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mintyfreshsocks 's review for:
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen
by Scott Cunningham
I do not have particularly nice things to say about this book.
It's your typical Llewellyn book, although perhaps better researched than most. There is a real and viable bibliography, and I almost bumped it up to two stars just for the bibliography. And as much as this book frustrated the hell out of me, it's hard for me to not feel kindly toward Scott Cunningham.
But omg everything else.
Why do these foods have these correspondences? Who the hell knows, really, though there's a little collecting of myth to back up some of them... or give an opposing opinion. There's no real magical system backing any of this up, and although I know that this is essentially an introductory fluff book, I like seeing actual *systems* in play -- what can I say.
Where does the health information come from? Not any sort of NIH study or anything like that. Just... wherever it is that people decide to pull health information from. It's one thing to say "hey, eat your veggies they're good for you" and another to start talking about the pointed benefits of certain foods without backing those benefits up. I mean, I know it's a woo-woo book, but still. Don't dole out health advice if you can't back it up.
There's also some really weird light-n-love judginess in here. There's no place for drunkenness or drugs in magic and spirituality!... but then mention Dionysian rites in under a page. You can't be loved if you don't love yourself!... really hoping no one who's depressed is reading that. I understand the impulses he's getting at -- don't rely on booze and your life improves immeasurably if you make the effort to get to know and love yourself -- but damn. Phrasing does actually matter.
That being said, some of the recipes from the back of the book DO look tasty and I may try them.
It's your typical Llewellyn book, although perhaps better researched than most. There is a real and viable bibliography, and I almost bumped it up to two stars just for the bibliography. And as much as this book frustrated the hell out of me, it's hard for me to not feel kindly toward Scott Cunningham.
But omg everything else.
Why do these foods have these correspondences? Who the hell knows, really, though there's a little collecting of myth to back up some of them... or give an opposing opinion. There's no real magical system backing any of this up, and although I know that this is essentially an introductory fluff book, I like seeing actual *systems* in play -- what can I say.
Where does the health information come from? Not any sort of NIH study or anything like that. Just... wherever it is that people decide to pull health information from. It's one thing to say "hey, eat your veggies they're good for you" and another to start talking about the pointed benefits of certain foods without backing those benefits up. I mean, I know it's a woo-woo book, but still. Don't dole out health advice if you can't back it up.
There's also some really weird light-n-love judginess in here. There's no place for drunkenness or drugs in magic and spirituality!... but then mention Dionysian rites in under a page. You can't be loved if you don't love yourself!... really hoping no one who's depressed is reading that. I understand the impulses he's getting at -- don't rely on booze and your life improves immeasurably if you make the effort to get to know and love yourself -- but damn. Phrasing does actually matter.
That being said, some of the recipes from the back of the book DO look tasty and I may try them.