Shake Up? Meany PooPoo Head Rises

[Labrys]

It is always so blessedly peaceful here.  But then, sometimes it seems a bit too quiet.  So, I thought I would ask what would get some topics flowing.

Books?  What has anyone read of late that they loved and what have they read that they hated?

I'll do 'hated' first, lol.  Very shortly, too--re-opening the book would be like braving Pandora's Box.

I despised "Full Contact Magick" by Kerr Cuhulain.  Someone told me I would "love it"....they don't know me so well, I think!  The subtitle alone made me grind my teeth:
"A Book of Shadows for the Wiccan Warrior"...this hits my current 'oh noes' response.  I am sick of the overuse of the word 'warrior' in sixteen contexts.  Yes, yes, doubtless a personal quirk but it makes me want to go all kinds of bad b-movie barbarian on whichever twerp is using it.

Then my elitist biotch within took issue with "wiccan"....as it is wiccanesque and KC seems utterly unaware that BTW is not what he is doing.  And after the warrior talk on the cover, even tho' the writer is a police officer, he is all fluffy on the idea of actual hostility in any situation...magical or mundane. 

Third, though I think all religions are syncretic to one degree or another, I still like clear labels.  KC has a bunch of uber-fluffy Eastern martial arts mysticism stuff blended like egg white meringue through his alleged wiccanism.  So, neo-wiccan, neo-mangled-buddhism....hmmm, what else can he possible do to tick me off worse?

Use trendy spelling.  "Magick" on the title was bad enough.
"magickian" for magician really made me want to puke.  Sadly, I think I could have liked this book if not for those particularly noted bits.  Some of it was very common sense, but then every time, KC just HAD to stage dress with fluffy allergy inducing crud.

 

[RedRonin]

I connected with this goober of Facebook for a short time.  I found his martial arts insights just plain ridiculous.  He also seems to have a penchant for spamming his contacts with about two dozen fluffy inspirational comments on a daily basis.

Can't rightly say I have the least interest in any book with which he'd be involved.

ON THE OTHER HAND....  I just sent away some hard-earned legal tender for a revised and updated reprint of Stan Schmidt's "Spirit Of The Empty Hand".  Sensei Schmidt is from South Africa and was one of the very first non-Japanese to attain high rank in Shotokan Karate.  The book is the story of his journey through the ranks as well as his trips to Japan.  Great stuff for dojo rats like myself.

Out of print for over 20 years, it will include stuff omitted from the earlier printing as well as an added "epilogue" written by Sensei Schmidt.  My version will also be hardbound, boxed and signed.  ::giddy::

I just finished "Crone's Moon" by M.R. Sellars.  Purely fiction and he has the good sense to put numerous disclaimers in the preface that clearly state that what's written in the book does not reflect what "real" witches do.  It's a cheezy entertainment that fits my reading pattern of alternating a serious book with a non-serious one.  Keeps my brain loose that way.

[Labrys]

I ended up with the book sort of by accident....as I said the "You will LOVE this" brigade in action.  Oy.

I'm happy for your find, tho'...it sounds awesome.

I can't claim to be a dojo rat, but intensely studying kung fu with the children for about 18 months was enough for me to look at this dude's alleged profound bits with a very "you gotta be chitin' me man" eye.