This is probably the most famous Australian novel, certainly the film based on it is well known. I loved the film and so I had always thought I should read it, but I didn't find it anywhere until I went to Australia and bought an old Penguin edition. The descriptive writing is excellent and although most of the characters are not particularly well developed, it is the story itself that is compelling. It gives an insight into Edwardian life in Australia as one of Britain's colonies, and 'polite society' of the time. It's one of the most enjoyable reads of recent years and I'd recommend it highly.
**A BBC BETWEEN THE COVERS BIG JUBILEE READ PICK**
'A sinister tale' Guardian
The classic, atmospheric Australian thriller about the mysterious disappearance of a group of young girls.
A cloudless summer day in the year nineteen hundred...
Everyone at Appleyard College for Young Ladies agreed it was just right for a picnic at Hanging Rock. After lunch, a group of three girls climbed into the blaze of the afternoon sun, pressing on through the scrub into the shadows of Hanging Rock. Further, higher, till at last they disappeared.
This is non-fiction, it's an exhaustive history of magic in Ireland from the earliest of times., which is quite an undertaking, ambitious barely covers the scope of it. This lovely paperback edition has a clear layout, decent sized font and an excellent cover by artist Cormac Figgis.
This history is chronological, with thirty-odd pages discussing the pre-Christian era. Although I would have loved to see more, what is presented is excellent. The book explores Irish folk magic, including Norse influences, which I am pleased to see included. While there is a good section on the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods, over half the book focuses on the Celtic Twightlight onwards, including the influence of Freemasonry and Theosophy on Ireland. I am glad to see John Toland get a few pages, someone who is often overlooked, despite his tremendous influence on modern society.
Over 30 pages are dedicated to Art O’Murnaghan, an Irish magician I knew little about, so for this alone the book is worth reading. This book's direct, plain style makes it a joy to read. Certainly this is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Ireland’s magical past and although it is a large book, one can easily dip in and read it one section at a time.
This is the biography of Irish novelist the late Herbie Brennan, one of Ireland's most successful authors, yet he is not exactly a household name. Herbie was incredibly prolific writing over 100 books, mostly fiction, but he also wrote about history and esoteric matters.
His biography is incredibly candid, often funny but most of all riveting. He had an absolutely amazingly interesting life, at least it seems that way from the way this book is written. So the title 'Enchanted Life' seems entirely appropriate, given the breadth of experiences he had. If you like biography you'll enjoy this even if you have no idea who Herbie was. It is also quite educational as it explains his interest in magic and discusses some key people, so that you have a better idea of what he is on about. Aside from the magic, his life was quite a roller-coaster of events and he did incredible things despite some set-backs and struggles with anxiety. A great read and one thing I loved was how his sense of humour comes across.
THIS MAY PROVE THE WEIRDEST BOOK YOU’LL READ OUTSIDE THE WORKS OF STEPHEN KING* Memoirs can be boring, covering the same old ground, telling essentially the same old stories. Not this one. Herbie Brennan began a lifelong career as a writer at the age of 18. He worked as a journalist, a magazine editor, an advertising copywriter, a novelist and author. But that was not what made him weird. For Herbie studied magic and the paranormal, even venturing into the shadow world of the occult. In this no-holds-barred memoir he reveals in detail what exactly happens when...
You leave your…
Covering an entire metonic cycle of 19 years (2004-2023) in the life of a druid, this collection covers everything from ethics to gardening with the intention of provoking both thought and action. Of his Druid work the author states “My job is to push the boundaries of Druidic understanding, to challenge the accepted norms and to question what direction neo-Druidry should be headed in. I am not here to comfort and sooth, but to stimulate and promote wisdom and the evolution of Druidic consciousness.
As well as 7 interviews the books features over 60 essays, divided by subject: The Basics of Druidry, Environmentalism, Druidic History, Metaphysics and Druid Ethics.
