very lively discussion.