Meditation and the Art of Writing
Chris Kunego
What The ?!? Publishing
Nonfiction, Spirituality/Writing
**+ (Bad/Okay)
DESCRIPTION: Learn to overcome writer's block and increase creativity and productivity through meditation.
REVIEW: This short book misrepresents itself. Rather than discussing writing and offering practical meditation advice, it mostly talks about the general benefits
of meditation, then gives a rather vague overview of different forms of meditation - which the reader will have to investigate elsewhere if they want specifics or exercises. There's a little bit on writing, but it's so vague that I'm not entirely sure whether the author does any writing himself (aside from self-help titles), and it really isn't the point of this book. Cut that minimal information out, and it wouldn't affect much. If you're looking for a basic overview of meditation, this might be a decent starting point, but if the author keeps referring you to other books on the subject, why not skip the middle man and go straight to better resources?
You Might Also Enjoy:
Spiritual Traditions (Timothy Freke) - My Review
Words to Write By (Elaine L. Orr) - My Review
Showing posts with label spirituality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirituality. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tarot for Writers (Corrine Kenner)
Tarot for Writers
Corrine Kenner
Llewellyn Publications
Nonfiction, Spirituality/Writing
***+ (Okay/Good)
DESCRIPTION: Since their creation, tarot cards have inspired stories with their imagery. Originally used to tell tales of the future, they can also help craft works of fiction. The author explains the symbolism of the tarot, offering tips and exercises for incorporating the cards into writing.
REVIEW: I have a passing interest in tarot cards (and a more-than-passing interest in writing), so this looked like an intriguing title. Kenner starts by explaining the tarot's history and symbolism, as well as some basic divination and layouts for use in fortune-telling and writing. She then offers suggestions on specific writing goals, from character creation to generating a story based entirely on random draws. The final section looks at each card individually, discussing its meanings and possible prompts. Overall, it's not a bad book, but I found it grew repetitious. I also questioned some of her card interpretations, which ran counter to other books I've read (and my own gut response, which is as much a part of tarot reading as it is writing.) It still prompted plenty of ideas, though, which was rather the point of reading it.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Fortune Telling (The Diagram Group) - My Review
A Whack on the Side of the Head (Roger Van Oech) - My Review
Where Do You Get Your Ideas? (Fred White) - My Review
Corrine Kenner
Llewellyn Publications
Nonfiction, Spirituality/Writing
***+ (Okay/Good)
DESCRIPTION: Since their creation, tarot cards have inspired stories with their imagery. Originally used to tell tales of the future, they can also help craft works of fiction. The author explains the symbolism of the tarot, offering tips and exercises for incorporating the cards into writing.
REVIEW: I have a passing interest in tarot cards (and a more-than-passing interest in writing), so this looked like an intriguing title. Kenner starts by explaining the tarot's history and symbolism, as well as some basic divination and layouts for use in fortune-telling and writing. She then offers suggestions on specific writing goals, from character creation to generating a story based entirely on random draws. The final section looks at each card individually, discussing its meanings and possible prompts. Overall, it's not a bad book, but I found it grew repetitious. I also questioned some of her card interpretations, which ran counter to other books I've read (and my own gut response, which is as much a part of tarot reading as it is writing.) It still prompted plenty of ideas, though, which was rather the point of reading it.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Fortune Telling (The Diagram Group) - My Review
A Whack on the Side of the Head (Roger Van Oech) - My Review
Where Do You Get Your Ideas? (Fred White) - My Review
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Full Guide to Becoming a Real Wizard, Witch or Necromancer (Osari the Wise)
Full Guide to Becoming a Real Wizard, Witch or Necromancer
Osari the Wise; Abraham Atias, translator
Library Tales Publishing
Nonfiction, Spirituality
** (Bad)
DESCRIPTION: Despite centuries of political, social, and religious persecution, the world's ancient magical traditions not only survive, but thrive in the modern world. With the New Age movement and the Wiccan revival, more and more people are discovering the true power behind some of Mankind's oldest, most misunderstood beliefs. But what is real magic? How does one actually go about becoming a true magic-worker? Based on the works of Osari the Wise, this book seeks to answer questions that newcomers, and the just plain curious, may have about real wizardry and other forms of magic.
A Kindle-exclusive title.
REVIEW: Downloaded during a freebie window, this looked like just the sort of thing to inspire and inform my efforts at crafting fictional fantasy worlds. After all, why completely reinvent the wheel when Earth has so many magical systems from which to draw literary inspiration? Unfortunately, this book proved anything but inspiring.
It started on a shaky note, going out of its way to connect true magic to God, and - despite its assertion at equal time for all magic systems - skewing heavily toward Jewish Kabalah traditions. It then wandered, with mind-numbing tediosity, through all manner of historical and prehistorical minutiae of minimal relevance to the subject. (With its repeated emphasis on the fact that a true wizard is a well-read wizard, it seemed that a fair chunk of these dry dissertations could've been condensed with a simple "Further Recommended Reading" list; this eBook was, after all, supposed to be merely an introduction to the subject, not an all-inclusive volume.) Osari also contradicted himself over the course of his book. At the outset, he claimed that the notions of "black" and "white" magic were mostly misunderstandings imposed by outsiders, that all magic flowed from the same, ultimately godly sources and it was only humans who insisted on attaching such connotations; even necromancy, he declares, can be as benevolent or malicious as a body chooses to make it. He then goes on to outline the dark, dangerous, and downright demonic practices of those who would harness dark spirits and dare to coerce the dead from their rightful resting place. Aside from such contradictions, the text walks itself and the reader in circles more often than not, as though trying to pass off sheer dizziness as enlightenment. Poor editing, which butchered several passages and repeated many others, didn't help make this any more readable.
Between the preaching, the tangents, the confusing presentation, and overall tedium, I barely managed to make myself finish. I learned a little from Osari, but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to learn, leaving me decidedly uninspired.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Learned Art of Witches and Wizards (Anton and Mina Adams) - My Review
The Way of Wizards (Tom Cross) - My Review
Eyewitness Books: Witches and Magic Makers (Douglas Hill) - My Review
Osari the Wise; Abraham Atias, translator
Library Tales Publishing
Nonfiction, Spirituality
** (Bad)
DESCRIPTION: Despite centuries of political, social, and religious persecution, the world's ancient magical traditions not only survive, but thrive in the modern world. With the New Age movement and the Wiccan revival, more and more people are discovering the true power behind some of Mankind's oldest, most misunderstood beliefs. But what is real magic? How does one actually go about becoming a true magic-worker? Based on the works of Osari the Wise, this book seeks to answer questions that newcomers, and the just plain curious, may have about real wizardry and other forms of magic.
A Kindle-exclusive title.
REVIEW: Downloaded during a freebie window, this looked like just the sort of thing to inspire and inform my efforts at crafting fictional fantasy worlds. After all, why completely reinvent the wheel when Earth has so many magical systems from which to draw literary inspiration? Unfortunately, this book proved anything but inspiring.
It started on a shaky note, going out of its way to connect true magic to God, and - despite its assertion at equal time for all magic systems - skewing heavily toward Jewish Kabalah traditions. It then wandered, with mind-numbing tediosity, through all manner of historical and prehistorical minutiae of minimal relevance to the subject. (With its repeated emphasis on the fact that a true wizard is a well-read wizard, it seemed that a fair chunk of these dry dissertations could've been condensed with a simple "Further Recommended Reading" list; this eBook was, after all, supposed to be merely an introduction to the subject, not an all-inclusive volume.) Osari also contradicted himself over the course of his book. At the outset, he claimed that the notions of "black" and "white" magic were mostly misunderstandings imposed by outsiders, that all magic flowed from the same, ultimately godly sources and it was only humans who insisted on attaching such connotations; even necromancy, he declares, can be as benevolent or malicious as a body chooses to make it. He then goes on to outline the dark, dangerous, and downright demonic practices of those who would harness dark spirits and dare to coerce the dead from their rightful resting place. Aside from such contradictions, the text walks itself and the reader in circles more often than not, as though trying to pass off sheer dizziness as enlightenment. Poor editing, which butchered several passages and repeated many others, didn't help make this any more readable.
Between the preaching, the tangents, the confusing presentation, and overall tedium, I barely managed to make myself finish. I learned a little from Osari, but not nearly as much as I'd hoped to learn, leaving me decidedly uninspired.
You Might Also Enjoy:
The Learned Art of Witches and Wizards (Anton and Mina Adams) - My Review
The Way of Wizards (Tom Cross) - My Review
Eyewitness Books: Witches and Magic Makers (Douglas Hill) - My Review
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