Monthly Archives: September 2012
Staff Picks – Halloween with Matthew Mead
Halloween with Matthew Mead
With a change of pace this week, I will be reviewing a non-fiction title! Just in time for our next upcoming holiday, I want to talk to you about “Halloween with Matthew Mead.” This is a new book that was ordered recently by our Sophia branch, and I have to say, it was a great purchase! On the cover of the book we’re promised some “style made shockingly simple”. I didn’t exactly believe that claim, since in my experience of checking out many many Halloween idea books (it’s one of my favorite holidays!) usually the suggestions provided require such skill and so much time that all I can do is look at the pictures and dream. You can imagine how pleasantly surprised I was when I realized most of the ideas in this book were actually projects I could do!
From the whimsical (ideas for a “forest fete” complete with mushrooms and little mice) to the elegant (a “white magic” party with white-on-white décor and treats) to the down-right cute (a “pirate’s booty” party for kids), this book really has ideas for just about everyone. I have to say, my favorites have to be either the green “martian eye cookies” or maybe the adorable (and totally simple!) “pantry pals”.. staring carrots with black-eyed peas as eyes! I am definitely copying a few recipes and ideas from this book, and anyone else who likes to put on a party for Halloween should give it a look too!
Staff Picks – Sweep
Sweep by Cate Tiernan
Sweep is a young adult fantasy series written by an author I have always really enjoyed, Cate Tiernan. She is also the author of Balefire and the Immortal Beloved series. I enjoy her books because she writes about magick in a way that is grounded in real world pagan beliefs but that has instances of real magic, creating believable tension between the characters who are magical and those that aren’t. There are 15 books in the series – 14 of which are set in the same period in the main characters’ lives, and a 15th which is set after the main characters are adults. The titles of the books are:
- Book of Shadows
- The Coven
- Blood Witch
- Dark Magick
- Awakening
- Spellbound
- The Calling
- Changeling
- Stife
- Seeker
- Origins
- Eclipse
- Reckoning
- Full Circle
- Night’s Child
Currently I am only on book 11, but I cannot foresee anything at all that could keep me from finishing this series. The main character throughout the series is Morgan Rowlands, a high school student who discovers that she is descended from a long line of powerful witches. This makes her an outsider in both the magical and non-magical worlds as she tries to balance her powers (but lack of experience) with her normal life. Through these books she faces a number of obstacles in both the mundane and supernatural realms as she strives to find her place in the world and discover what kind of adult she wants to become. There are also some of the fun super-dramatic YA romance aspects throughout the books, to balance all the action that takes place. At times the inexperience of the characters can be frustrating as they make what seem to an adult reader to be obvious mistakes and mis-communications. It isn’t a serious enough issue that it interfered with my enjoyment of the books though.
Overall, if you like young adult fantasy books or are just looking for a fun fiction series involving Wicca, this is a great series!
Recommended by: Ashley at Main