Library at the Groves
The Collection
This library is my personal collection of books, gathered together over the years since about 1970 c.e. They are not all books directly dealing with modern Paganism. They are not all books dealing with either 'magic' or 'magick' or any of the goofier spellings people have adopted. They are not all books which go on-and-on about the supposed (and seldom exhibited) 'virtues' of the Abrahamic religions. They are not all books attempting to explain Eastern religions to the thick-witted peoples of the West. They are not all Classic works of Literature with deliberate or unintentional connections to questions involved in concepts about Pagan spirituality. They are not all of them incomprehensibly dense tomes of philosophy. Nor are they all dry-as-dust recitations of who did what to whom and when in the annals of history, ancient or modern. There aren't even that many by rabid fem-libbers or even their somewhat friendlier kin. There are, however, many books in the collection which cover one or more of the areas described above. Unfortunately, neither are they all books that happen to have good and valuable information to a modern Pagan.
But they are all sources which can contribute in one way or another to a person's self-education. The admonition to 'know your enemy' is as valuable in warfare as it is when in more civil times you can amend it to read 'know your opponent,' or even 'know your self-proclaimed friend.' They can aid in learning about the things which happened in our world to make it what it is today.
Donations of books, audiobooks, DVDs, and other items along the lines of the library's collection as described above are gratefully welcomed.
My intention is to will this collection, upon my own death, to either the result of my "insane writing project", or failing any results from that, the closest Pagan seminary with a physical campus to Maine.
Pagan Community Access
In the first place, I must make the 'unfortunate' announcement that this is not a lending library. I've had a few too many loaned-out books fail to return over the years to be willing to permanently part with more of them in the same way. Where is my Tibetan Book of the Dead ? and Lord of the Rings slipcased paperback set ? among others. Some of them are now hard to find, or very expensive to replace IF you can find them at all. Many of you will know just what I mean.
I am, however, quite willing to share my collection of books, whether with a Pagan visitor or Pagan-friendly seeker from our local communities, who chooses to read in the library space itself, the chapel room, or out in one of the Groves (in nicer weather). Just don't take any of the materials away from these premises unless you really wish to try turning me into some sort of Cerberus.
( wow ! what a weird concept ! )
Donations to the Library Collection
This is not something I would have considered if it were not for the plans to open up my collection of books to the Pagan community. And, to be honest, I don't expect to see more than two or three items donated over a year's time, at most.
BOOKS: Xxxxx
As to fiction, what I have tried to include (versus what I've tried to exclude) has been for the most part works of fiction which are useful as teaching tools. Works which give the reader a feeling of how some concept or other might affect people (yes, fictional people) in a world in which the concept is a part of its 'reality' as-it-were. Works in which the world is explored from the protagonist's worldview, when it is one which is unfamiliar to most people. And wonder of wonders, those recent works of fiction which are actually written by today's Pagans and do not simply repeat the calumnies and propaganda of the Malleus Maleficarum and its ilk.
AUDIO: There are CD players in both the Library space, and in the Chapel room. While there aren't very many audio books in the collection at this time, I have burned each of the guided meditaitons we have to its own separate CD for use in the Chapel, or with a portable player, in any of the Groves.
VIDEO: It has been quite a while since the demise of the last VHS machine here, so the only video items in the collection are either DVDs or VCD backups of video podcasts and other sources. And apparently the more consumer-friendly DVD-HD format is going to die off, so the few titles that even exist in that format are also unusable here.
PAGAN PERIODICALS: Obviously, on a fixed income, there is no way which I can subscribe to all of the print-media periodicals which are serving our community. If you do not retain copies of issues once you have finished reading them, or weed-out your back-issues every so often, consider sending them to the Library at the Groves.
DUPLICATES: More than a few times I have come home from a yard sale, a used book store, or a local Public Library's fundraising book sale, to discover that one or more of the titles I proudly snagged because it is included on one or another Pagan group's 'Recommended Reading List' -- is already in the collection (memory failure, much?). On the rare occasion that it turns out to be an entirely different edition of the title, into the shelves it goes. But most often, it turns out to be another copy of what is already there.
Unfortunately, there is no way visitors to this part of the site can tell how recently I've updated these Library pages compared to when I last brought a pile of books to add to my "to be read" pile, nor can I always be sure of getting the free-time to make additions to these pages. And most importantly, there IS NO regular schedule by which I am buying 'stuff.' So that it shouldn't be necessary for potential donors to the library to worry that there are already copies of what they wish to donate, I propose to set things up to spread such 'wealth' around our community. To set up one separate bookshelf here for these extras, marked with a sign, and including a fundraising donations can. I suppose that items which are simply not compatible with the intent of the Library (lurid romance novels, general fiction with no Pagan instructional relevance, etc.), and any VHS tapes, should also go on this shelf. So don't forget to give this shelf a look-see whenever you visit the Groves of the Greene Man's Denne.
The Ratings System
What I am using as a ratings system on these pages is not the typical book reviewer's straightforward 'is it great -- or is it horrible' assessment. I guess I'm tending to be a little more convoluted here. I do hope that this isn't just spreading more confusion. My use here of the term "Fluffy Bunny Pagan" is in reference to those who insist on living in a fantasy world where all is sweetness and light, despite multiple opportunities to learn some actual facts about modern Paganism here in the real world.
Works of Fiction are given ratings on how good the story is, and how well the storytelling is done. Everybody should remember that to make the drama of the story work, authors seldom stick to how things work (or actual history, e.g. Dan Brown's books) in the real world, and tend to the 'hollywoodish' version of visual accounts of story incidents.
As for audiobooks as well as videos, fiction will be rated as fiction print, and nonfiction as the nonfiction print books.
UNRATED --
These items have not yet been rated. We try not to apply the old aphorism: "Only cream and bastards rise to the top."
BEST --
NONFICTION: The highest rating, an item which tends to be listed on many Pagan groups' recommended reading lists. Older information is arranged so that it is easier to understand the connections among things. The conclusions presented make sense, and are often helpful to one's growth.
FICTION: Top Notch storytelling. If not already considered such, in some genres potentially a future literary classic.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
BETTER --
NONFICTION: The second-highest rating, an item which will sometimes be found on recommended reading lists. Xxxxx
FICTION: Stories competently told. A good read, and a satisfying visit to the author's story-setting.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
GOOD --
NONFICTION: The third-highest rating, an item which rehashes old information and does make a few valid connections among them. Contains a minimum of misinformation, and only a few goofy conclusions drawn from such sources. Slightly Fluffy-Bunny Pagan materials will creep into such.
FICTION: Potboilers, well-enough told, but not very special.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
NEUTRAL --
NONFICTION: This is a neutral rating, on items which neither provide new information, or new speculation, or provides any special clarity of view. However, neither does it diseminate incorrect information, discredited theories, or promote hatred, fear and division. Moderate Fluffy-Bunny Pagan sillyness and fantasy.
FICTION: Not very good, not particularly bad either, but leaves one wondering why the author bothered.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
BAD --
NONFICTION: The third-lowest rating, an item which displays mere ignorance, quoting sources which are themselves of little value because of misinformation. Of no use for furthering one's Pagan skills, it is more designed (mostly) for gentling fools into accepting a particular viewpoint, and later joining up with one of the groups which espouse that viewpoint. Conclusions stated are often fantastic, and are claimed as evidence of the author's delusions of 'greatness.' Also, the very worst of pure Fluffy-Bunny Pagan crappola and the fantasy-world they live in.
FICTION: Poorly plotted, stock villans, protagonists too quirky (or cutesy) for for the vomit patrol to keep up with, and leaves the reader with a hard job trying to care about the characters or situation.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
WORSE --
NONFICTION: The second-lowest rating, an item filled with half-truths, the odd actual fact, and a lot of arguing in favor of one group's ideological viewpoint. Quotes the authority of ancient texts as often as it does texts which they can't or won't prove actually exist. Distinct odor of road-apples and cow-flop.
FICTION: Every character a stereotype, and every situation a cliché. Major plot holes go unplugged and success is only a deux ex machina away, because nothing in the story itself supports the outcome.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: Zzzzz
HORRIBLE --
NONFICTION: The lowest rating, an item which is filled with misinformation, half-truths, spin doctoring, and claiming authority from the priestly-politicians of bronze age desert tribesmen (as one instance); and the "ideologically pure" worldview which clinging to such false 'facts' leads one to. Its sources are severely proof texted, and rejects all factual information which inconveniently contradicts ideology. The kind of thinking which created Phrenology and Social Darwinism and Manifest Destiny and Intelligent Design and the Religious Reich.
FICTION: Confusing at the best, incomprehensible more often, pointless and meaningless; it leaves one worrying about the safety of other inmates in whichever asylum the publisher was committed to.
AUDIO: Xxxxx
VIDEO: ZzzzzHeading
Xxxxx
Xxxxx