Witchy Library

What books do you think should be in every witches' library?  I'm looking to expand mine but because I've just bought a house, spending money is out of the question.  So, I wanted to share my "Wish List" with all of you and see what you all felt was essential for every witch to have in their library.

Willow's Wish List
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Kin of Ata Are Waiting for You by Dorothy Bryant
The Witches' God by Janet and Stewart Farrar
The Witches' Goddess by Janet and Stewart Farrar
Meaning of Witchcraft by Gerald Gardner
Real Magic by P.E.I. Bonewits
The Spiral Dance by Starhawk
Ancient Ways: Reclaiming Pagan Traditions by Pauline Campanelli
Aradia: The Gospel of Witches. by Charles Leland (Translation by Mario and Dina Pazzaglini)
An ABC of Witchcraft Past and Present by Doreen Valiente
Cunningham's Encylopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Dictionary of Ancient Deities by Patricia Turner and Charles Russell Coulter
The Grandmother of Time by Z. Budapest
Wheel of the Year by Pauline Campanelli
The White Goddess by Robert Graves

I know there are a few books on here that I really should own by now.  I just haven't gotten around to buying them as I've been busy reading some of the more obscure authors out there as well as the blogs of my fellow readers.  This list comes from a book called Dedicant: A Witch's Circle of Fire by Thuri Calafia.  I'm a little beyond the material covered in the book but its interesting to look at a beginners book that takes a different persepective on the path.  I'm enjoying the read but I wanted to here from others out there.  So, what do you think of this list?  What should I already have/must have on my shelf?  Have you read any of these books?  What did you think of the ones you've read?

Fur Baby Fridays

Even my cat is a book nut!  He wants to be one with Barnes and Noble bag.

Oryx and Crake

It's been a long road that I've travelled this week.  My husband's grandmother passed - don't be sorry though - I'd spoken to the women three times in my life and she was nasty and bitter.  My husband wasn't too close to her either.  We went to the funeral in New Jersey on Friday and that was that. 

In other, less depressing news, I'm more than halfway through my next book for my Graduate class, Writing After the End.  All of the literature in this course is Post-Apocalypse/Post-Collapse themed.  It's a bit depressing but still eye opening.  For this unit we were able to choose from three novels The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.  I chose the last novel and boy is it frightening.  I've even made a liner note for myself: "If this is our future, I want out now!" If anyone needs a good summer read or inspiraton to be green, please read this book.  There is a sequel that came out last year, The Year of the Flood, which I plan on reading once I'm done with this book.  It's dark, but I'm realling enjoying it.  

Lazy Sundays and Book Updates

About a month ago I wrote about my used book store find, Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman.  Well, it took me a while, but I finally sat down to read it yesterday and I finished it this morning.  I couldn't put the book down.  And everyone that posted about the book was right: it is a great read but very different from the movie.  Both are equally wonderful as I have a soft spot in my heart for Stockard Channing and Sandra Bullock and witchy reads. 

Plus, as an added bonus, the majority of the book took place in my neck of the woods: Long Island.  I had no idea when I read it since the film takes place on Cape Cod.  I often will complain that Long Island is a horrid place to live, but when I read books that take place here, it softens my heart a bit.  It's not that I hate the place or the people (all the time), but  I guess living in suburbia makes me feel less like a child of Nature.  Whenever I make the trip to our friend's log cabin in the Adirondacks or to our friends in Vermont, something in me just comes alive.  It's always smothered when I come back to this little sandbar in the Atlantic.  But, alas, I must continue to live here; my job is here and I would be a very big fool to give up my teaching job after just receiving tenure.  I'll just continue to lay down my weekly dollar for the lottery, save, save, save for a home of our own, place my loose change into the log cabin fund, and dream of retiring on a lake in the woods.

Yesterday I spoke of dream pillows and not really making them specific for a type of dream.  Maybe I'll have to conjure up something that will manifest my future home in the woods.  I think that might help make me rest easier.  At least I can escape to my little log cabin while I sleep.

Practical Magic

For years, I've thought that Practical Magic was only a delightful chick flick starting Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman.  Apparently, I've been wrong for over ten years.

This past weekend, the hubby and I made a trip up to Boston for a wedding.  We also had a chance to catch up with two of my dear friends and walk around some shops.  One of them, a bookstore, had a used book section in the basement.  It was there that laying in the rack, I found the novel Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman.  I was puzzeled at first because I had no idea that one of my favorite witchy movies was a book first.  Then, I became embarassed.  How could I, an English teacher, have not known this?  Very rarely do I see films without reading the book version first.  So, for $4, I purchased the book.  Tonight I will begin reading it and I will hopefully have a review for everyone in a day or so.  I hope that this book won't go into my "currently reading pile" because of schoolwork and grading.  That pile is becoming too large (it has about 10 books in it now).  Such is the life of the teacher.  I cannot wait until summer so I can really dive into the stacks I have laying around.  During my 2 1/2 month break, I usually go through a good 20 to 50 books, depending on my schedule or what books I find.

Has anyone else read this book before?  Leave me a comment with your own review.  If you haven't read it, do you have any other fictional "witchy books" that you enjoy?  Please give me some names.  I need to add more to my collection.

Tomorrow I will post the full moon ritual for April!

Giveaways

I just started following The Wizardess Epi today.  She has a great blog, so if you're interested, take a visit over there when you can.  She's also doing a great giveaway for Ostara.  I just entered the giveaway today and I'm really excited about it.  Even if I don't win, I think I may order the book, Magic When You Need It, on Amazon.