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Book
Review - Drawing Down the Moon |
Back cover synopsis: This edition of Drawing Down the Moon includes a completely updated and expanded resource guide that details several hundred related journals, festivals, newsletters, and groups. |
Rhaevyn's Synopsis |
| A classic. That's the best word I can use to describe this book. Not only does Adler touch upon the history of various Neo-Pagan movements, but she also shows their similarities and differences in a non-judgmental fashion. Even if you find an older edition of the book, it is still a fascinating look into where the Pagan community stood over twenty years ago in comparison to where it stands now. This is probably my most cherished book...so much so that I had to buy it again after I loaned out my first copy and never had it returned. (Jason, if you read this, please e-mail me! I'll pay shipping!) |
Entertainment Factor  |
| The one main criticism that people tend to have about this book is that the beginning is rather dry, which scares off some readers. This much is true...it took me a while to get through some of the beginning. However, once I got into the book, I was absolutely hooked by what Adler presented. I give Drawing Down the Moon an above average review for this category simply because it *is* engaging...you have to trudge a bit to get to the good stuff, but once you're there, it's well worth the trouble. |
Content and Information  |
| This book is valuable not just for the history, but for the wonderous variety of different types of Pagans that are out there. Adler shows her colors as a journalist daughter of an anthropologist because she not only interviews her subject, but she also takes part in their activities to get a better understanding of each group. She then presents her information in a "This is what I've learned, so decide what you think" tone instead of a "This is what I know, so I'm right" attitude. I found her views to be fair and the documentation of her research to be commendable. |
Usefulness |
| Again, I can cite the amount of information Adler provides on the history of the various Neo-Pagan movements as being incredibly useful, but that's not all that is offered. The resources in the appendices are invaluable, especially to new Pagans who are looking for contacts and places to find further information. Some of those resources are a bit outdated, but I still give this an excellent rating because of the wealth that is still contained within. |
Longevity |
| Drawing Down the Moon was first published on Samhain, 1978. It has been through some revisions, but I still believe this is an incredible book for what it provides to present-day Pagans. Others may criticize it for being "outdated," but I think any book that provides a snapshot look at the Pagan community will wind up outdating itself as Paganism develops further in the future. The book still has a modern feel to it, and if the resource guide and a new survey were redone, I would snag a new copy of the book yet again to see what was included. Again, the history the book provides is invaluable because without knowing where we've been, we certainly won't have a clear focus on where we want to go. Drawing Down the Moon will continue to be an incredible book twenty five years in the future, too. |
Final Analysis  |
| Drawing Down the Moon is, again, easily one of my favorite books. I constantly find myself going back to it as a reference, and it has proven its worth on my shelf. There's a joke that goes, "You may be giving your fellow Pagans a bad name if you constantly quote Drawing Down the Moon to impress others, all while knowing you haven't read it, either." Trust me, though...it's worth taking the time to read it. |
Author:
Margot Adler
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I'll admit a bias...I don't like a lot of the books that Pagan authors are putting out now. I try to give fair and honest reviews, but I really think that if we want the standards of Pagan reference and literature raised, we have to be incredibly critical of what is already on the market. Just wanted to warn you ahead of time... *grin*
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