Review of Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
I first became interested in this book due to the simply awesome title! I began reading a sample and I feel in love with the writing style and language. I was hooked. It was a fast read, I read this book in about 2 days. The Forest of Hands and teeth is very striking and visual, and the author paints a good portrait of how people would feel growing up in a world filled with imprisoning, “safety,” and threats and constant fear, of basically having no hope and no real choice or freedom. I think the author's creation of the Sisterhood was interested and I wished to see a bit more of it mentioned in the book. In fact I feel that there is about a hundred pages missing from the book. I think the author should have explored the secrets of the Sisterhood more, and that there should have been a slow, steady, build up of tension before the Unconsecrated returned. I feel that the story ended abruptly and left with too many unanswered questions, and left me wanting more. I wonder if some of these questions will be explored and answered in the next few books in the series. I might have to read them as well. I also feel that the author did a good job with character development, and how the crisis in the book changed the people though she could have explored it a bit more and went a bit deeper. The Heroine of the book, Mary seems like mostly a stagnant character, I wish her character wasn't so one sided.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Help Kathryn Stockett
The Help
Kathryn Stockett
Four Stars
This book is a very fast, easy and entertaining read. It offers a unique, voice or three actually and an interesting perception, one you may have not considered. This book is humorous, heart warming and heart breaking through not terribly groundbreaking but definitely worth the read. I like how the story was told from three different perspectives, though they were a bit stereotypical and predictable. Though you liked the character you didn't really get the full depth of them. It dealt with a heavy subject lightly, but made it digestible to a larger audience.
Kathryn Stockett
Four Stars
This book is a very fast, easy and entertaining read. It offers a unique, voice or three actually and an interesting perception, one you may have not considered. This book is humorous, heart warming and heart breaking through not terribly groundbreaking but definitely worth the read. I like how the story was told from three different perspectives, though they were a bit stereotypical and predictable. Though you liked the character you didn't really get the full depth of them. It dealt with a heavy subject lightly, but made it digestible to a larger audience.
Review of Goddess is in the Details by Deborah Blake
Review of Goddess is in the Details by Deborah Blake
3 stars
Reading this book is like sitting down in a cozy kitchen, or at a table in your local Pagan shop with a cup of tea in hand and talking to both a friendly and knowledgeable contemporary discussing the questions and concerns not addressed in typical Wicca 101 books. The style of writing flows easy like a conversation and is easy to read and understand with quite a lot of humor thrown in there even though some of it seems a bit forced.
This book covers a wide range of topics from affirmations, ethics, the power of words, to how to deal with non-Pagan spouses, how to raise children, coven dynamics, rites of passage and many others. I found her chapters on rites of passage and coven dynamics quite informative and interesting. It really tries to help logically and judgmentally help you answer how to be a Witch everyday and in every way possible. It does not go into grave details into any of these topics but gives you a good advice and starting point to begin thinking about these topics. Almost every chapter ends with asking you to pause and really think about what this or that topic means to you and would make a great journaling opportunity. In fact, this book would be a great book to read and work through with a book club or a circle. You could have people journal the questions asked at the end of the chapters and could share you answers creating a wonderfully open dialog, where advice could be shared and a different perception gained.
The enthusiastic, approachable writing style of the author gives you the sense that she has thought long and hard about the subjects and has personally experienced these situations. You get a sense of almost a two way conversation, a question and answer period, an open discussion. The advice given and questions asked are good, and she always makes sure to reaffirm that she is not all knowing and that the reader should think for themselves, but I would have liked for the author to go into more depth on these subjects and would have liked to hear more personal opinions and specific instances. The book however does include gives many other resources in which the readers may turn to for more in depth information.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and worked through a few 101 books and is asking the bigger questions and really wondering how logistically and spiritually live as Pagan, a Wiccan, and/or a Witch
Available in Paperback, and Kindle editions.
3 stars
Reading this book is like sitting down in a cozy kitchen, or at a table in your local Pagan shop with a cup of tea in hand and talking to both a friendly and knowledgeable contemporary discussing the questions and concerns not addressed in typical Wicca 101 books. The style of writing flows easy like a conversation and is easy to read and understand with quite a lot of humor thrown in there even though some of it seems a bit forced.
This book covers a wide range of topics from affirmations, ethics, the power of words, to how to deal with non-Pagan spouses, how to raise children, coven dynamics, rites of passage and many others. I found her chapters on rites of passage and coven dynamics quite informative and interesting. It really tries to help logically and judgmentally help you answer how to be a Witch everyday and in every way possible. It does not go into grave details into any of these topics but gives you a good advice and starting point to begin thinking about these topics. Almost every chapter ends with asking you to pause and really think about what this or that topic means to you and would make a great journaling opportunity. In fact, this book would be a great book to read and work through with a book club or a circle. You could have people journal the questions asked at the end of the chapters and could share you answers creating a wonderfully open dialog, where advice could be shared and a different perception gained.
The enthusiastic, approachable writing style of the author gives you the sense that she has thought long and hard about the subjects and has personally experienced these situations. You get a sense of almost a two way conversation, a question and answer period, an open discussion. The advice given and questions asked are good, and she always makes sure to reaffirm that she is not all knowing and that the reader should think for themselves, but I would have liked for the author to go into more depth on these subjects and would have liked to hear more personal opinions and specific instances. The book however does include gives many other resources in which the readers may turn to for more in depth information.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has read and worked through a few 101 books and is asking the bigger questions and really wondering how logistically and spiritually live as Pagan, a Wiccan, and/or a Witch
Available in Paperback, and Kindle editions.
Brigid Goddess, Druidess and Saint Brian Wright
Brigid
Goddess, Druidess and Saint
Brian Wright
Four stars
I started this book as part of a daily devotion to the Goddess Brighid, and as part of celebrating Imbolc. I found this book to be a very good resource for information and well worth the read if you have interest in the Goddess and/or saint Brighid. I will warn you however that reading this book can be downright painful, it is written in a very dry, scholarly technical, style, reminiscence of college textbooks. This is probably due to the fact that it is written by an archaeologist, folklore historian and lecturer. This book may not be what the reader expects, it is not a book of prayers or rituals dedicated to the Goddess or Saint Brighid, it is not a New Age, or Wicca book on the subject, it is not written by a dedicant of her, it is instead a very serious, scholarly exploration of Brighid. The first chapter focuses on Brigantia and her possible connection to Brighid and how Brighid, was “conceived,'. The second chapter focuses on druidism and how Brighid went from Goddess to saint and explores the possible hows and whys. The rest of the book focuses on her temples, their locations, their layout, what may have been done there, her other names, her attributes, her relics, her feast day, her connections with nature, her folk traditions, how she was seen and celebrated in other countries, etc. The book has a lot of information crammed into it, most subjects are covered in great depth, while a few other left you wanting for more. I think this book ended abruptly and without a real conclusion and I feel the subject of how Brighid is seen and celebrated in modern society should have been covered more in depth.
This book contains as many photos and drawings, historical quotes, prayers, references etc. but surprisingly what it does not contain is any footnotes, works cited, or biblogr1aphy, instead it includes a five page “Further Reading” sections that would be impossible to navigate or really use if one wanted to find or verify his sources!
I do recommend this book to anyone interested on Brighid it is a great resources, just read it slowly and in digestible bites. Take notes, visualize open your minds to the insight this book offers, you may find that your learn something new and useful that you can add to your spiritual practice.
This book is available in paperback, Kindle and Nook.
Goddess, Druidess and Saint
Brian Wright
Four stars
I started this book as part of a daily devotion to the Goddess Brighid, and as part of celebrating Imbolc. I found this book to be a very good resource for information and well worth the read if you have interest in the Goddess and/or saint Brighid. I will warn you however that reading this book can be downright painful, it is written in a very dry, scholarly technical, style, reminiscence of college textbooks. This is probably due to the fact that it is written by an archaeologist, folklore historian and lecturer. This book may not be what the reader expects, it is not a book of prayers or rituals dedicated to the Goddess or Saint Brighid, it is not a New Age, or Wicca book on the subject, it is not written by a dedicant of her, it is instead a very serious, scholarly exploration of Brighid. The first chapter focuses on Brigantia and her possible connection to Brighid and how Brighid, was “conceived,'. The second chapter focuses on druidism and how Brighid went from Goddess to saint and explores the possible hows and whys. The rest of the book focuses on her temples, their locations, their layout, what may have been done there, her other names, her attributes, her relics, her feast day, her connections with nature, her folk traditions, how she was seen and celebrated in other countries, etc. The book has a lot of information crammed into it, most subjects are covered in great depth, while a few other left you wanting for more. I think this book ended abruptly and without a real conclusion and I feel the subject of how Brighid is seen and celebrated in modern society should have been covered more in depth.
This book contains as many photos and drawings, historical quotes, prayers, references etc. but surprisingly what it does not contain is any footnotes, works cited, or biblogr1aphy, instead it includes a five page “Further Reading” sections that would be impossible to navigate or really use if one wanted to find or verify his sources!
I do recommend this book to anyone interested on Brighid it is a great resources, just read it slowly and in digestible bites. Take notes, visualize open your minds to the insight this book offers, you may find that your learn something new and useful that you can add to your spiritual practice.
This book is available in paperback, Kindle and Nook.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
21st Century Wicca, Jennifer Hunter
5 stars
I received this book as a Yule gift when I was 16 or 17 years old and I found it very helpful in my spiritual practice. It is a very straight forward, concise and condensed book, it includes various practical, basic exercises that every witch needs to know. It also contained much of the basic Wicca 101 stuff but with one of the better more practical chapters on Sabbats, in a Wicca 101 book that I have ever read. It also included bits of interview with Pagans and witches the age this book is aimed at teenage to college students. This book is a serious book for serious students, it is not a spellbook/cookbook with the mix these ingredients, at this time, say these words for this purpose type of book. Instead it is presented like a workshop or class with an instructor with very easy to read and understand words but who knows how to talk to teenage-college students without dumbing things down or being condescending. This is a book i highly recommend for newbies, teenager, college students and even concerned parents who may be worried about what exactly their kids have gotten into. I have borrowed, lost and re-bought this book several times over the years. I have even insured that it found a home in the community library.
http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Wicca-Magical-Citadel/dp/0806518871/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317595&sr=1-1
I received this book as a Yule gift when I was 16 or 17 years old and I found it very helpful in my spiritual practice. It is a very straight forward, concise and condensed book, it includes various practical, basic exercises that every witch needs to know. It also contained much of the basic Wicca 101 stuff but with one of the better more practical chapters on Sabbats, in a Wicca 101 book that I have ever read. It also included bits of interview with Pagans and witches the age this book is aimed at teenage to college students. This book is a serious book for serious students, it is not a spellbook/cookbook with the mix these ingredients, at this time, say these words for this purpose type of book. Instead it is presented like a workshop or class with an instructor with very easy to read and understand words but who knows how to talk to teenage-college students without dumbing things down or being condescending. This is a book i highly recommend for newbies, teenager, college students and even concerned parents who may be worried about what exactly their kids have gotten into. I have borrowed, lost and re-bought this book several times over the years. I have even insured that it found a home in the community library.
http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Wicca-Magical-Citadel/dp/0806518871/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317595&sr=1-1
Practical Solitary Magic Nancy B Watson
5 Stars
This is a book I would highly recommend to any 101 or 202 Craft practitioners. This book is straight forward, and easy to read; it is chopped full of exercises, visualizations, and really good info on the Elements, etc. One of my favorite things about it and why I gave it 5 stars is the fact that it actually explains how and why magick works from a psychological stand point. It is the first i have ever known to bring up the archetypes, affirmations and the bringing together of the higher, middle, and lower self, (though I can't remember if the author called it that or something different.) Though not necessarily a book on magic in a spiritual sense it is an essential read on how to preform magick and why magick works or doesn't.
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Solitary-Magic-Nancy-Watson/dp/0877288747/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317330&sr=1-1
This is a book I would highly recommend to any 101 or 202 Craft practitioners. This book is straight forward, and easy to read; it is chopped full of exercises, visualizations, and really good info on the Elements, etc. One of my favorite things about it and why I gave it 5 stars is the fact that it actually explains how and why magick works from a psychological stand point. It is the first i have ever known to bring up the archetypes, affirmations and the bringing together of the higher, middle, and lower self, (though I can't remember if the author called it that or something different.) Though not necessarily a book on magic in a spiritual sense it is an essential read on how to preform magick and why magick works or doesn't.
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Solitary-Magic-Nancy-Watson/dp/0877288747/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317330&sr=1-1
Everyday Moon Magic Dorothy Morrison
3 stars
This good is one of the best and only book on Moon Magic out there. It not only goes into the Magic that can be done for each individual Moon phases but goes through each calender Moon and gives you info, ideas, and invocations. It also gives you great info on the Moon as it travels through each individual sign, and gardening tips of what to do during these signs. It is easy to read fun and dare I say kind of fluffy but not in a bad way. My only big criticism is the fact that from page 135 to page 256, nearly half the book is a republishing of different spells and rituals that can be found in her book Everyday Magic. This republishing of books is why this book did not get a higher rating from me. I would have liked more in depth info on the Moons, not a collection of spells, it gave the book hurried let's just get this thing published kind of a vibe. I would however still recommend it as a great reference book for anyone wanting to work with the Moon and still like Dorothy Morrison as an author.
http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Moon-Magic-Rituals-Abundant/dp/0738702498/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317158&sr=1-1
This good is one of the best and only book on Moon Magic out there. It not only goes into the Magic that can be done for each individual Moon phases but goes through each calender Moon and gives you info, ideas, and invocations. It also gives you great info on the Moon as it travels through each individual sign, and gardening tips of what to do during these signs. It is easy to read fun and dare I say kind of fluffy but not in a bad way. My only big criticism is the fact that from page 135 to page 256, nearly half the book is a republishing of different spells and rituals that can be found in her book Everyday Magic. This republishing of books is why this book did not get a higher rating from me. I would have liked more in depth info on the Moons, not a collection of spells, it gave the book hurried let's just get this thing published kind of a vibe. I would however still recommend it as a great reference book for anyone wanting to work with the Moon and still like Dorothy Morrison as an author.
http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Moon-Magic-Rituals-Abundant/dp/0738702498/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312317158&sr=1-1
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