11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One great story, two good, several blah, June 16, 2003
This review is from: Words of the Witches (Mass Market Paperback)
"Words of the Witches" is highly uneven, but when it's good, it's very, very good.
I bought this book primarily because of Rosemary Edghill's contribution. I really like her Bast character, and her story "The Iron Bride," which is a short Bast mystery, was included here. This is by far the best story in the collection, showing wicked humor, vivid characterizations, and a very complex problem.
The problem is this (and it's how this book relates, btw, to the rest of the collection): Bast is a third-level initiate. She really needs to start her own coven, but does not want to do so. The mystery she solves basically tells her in not so many words that it's time to do so, whether she wants to or not.
Bast's problem is a realistic one, and it's presented with both accuracy and humor. In addition, the fact that Bast is extremely smart and hasn't really found a man up to her intellectual weight is one of the biggest points in Bast's favor. That, too, is very realistic, as Wiccans and NeoPagans of all stripes tend to be smarter than average, but there _is_ still a range.
Basically, the rest of the collection shows Pagans in favorable lights. Only one or two men have strong parts to play; one is a divorced father, the other is a dying soon-to-be father. The reviewer who pointed out the absence of males in this book makes a very, very good point.
The three best stories are Ms. Edghill's, where the men aren't as important as Bast (and rightfully so! She's the point of view character, and once again makes a big point out of not finding anyone for her yet), Ms. Vaughn's "A Solitary Path," where the heroine, Tobi, basically makes a sort of soul connection with a dream creation that may or may not be real, and would rather wait for someone that does at least that much for her, and the romance "The Spelling Error" by Jen Sokolowski (that's the one featuring the divorced father).
There are several other good stories here, but they vary a lot, and aren't evenly paced. "Psyche's Tears" was pretty good, but I didn't totally buy the transformation from the vivid Desdemona to the rather pallid denise, and I really didn't buy the POV character's all of a sudden acceptance of Denise, either. The Gypsy story, "Tamborine Moon," was also good, but had a few problems. The biggest is the last line; it makes no sense, and should have either been struck in editing, or modified somehow to make it fit with the rest of the story. Also, I had a problem with the premise. After the whole story makes a point about how alienated the Gypsy mother is from her two grown daughters, all of a sudden _one_ of them is going to take to her Craft? Not likely!
Then, the biggest problematic story in the collection came from the heaviest hitter (sales wise; trust me, the heaviest hitter author wise was Ms. Edghill), Maggie Shayne. Her story, "Anytown U.S.A.," did have some things to recommend it. It flowed well and easily. I liked the teenage girl witches. I liked the older woman witch.
But as another reviewer said, the minister's wife, who also happened to be a witch in the "broom closet," didn't come off. Her husband was way too stereotypical, and very, very nasty. Also, if he _was_ so abusive, why in the world would the woman want to do something like she does (basically stops an assembly from rioting, and admits she's a witch, which stuns them all)? Even if she never goes home again, he could go and find her and kill her.
That's the problem with making the husband an abuser. You get it all; the abusive mindset on his part, and the cowed, abjective one on hers. Trust me; the minister's wife would _not_ act like this in real life. At best, she'd stand with someone else after _they_ admitted they were a witch, like when the Principal comes up to show solidarity. (If Shayne had shown the Principal as a witch in hiding, and then the minister's wife came out of hiding after a policeman also came out of the "broom closet," then maybe I'd understand the presmise.)
And her husband would not leave her alone; he's an abuser, and he's not tired of her yet. So, her shaking her head "no" on the stage to him would do nothing more than enrage him.
So, despite it being a well-written story, that huge, huge plot hole ruined it for me.
At any rate, Ms. Edghill's story is 5 stars plus; Ms. Vaughn's is just under 5 stars; Ms. Sokolowski's is 4.5 stars. Ms. Shayne's would be 2 stars, at best. The rest were in the middle.
Because the three stories I mentioned first are so very, very good, I'd rather rate this anthology on the high end, which is why I gave it four stars in the first place.
Btw, some reviewers have pointed out this book shows a whole lot of basics for novice witches. That's almost certainly true. Still, think about all the people that might read this book, from the fans of Ms. Edghill to the fans of Maggie Shayne. Not all of them have any idea what NeoPagans or Wiccans are about. Some of that needed to be in here. Maybe not as much from each author (I was very glad that two of the three stories I mentioned as my favorites didn't have those components), but it did need to be in the collection.
Some of the folks that read this book are certainly in the "broom closet," or at least want to understand friends of theirs (or family members) that are NeoPagans and/or Wiccans. This book should definitely help in that regard, as it shows that Wiccans are the same in most regards as anyone else.
As I've said elsewhere recently, I don't really understand why so many people get hyped on what "flavor" your religion is. So long as you have a pure heart, and care about others, and follow either "Love One Another" or "Do as Ye Will, An Ye Harm None," I can't see that the Deity above us all will care whatsoever.
Books like this are important, because hopefully it'll change some ignorant people's perceptions. And most of the stories are good; a few are exceptional.
I'd definitely recommend this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An entertaining eclectic blend, September 27, 2002
This review is from: Words of the Witches (Mass Market Paperback)
It's difficult for me to find much time to read these days and when I finally get a chance I'm likely to reach for something that's brain candy as opposed to real study material. Not that I don't want the chance to do some serious reading . . . but when it gets late I've got a limited amount of absorption ability left.
That's why it was such a pleasure to read "Words of the Witches," a new anthology edited by Yvonne Jocks. There are a dozen short works of fiction in this book by authors such as Lorna Tedder, Maggie Shayne, Zelena Winters, and Rosemary Edghill. Additionally, there are 9 meditations, spells, recipes, or invocations sprinkled throughout.
The tales are diverse and unfold from a sweet tale of cross-cultural acceptance to a somber story of what happens when you meddle in practices beyond your knowledge or ability. There are love stories, family tales, what-ifs, theoretical physics, and a wide range of traditions and practices all deftly handled in this collection.
Several of the stories brought tears to my eyes. Several more got me doing some cross-checking about trads I was unfamiliar with.
Jen Sokolski's "The Spelling Error" is just perfect in every way. Who knew that a teenager's spell could have such wonderfully far-reaching consequences?
Make sure you have tissues available while reading "A Reverence for Trees" by Lorna Tedder. She deftly handles the themes of guilt, remorse, fear, and letting go.
Of particular interest to me was the last story in the book, "The Iron Bride" by Rosemary Edghill. It's another installment of her wonderful Bast murder mysteries. For those that have never read any of the Bast books, I highly recommend them for a remarkable look at the pagan scene in NYC during the late 1970's.
I found myself sneaking this book around with me so I could read it whenever I got a moment to spare. While water was boiling, at a doctor's appointment, while waiting on hold on the phone. You'll want to go back and reread sections and, if you're new to the pagan path, will most likely be intrigued by the how-to additions as well.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
