Madame Pele: True Encounters With Hawaii's Fire Goddess [Paperback]

Rick Carroll (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2003

In these stories from twenty-three contributors, Pele takes a variety of forms: a four-year-old sees a "lady in a crimson dress"; others see lights or simply feel a presence; drivers pick up hitchhikers - old women, young women - who mysteriously disappear. Pele announces a birth, commemorates a death, issue warnings, deliver blessings and curses. Is she a spirit, a legend or a reality? It's up to you to decide.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Bess Press (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157306145X
• ISBN-13: 978-1573061452
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "I Follow My Own Laws" ~ The Goddess Walks Amongst Us, March 26, 2006

By 

Brian E. Erland "Rainbow Sphinx" (Brea, CA - USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madame Pele: True Encounters With Hawaii's Fire Goddess (Paperback)

'Madame Pele' is a delightful and at times disquieting collection of 29 accounts by 23 contributors attesting to true encounters with the infamous Hawaiian volcano Goddess, Madame Pele. Peter Carroll has done us all a valuable service by putting these fascinating tales in one collection, organizing and categorizing them into four chapters, or sections. They are: 'On the Big Island', 'On Other Islands', 'Hitchhiking' and 'Pele's Rocks.'

The longest section and my favorite of the four is; 'On the Big Island.' It's here on the big island of Hawaii that we find the last active volcano on the islands and it's here that the Goddess is most powerful and most apt to make an appearance. My favorite encounter experience is found in this section. It's titled quite simply and appropriately, 'Pele'.

Pele can appear almost anywhere, but she does seem to frequent some particular spots more than others. She also has a number of different forms to chose from. She may present herself as a beautiful young woman, or an old hag. Pele also has a fondness for either long red, or white dresses depending on her mood.

Each account is no more than four or five pages long so if you come upon a particular tale that doesn't capture your interest don't worry, it will only take a second to work your way to one more desirable. However I recommend you read them all just to gain the full impact and depth of the Pele experience.

'Madame Pele' is only 114 pages in length making it not only a very easy read, but a quick one as well. If you're looking for something to take on vacation to read this is the perfect book, especially if you happen to be heading for Hawaii. If Hawaii is your destination that be sure to read this book first and make sure you remember not to pick up any lava rocks while you're there.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An anthology of personal testimonies from 23 authors, January 11, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Madame Pele: True Encounters With Hawaii's Fire Goddess (Paperback)

Madam Pele: True Encounters with Hawaii's Fire Goddess is an anthology of personal testimonies from twenty-three authors concerning Hawaii's legendary fire goddess. Pele's form changes in response to the perspectives of those who claim to have seen her, and it is left to the reader to sort through myth, exaggeration, legend, and reality in this marvellous and exciting anthology. Truly fun to read for the thrill of recounting modern-day testimony of meeting a goddess, Madam Pele is an excellent addition to folklore and fable shelves.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think she's just a symbol? Think again., February 25, 2005

By 

Jesse D. Watson (North Dakota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Madame Pele: True Encounters With Hawaii's Fire Goddess (Paperback)

I admit that "True Encounters with Hawai'i's Fire Goddess" is a bit of a shocker for a subtitle. How can one verify that these tales are true? They're of a personal flair. The fervency with which the writers speak is obvious. Perhaps that's not something that can be faked. The tales also smack of truth to me, someone who has studied mythology and doesn't believe it's merely "myth". It is not a book of fact, however. It's a book of story.

The compiler himself, Rick Carroll, reveals background information and tells of a personal encounter himself, and they're a good addition to the group.

A few of the stories seem out of character for Pele, being downright scary (although, as one writer quotes, "Fear only living spirits; dead ones can do you no harm," and I believe that); and Pele my prank on occassion, but she never sets out to freak the refuse out of anyone. I can't help but think their inclusion misrepresents Pele, but they're very interesting nonetheless, and I'm pleased to have read them.

If you're interested in the topic, this anthology is worth getting. I intellectually devoured it in one sitting, and I'm hungry for more information on Pele. There isn't much else like it that I've come across, at least not having to do with Pele. Luckily, there's a suggested reading list at the back.

I hope to meet Pele myself, as I'll be a student on the Big Island of Hawai'i this fall, attending the University for a few years. If you should have your own encounter, respect her (it) in every way possible. She may be used as a metaphor to represent a force of nature, but she *is* a force of nature herself, under God, and deserves to be greatly honored and treated as such. Scorn her, and you'll invoke not only her wrath but the wrath of the Creator.