Thursday, October 15, 2009

Book Giveaway of The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent


About the Book, courtesy of the publisher:

Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live.

Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft.

This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.

Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution.

About the Author, courtesy of the publisher:

Kathleen Kent is a tenth-generation descendant of Martha Carrier. She is also a masterful storyteller, and in her first novel she paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England but also of one family’s deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution. Learn more about her on Kathleen Kent's website at http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/hereticsdaughter/author.htm

Reading Group Guide, courtesy of the publisher:

1) How was Sarah changed by living with her cousin Margaret? How was she changed by returning to her family?

2) What was it about Martha's character that seemed to antagonize so many neighbors?

3) What do you think was the most compelling reason that Martha was eventually brought to trial?

4) Discuss the various factors that lead to the witch hysteria.

5) Why did Martha choose to take a stand of innocence knowing that a refused confession meant death?

6) Why did Thomas, despite his size and capabilities, not seek to persuade or deter Martha from her course of action?

7) Why did the community of Salem, and the magistrates, so easily believe in and rely on "spectral evidence”?

8) How has reading the book changed your opinions about the men and women hanged as witches?

9) Are there modern day "witches”?

10) Can we, or should we, redefine the meaning of the word "witch"?

CONTEST DETAILS

To enter, tell us how you plan to celebrate Halloween.

Rules:
Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win. No email address and answer, no entry. The contest is limited to US and Canada only. No P.O. boxes. The contest ends at noon on November 15, 2009.

Thanks so much, Valerie and Hatchette Book Group for this generous giveaway!

36 comments:

  1. My friend is celebrating her birthday on Halloween. She is having a party at a fine restaurant. Costumes are optional. I'll be attending, but I'm not yet sure whether or not I'll be in costume.

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I will spend Halloween chaparoning middle schoolers on a trip to the haunted house and a costume ball a local skating rink.

    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I will be taking my kids out trick or treating. The original plan was for my son to be the Big Bad Wolf and my baby girl to be Little Red Riding Hood. Now my son has decided he wants to be the Eensy Weensy Spider so we don't know if my baby girl will be a bumble bee or a leopard...

    melacan at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Please enter me. We will be Trick or Treating all day since its Saturday this year.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am taking my son to a local church where the church attendee's decorate the inside of their vehicle trunks and have them filled with candy to give to the kids. They all park in a circle and the parents walk with the kids from one car to to the next. The older church members like to see the kids in their costumes and it's a good way to make sure the kids stay safe and aren't out too late. They call it Trunk of Treat!!
    bekki1820cb@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm spending Halloween dressed up in a costume with friends and boyfriend and a couple of cool adult beverages :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm spending Halloween giving candy to trick-or-treaters followed by a Halloween party later in the evening.

    Please enter me in this giveaway!

    saemmerson at yahoo dot com

    Sarah Emmerson

    ReplyDelete
  8. Please enter me!
    I will be trick or treating this halloween with my friends.

    melissa@gingerhigh.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am celebrating Halloween by spending the night watching scary movies and passing out candy
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Baking something with pumpkin and going out with my friend's child.

    ReplyDelete
  11. We don't really celebrate Halloween because our kids our grown and we don't have any trick or treaters where we live. Isn't that sad?

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'll be handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  13. We plan to celebrate Halloween by Trick-or-Treating in my neighborhood with my kids.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

    ReplyDelete
  14. I will be at the door giving out candy to the
    little ones.
    I am a google reader follower.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. this halloween finds me at work.

    karen k
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. We are going to a Halloween party the night before, and then maybe to a carnival the day of. That night, we'll probably stay home and pass out candy.

    srfbluemama at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. please enter me, I would love to read this one
    Thank you for hosting this giveaway
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I will be attending my friend's annual Halloween costume party, it's so much fun!
    I would really enjoy this book, thanks for a chance=)
    Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

    ReplyDelete
  19. That's my mom's birthday so we'll be celebrating with her...dinner, cake & presents. :0) My niece & nephew will probably go trick or treating earlier in the evening but that's about it. It's not really a big holiday with my family.

    Thanks!
    librarygrinch at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. My daughter will hopefully be coming home from college this weekend, so hopefully just spending some time with her.
    joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  21. For Halloween we go to a party hosted by a friend. Each person pays $20, and the money goes to charity. Nothing better than having fun for a good cause. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I stayed at home and gave away candy

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. We dressed up and walked the streets to keep an eye on the children...keep them safe.

    dorcontest at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. We carved a pumpkin and handed out treats to all the kiddies! It was a cold day!

    bthgordon[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I stayed home with the hubby and watched football.

    lag110@mchsi.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. We carved pumpkings, roasted pumpkin seeds, and doled out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

    alannakurt at gmail dot com

    Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  27. There aren't a lot of kids around this area so I spent Halloween watching TV. walkerd@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  28. I went to two parties--one as a wicked fairy and one as a black widow spider
    amanda
    catss99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I spent Halloween passing out candy to the trick or treaters.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I spent Halloween visiting relatives. walkermisc@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  31. I spent Halloween reading, what else?

    anjamie4 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I spent Halloween with my kids. They're all grown up so we had a nice dinner, watched some TV, and my son helped me get my new Ipod organized. It was a wonderful evening.

    r_lapus at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I didn't do anything this year for Halloween. Afraid I haven't in quite a few years. Would love to win this book.

    ~Briana
    thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just stayed at home and watched tv for Halloween. lol.

    Marie
    utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Hahaha - I actually dressed up as a credible zombie and teepeed my daughter's home ;)

    ReplyDelete
  36. we have a 2 and a half month baby - our first. we dressed him up and went trick or treating in our new neighborhood. it was wonderful!

    janicelegaspi at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete