Book Review: Roots, Branches, and Spirits

H. Byron Ballard, Roots, Branches, and Spirits: the Folkways and Witchery of Appalachia. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2021. ISBN: 9780738764535.

Genre: memoir, Appalachia, folklore

Subgenre: magic, pagan, witchcraft, tales, spirituality, regional interest

Format: trade paperback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

This book looks at Appalachian folk magic and witchery from a more southern perspective. The author is from North Carolina. As she writes: 

"My scope is the southern highlands, which is the section that includes western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southwest Virginia, northern Georgia and Alabama, and parts of Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia" (2). 

 

The author writes and teaches readers about the old ways. The publisher describes the book as "part cultural journey and part magical guide" (from the back cover). 

The book is arranged into two parts with nine chapters. Part One includes chapters 1-3, which cover most of the cultural journey element. Part One provides an overview of the region, its culture, and people. Much of this material would be for outsiders needing and wanting to learn about the region. Part Two covers the magical guide part of the book; it includes chapters 4-9. The book also features a conclusion, a list of recommended sources, which include organizations and websites, and a small bibliography. There is some overlap between the two lists. 

I found the first part of the book pretty interesting as a regional overview. However, if you have read similar books, some of this is familiar territory. Part Two looks at topics such as tools and supplies, kitchen witchery, healing, and haint tales. The second part is one you can browse if you wish and find the topics that interest you. Some topics are more interesting than others. Unlike similar books, the magic section can be light on details, a bit superficial even. I did enjoy the last chapter of tales. To be honest, one or two of those stories could be material for some supernatural anthology series. 

Overall, I liked the book, but it is one more to borrow. It can be a good acquisition for libraries, especially for libraries that collect Appalachian materials. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

Definition of cultural strip-mining, term coined by Marilyn McMinn-McCredie, storyteller: 

"Cultural strip-mining is the act of extracting folkways from a culture while returning little or nothing to it. People from outside the culture suck up what they find appealing or can monetize and let the rest fall away or die beneath the wheels of progress. The culture gains little from the exchange and gives up precious materials that leave it weakened in some ineffable way" (13). 

 

On oral traditions: 

"Oral traditions depend on several things. They must be shared. They must be heard. And they must be remembered. All of which run in a cycle throughout generations. When the line is broken-- for whatever reason-- that piece of the puzzle, that strand in the weaving, is lost for all time" (21). 

 

 

Deck Review: Tai Chi Reflections Deck

Richard Crookes, Tai Chi Reflections deck. Rochester, VT: Findhorn Press (Imprint of Inner Traditions), ISBN: 9781844096695.  

Image featuring some of the deck's cards, from author website.

 

A side note: Link to author's website, where he informs us that sadly it has gone out of print, so I feel lucky to have found it. Turns out this author, who is also an illustrator, has done other decks that I have used and enjoyed such as the Divination of the Ancients Oracle Cards (link to my review). I did not realize right away he was the illustrator, but that is due in part to (certain) publishers' frequent bad habit of not putting illustrator names prominently on decks. Anyhow, if you look at his website, on the decks list I linked, he has done some work for Rockpool Publishing, so if you have one of their decks, odds may be he illustrated it. So on with the review.

Retrospection card, front. Photo from my deck.

This is a set of 48 cards with a small companion book that uses Tai Chi and its forms as a tool for reflection and meditation. As the author notes in the book, this is not a deck to learn Tai Chi; you should find other sources for that, a teacher would be best. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction where the author tells us about themselves, their learning and spiritual learning. Also tells us about the deck. 
• Using the Tai Chi Reflections cards. Some basic instructions for using the cards. The author notes the cards are not numbered. 
• Card entries are in alphabetical order by card name. The card entries include card name, card's message, and the interpretation.
   

The book text overall is very basic and easy to read. The interpretations are about a paragraph in length. Interpretations are concise and straightforward. They are meant to inspire your meditation and reflection. There is nothing complex nor highly esoteric in the book nor the cards. 

Back side of Retrospection card, from my deck.

The cards feature photos of Courtney Violet Bentley, a personal trainer and fitness expert, who models the poses. Each photo also has some artistic and colorful computer generated background. Th model is dressed simply in white and shows various Tai Chi positions. I'd say these are not deep cards, but they are nice to look at. The overall imagery does invite looking deeper for reflection and calm. The images can be calming and soothing. The cards overall are very colorful. This is not a divination deck. It is more a deck to draw a daily message for reflection and meditation. 

The cards measure about 5 1/2 inches by 3 3/4 inches. The front of the cards features the model showing the Tai Chi position with a keyword. The back of the cards has a short card message. This is one of those decks without a uniform back design. That did not bother me, but it may be an issue for some folks. The cards are borderless with a glossy finish; the cards slide and shuffle well enough. 

I really liked this deck for its simplicity. It evokes a sense of peace and calm when using it. When you just want a simple message on some nice cards that are not excessively ornate, this deck does the job. I am happy to have it in my collection. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Undead

Serena Valentino, Undead: Everything the Modern Zombie Needs to Know. San Francisco, CA: Weldon Owens, 2012. ISBN: 9781616283971. 

Genre: horror, zombies

Subgenre: art, pop culture

Format: trade paperback

Source: I own this one.

This is a guide for the modern zombie as well as folks who may be friendly and supportive of zombies, or perhaps wish to join the undead. Want to express your zombie pride? This may be the book for you. 

The book is divided into three major parts: 

• How to join the hideous legion of the undead.
• Fearsome fashion and frightful fun.
• Adventures in advanced zombiedom. 

Within each part you get chapters dealing with various topics such as: 

• Quizzes and trivia.
• Anatomy of a zombie and zombie types.
• Zombie fashion.
• Lists of books and films.
   

One helpful element is in the fashion chapters. If you want to cosplay as a zombie, the book does provide some good tips and advice to put a good costume together. 

Much of the book is written with some tongue in cheek humor, so if that is your thing then you may like the book. If you are looking more for serious zombie horror, this may not be the book for you. 

Overall, the humor is light, and the trivia can be interesting. I liked the lists of books and films for ideas of other things to check out. The book is amusing and light. It's a relatively quick read. I liked it. The text is supplemented by full color art and photos throughout. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

 

Book Review: Blood Money

Kathleen McLaughlin, Blood Money: the Story of Life, Death, and Profit Inside America's Blood Industry. New York: One Signal Publishers, 2023.  ISBN: 9781982171964.

 Genre: health, medical, blood and plasma

Subgenre: bad economy, sociology, socioeconomic conditions, United States, inequality

Format: Hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College 

"Like a vampire, you have the people's blood on your hands.

Blind to their suffering, deaf to their sharp words, 

The gully of greed can never be filled." 

--Dr. Gao Yaoji, Chinese doctor and activist. (12).

 

This book is a serious look at the blood trade industry in the United States, mainly focused on the blood plasma trade. The business is a juggernaut in the United States, one of the very few countries that allow payment for plasma donations, yet many Americans are blissfully unaware of its reach and range. That is unless you are one of the millions of Americans who donate plasma for a variety of economic reasons. It is always for economic reasons. The author in her research found that the altruistic reason to donate plasma in the United States was nice, but the primary driver to donate plasma was the money, pure and simple. That is how the system is designed. 

The book includes a prologue, 16 chapters, and an epilogue. The author starts looking at China's plasma industry, which was basically decimated by the HIV virus as it was rising. Then we move to the United States where they learned the lessons from China in terms of serious hygiene and safety protocols. The United States then took the business above and beyond. The United States not only collects a lot of plasma; they supply it to other countries as well. As the author writes at one point, the United States is basically the OPEC of blood plasma. 

The author focuses on four key places as examples to illustrate her points: a small town in Mormon Country, Flint, Michigan, Texas and its exploitation of prison populations, and the U.S. and Mexico border at El Paso, Texas. In these places we get a good sampling of the reality of plasma in the U.S. The author travels not only as a researcher and journalist. She is also a patient who uses medication made from human plasma to treat a rare condition. 

The book is very engaging. This is not just a book about blood plasma. It is also a book about the bad economy in the United States, inequality, poverty, class, politics, health, and society. The blood plasma trade illustrates well the social ills of the United States. Many people were willing to speak to her about their experiences as donors, the companies not so much. She had to be a bit creative when researching the business side. The book offers a good reading pace. I found myself reading swiftly. It does suffer a bit from some repetitiveness. There are some points she just keeps hammering over and over. As reader, after a while I felt she needed to move on, the point is made, we get it. 

I'd still recommend the book for readers interested in health and medical topics, socioeconomics, especially in the United States, and business and corporate topics. I do recommend it for public and academic libraries. On our campus, I would recommend it for some of the general studies courses, nursing, sociology, and maybe a business class or two. On a side note, in my humble opinion, this could be an author to invite to campus for the convocations series. I will also note that, to be honest, I am a bit surprised our town does not have a plasma collection center given there are plenty of poor and not so poor who would be the ideal donor pool. Still, the topic and its broader implications could be of interest to at least some on campus. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

Some of the economics of blood plasma: 

"In 2021, American blood products accounted for more than $24 billion in worldwide sales and were 2.69 percent of the United States' total exports. That's a higher percentage than soybeans and several other crops that are sold overseas. A substantial portion of the blood plasma used all around the world comes from the veins of people in the United States" (27). 

 

How the system is designed and who it targets: 

"Selling plasma does not pay enough to live on; it pays just enough to fill the gas tank or the refrigerator. The practice targets the working class and people we like to call the 'working poor' -- often those who earn enough to live in permanent housing and own cars, but who are on the edge of having too little money to make everything flow just right" (29). 

 

The plasma industry exploits American inequality: 

"The plasma industry did not create the canyons of inequality; they were carved deep by existing streams of racism, classism, and regionalism. But the system does methodically exploit these ravines, geotargeting those most likely to suffer through some of the discomfort and potential fatigue in exchange for relatively easy money" (39-40). 

Book Review: The Space Wolf Omnibus

William King, The Space Wolf Omnibus. Nottingham, UK: Black Library, 2007.  ISBN: 9781844164578.

Genre: science fiction, game based fiction

Subgenre: Warhammer 40,000

Format: trade paperback

Source: I own this one. 

 

This volume includes the first three novels of the Space Wolf series: Space Wolf, Ragnar's Claw, and Grey Hunter. 

Ragnar is a native of Fenris, a harsh world where survival is hard due to various monsters and to raids from rival tribes. Fenris is also the home world of the Space Wolves Space Marines Chapter. The Space Wolves pick out new recruits from the planet's population, seeking out the strongest warriors. After a raid on Ragnar's village, he dies in combat, but he is resurrected to become a space marine. To keep things interesting, so to speak, the warrior who killed him, who also died, is also chosen and resurrected to join the space marines. So right away Ragnar is challenged. Not only does he have to undergo the trials and training to become a space marine, a training few survive, but he also has to leave his past behind and learn to at least get along with the former enemy who is now one of his battle brothers. 

The novels start with a frame. Ragnar, by now is a veteran warrior, and he is remembering days of his youth. The first novel goes through his training and trials to become a space marine leading to his first encounter with Chaos Space Marines. The second novel involves his first off world mission, and the chapter get involved in a mission wit the Imperial Inquisition. The third novel is a quest to bring back a lost artifact. 

If you like your Space Marines novels with a lot of action and combat, this is a good selection. Pacing is relatively fast, and the narrative just moves swiftly. It is a book of about 760 pages, yet before you know it you are easily halfway in your reading. The first novel covers details of how a space marine is made, so that may also be of interest to some fans. Though the basic process is common to all space marine chapters, each chapter adds their unique rituals, so we see how Space Wolves turn what are basically Nordic types into savage and battle ready Space Marines. 

The novels also feature some humor, especially in the banter and occasional bickering between Ragnar and his squad mates, more so with Sven, who becomes a close friend. These moments of humor are amusing and do lighten the tension here or there. There were some of those moments I laughed while reading the book. 

Quality in Warhammer 40,000 novels can vary, but this series is pretty good. I'd say it's among the better series. Fans of Space Marines will likely enjoy it. Casual readers may find this book a good entry point into Warhammer 40,000. The novels give just enough detail so you know how things work and plenty of action to you entertained and reading. 

The novels are not without flaws. One or two details may seem a bit ridiculous, but that may be just part of the charm. For example, in that initial raid on Ragnar's village, it was a treacherous ambush during a feast, not very honorable. Suddenly, the warriors start noticing the "Choosers" (Space Marines who choose recruits) may be observing, so the warriors start to at least pretend to some honor in their fighting to make a good impression. That was one of the few moments in the book when I asked "seriously?" as I was reading. Another sort of ridiculous sort of dark humor moment was a death in training. As a recruit, you can did from exposure to the elements, the harsh training, big wild animals, and from being stupid and careless such as Vrotwulf being too stupid to fully unload his bolt pistol before cleaning it; he blows his head off. Yes, even in the 41st Millennium they still have responsible gun owners. 

Along the way in the novels we see how Ragnar grows as a character and as a Space Marine. I really liked this collection and strongly recommend it. It is a fun ride. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Book qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

 

Holiday Post 2023: Books and Reading

Welcome to the third post in my holiday posts series here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is where I look at a few book lists. I try to find what may be interesting, to me at least, and see what I can add to my ever growing TBR list. As I have written before, way I see it these are lists of books that "experts" say I should be reading. The odds are good I have not read them, nor am I in any rush to read them. As my four readers know, I read what I want when I want to read it. This year I've had a bit more of a challenge due to my current boycott of the book publishers and their imprints suing Internet Archive; you can read my boycott statement here. If anything, it has made me a bit more aware of what I read, and I may write a short reflection on the experience later on. 

I also do this post as a bit of reader's advisory. Hey, if I help one or two of my readers to find something good to read I consider that a good thing. As always, I will do my best to avoid any book lists behind a paywall and/or presented in a slides format. 

Let me take a moment to remind my four readers that I will be posting my end of year reading list and report sometime around January 2024. In addition, I will be posting my lists of best books I read and reviewed in nonfiction, fiction, graphic novels and comics, and Tarot and esoterica in early 2024, so stay tuned for those. 

 

 

Big Lists

I do not always pay attention to the usual Big Lists everyone else does, but I know I need to at least acknowledge they exist. So here is a small sampling.

• The Big A has their lists of best for 2023. They have various lists, but I am highlighting their best nonfiction list given I tend to read more nonfiction. Feel free to check out their other categories if you must. On a side note, I was expecting not to have read a single book from their nonfiction, but it turns out I did read one: The People's Hospital (link to my review).
  
• Their competitor, Barnes and Noble, also has their lists. They don't seem to have a nonfiction list, so I am going with their best history for the highlight. I have not read a single book from that list. To be honest, I have not done any shopping at a Barnes and Noble in years now. Part of it is because they seem more a gift store than a bookstore, and part of it is I am just not buying as many books in print, and when I do, I just go over to Half Price Books and get something secondhand, but that is another story.
   

 Lists from Newspapers, Magazines, and other Periodicals

These are in no particular order. 

• Esquire lists their best 20 for 2023. In terms of fiction, it seems dystopian fiction was popular for them.
  
• The Globe and Mail has their best 100, divided into categories.The list also includes some books for young adults and children. Being a Canadian news source, it includes some Canada specific books. 
• The Guardian offers various genre lists for their best of the year.
• Harper's Bazaar has a list of 45 books they claim you won't be able to put down.  Their list is predominantly fiction, mostly commercial fiction, and memoir. If that strikes your fancy, go see what you can find. 
• The New Statesman has a list of 20 best in fiction and nonfiction. From this list, I missed that there is yet another translation of The Iliad; it's listed under their fiction list. From the their nonfiction, I am curious about What is a Doctor? a GP's Prescription for the Future (link to WorldCat), which is about a doctor in the UK and his experiences about the National Health System (NHS) that their RWNJs are doing their best to dismantle. I am sure there are lessons from the UK we could learn and apply here in the United States if people had the will. 
• NPR has their books they love portal, where you can find their selections in various categories, plus the portal let's you look at previous years. I have not read anything from their 2023 bests, 381 in total, but I am thinking about adding the following to my TBR list (links to WorldCat). 
• Anansi's Gold: the Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World. This is a bit of history and a bit of true crime. 
• The Male Gazed: on Hunks, Heartthrobs, and What Pop Culture Taught Me About (Desiring) Men. My library recently acquired this one, and I checked it out, so I am hoping to read it sometime in 2024. 
• I've had Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America on my TBR list for a bit now. Maybe 2024 is the year I get to it. 
• Invitation to a Banquet: the Story of Chinese Food.
  

• The San Diego Union Tribune has a small list of books to give as gifts for 2023. From this list, Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs sounds interesting for the TBR list.  
• Library Journal has a portal of best books for 2023 in various categories.  
• The Progressive picks out their favorites for 2023. The magazine's staff pick out their favorites and then comment on them to help you decide if you want to read them. 
• Mother Jones offers the "29 Books We Couldn't Stop Thinking About in 2023."  The list does have one or two books found on other lists, but it also features some selections I had not seen elsewhere.
  
• Literary Hub has a nice roundup of the award-winning novels of 2023. They've rounded up the winners in the "biggest" book prizes.
  

 

Lists by genre

Let's have a look at some more specific lists.  Again, in no particular order.

• Graphic novels and comics. This is a genre I enjoy, but I do not always get to read as much in it as I wish. 
• Comics Beat has their list of 34 Best Comics of 2023.
• Polygon has a list of the best comics for 2023. 
• Walden Pond Books offers a list of best comics and graphic novels for adults. If you like your comics and graphic novels a bit more "grown up," this may be the list for you.
   
• Science Fiction and Fantasy.
• Gizmodo offers a list of 20 fantasies they consider underrated. 
• Five Books looks at the Hugo Award nominees for best novel in 2023.
  
• Horror.
• Esquire claims that these "31 Best Horror Books of 2023 Will Scare You Sh*tless." 
• Den of Geek came up with their list of horror so far back in October. 
• Paste Magazine has their list of best horror of the year.
  
• Powell's Bookstore also has their list of best horror for the year.
• Want something stronger? You can check out the 2023 Splatterpunk Awards list, via Locus Magazine.
   

 

 Some miscellaneous lists for fun

Finally for this post, here are some lists in curious categories. These are lists that we may not see very often and/or on topics we may not consider much. 

• OK, African American history and literature is not just a curious category, but since this is not a major list, I am linking to it here. From the AAIHS (African American Intellectual History Society) blog Black Perspectives here is a list of the best Black history books for 2023. There may be one or two on this list we need to order for our library. 
• Brittle Paper has their list of 100 African notable books.  Anansi's Gold, which I mentioned above, is on this list. The list seems a bit heavy on fiction, but there is a variety in fiction types. A book from the list I find interesting and possible for my TBR list is in nonfiction:
• Black Ghosts: Encounters with the Africans Changing China. From the book description: "The travel memoir of a Nigerian woman in China exploring the intersections and divides between the two cultures and the lives of African economic migrants in the bustling People's Republic." This could be one to order for our library as well.
  
• Autostraddle offers a list of 65 Best Queer Books. Their list is divided into categories including graphic novels and comics, fantasy, and nonfiction among others. Odds are you can find something you like here. 
• Want Sapphic books? The Lesbrary has a list.  
• Mombian, a resource for lesbian moms, has a list of best books for LGBTQ parents, prospective parents, and parents of LGBTQ kids.
  
• Creative Loafing has a list of best Florida books. 
• Cookbooks? There are a few lists of cookbooks such as: 
• Epicurious offers their best of the year.
• Forks over Knives has a small list of vegan books. Some of them are cookbooks; others are about veganism in general. 
• The Gamer has the best video game cookbooks. These are books based on a video game, and they could be a good gift for the gamer in your life. 
• The team at The Art Newspaper chose their top art books of the year. 
• One of these years I need to see if I can talk our library staff here to pick out a favorite book for a year and then post a year's best or a year's favorites or such on our blog. Until that happens, here are some other library lists: 
• Chicago Public Library list. They got their top 10, then other lists of best by categories. 
• The New York Public Library list, presented by age groups. The list is curated by their librarians. 
• The top ten list from the staff at Boston Public Library. 
• The Beverly (MA) Public Library has a list of their staff's favorites.
  
• Seattle Public library has their staff's favorite children's books for the year.
  
• Photo-Eye has a list of their favorite photography books.  
• Need some humor? Vulture presents their best and funniest books of 2023.
• Enjoy reading books in translation? I can read fluently in Spanish just fine, but for the rest of the world, I may need a little help. I know I do enjoy reading a translated work once in a while. World Literature Today has a list of 75 Notable Translations for 2023.
• For folks who read on audiobooks, here is AudioFile Magazine's best of 2023 list.
  
• Literary Hub has a list for the Lefties in your life, a little Marxism and Mistletoe.
• Want business books? Five Books talks to Andrew Hill of the Financial Times on the five books that made FT's Business Book of the Year short list.  
• Bookshop.org has their list of top selling indie books for 2023. Now finding these kind of books in one place is not always easy, so I hope some folks find this list helpful. 
• Broke By Books has their list of 15 New Christmas Romance Books for 2023. 
• OK, this link is just for amusement. Literary Hub has put together a list of the most scathing book reviews of 2023. If you want to read some reviewers ripping a new one to books like Eli Cologne's new biography, keep reading. 
• Want more bad books? Open Letters Review looks at the worst fiction books of 2023.
  

 

 

 

Book Review: Reading Novels During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ben Davies, Christina Lupton, and Johanne Gormsen Schmidt, Reading Novels During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2022. ISBN: 9780192857682.

Genre: literary studies, literacy, academic treatise, reading

Subgenre: COVID-19, pandemics 

Format: hardcover

Source: Interlibrary Loan (ILL) via Hutchins Library. It came from Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, Texas.

 

Now that most people think the COVID-19 pandemic is over we're seeing all sorts of books and retrospectives of the pandemic time. This book would fall in that category, though the study it discusses was done during the pandemic. The book aims to provide a look at reading habits of folks during the pandemic, specifically reading fiction. Bottom line, for me at least, is this is a book by academics written for other academics. This is not exactly a book for light or pleasure reading. I picked it up to see what insights it might have offered to librarians and to see another side of the pandemic. 

The book is arranged into an introduction and nine chapters. The introduction describes the parameters of the study. The chapters look at different types of books people chose to read and reasons to do so. Among the selections were books about plagues, old books, and romances. The book includes a bibliography, which is extensive but it also features a lot of popular magazine articles. The book also features an appendix with the survey instrument. 

Note that the study sample readers in two countries: Denmark and the United States. Once we get past the introduction, the chapters look at different kinds of reading. Bring a typical academic book, the authors fill a lot of pages with literary and critical theory to support their findings. Between all the theory  you get selected quotes from the readers they interviewed. The reader quotes may be the most interesting part, but they get drowned by all the theory.

To be honest, if you strip out a lot of the theory, you end with what feels like material for popular magazine articles. The book's findings often read like headlines for a popular magazine article. Some examples of findings: 

• How people perceived time/made time to read during lockdown.
• Why Camus's book The Plague makes for popular pandemic reading.
• Unable to buy books, more people read what is already on their shelves. 
• You said you'd read that big, long, thick book some day. Well, the day is here, so start reading War and Peace. 

That is pretty much what the authors' research confirms, things that we sort of knew. I am sure plenty of librarians observed some of the reading patterns presented in the book. I will also notes the book looks at people who were mostly locked down at home and stuck there. I was deemed essential, so I worked at the library, albeit virtually with my office door closed. So my lockdown experience was very different. 

Overall, this is a dense academic book looking at a limited sample of readers. The themes do not seem to be particularly breaking news, and much of it seems like material for articles rather than a cohesive book. Research libraries interested in literacy and literary studies may want to acquire it. It may also be of interest to large LIS program libraries. I would consider it highly optional, and I would not acquire it for our library. 

1 out of 5 stars.

Holiday Post 2023: Gifts, Strange Things, and Other Shopping

Welcome to the second post in my series of Holiday Posts here at The Itinerant Librarian. This week we are looking at gifts, strange things, and other shopping. One of the reasons I write this post is to poke fun a bit at some of the ridiculous, at least in my opinion, items that certain folks think make good gifts for the holidays. Then there are those strange items that make me wonder what the heck are some people thinking. 

In addition, when possible, I try to share some tips and advice for the holiday season shopping for those of you who shop for gifts and other things. My best piece of advice may be too late for some of you, and that is to shop as early as you can. In my case, my holidays shopping for family is pretty much done. One thing I do is shop throughout the year when certain things may be on sale, and I save said things for the holidays. It makes for a lot less stress during this season. Also, here and there I shop online, and again I do so early and when the site has a sale. For example, if you are into cartomancy and on a budget, and you use mass market decks, subscribing to the newsletters of retailers like Llewellyn and Hay House means you get notified when they have a sale. Why pay $25 bucks for a deck when you can get it for $10 at the right moment? Just a suggestion. Many of your favorite retailers and brands I am sure do similar things, so consider getting their newsletters. Just be selective. It is very easy to get your email flooded with all kinds of promotions if you are not selective in terms of who you allow to email you. 

Tips and advice for holiday shopping

Don't live dangerously. Plan and do your online shopping with plenty of time.

 

• If you are shopping online, and you want your items to arrive by Christmas, you need to be mindful of shipping deadlines. This article from CBS News sums up the deadlines for USPS, UPS, FedEx, and a few others. On a side note, at least for us Puerto Ricans and some folks in Latin America, if that gift does not arrive by Christmas, you can always save it for Three Kings Day on January 6.
• The Denver Post has an article with some advice. Highlights include:
• What I just said about starting early. I know, by the time you read this if you have not started, the window is getting tighter. At least set the intention to start early next year if nothing else. 
• Avoid getting into debt. As much as possible, keep that credit card in your wallet, or if you must, use one with a lower interest rate and some perk you find valuable (cash back, airline miles, etc.) and do you best to pay it off as soon as possible. You don't want lingering balances increasing due to interest. 
• They also mention cash back apps. I will say that I have used a cash back app or two, and over time they can add up to enough to get a good gift card to a variety of places. Just make sure you evaluate them before choosing one to use. 
• Avoid holiday scams. The article includes a link on credit card scams to avoid. You may want to look over it. 
• CNBC also offers some tips to help in your holidays shopping.  I don't use credit cards; we stopped years ago. What we do use is a debit card (but that is another story). But if you do have a credit card or two, and it has rewards, the article says to make sure you redeem them, especially for cash back. Apparently holding on to it does nothing really other than sit there, so use them. On a similar note, I will add if you have gift cards sitting around you have not used, this may well be time to use them. That is just money you already paid to the store or retailer of your choice, so put it to use. 
• On a different track, the Chicago Sun-Times highlights the annual "Trouble in Toyland" report about dangerous toys to avoid.  The report emphasizes this year that parents and others "should be wary of smart toys and avoid buying water beads." The article includes a link to the full report (PDF link) if you wish to read further. 
• The Atlantic has a series of articles on gift giving. These address more the stress of the activity and advice overall for gift giving. 
• On an observation, The Daily Beast writes that "Celebrity Holiday Gift Guides Are Completely Out of Control." It seems these days every other celebrity is peddling a holiday gift guide mostly to brand themselves.
• A celebrity list that may be of interest is Chuck Wendig's gift guide.
  
• Overall, stay vigilant, read and be attentive, keep a budget, and stick to it. Personally I would say to many folks out there the advice I am taking this year: keep the spending modest. After all, it always goes back to it's the thought that counts. Maybe instead of spending on a gift you offer things like your time and effort. Example: got a friend with kids? Offer perhaps some sitter time so your friend can have some time off from the kids to relax. Another example: bake them some homemade goods, just don't go overboard but make them with what you already have. I am sure folks can get creative here. 
  

 

General Gift Ideas

You will feel so much better once the shopping is done.

 

• I don't consider $100 dollars to be the line for gifts. I do not have a caviar budget, what can I say. I can buy quite a few gifts for $100, but if your budget is more lavish than mine, Wallet Hacks has a list of 50 best gifts for $100 and under. The items on the list range from about $15 to $20 to the $100 mark. Still, there are some items that seem a good idea. If your budget is a bit like mine, i.e. modest, they also have a list of gifts under $50.
  
• A nice pair of Merino wool socks for the folks who want to keep their feet warm. This is something I could appreciate when I go running in the mornings, and I need to keep the feet warm as the temperatures get colder.
  
• On the other hand, the heated vest may be a bit much. 
• On a different track, this may be good for folks who travel in the United States and enjoy the outdoors: a pass to the National Parks for $80. For that price, you can enjoy any National Park for a year. There may be other discounts for special categories, say military members, so check the website for details.
  
• Card games are always popular with all ages. For children, they suggest Taco vs. Burrito, which you can find online, but I would say any variety of card games can work from classic playing cards to UNO to Cards Against Humanity.
• Cosmopolitan swears they have the most popular gifts of 2023. They say it is based on data from their readers plus they swear their editors know about shopping. I am sure they do. Their idea of popular is probably not my idea, but then again, I am not a regular Cosmo reader. They say they got the perfect gift for folks such as "a beauty lover, a jet-setter, or a beer fan." That may be the first issue right there: I may love beauty but not beauty products; I am not a jet-setter, and I am certainly not a beer fan. Still, let's see some of the highlights:
• A Stanley drinking cup for $45. I get hydration is important, but there may be some more affordable options for your water consumption. 
• I am not sure about the instaprints camera. To be honest, how many people use any kind of digital camera, aside from photography professionals? 
• A phone charge cable with a keychain and a bottle opener. I guess for the alcoholics who need to open their bottles while texting. Hopefully not while they are driving. 
• Squishmallows made their list, the popular squish toys. I can attest a few of my college students do like them. 
• The watch roll I was not sure either because, to be honest, how many people aside from some old timers still wear a wristwatch? These days, the only kind of watch I see some people wear are the smartwatches often connected to a fitness tracker. 
• Esquire also has their list of best gifts for 2023 where they swear that "no one knows gifting better than our Esquire editors." That is a tall claim, but I am probably just not sophisticated enough (nor wealthy enough). Some selections: 
• That Theraface mask at $599 (yea, that is almost $600). It honestly looks like something Hannibal Lecter would be forced to wear. 
• A $750 coffee maker, one of those fancy machines to make espresso and such. I will stick with my drip coffee maker, thank you much. 
• A $240 tie. I have quite a collection of ties, from back in the day when I was a school teacher, and believe me not a single one of them cost anywhere close to their tie.
• Rolling Stone has their "Rockin' Holiday Gift Guide."  From their list, the bidet attachment caught my eye. How well do you need to know a person before you get them a bidet attachment?
  

 

Specific niche gifts

Because these days there is a list for just about any interest. Let's have a look at a few examples.  

• Advent calendars, because you need to get some gifts even before Christmas hits. These days Advent calendars are not just a little cardboard box with little doors containing a piece of candy or such. Nowadays Advent calendars are serious affairs and can be quite expensive gifts on their own.
  
• The Washingtonian has a list of 23 Advent calendars for grown ups that illustrate my point about Advent calendars being high end spectacles. They got calendars with beer, chocolates, wine, as well as plenty of makeup and cosmetics.
  
• Advent calendars for men. Via Esquire. Your man may have survived No Nut November (the stupidest idea in November in my opinion, but you do you), so now you can get him a "12 Days of Gourmet Nuts" advent calendar. The Harry and David advent calendar also has nuts and a few other treats; it was also featured in The Washingtonian's list above.
  
• Cosmopolitan has a couple of options for women including perfume calendars and jewelry calendars. In the perfumes, the Carolina Herrera set will set you back $150. If your budget is a bit more modest, the Macy's perfume calendar is about $25. As for the jewelry, if you can't afford all 12 days, there is a 6 days Advent calendar at about $16, or if you feel lavish, you can go wild with the Nieman Marcus Advent calendar for $495. 
• Personally, I could be happy with a LEGO Advent calendar, and Popular Mechanics has a list of 9. For me, this would appeal to my nostalgia as I loved LEGOs as a kid, and I still do. I do collect a few LEGO sets, mostly small ones given space at home is limited. I'd be happy with the 2023 Star Wars Advent calendar, but there are other options. 
•  For the Pokemon fan, from Esquire. If you have a Pokemon fan in your life, you are likely to find a gift for them on this list. 
• For the stationery fan, via The Well-Appointed Desk.
• The Beat has a few gift lists for the geeks in your life: For example, here is the sci-fi fan. You can find their other guides in topics like horror, wrestling, and anime here.
• A techie in your life? Some gift ideas via The Verge.
• For folks who want to buy "Made in America," the Alliance for American Manufacturing has a holiday gift guide. A hat tip to Public News Service. 
• For foodies. 
• Budget Bytes has a list under $25 and under $50.
• For the carnivore in your life, Popular Mechanics has a list of the "6 Best Meat Subscription Boxes." Because remember, "Beef: It's what's for dinner" (link to YouTube for the ad).
  
• For the bookish people, other than books. Note I will have a post looking at books and book lists soon. 
• We Are Bookish, NetGalley's blog, offers a list of "33 Bookish Gifts for Every Reader on  Your Holiday List." 
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has a list of "Bookish Personalized Gifts." 
• For folks who enjoy puzzles, Vulture has a list of "the Best Puzzles to Give as Gifts in 2023." 
  
• For kids and other gamers at the end of the day they could not care less for specific gifts. What they really want, according to Kotaku, are digital subscriptions and digital currency so they can buy games online.  
• Calendars often make a popular gift. At home, since we celebrate Three Kings Day, that is usually when we give calendars for the New Year. 
• The Reprobate has a list of "The Naked Charity Calendars for 2024." This is where I warn you some of them may be a little risque. However, if you have a sense of humor, want to support a charity, and don't mind a little cute nudity, these may be an option.
• (Spanish language news, via El Periodico). This is the one calendar that is famous but hard to get if you are not connected or a customer of the company. We are talking about the annual Pirelli Tires calendar. This year, the calendar gives tribute to Black Power with a Black photographer and Black models. Models this time include Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba, Angela Bassett among others.
  

 

Alcohol and spirits

 

Leave Booze for Santa. He's making a list, checking it twice. The drunker he gets, the more you look nice.

 

• Drinkhacker has their 2023 Holiday Gift Guide featuring lists of various alcohols and spirits.

 

Tarot and other cartomancy and esoteric

If you wonder how Santa Claus knows who is naughty or nice, he reads Tarot cards.

 

•  Om Times has an article giving suggestions for ideal gifts for each Zodiac sign.
• Healing Thru Tarot has a list of "2023 Stocking Stuffers and Gift Ideas for Tarot Enthusiasts." The list has various items from decks to accessories. From the list, I recently bought the pocket edition of the Light Seers Tarot, and I highly recommend it. Even if you already have the standard size, you may want the pocket edition, or you can give it as a gift to someone. 
• Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady, always puts out a very good esoteric items list. Here is her "2023 Tarot, Astrology, and Mystical Shopping Guide."
  

 

 Adult and/or sexy gift ideas

Elvgren pin up art, nude girl wrapping a present.

 

This is the part of the post that may be a little NSFW and/or risque. If that is not your cup, that is OK, you can stop reading here and thank you for stopping by. If it is your jam, then read on. This is a small sampling of what you might find out there.

• Holistic Wisdom has a list of "Best Sex Toys for 2024."
  
• For folks who like men, FlavaWorks has released their men calendar (Black men) and Carnal Media has their men calendar too (if you prefer Caucasian). 
  
• If you prefer women who are porn stars, Nikki Benz has put out a calendar.
   

Well, that does it for now. Stay tuned for the next post in the series where I look at books and some of the book lists for the year. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and hope you have happy and safe holidays.

 

Book Review: Temples of Books

Marianne Julia Strauss, et.al., Temples of Books: Magnificent Libraries Around the World. Berlin, Germany: Gestalten Verlag, 2022.  ISBN: 9783967040241.

Genre: libraries

Subgenre: photography, travel

Format: oversize, coffee table book

Source: Interlibrary Loan (ILL) at Hutchins Library. The book came from Lutnick Library, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania.

 

This is an oversize book highlighting libraries from around the world. It includes 54 libraries, large and small, and it includes at least one virtual library. On reading it, I felt the book was very Western and Eurocentric, so I went back and did the locations breakdown: 

• United States: 10.
• Europe: 25.
• Asia: 6.
• Africa: 6.
• Latin America: 3.
• Australia: 1.
• Canada: 1.
• Oceania: 1.
• Online: 1.

I think the numbers speak for themselves. I honestly wonder if the editors really could not find more great libraries outside of Europe and the United States.  For example, I am sure Latin America has more than three libraries that could qualify as a "magnificent library." 

In addition to the library entries, the book includes an introduction by author and volume co-editor Marianne Julia Strauss. She opens the introduction and book referring back to the ever popular Borges quote about imagining paradise as a library. She describes then what the book covers, such as: 

"Temples of Books explores the history, mission, architecture, and changing role of selected libraries around the world. The following pages reveal extraordinary public and private collections, national and monastery libraries, repurposed engine sheds, and UNESCO-protected mud buildings from Mexico to Vietnam to Mauritania" (4).

So while there is not much geographic diversity, the editors do provide a good sampling of different types of libraries. Each library entry includes: 

• Library name.
• Design/designer name/style.
• When/date built.
• Location.
• Descriptive text and narrative about the library.
• A selection of photos of the library.

The entries vary in length from a couple of pages to five pages give or take. The text is interesting and informative, though some of the short entries do seem short leaving the reader to ask if there was not more that could be written. Text can include a history of the library, who it serves, and other highlights. 

The strength of the book is in the photography. The photos vary in size, but they are beautiful, and it is a pleasure to view them. The photos are in full color. Do note more prominent libraries get more photos. 

This is a great book to casually browse. You can read it cover to cover, or you can just browse for what catches your eye. 

I recommend the book for armchair travelers who enjoy large travel photography books. Fans of libraries will likely enjoy it as well. I'd also recommend it for public and academic libraries. Libraries with LIS programs will want to add this one. Overall, despite some issues, I really liked it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

Jay Walker's advice on creating your own private library: 

"Collect to learn! Books that can teach you what you never thought you were interested in or can inspire you in ways that stretch your imagination-- no matter the resale value-- are worth their weight in gold" (113). 

Malala Yousafzai's quote on the power of books: 

"Let us not forget that even one book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world" (qtd. in 297). 

Book Review: Thrifty Witchery

Martha Kirby Capo and Vincent Higginbotham, Thrifty Witchery: Magick for the Penny-Pinching Practitioner. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2023. ISBN: 9780738770529.

Genre: pagan and esoterica, witchcraft, magick

Subgenre: coping in the Bad Economy, advice, tips, frugality

Format: trade paperback

Source: Read via Hutchins Library Interlibrary Loan. The book came from the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Do you want to start a path in witchery but worry about the costs?

Are you already practicing but worry about having to keep up with all those witchy influencers on social media?

Fear no more. 

The book's authors are here to show us that you can have a robust, healthy, and thriving witchcraft and magick practice without taking out a second mortgage nor selling a kidney. The authors give you detailed lessons and steps to build a frugal practice that stays within budget. If the Bad Economy is bumming out your craft, this is the book for you. 

The book is arranged in two major parts: the Intangibles and the Tangibles. We start with the intangibles, which you already have and/or can build up. The intangibles are intuition, wisdom, and intention. These three things are the core  of your magick and power. These are the elements that really make your magic work. The tangibles then are foraging, finding, and fabricating. Once you master the intangibles you can go about foraging, finding, and fabricating what you need, very often with materials you have already. In addition, the book features a foreword by Jason Mankey and a bibliography of works cited throughout the text. Many of the works listed in the bibliography are freely available online sources. 

The authors take you through the paces. The first part is about empowering yourself. You get lessons and exercises to build yourself up because you can't do the material stuff until you work on yourself and develop your own power. The magick is in you. Material things can be nice, but at the end of the day if you have intuition, wisdom, intention, and you stand in your power then you can do magick. The authors provide solid and practical advice to build and develop your inner strength and power. Just this first part makes the book worth reading. If you stop reading at the end of part one and follow the lessons, you'll have gained plenty already to strengthen your craft and seeing the world through a witch's eyes. 

However, do keep reading because you get the more material elements in the second part. From making your own cartomancy cards to foraging and finding items to fabricating what you need with what you have, the authors give you instruction and details for practical actions and crafts. As in the first part, the exercises are great, and they are things you can do if you are willing to put some work in and maybe a little elbow grease here or there. 

The book is interesting, and it is very accessible. For someone like me still on the early stages of my craft journey, this is a great book that motivates and inspires. You feel that the practice can be done and if you put in the work you will get results. Plus you are doing it without spending money, or spending very modestly if you need to spend money. The exercises are definitely a strength in the book. I read through the book so I could review it, but this is a book to read and work through a bit at a time. For me, this is a book I need to go back and start working with it. It is a book to keep handy on your craft reference shelf. This is one I definitely would buy for myself, and I already ordered a copy for our library. 

I strong recommend it for any libraries collecting pagan and esoterica materials. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Additional reading notes: 

From Mankey's foreword: 

"Unlike the candle magick book I read in college, Vini and Martha start their book the right way, by helping us to embrace the magick we all carry within us" (xxii).

Mankey on the authors not being judgemental. As I often say, you work with that you have: 

"The world we live in is a complicated place, and it doesn't need to become more complicated through shaming others for their choices. In some areas, the dollar store and the fast-food joint are the only options around" (xxiii).

Take your witch power back and wield it with power through Thrifty Witchery: 

"In truth, magick does note have to be expensive to be effective, and this book offers a practical, penny-wise roadmap to successful and power-filled spellcasting. Regardless of whether you are starting out on the path of witchcraft or are a seasoned professional in the magickal arts, this is your reminder that the cost of witchcraft is not primarily monetary" (1). 

This is a path anyone and everyone can do and follow, open to all. 

The 4 lessons of empowerment presented in Chapter 1: 

• To know. You need to study and you need to be curious. You also need to carefully evaluate what you read and find in terms of information. 
• To will. Have the confidence to act on your knowledge and exert your will. 
• To dare. Be willing to try, fail, try again, succeed, learn. Persevere.
• To keep silent. Yes, you need to also know when to be quiet. Discernment. Your magick is yours. 

 

On why the thrifty witch should hone their divination skills. I happen to agree because I believe the practitioner needs to hone, use, and take advantage of any tool available. However, for other witches their mileage may vary. It is their magick after all. 

"In short, divination-- particularly because so many of the methods require little or no financial outlay--is a penny-wise practice that the empowered witch can embrace and should spend time developing. Honing your divination skills will sharpen your overall effectiveness as a witch. Why? Because the more aware you are of your own insights and deep knowings, the more powerful your spellwork will be" (65). 

 

Again, you need read, research, study:

"Understanding the world of witchcraft and its many traditional and nontraditional practices is vital to your development as a witch. It is only through gathering information that anyone is able to decipher which path they want to explore in depth. A firm knowledge base of folk magick, high magick, initiatory and lineaged paths equips a practitioner to make choices based on what their intuition has led them to understand is best for them. Additionally, a witch who is aware of a wide array of cultural practices is armed with wisdom on why those practices work. If so inclined, they can adapt or use different practices from a place of respect and understanding" (80). 

As the Blood Ravens say, "Knowledge is power. Guard it well." 

Once more, take time to learn, research, study: 

"Taking the time to learn the magickal precepts of various systems and form a knowledge base of these paths can only enhance our understanding of how magick works in a multitude of ways" (93). 

Finding is different than foraging: 

"Finding comes from knowing what you need and going out into the world to locate it. Foraging is more centered around happening upon items while out and about without an expectation that you will find a specific, predetermined object" (178). 

What magick is about: 

"Magick was never and still is not about profligacy-- it is and always will be about using what is on hand when you need it" (185). 

Media Notes: Roundup for November 2023

  

 

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during  November 2023.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available):

• Cobra (1986. Action. Crime. Thriller). Plot description: "A tough-on-crime street cop must protect the only surviving witness to a strange murderous cult with far-reaching plans." Sylvester Stallone is Cobra, the strong arm of the law, in this 1980s action crime film. It is one of the 80s Cannon films, and on a trivia note, George P. Cosmatos, who directed Tombstone, directed this one. I've seen it before, and while not great, it is pretty entertaining as Cannon films go. I watched it this time via Internet Archive, and they had it with Spanish subtitles. On a side note, if you are fluent in Spanish, you may smile amused at some of the small translation choices. Overall, an entertaining action film that has some over the top action sequences and car chases, but otherwise fairly average. Still, entertaining in an afternoon. Kind of movie comes up on cable, and you are likely to watch in part for Stallone and in part for the action. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Watched 11/25.
  
• The movie is very loosely based on the novel Fair Game by Paula Gosling. 
• Navy Seals (1990. Action. Adventure. Thriller). Plot description: "A battle-hardened SEAL Team set off on a mission to destroy a shipment of US-built Stinger missiles that have fallen into terrorist hands." Before Seal Team Six became a sensation for being the one who killed Osama Bin Laden, Michael Biehn was leading Charlie Sheen and the rest of his SEAL team to keep things safe. I remember watching this back in the day, not to far off when the original Top Gun movie was still popular. Decided to take a look now and see how it holds up. The film is a decent action movie. It does follow some of the formula of Top Gun that later got parodied in Hot Shots:  the daring gung ho operator who is reckless (Sheen), the serious leader (Biehn), and the one operator who just wants to make it through getting killed, and did we mention he is about to get married? So part of the script is somewhat formulaic, but still entertaining overall. It does have a very moving moment at the funeral when the fiancee asks about the flag. That scene really gets you. Overall, pretty good, and it features a part or two that is better if you do not think about it too much, so 3.5 out of 5 stars. Watched 11/25. Via TubiTv. 
• Death Spa (1988. Horror). Plot description: "Gruesome deaths begin to occur at a hip Los Angeles health club." It seems a woman died at the spa, the owner's wife, and now her spirit seeks revenge; this horror story goes for a supernatural element to the killings in the spa.The movie does have quite the 80s fitness scene vibe. His brother in law runs the computer at the spa, and he blames the owner. The main issue with the movie is the somewhat convoluted plot that is not always consistent. The acting is good enough for a B-film, though not by much. There are some good kills and a bit of gore to make a semi-decent horror movie, but the story and somewhat slow pacing just does not make for a good film, horror or otherwise. The premise is good, but it just drags at times. The ending picks up the pace, but by then, well, it's getting to the end. It does get ridiculous, a bit of fun, but not enough to save the film overall. The script overall is pretty bad. 1.5 out of 5 stars barely. Could have rated higher with a bit more coherence. I am not expecting an Oscar worthy script, but at least some basic work on the story. Via TubiTv. Watched 11/25.

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Columbo (1968-2003. Crime. Drama. Mystery). The popular and often beloved series with Peter Falk in the title role. The series has 10 seasons; Tubi breaks it down as 16, but it is basically the 9 seasons plus the specials and tv movies that made for a 10th season. Since Tubi has the complete run, except for the pilot episodes (see the link; they had a different actor), I decided to watch. I remember watching this in and out in younger days. 
• Series starts with "Prescription for Murder." Plot description: "A highly successful psychiatrist and the beautiful patient he is in love with kill his wife and have it appear to be a robbery that resulted in murder...but Police Lieutenant Columbo has his doubts." It is an hour and 39 minutes film. I find interesting how they took the time to set up the murder, then we see it carried out, but with minimal violence seen, and then the plot goes from there. When the doctor and his lover are taking a flight, this is the late 1960s, so airport security is nothing like post-9/11. Columbo does not appear until 30 minutes into the episode. He is not quite settled into the character as we know it now; he carries the raincoat instead of wearing it for instance. He does not look as frumpy as he does later in the series. The doctor thinks he will be good to go, but between some small complications and Columbo, there is some good suspense as we wonder if he will get away with it or not. (I mean, it is Columbo, we know he won't but it is a good story). It is interesting watching Columbo work the case and figure things out, which is also part of his charm. 
• On a trivia note, Steven Spielberg, the now famous movie director, directed the episode "Murder by the Book." It is the first episode after the two sort of pilot episodes that came before.
  
• Poirot Set 6: The Movie Collection. I checked this volume from Lexington Public Library in part because I do like the series, but also because this particular volume has an adaptation of Hallowe'en Party, which is the story that Kenneth Branagh adapted for his A Haunting in Venice. This set also has two over films: Three Act Tragedy and The Clocks.
• Three Act Tragedy. Plot description: "Deadly Dinners Whet Poirot's Investigative Appetite. While visiting the Cornish coast, Hercule Poirot (David Suchet) attends a dinner at which one of the guests suddenly dies. An inquest finds no evidence of foul play. But Poirot’s host, renowned stage actor Sir Charles Cartwright, thinks otherwise, and another death at a later party with the same guests seems to confirm his suspicions. Together with Sir Charles and his vivacious friend Egg, Poirot applies 'la technique classique'—eliminating the suspects, one by one." This is interesting to watch because Poirot remains silent at times as Sir Charles and Egg speculate about the case and discuss clues. He just watches them as he himself is working the case in his mind. Once Poirot figures it out, the explanation is quite fascinating, and the crimes are for a very specific motive of passion.
  
• The Clocks. Plot description: "Poirot Identifies A Man Whose Time Ran Out. While trying to unmask a mole at Dover’s military base, Lt. Colin Race enlists Poirot to help him aid a pretty secretary apparently framed for murder. Called to a residence on a quiet street for a temporary typing job, she found only a man’s corpse lying on the floor. No one can identify the body, find a murder weapon, or explain the presence of four strange clocks—none of which belongs in the home, and all of which stopped at 4:13." The lieutenant is the son of an old friend of Poirot, a Col. Race (now retired), so there is the connection. The mole has stolen some important British maps and war plans; the country, at least the military, is anticipating another war (what would become World War II). So the question is how the dead man, the framed secretary, and the mole are connected, if at all? As Poirot points out at one point, the case may be getting complicated, but that means the solution will be very simple. It was not very simple, but part of it was very mundane involving fraud on one hand and espionage in the other.
  
• Hallowe'en Party. Plot description: "Poirot Looks For Ghosts From A Young Girl's Past. Wholesome fun at Woodleigh Common turns harrowing when a children’s Halloween party ends in the murder of 13-year-old Joyce Reynolds. Poirot is summoned by an old acquaintance, crime novelist Ariadne Oliver, to help in the investigation. He seizes on a clue: immediately before her death, Joyce had boasted of having witnessed a murder several years before, although she didn’t realize it was a murder at the time. Although everyone pooh-poohs her claim, Poirot knows that 'old sins cast long shadows.'” The death of a child is already a haunting proposition, and on Halloween, it makes quite a mystery with a scary touch. Old sins do cast long shadows as the death of Joyce is but part of a chain of other deaths all to conceal the old sins. Overall, this is a pretty good Halloween mystery.