Welcome to Litsy!

Not quite what I was expecting, but very intriguing: the French author, relying heavily on French sources, explores the tropes and history of persecution of “witches” that have come down through the centuries, and looks at how they continue to play out today. Some of the themes are aging, being single, being “unattractive,” being independent and powerful. Having a cat comes up too!
#Nonfiction2024 #HarryPotter

Corinne Maier, 1977: “We live in a society of ants: in which working and nesting shape the alternate prospects of the human condition. If work is the opium of the masses, does that make children our consolation? A society in which life is limited to living and reproducing is one that has no future, for it has no dreams.” For her, procreation represents the deadlock of the heart of the current system that leads directly to ecological catastrophe.

In “Une vie à soi” Erika Flahault distinguishes between “women en manque,” who feel something is missing, but put up with their situation, despite some suffering; “women en marche,” women who are learning to appreciate their situation; and the “apostate du conjugale,” women who have left marriage behind and are deliberately organizing their lives, loves, and friendships outside the framework of the couple.

In 1233, a bull issued by Pope Gregory IX declared cats to be “the devil‘s servants.” Then, in 1484, Pope Innocent VIII ordered that all cats seen in the company of women be considered their “familiars.” These witches were to be burned along with their animals. The cats‘ extermination contributed to the growth of the rat population, so aggravating subsequent outbreaks of disease, which were blamed on witches.

Really enjoyed this audiobook. Smart, feminist, compelling.

This book was utterly fascinating, completely heartbreaking and horrifying. The ribbons tying the past and present were drawn into the light and into understanding. I am descending into a changed worldview. I would very much like to learn more.

As a last ditch effort to drag myself out of my reading slump, I am trying to audiobook for the first time. And I have to say this book is fascinating!

Men don‘t age better than women, they‘re just allowed to age

I was hoping for more legit history, but still an interesting read that stoked my feminist rage in ways both new and familiar.

This is a fantastic book that compares the old witch trials with the pressures and prejudices women face today. While reading this book I admit to feeling really frustrated and angry. It's 2023 and it feels like women are losing rights again 😾
#NaturalitsyBingo2023 #freechoice @AllDebooks #BBRC #bookintranslation originally in French @LibrarianRyan #WickedWords #globe @AsYouWish

This lovely surprise package arrived the other day! Thank you Stacy for such a fun, thoughtful gift. ❤️ This book looks awesome! And these pens are hilarious (I dare any of my RN co-workers to steal one)! Thanks for the cute keychain and notecards 😊 I‘ve been completely disorganized this year so expect a mystery box from evil Amazon. 😈 Happy Holidays! ☃️ #LitsyLove

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. Picked it up on a whim. I got this from the library, but have since bought a copy for myself and a couple for friends as Christmas gifts. Definitely one I‘ll read again.

This is a thoroughly researched book, detailing ways in which women have been and continue to be vilified. I found the passages on how women have internalized patriarchal and misogynistic viewpoints illuminating. By turns heartbreaking, informative, and infuriating, my only issue is that the text is dry. I do not know if this is an issue with the writing itself, or with the translation, but I did find it a bit of a slog.

After the storm. Happy Thursday.

Happy Mother's Day! My lovely mother-in-law took me to the bookstore this week and got me this pile of witchy goodness, and then we played a board game about a magical library. It was the best! Sending my love out to all of you mother-figures (whatever your gender may be). You are incredibly important! 💕

“The witch embodies woman free of all domination, all limitation; she is an ideal to aim for; she shows us the way…[yet] historians seem determined to deny that witch-hunts constituted ‘a burst of misogyny without parallel in Western history.‘”

More of a collection of feminist essays than a historical account of witches, but I really enjoyed this book.

Full review on my blog: http://sprainedbrain.blog/2022/03/26/review-in-defense-of-witches-by-mona-cholle...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Publication Day-& Happy International Women‘s Day! With a captivating cover & intriguing premise, I really looked forward to diving into this translated read. Chollet redefines “witch” & offers instead a feminist perspective on four topics- independence, fertility (namely to not have children), aging and healthcare. A definite discussion starter and meticulously researched, this had less of the historical/geographical angle that I expected.

An in depth examination of the persecution of witchcraft and its effects on the modern ways in which women encounter discrimination.

This was a bit of a dense, academic read. And while it has a lot of fantastic information, it tries to do too much, with chapters on aging, healthcare, relationships, motherhood, and environmentalism. And the common thread of witchcraft is not as interwoven throughout the text as it could have been. 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

My latest #netgalley approval. YAY!