A Witch's Notebook Review


Reviewed by Mike Gleason

A Witch's Notebook    
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Title: A Witch's Notebook: Lessons in Witchcraft
Author: Silver Ravenwolf
Format: Trade Paperback, 264 pages
Publisher: Llewellyn
Publication date: May 1, 2005
ISBN-10: 0738706620
ISBN-13: 978-0738706627
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Reviewed from advance proof copy. Due for Publication in May 2005.

Now I know that a lot of people don't like Silver's writing style; or maybe it's her attitude; or maybe it's that she is a successful author; or maybe. Hey, I don't always agree with what she has to say (we were trained, I suspect, in very different traditions), but I am willing to see what she has to say. A lot of people consider her to be too "New-Agey" or "fluffy". To be honest, I have shared that opinion from time to time. Fortunately for me, I have learned not to prejudge a book by who the author is. I have been surprised too many times in the past.

This time around Silver has not attempted to put together a "Wicca 101" class book. She has made no attempt to provide an entire year's worth of work. Instead she has provided five lessons which should be well learned in about one month per lesson. The lessons are useable by anyone from the rawest new-comer to the most jaded, overworked elder.

The major shortfalls of this book in this form (Uncorrected Proof) are the lack of illustrations and a useable index. Neither of these will be a problem in the final edition, so I mention them only in passing. The typographical errors will also be caught before the final print copy is ready.

She includes an herbal section listing over 100 herbs. While it is not the most extensive herbal, covering about 65 pages, it is a valuable addition to the book. She also adds in a few simple spells.

If you are one of those readers who absolutely detest everything you have heard about Silver's writings, especially if you haven't taken the time to actually read her books, this might be a good one for you to start with. Her style isn't for everyone, but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. Read this book with an open mind.

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