Review by Choice Review
Despite the catchy title, this book actually focuses on the practice of folk magic in general as much as it deals with folk magic that includes the occult. Individual chapters discuss subjects such as chain letters, mirror-gazing, rabbit's foot charms, and Ouija boards, but Ellis (English and American studies, Pennsylvania State Univ.) also includes an interesting chapter on the Welsh Revival of 1904-5. Ellis's overarching thesis is that these kinds of folk practices, perhaps especially when they invoke the presence or power of Satan, are not so much antireligious as they are alternatively religious. They are means by which ordinary persons, and perhaps especially the more marginalized, seek spiritual power outside the control of religious institutions. He notes that women, especially adolescent girls, are more likely to be involved in these practices than men, partly due to their relative lack of power in society. Echoing his Raising the Devil (CH, Mar'01), Ellis intersperses a discussion of Christian antisatanism. In terms of popular culture, the Harry Potter books and movies serve as a key point of reference. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; general readers. D. Jacobsen Messiah College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Witches, chain letters, lucky rabbit's feet, reverse table settings, Ouija boards: are these and similar occult phenomena deadly and satanic, to be feared and condemned, as some argue? In this follow-up to his Raising the Devil, Ellis (English & American studies, Pennsylvania State Univ., Hazleton) examines occult phenomena from the viewpoint of the people who actually practice them. He points out that the occult is more common than some would like to believe and argues that such practices are not about Satan worship or belief. Far from being in opposition to mainstream religion, such practices are a way for the marginalized or disenfranchised (e.g., adolescents, women, the lower classes) to empower themselves and participate directly in the religious or mythic realm. Rather than fear and condemn the occult, Ellis argues, we should see it in dialog with mainstream religion. This solidly written and serious study, which uses little known primary resources, is recommended for academic and public libraries alike as part of religion and sociology collections.-John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
