This book is wayyyy toooo longgggg.
This book is considered a classic, but Hawthorne draws out the details, utterly unnecessarily. We thought this book would have some spookiness with a dash of romance. Um. Not really.
There was a man accused of being a witch/wizard. Convicted, his land was seized. A curse is uttered against the judge of the trial. The judge (last name Pyncheon) ends up acquiring the land on the cheap. Builds his house (of 7 gables).
Supposedly, the judge's family (the Pyncheons) will be cursed forever more. The judge does die under strange circumstances (this is at beginning of book, thus, I'm not giving a spoiler).
Fast forward to find "poor old Hepzibah," described as homely, never married. And she is forced to open a shop (a general store) in the ground floor of her home, which she feels is beneath her because she's a Pyncheon (hoity toity).
Enter cousin Phoebe, young, pretty.
There's also Hepzibah's brother, Clifford, who was recently released from prison. He acts the hermit, doesn't go out.
Hawthorne makes a big deal of beautiful Phoebe and puts down Hepzibah at every turn of page, which got annoying after the umpteenth time.
Sorry, but L and I must give THUMBS DOWN. I got through the book by listening on audiobook while doing other things. L skimmed or skipped past the last 25% or so. She said, "it just goes on and on and on."
So now we've read a classic and we're glad to dispense with it. On to something lighter and contemporary!!
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