"Witch School: living the Wiccan life" by Debbe (?) Tompkins

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[RedLori]

hi,
I wondered if anyone know anything about this book, if it is any good, or full of $hit?
I ask only because it's one out of only 3 books on either Wicca or Witchcraft held at my local bookstore (I checked out the other 2 here already; one had good reviews from people here and the other one was disliked).
I think the name was Debbe Tompkins... although it was in skwurly writing so it *may* have been Debbie and I just misread  (I tried both searches...)
I kind of have my doubts as it seems to conflate Wicca and Witchcraft in the title which doesn't seem like a good start... but I could be totally wrong!

and omg, in a city I would have thought the library would have reasonable stock, but *nothing*!  I was seriously disappointed, not a single book on either Wicca or Witchcraft (although plenty of material on other religions, and historical stuff like Celtic, Ancient Greek etc... but I am not looking for recon or historical info right now!  very frustratin!)... they hold a book called "The Modern Pagan" by Brian Day (I keep mixing him up with Brian May  ) but that seemed to be about lifestyle rather than religion and put me off by seeming all earth-based and political (odd because I am quite earth-based myself but it did seem kind of preachy if you know what I mean!  )

[Star]

I think the name was Debbe Tompkins... although it was in skwurly writing so it *may* have been Debbie and I just misread  (I tried both searches...)

No, your original guess is probably right, though I think you've got the last name spelled slightly wrong.  Debbe Tomkins is the president of Witchschool, which teaches Correllian Nativist witchcraft.  Or Wicca.  Or something; I've lost track of exactly what they're calling themselves just now.  I don't know anything about the book, but I don't recall having a very high opinion of the Correllian online courses.  They seemed kind of generic and not necessarily well put-together as a means of actually teaching much of anything.  It's been years and years since I've done any research on them, though (beyond poking through their site to verify that this book was somehow connected with them just now), so I have no idea what they're like now.  You might have a look at what they've got online, though; it might give you a feel for what sort of material their president is likely to be presenting in her book.

[mandrina]

hi,
I wondered if anyone know anything about this book, if it is any good, or full of $hit?
I ask only because it's one out of only 3 books on either Wicca or Witchcraft held at my local bookstore (I checked out the other 2 here already; one had good reviews from people here and the other one was disliked).
I think the name was Debbe Tompkins... although it was in skwurly writing so it *may* have been Debbie and I just misread  (I tried both searches...)
I kind of have my doubts as it seems to conflate Wicca and Witchcraft in the title which doesn't seem like a good start... but I could be totally wrong!

and omg, in a city I would have thought the library would have reasonable stock, but *nothing*!  I was seriously disappointed, not a single book on either Wicca or Witchcraft (although plenty of material on other religions, and historical stuff like Celtic, Ancient Greek etc... but I am not looking for recon or historical info right now!  very frustratin!)... they hold a book called "The Modern Pagan" by Brian Day (I keep mixing him up with Brian May  ) but that seemed to be about lifestyle rather than religion and put me off by seeming all earth-based and political (odd because I am quite earth-based myself but it did seem kind of preachy if you know what I mean!  )

My best suggestion is to join witchschool as a basic student, you don't have to pay at that level, you just don't get to most of the courses.  But the one you are mentioning happens to be a free one.  Register for it, and read the stuff and decide if you want the book.

go here and register.  If you like it, stay, and if you don't, never go back.  But don't buy the book until you do this.  If at all possible, do this for any of the witchschool books.

http://classes.witchschool.com/login.asp

[RedLori]

thank you both for your suggestions!

[dragonfaerie]

and omg, in a city I would have thought the library would have reasonable stock, but *nothing*!  I was seriously disappointed, not a single book on either Wicca or Witchcraft

My own public library system, which is really great, has really just started increasing their stock about Wicca and other pagan/new age topics (besides astrology and tarot). I know they often have problems with people stealing the books (either people who want to keep them or people who don't agree with them).

If you're unhappy with the selection, I suggest you talk to the library system. If you don't want to talk to a librarian at your local branch, check for a website where you can submit comments. Or ask the librarian where you can send those sorts of comments. Often libraries just don't know there's a desire in the community for a certain topic of books unless someone starts asking for them.

Karen

[Jenett]

If you're unhappy with the selection, I suggest you talk to the library system. If you don't want to talk to a librarian at your local branch, check for a website where you can submit comments. Or ask the librarian where you can send those sorts of comments. Often libraries just don't know there's a desire in the community for a certain topic of books unless someone starts asking for them.

One other note, since Dragonfaerie's comment reminded me to comment on the library stuff. (Librarian, though not a public librarian.)

- Even if a book isn't in your own library, your library may be able to get it from another library through interlibrary loan. (This has some restrictions - you don't get to renew the books, often, for example) and in some places there's a small charge to help cover mailing costs (other places it's free, and when there's a charge, it's often a token $1-3 to make sure people actually get them and use them.)

- Many Pagan books, for complicated reasons, don't get reviewed very often in the common professional review journals that libraries use for the vast majority of their orders. (The really really big ones do - but it's maybe 2-3 titles a year for everything in the Pagan realm.)

- Books are even less likely to show up there if they come from a small press (like Immanion, or any number of others out there in the Pagan world.)

- Many libraries are under extreme budget pressure, and are also (in part because of this) centralising their ordering in one place, with items sent to different libraries in the system. Sometimes a particular branch will have a specific focus (like books in a specific language to a particular place), but 'Paganism' is pretty diffuse in most areas.

- So, the best way to indicate interest in a specific topic or a particular title is to request it. (The librarians have access to any reviews that were in the professional journals, but if you happen to know of a really clear, professionally-styled review that goes into details about content, they often have somewhere to include that.) Libraries do have some discretionary funds for their own specific users generally.

- As already said, Pagan books are one of the types of books most often removed from and not-returned to libraries. (Stats I've seen in several places as well as librarian anecdotes suggests that it's at least as much Pagans checking them out and keeping them as people who disapprove of the religion.) This makes libraries a little wary of spending money on them over and over again, but means that if you can suggest titles that go beyond spells and other topics that tend to be more popular to steal, they're more likely to consider them.

- For people who really want to encourage the library to consider a wider range of Pagan titles, see about having a Pagan group sponsor a small collection of titles, provide a suggested book list, or other things that will help the library serve the community. (And, actually, now that the Hennepin and Minneapolis libraries are on the very tail end of a massive 3 year combination project, I might bring this up locally again.)

[RedLori]

thanks Dragonfaerie and Jenett for your suggestions.   I have tought about asking to the library to request some books (and interlibrary loan..) but guessed I should be able to afford some books ... lol. since I can't read fast I have time to save up between times haha.  (and if its a good book doubtless I end up wanting it for mine anyway!)

thank you for tips about witch school, I dunno but from the title I would have thought it was kinda flaky somehow (maybe cos it sounds like aimed more at teenagers, no offence!) but its good to hear the informations can be of use

[mandrina]

thanks Dragonfaerie and Jenett for your suggestions.   I have tought about asking to the library to request some books (and interlibrary loan..) but guessed I should be able to afford some books ... lol. since I can't read fast I have time to save up between times haha.  (and if its a good book doubtless I end up wanting it for mine anyway!)

thank you for tips about witch school, I dunno but from the title I would have thought it was kinda flaky somehow (maybe cos it sounds like aimed more at teenagers, no offence!) but its good to hear the informations can be of use

witchschool is a little flaky, but the point is, if you want to look at that particular book (and their first degree) they will let you do it for free if you join their site.  You have to take the course, but I figure a couple chapters will tell you what you want to know about the book.  And for a group of courses (books) their site is free. The other option is to spend a while in B&N in a comfy chair reading the book before you buy.  My point is don't spend the money if you don't have to and you have a free option.  Now your free option for their second and third degree books are the library or a chunk of free time at the bookstore.

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