Witches book club notes

Witchcraft is not all bubbling cauldrons and midnight spells. As Sam George-Allen explores in her book Witches: What Women Do Together, when women gather – whether for work, play or support – magic things happen. Here are some conversation starters for your next coven… we mean, book club meeting.

Discussion points and questions

• For whomever selected this title: what attracted you to this book?
• Sam combines historical, contemporary and personal examples in most chapters. Which approach did you find most compelling, or most convincing?
• Sam describes a witch as a woman on the margins who draws power being able to see things clearly with her outsider’s perspective. In what ways can you identify with this statement?
• The ‘Mean Girl’ description of young women has been in common usage across centuries in schoolyards, workplaces and popular culture. How might the rise of women reclaiming the title of Witch soften this stereotype?
• Of the groups described in the book, are there any that you were surprised by, or that you are more interested in now than before you read the book?
• If you were to suggest a new chapter for this book, what group do you think the author should explore and discuss?