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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A basic bibliography of modern pagan witchcraft, November 12, 2001
This review is from: The Well-Read Witch (Paperback)
In this book Carl McColman has attempted to assemble a basic list of books which belong in the magickal library of every Wiccan or other modern witch. While he has included some books that I would have left out, and he has left out books that I would have included, on the whole, I would say that he has succeeded in his aim. I had always considered my personal magickal library to be fairly complete (absent those hard-to-locate or out-of-print books currently on my 'want' list,) but McColman's book suggested a number of other works I had not previously thought I needed to have on my shelves. The book is divided into a number of sections and chapters. The initial section is introudctory: in it McColman discusses why he assembled the book, and how he perceives the importance of books to modern magickal practice. He also includes a chapter on how to read and think critically: a skill which these days seems to receive all too little emphasis in the Craft community. The meat of the book are the 31 chapters wherein McColman makes recommendations about specific books. The books he recommends are listed by title and by the author's name, and each listing is acompnied by one or two paragraphs explaining why McColman thinks the book important. The initial chapters cover introductory, intermediate, and advanced works on Wicca and paganism. These are then followed by chapters on a wide range of more specific topics. The last two chapters include a chapter on how to locate out-of-print books, and a chapter about useful Wiccan and pagan sites on the World-Wide Web. (In all honesty, it should be noted here that your reviewer is the High Priest of a coven whose Web site is listed in the book. Your reviewer discovered this fact only AFTER he had purchased the book.) The book ends with a complete listing of all of the books recommended, ordered alphabetically by author with full bibliographical information, and an index. On the whole, I would recommend McColman's book as a good starting point for anyone seeking to assemble a serious magickal library.
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a wonderful intro. into the world of pagan books, November 21, 2001
This review is from: The Well-Read Witch (Paperback)
first off i must be honest.....I have read this book (i have a funny ethical criteria that says i must read a book before i review it), i've not only read this book, i was honored to proofread the manuscript before it went to print. Carl McColman gives the reader a flavorful banquet of reading pleasures, all geared to furthering you along your pagan path. However, what i appreciated the most was his honesty that this book presents his opinions and his opinions only. He presents them to us, the readers, as his thoughts and views based on his many many years in the pagan movement, both as a practicioner and as one of its scholars. But he does not talk down to his readers, nor does he pretend to have more knowledge about which books are essential and which are not. He merely offers his opinion....and oh, what a joy to find someone with an educated opinion. This book will be a joy for you to read, engage with, disagree with, etcetc. In whatever way you engage with this book, you will walk away with more knowledge that you did before about what wonderful books are out there to help us on our paths. one note of caution......after reading this, you will probably find yourself with a whole list of books that you'll want to run out and find! Not because he says you "have" to read "this one, or that one", but for no other reason that because you'll find books you didn't know existed and that will blend with where you are on your journey. Happy reading and traveling!
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
To buy or not to buy...., February 9, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: The Well-Read Witch (Paperback)
When I first came across this book I was actually going through an Amazon.com search covering most of the topics in McColman's book. So then I thought: "Great, I'll just buy this book and it'll save me all the work!" Or so I thought... While the author does do a great job in creating a general outline of books on several topics worth reading, I also thought that there were a few books worth mentioning that he missed, and was surprised that he had missed. Yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinions on what books are "essential" for the craft, but after buying this book, I think I have more luck just looking through search engines or browsing the New Age/Witchcraft section of the bookstore. Save the money, or don't, it's really up to you. Sometimes I'm glad to have the intial reference of books to look out for, but most of the time I wish I would've saved the money to buy another book; usually one not included in this one.
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