There once was a janitor named Jan who worked at a school. He was a hardworking but lonely man. Jan had always dreamed of being transformed into a woman, as he believed it would bring him happiness and fulfillment. Little did he know, his wish was about to come true in the most unexpected way. One day, while cleaning the school's basement, Jan stumbled upon an old dusty book buried beneath a pile of junk. Curiosity got the better of him, and he started flipping through its pages.
The pleasures of Witches occur in quick little bursts of illumination. Federici dips in and out of her famous argument, expanding it, updating it and finding new angles on it. Some essays work better than others. Her exploration of gossip and its criminalization is a stand-out; she traces a concise and damning history of how “ a term commonly indicating a close female friend turned into one signifying idle, backbiting talk,” and how that act of women speaking to each other — often about men, and in a way those men might not like — became punishable by torture and public humiliation, as in the case of the “ scold’s bridle.” This torture device, which was used until the early 1800 s, was a mask with a bit (sometimes lined with spikes) that kept a woman from moving her tongue. Gossips, like witches, were criminalized for being women. Federici is always timely: Today’s “ whisper networks,” in which women share the identities of abusers and harassers to keep each other safe, are gossip too. And, as accused rapist Stephen Elliott’s lawsuit against Moira Donegan and the Shitty Media Men list proves, plenty of men still want gossips hauled into court.
As our last three years have been plagued by Covid, war, the cost of living crisis and tumultuous politics, it s natural we should look to fantasy and witchcraft as escape, she said. The portrayal of witches were considerably dark for a children s book, as they were all guilty of casting harmful spells of children, which included trapping them inside a painting or polymorphing them into animals, especially the ones that their parents hated.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he started flipping through its pages. To his astonishment, the book contained a spell that claimed to grant any wish the reader desired. Jan was both intrigued and skeptical, but decided to give it a try.
Spellbound: why ‘witch lit’ is the hottest new genre on our bookshelves
S omeone, or something, shadowy has put a strong spell on popular literature aimed at women, once cheekily labelled “chick lit”. This perky genre, packaged in bright covers, jauntily titled and so long a mainstay of the publishing industry, has been slowly transforming into something darker and rich with sorcery, with 2023 set to be a new high point in a growing “witch lit” trend.
“Witches are definitely a big thing, which is exciting and fun,” said Phoebe Morgan, a publisher at Hodder Fiction, “but it also has something to do with a sense that women’s rights are in danger of being stripped away again, with things like the overturning of Roe v Wade in America. These books are often concerned with pregnancy, abortion and abuse, as well as magic.”
Several big forthcoming titles in the adult women’s market are concerned with witches and witchcraft, with female persecution developing as a main theme. Next month, Emilia Hart’s much-heralded Weyward will hit bookshops, telling an epic story of three generations of women entangled with magic. But space around the bubbling cauldron is already crowded. Kirsty Logan’s Now She Is Witch will already have staked its place, with publication this week.
Now She Is Witch by Kirsty Logan comes out next week.
Morgan suspects the historical side of the trend offers escape, as well as a form of explanation. “We often try to explain the present by looking to the past.As our last three years have been plagued by Covid, war, the cost of living crisis and tumultuous politics, it’s natural we should look to fantasy and witchcraft as escape,” she said.
“There are also interesting ideas around witch-hunts in the modern day, the kind that play out on social media – in the past, women were burned at the stake but now it is trial by Twitter.”
Later in the year comes Margaret Meyer’s The Witching Tide, from Phoenix. Set in East Anglia in 1645, it tells of a mute midwife and healer who becomes silent witness to a witch-hunt, led by a sinister new arrival in her village. The theme will be picked up again in Stacey Thomas’s The Revels, about a witchfinder general, and June promises a chill wind when Penguin publishes Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs. With a publicity slogan warning that “some books should never be opened”, it follows a family who must guard a trove of deadly magic books, keeping them safe from a malevolent organisation.
Popular women’s literature has been growing darker for some time, with a surge in historical mystery, vampires, ghosts and the occult, jointly termed “goth lit”. But lots of writers, largely women, are now focusing on stories of marginalised women with hidden powers, the kind of female traditionally hunted down or isolated, in what amounts to a covert cultural move to reclaim the derogatory word “witch”. A scroll through TikTok under the Witchtok hashtag makes the point.
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Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs.
The cover art for these titles is suitably dark and sinister. Intricate cobwebs, feathers, leafless tree silhouettes on backgrounds of dark green or blood red are the hallmarks. “These are often more literary titles that are destined for the big bookshop chains rather than supermarket shelves, and these covers are designed for those customers,” said Morgan.
Taking this cue, the witchcraft at work in Shakespeare’s Macbeth has inspired Kate Hodges’s The Weyward Sisters, published in August by Hodder & Stoughton. Set in the 18th century, it retells the tale of the play’s three witches and begins with a female astronomer meeting three strange old women in Inverness, having been invited there by a Shakespeare scholar to research a possible connection between Shakespeare and the stars.
Staying in Scotland, the Hodder & Stoughton author CS Robertson’s The Trials of Marjorie Crowe will investigate the case of an eccentric woman falsely blamed for the hanging of a young boy.
Female sorcery has been a lively area of young adult literature for decades and this part of the market still bristles with witches’ hats and curses. April sees the arrival of Terry J Benton-Walker’s Blood Debts, a fantasy told from the perspective of two black teenagers dealing with their family’s past and a troubled world of white privilege sprinkled with chaotic magic.
With shaky hands, he recited the incantation written in the book. A gust of wind swept through the basement, and Jan felt a strange tingling sensation in his body. Within seconds, his figure began to change. He watched in awe as his limbs grew slender, his hair lengthened, and his voice became softer. Before he knew it, Jan had been transformed into a woman. In the beginning, Jan struggled to come to terms with his newfound identity. He faced numerous challenges as he adjusted to life as a woman. For instance, he had to navigate the complexities of wearing dresses, applying makeup, and dealing with societal expectations. However, with time, Jan grew more comfortable in his new skin. As a woman, Jan discovered a newfound confidence within herself. She realized that her worth was not defined by her gender but by her unique qualities and strengths. Jan became an inspiration to those around her, as she fearlessly pursued her dreams and broke societal barriers. She proved that it's never too late to embrace change and start anew. Jan's transformation also led to unexpected friendships and opportunities. She found herself surrounded by a supportive community that admired her courage and resilience. Through her experiences, Jan became an advocate for gender equality and empowered others to embrace their true selves. In the end, the witch who had inadvertently granted Jan's wish appeared once again. She explained that Jan's transformation was a test of character, and he had passed with flying colors. With a smile, the witch disappeared, leaving Jan to continue her journey as a woman. The story of Jan's transformation from janitor to woman is a reminder that sometimes, the path to self-discovery can be filled with unexpected twists and turns. It teaches us the importance of embracing change, being true to ourselves, and standing up for what we believe in. Jan's story serves as a reminder to never underestimate the power of transformation and the potential that lies within each and every one of us..
Reviews for "The Witch's Potion: Jan's Amazing Gender Change Story"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars - I found "Witch turns jan into woman" to be a highly disappointing read. The plot was weak and lacked substance, the characters were poorly developed, and the writing style was dull and uninspiring. The author's attempt at creating a magical and compelling story fell flat, leaving me wanting more. Overall, I cannot recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and captivating read.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars - "Witch turns jan into woman" had an interesting premise, but the execution fell short for me. The storyline felt rushed and disjointed, with little explanation or depth given to the magical elements. The characters lacked depth and I couldn't connect with any of them. Additionally, the writing style was average at best, and I found myself getting bored and disengaged as I progressed through the book. Overall, I was disappointed with this read and wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Sarah Johnson - 2/5 stars - Although "Witch turns jan into woman" had a unique concept, I found the execution to be underwhelming. The plot had potential, but it was poorly developed and lacked coherence. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to become invested in their journey. Additionally, the writing style was inconsistent, with awkward dialogue and excessive descriptive passages. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and would not recommend this novel to others.