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theequeendee's review
informative
medium-paced
3.75
A good read for someone who's a beginner looking to learn about Appalachian witchcraft. This probably isn't the best book for someone who grew up in the Appalachian culture because a lot of the information is pretty much well known.
moody_gobling's review
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.25
Most of my admiration comes from the absolute refusal of Wiccan practices. The rest comes from understanding some cultural things that my family used to do. I always like to learn about new practices. This one wasn’t for me, but still interesting to learn.
moiratries's review
3.0
Interesting read. There is a lot of Christianity involved in this particular practice (to each their own). I was expecting some Christianity to be involved, but I wasn’t expecting that to really be the main thing here.
thestoryowl's review
4.0
Having family from VA and TN and being raised in NC, there is a lot of this that reminds me of the traditions and superstitions that have been passed down.
joy_s's review
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
3.25
Informative but very easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable. A good mix of personal stories and history, as well as some general history and Appalachian folklore beliefs, with practical examples of things you can do at home like simple magic and charms.
The last few chapters were a bit harder to get through as they were more like “recipes” for charms and magic rather than a good mix of practicals and history, like the rest of the book.
Still a good read, and even though I’m not Appalachian, the book felt inviting and encouraged the readers to connect to whatever personal area history and folklore they may have.
The last few chapters were a bit harder to get through as they were more like “recipes” for charms and magic rather than a good mix of practicals and history, like the rest of the book.
Still a good read, and even though I’m not Appalachian, the book felt inviting and encouraged the readers to connect to whatever personal area history and folklore they may have.
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Mental illness, Animal death, Abortion, Suicide, Death, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Slavery
mattaukamp's review
5.0
I picked up this book for research and I was blown awayby Jake Richards' writing. I'd never heard of him before finding this book, but MAN, can this guy write! He writes like he's sitting at the bar next to you, and you're getting increasingly drunk while he tells you the most fascinating things you've ever heard.
Beyond pure writing skill, Richards seems to have this subject matter boiled into his blood. He not only seems to believe in the stuff he's writing about, but it seems like he was raised steeping in it. It feels like you're reading about his family, his land, his culture, and his beliefs, rather than just a hobby.
Sometimes extreme superstition or faith can bother me, even in research, where you want the person to truly believe what they're teaching you... But Jake Richards bakes in a respect for skepticism that makes it go down smooth. He writes with a belief in science that never contradicts his faith directly but makes you feel his clear-headed intelligence in every passage. He writes with compassion and humanism. He writes with environmental awareness.
I'm really just blown away by this book and, while I picked it up for research, I will likely return to it for pure enjoyment.
Beyond pure writing skill, Richards seems to have this subject matter boiled into his blood. He not only seems to believe in the stuff he's writing about, but it seems like he was raised steeping in it. It feels like you're reading about his family, his land, his culture, and his beliefs, rather than just a hobby.
Sometimes extreme superstition or faith can bother me, even in research, where you want the person to truly believe what they're teaching you... But Jake Richards bakes in a respect for skepticism that makes it go down smooth. He writes with a belief in science that never contradicts his faith directly but makes you feel his clear-headed intelligence in every passage. He writes with compassion and humanism. He writes with environmental awareness.
I'm really just blown away by this book and, while I picked it up for research, I will likely return to it for pure enjoyment.
mothmanders's review
1.0
As a practitioner in the Appalachian region, I didn't like this. It contradicts itself frequently. "Backwoods witchcraft" but condemns witchcraft as devil's work. It's basically just an anecdotal collection of folky, uncommon Christian practices, frequently citing the Bible, but then recommends the disrespectful act of wearing a rosary.
Other recommendations in this "guide" include ingesting dust from public spaces, giving someone urine-soaked clothing to seduce them, soaking toenail clippings in drinks to give to other people without their knowledge, rubbing spit into open wounds, and attaching animal feces to your body. I understand that historically these practices have been used and it's interesting to learn about, but I don't know who in today's world would want to encourage some of these things. Respecting the old ways is one thing, but knowingly encouraging practices that could cause or worsen illness and disease are another. We have to respect our roots while taking on the responsibility of altering those practices with modern knowledge to ensure we're doing things safely and respectfully.
On a positive note, the way the author writes as though he's talking to you directly was charming. It's very personal and that aspect of it was nice.
Overall I don't recommend this book.
Other recommendations in this "guide" include ingesting dust from public spaces, giving someone urine-soaked clothing to seduce them, soaking toenail clippings in drinks to give to other people without their knowledge, rubbing spit into open wounds, and attaching animal feces to your body. I understand that historically these practices have been used and it's interesting to learn about, but I don't know who in today's world would want to encourage some of these things. Respecting the old ways is one thing, but knowingly encouraging practices that could cause or worsen illness and disease are another. We have to respect our roots while taking on the responsibility of altering those practices with modern knowledge to ensure we're doing things safely and respectfully.
On a positive note, the way the author writes as though he's talking to you directly was charming. It's very personal and that aspect of it was nice.
Overall I don't recommend this book.
mxemma's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
I think I would probably have enjoyed this book a lot more if I or my family specifically lived in Appalachia (obvious, I realize), but this was recommended to me as a useful book about American folk practices in general. Also not a fan of how the author describes Indigenous people (mostly the Cherokee) as being in the past, rather than a living culture. Still well-written and with a lot of good info, just won't become one of my favorites, and a bit disappointing after how long I've wanted to read it.
casihamilton's review
2.0
I really wanted to connect with his book, and at times it reminded me a lot of growing up visiting Grandma's people in Hazard. But...this book just wasn't for me. I found it very dry and boring, and at times a bit pretentious or even condescending in tone. I'm sure to a true believer it's a great resource, but that just isn't me. It had a lot of interesting information overall but I was forcing my way through it by the end.