All Book'd Book Club

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Through the story of a young Puritan woman seeking freedom from a dangerous marriage, the book explores faith, fear, justice, and religious freedom in early colonial America.

Discussion questions

• When have I seen someone’s credibility questioned because of who they are rather than what happened?
• What assumptions do I bring to stories about “good” and “bad” people, especially in historical settings?
• How do communities decide who belongs, who is dangerous, and who should be controlled?
• What does “religious freedom” mean if it only protects the beliefs of people in power?
• In what ways can intelligence, independence, or confidence become threatening in an unfair society?
• How do fear and gossip shape the way people judge one another?
• When have I seen private struggles become public issues, either fairly or unfairly?
• What makes it difficult for people experiencing abuse or harm to be believed?
• How do laws and traditions sometimes protect order more than justice?
• Where do I see echoes of Mary’s world in modern life?
• What kinds of behavior do we still police differently depending on gender, class, religion, or reputation?
• After reading this novel, what do I think true justice would have looked like for Mary?

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