Customer Reviews

The Book of Shadows : The Unofficial Charmed Companion

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

To the practitioners of witchcraft and the followers of the religion known as Wicca, the phrase "Book of Shadows" refers to a journal of sorts. Traditionally, a "Book of Shadows" is a blank book that is gradually filled up with spells, meditations, ideas and notes on "The Craft". The creators and writers of the tv show "Charmed" use "The Book of Shadows as more of a spell book, but also as a way for the Halliwell sisters to grasp how they came to be endowed with special powers and how their ancestral female family members dealt with the supernatural. Author N.E. Genge combines these ideas to make a fun and knowledge-filled book. Although billed as "The Unofficial `Charmed' Companion", this is no lightweight script adaptation or silly "Behind the Scenes" look at what Alyssa Milano likes to eat for breakfast. Instead, the first section concentrates on what a beginner or teen witch needs to have as she takes the first steps on her path of learning. The first chapter entitled "The Witches Chest", touches upon the meaning and power of many different items-herbs, gems and crystals, even everyday stuff like paper and ink. Did you know you could use hair ribbons to bind people or parts of a spell together? The second chapter, "The Witches Place", deals more with the actual altar, the private area where a witch works. Sacred items such as the athame and cauldron and their various uses in spell craft are explained. Some beginning spells are also given, like ones to protect a house and to make you or a friend more lovable. But Genge is definitely all about the learning--trying to give just a taste of arcane knowledge to the readers. The point is made many times that a teen or someone who only recently got interested in witchcraft and Wicca (especially someone who heard about it on "Charmed") needs to explore, to do research, rather than rush in and experiment with things they don't understand. Throughout these lessons, there are little notes about the show, as well as about different terms used, kind of like Wicca "Pop-Up Video" facts. Genge also poses questions for the young witch to ponder as she learns more about herself and the old ways. The second section of the book is a detailed guide to the series "Charmed". Genge gives a key to each episode, including its title, guest stars and writers, as well as a short plot synopsis of each. Then the author does something interesting-asks the reader to be an "Observant Witch". "Magical Notes" are given on the supernatural significance of each episode, as well as what traditions are being explored and which stories came out of legends and myths. Readers are asked to view each show through eyes of someone who practices "The Craft" and try to hone their awareness of the many levels of the world. Again, questions are asked and ideas are brought up, as study points for the newly initiated. This "Book of Shadows" even goes so far as to have a section of bloopers where dedicated "Charmed" fans can see how close they truly are watching. It truly is a good starting off place for a teen interested in the finding out more about "That Old-Time Religion".

I love the show Charmed which is why i bought this book, only afterwards i descovered that it wasnt what i expected it to be. This is what i was expecting: Episode guide, charector pages, behind the scenes, pictures ect. The episode guide is there, but thats about all, the rest is about spells and been a wican, so if your in to that, this is great for you and you dont even need to be a fan of the show, but if your a fan who is not in to doing the sisters activities, dont expect to get a whole lot out of the book. If you realy want an episode guide, get it anyway as its realy good, you might also get swung towards your wican ways!

I just bought this book and it is very interesting. The Book of Shadows book gives alot of insight to the Wiccan Ways and "Charmed". If you believe or do not believe in "magic" but like Charmed, this would be a book for you. I have just read certain sections of the book already but from what I have read I have liked. I highly recommend this book to all!

I bought this book, because of its title and was really disappointed. I assumed that it would be about "charmed" as it's tille suggests "Charmed companion guide" But I was seriously wrong. I know many of You are interested in being a wiccan like the Halliwell Sisters, I am not, i just enjoy the show, and was completly uninterested in the book, execpt for the last like 20 pages, where the episode guide is. I Think the book makes fun of "Charmed", For not being completly realilstic in the magic but made fun of the actresses, and had only negative things to say about the show. However if your into witchcraft then this is a practical book, but otherwise save your money. They shouldn't have misleading titles on stuff.

Like everyone else when I bought this book I thought it was all about Charmed. When I got home and realized that most of it was acually about how to be wiccan I was shocked, and hid it right away from my parents. Even though I dont plan on becoming a 'witch' it was pretty neat to learn all about the diffferent herbs, tools etc. If you are looking for just a charmed book with nothng else but stuff about the show, then I suggest the official companion. However, this book is a great little add on to any collection, and its cool to know how the pointy hats and brooms acually came about.

I am a die hard Charmed fan and my daughter has recently through re-runs caught the bug,so I ordered this book for her birthday assuming it would be like the "Book of Shadows" on the show. I expected pictures and descriptions of demons and things and the spells they'd cast on the show. It did have some of the spells, and a lot of information on the wiccan religion but, not a demon or ghost in sight. While I find wicca interesting if I wanted a book about it I'd have ordered one on the subject. In it's favor if your'e interested in the craft or in behind the scenes information on the show you'd like the book but, it's not the companion book the title suggests.

This book is not for Charmed fans. It knocks all the little things wrong on set that you may not have noticed and would rather not. You would think a book of this title would be more positive but this book points out things that went wrong on set such as missing items (jackets, purses, etc.)and it talks about how "real witches" aren't like the ones on Charmed. Hello, can you say fiction? So if you are looking for something that knocks the show you will love the book but if you are a true Charmed fan, you will find it offensive.

I expected more information pertaining to the TV series, Charmed. This book is interesting, yet not entirely consistent with the TV series, as I had hoped. I find the show entertaining - as it claims on the commercials, takes you away for an hour. Although I believe to some degree that witchcraft is a viable practice, I was interested in the entertainment value of a book that strictly adhered to the series use of it.

The book was more about wicca then the actually show. I bought it because I thought it was more show oriented. If wicca doesn't interest you I wouldn't buy it.

This book offers much insight into the show and gets into the wicca connection to the show. It explores spells and potions and how to use the basics of wicca knowledge to create your own supplies and set up.