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Janeeny (200 KP) rated Making Magic in Books
May 16, 2019
I receivef an ARV of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
As a Pagan, and a dabbler in Wicca I’m always keen to learn other forms of practice and sometimes pick up other things to use in my rituals. So I was keen to read 'Making Magic' as the blurb sets it as “welcoming guide to accessing your magic and creating a spiritual path that is all your own”
It does just that, each chapter talks about an aspect of magic and gives you an idea and an example of ritual.
The concept isn’t anything new, but the rituals are pared down to the very basics. although it does suggest using certain talismans and trinkets they are not necesarry and each ritual can be brought right back down to nature. That was actually what I liked most about this book, the very basic nature of the rituals.
Most other books on practicing Paganism talk about ‘summoning your circle' or 'calling the corners', for someone like me that sometimes struggles with this kind of visualisation I was quite pleased to see that the ritual preperations in this book were just two cleansing breaths; In and Out. This is something which I shall definitly be adding to my own little pot pourri of paganism.
As a Pagan, and a dabbler in Wicca I’m always keen to learn other forms of practice and sometimes pick up other things to use in my rituals. So I was keen to read 'Making Magic' as the blurb sets it as “welcoming guide to accessing your magic and creating a spiritual path that is all your own”
It does just that, each chapter talks about an aspect of magic and gives you an idea and an example of ritual.
The concept isn’t anything new, but the rituals are pared down to the very basics. although it does suggest using certain talismans and trinkets they are not necesarry and each ritual can be brought right back down to nature. That was actually what I liked most about this book, the very basic nature of the rituals.
Most other books on practicing Paganism talk about ‘summoning your circle' or 'calling the corners', for someone like me that sometimes struggles with this kind of visualisation I was quite pleased to see that the ritual preperations in this book were just two cleansing breaths; In and Out. This is something which I shall definitly be adding to my own little pot pourri of paganism.
Lumos (380 KP) rated The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet in Books
Jun 8, 2018
Ok.. .I'm going to admit I was a bit bummed my book club chose this as our next read. Sci-fi books have never been my forte.. I just can't seem to understand what is going on. So many scienc-y words and characters with hard to pronounce names.. but, I was very surprised by this book. I listened to the audio book version since I had a few long drives to take. I found myself getting to my destination and sitting in the parking lot waiting for the chapter/ scene to be over. Each character is so unique. Becky Chambers designed each persona in such a beautiful way, you can't help but find yourself getting attached to them. Normally, intergalactic characters are too far out of the world for me to relate to, but I found myself very invested in these characters' backgrounds and relating to them in unexpected ways. I am very eager for our next meeting to see what everyone else got out of the book. If you are like me, and space isn't your thing, I would still recommend you push past the first few chapters. Once you get the background of the first character, I guarantee you will be hooked!
Deborah (162 KP) rated Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death in Books
Dec 19, 2018
First off, I expected this to be a novel, so when I got about 70 pages in and it seemed to be winding up the mystery, I was a bit confused. It's actually a series of 6 stories which are different mysteries that Cannon Sidney Chambers finds himself getting involved in. Also, except for the division into stories, there are no chapter breaks.
Of the six stories here, I thought that some worked better than others. The first ones were a little more genteel whereas the later ones, particularly perhaps the penultimate story, were a little more dark and disturbing.
I'm too young to remember this period, so I can't comment on how accurate it is, but I didn't feel that I got a really strong sense of the period. The geographical setting is mainly around Cambridge, with several jaunts up to London. Perhaps the author thought this was just the sort of thing to appeal to those readers of Agatha Christie, because the solutions to no less than three of her books are revealed here - good job I'd read them already....
Altogether, there's enough going on to sustain the interest and I see that the author is proposing a total of six volumes, taking us right up to the early 1980s.
Of the six stories here, I thought that some worked better than others. The first ones were a little more genteel whereas the later ones, particularly perhaps the penultimate story, were a little more dark and disturbing.
I'm too young to remember this period, so I can't comment on how accurate it is, but I didn't feel that I got a really strong sense of the period. The geographical setting is mainly around Cambridge, with several jaunts up to London. Perhaps the author thought this was just the sort of thing to appeal to those readers of Agatha Christie, because the solutions to no less than three of her books are revealed here - good job I'd read them already....
Altogether, there's enough going on to sustain the interest and I see that the author is proposing a total of six volumes, taking us right up to the early 1980s.
Kate (496 KP) rated Extinction Of All Children (Extinction Of All Children #1) in Books
Jan 22, 2020
I loved this book but didn't realise it was part of a series. I like to have a few books in the series so I can go straight onto the next book if I was as gripped as I was with this book.
I wouldn't normally read this genre but it sounded similar to the hunger games and I really enjoyed those films.
The book gripped me from the first chapter and it got better and better and I couldn't put this down. There were a few mistakes and a few lines that didn't make sense when read as a word was missing but it didn't affect the book at all.
This book made me really invest in the main character. I agreed with her at all stages in the book and I was so invested in her to succeed. I like a book where I am 'in' the book and actually feel like I am part of it.
In my opinion this book is aimed at late teenagers - early teens.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I wouldn't normally read this genre but it sounded similar to the hunger games and I really enjoyed those films.
The book gripped me from the first chapter and it got better and better and I couldn't put this down. There were a few mistakes and a few lines that didn't make sense when read as a word was missing but it didn't affect the book at all.
This book made me really invest in the main character. I agreed with her at all stages in the book and I was so invested in her to succeed. I like a book where I am 'in' the book and actually feel like I am part of it.
In my opinion this book is aimed at late teenagers - early teens.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Tallulah22 (211 KP) rated Then She Was Gone in Books
Jan 8, 2020
This is the first book that I have ever read by Lisa Jewell and I was NOT disappointed. The characters were so well written that I felt what they were feeling and I was going through all of the motions with them. The plot was one that hooked me in straight away and kept me there until the very last sentence.
It was recommended by my mum who wanted someone to talk about the book with after she finished it in a day and it was another day before I was able to join her in conversation.
We both drew the same speculations as we read about what we thought had happened to Ellie and who was involved and these changed with every chapter that we read. Some of mine were a bit more outlandish in my mind but it all came together with bits and pieces of all of our ideas in a perfect culmination.
I felt bad for characters in the end and there were a couple that I despaired over the ending of but it was what needed to happen to them for the book to be as good as it was.
Truly a great read and we are on the look out for more books by this author.
It was recommended by my mum who wanted someone to talk about the book with after she finished it in a day and it was another day before I was able to join her in conversation.
We both drew the same speculations as we read about what we thought had happened to Ellie and who was involved and these changed with every chapter that we read. Some of mine were a bit more outlandish in my mind but it all came together with bits and pieces of all of our ideas in a perfect culmination.
I felt bad for characters in the end and there were a couple that I despaired over the ending of but it was what needed to happen to them for the book to be as good as it was.
Truly a great read and we are on the look out for more books by this author.
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