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30 reviews for:
A Field Guide to Demons, Vampires, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits
Carol K. Mack, Dinah Mack
3.48 AVERAGE
30 reviews for:
A Field Guide to Demons, Vampires, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits
Carol K. Mack, Dinah Mack
3.48 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
It felt like reading a middle school book report. Moderately interesting topics, but the writing was hard to take.
What is this? What is this supposed to be? A serious demonology reference guide? A tongue-in-cheek parody? Feels like something out of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
2.5 stars of 5.
2.5 stars of 5.
the only thing i learned from this book is that i need to solicit a huge grant to go around the world studying demons and possession and then turn that into a well-written and comprehensive yet fascinating tome because apparently nobody else can pull it off, cough cough carol mack.
This is a solid primer on a lot of cultures’ folklore. However would be demonologists would be recommended not to use this as their main source as the definition of ‘demon’ here is fuzzy.
informative
slow-paced
I like reading about fairies and the like. I like indulging my childish side, what can I say. I also enjoy reading about various mythologies and religions, and this book also indulges that side.
Broken up into areas such as forests, deserts, domiciles and psyche, this 'guide' presents demons and the like that inhabit the world and where they live. It is also highly multicultural, with demons et al from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, America and Australia. This wide-ranging research comes along with religious ideals, dating from Babylonia to today. In the Psyche section, it also presents ideas from Freud and Jung, along with stories such as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
There are a few points where Mack&Mack confuse certain mythologies. In the Water section, while talking about Mermaids, they briefly mention Selkies without acknowledging it as such. However, this is a minor complaint, and in scope of the wider text, just a small error.
What I particularly liked is that although it is essentially a young adult novel, it's written in an adult manner. Like other reviewers have stated, this would be a good guide for authors, as it is not only split into regions, but it also has the country of origin, the behaviour and ways to dispel the demons.
Overall, interesting, useful and amusing.
Broken up into areas such as forests, deserts, domiciles and psyche, this 'guide' presents demons and the like that inhabit the world and where they live. It is also highly multicultural, with demons et al from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, America and Australia. This wide-ranging research comes along with religious ideals, dating from Babylonia to today. In the Psyche section, it also presents ideas from Freud and Jung, along with stories such as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
There are a few points where Mack&Mack confuse certain mythologies. In the Water section, while talking about Mermaids, they briefly mention Selkies without acknowledging it as such. However, this is a minor complaint, and in scope of the wider text, just a small error.
What I particularly liked is that although it is essentially a young adult novel, it's written in an adult manner. Like other reviewers have stated, this would be a good guide for authors, as it is not only split into regions, but it also has the country of origin, the behaviour and ways to dispel the demons.
Overall, interesting, useful and amusing.
Loved this book full of dark history and lore! It was fun to read and I appreciated the diversity in subjects. It was most especially pleasing to me to read of the demons of our psyche - our internal battles! Interesting and accessible reading.
informative
medium-paced