Book Description
Maggie O'Neill must turn on her own charms-mystical and otherwise-while investigating the death of one of her customers from the antique shop, Enchantments.
Customer Reviews:
A better Mystery.......2007-08-21
A much better story than the first. The book is tighter and the mystery is a hard one to solve. It takes to the last chapter to find out where the story is going. The characters are mostly in the background to Maggie's sluething and she spends more time actively trying to solve the mystery instead of reacting emotionally like the first book. STill not Agatha Christie, but a good fluffy mystery. I look forwards to the third book.
Maggie has grown.............2007-05-21
This is the second outing of the "Bewitched series' which continues the story of Maggie O'Dell. Maggie's has been asked by her boss, Liss, to take care of her shop Enchantments, because Liss is still recovering from her sister's murder,(told in "The Trouble with Magic"). It is the Christmas season, and a trio of pretty girls from the local high school come into Enchantments. Amanda, the obvious leader of the group, buys an antique clock and flashes a wad of money to pay for the clock. Maggie wonders how a high school girl could have so much money. Soon after, Amanda is found dead and Maggie is drawn into finding the murderer out of sympathy for Amanda's mother. Madeyly Alt has definitly improved the character of Maggie in this second volume. She has grown as an empath and certainly seems much more mature then in the first book. Marcus and Liss are featured as major characters in this outing and we see Marcus' growing attraction to Maggie. The complication here is that Maggie thinks that he and Liss are involved, so even though she admires and is attracted to his character, his looks, and his obvious kindness to her, she is unwilling to see Marcus as a suiter because of her regard for Liss. Maggie's romantic focus is still on Tom, her sometime boyfriend policeman who does not understand the world of the metaphysical, and who has made it clear he is no longer interested in Maggie, so it is Marcus who helps her with her investigations. The pacing is better in this book, as is the dialog, and Maggie's internal musings are a little more age appropriate this time around. There is still the problem of Maggie's voice which still seem too juvenile for a 30 yr. old woman, but I was glad to see that her issues with her mother and her Catholic faith are not as black and white to her as in the first book. The solution to this murder was not one that I guessed, but the author does tie up the ends neatly and the motivation for the murder rings true. This is a much better book then the first, and I hope the series and Maggie continue to grow.
I just couldn't get into this series..........2007-05-20
I picked this book up between flights at an airport bookstore last January. I love witches, ghosts, murder mysteries and the like, so I thought this book would be a great read. After a few chapters on the airplane, I put the book down and opted to stare off into space. I couldn't stand the lead charater and I felt like many of the characters were sterotypical and predictable (ie, the angry, tormented goth girl, the hot hunk, the religious, meddling mother). I also found it odd that a store run by a group of witches would somehow fly under the radar of the townsfolk, even when the group NIGHTS is out hunting ghosts and performing spells.
When I came home, I gave myself a few weeks and tried to pick up reading the book again. After another few chapters, I just donated it to the library because I couldn't even get through it.
Don't waste your $$ on this one, go grab one of the donated copies at the library if you insist on trying to read it.
Second time around is just as wonderful.......2007-05-12
Madelyn Alt is truly terrific! This second book of hers picks up where the first one left us, nearly seamlessly, and lives up to the promise of being as good IF NOT BETTER than the first time around. Her main character Maggie is as flawed and human as the rest of us, which makes us love her more because she is so much like us "mere mortals". The mystery that occurs is not one of those "oh, I know who did this" types where you know the bad guy in the first few chapters -- it sneaks up on you and slaps you in the face at the very end, making you wonder "geez, what just happened to me?" I would highly recommend this author, and will continue to buy her books as long as she chooses to write them!
Nice continuation of the series.......2007-05-10
Book 2 - Maggie settles into life working for a witch, having ghosts in her basement apartment, and dealing with the customers at Enchantments. But when one of those customers goes missing, Maggie gets involved. Will she get too close?
Book Description
A Bewitching mystery--first in the new paranormal chick-lit mystery series.
Antiques-shop clerk Maggie O'Neill was a little weirded out when she discovered her new boss Felicity was a witch. But when Felicity becomes the suspect in a local murder, Maggie must enlist Felicity's wiccan friends for help--and discover her own spellbinding talent.
Customer Reviews:
Good light reading.......2007-08-19
Bored with her office job, Maggie decides to take a chance on working in the retail industry for a self-described witch. Things get really interesting when the witch is accused of murdering her sister. Lots of fun Magnum PI references, possessed Volkswagon bugs, and talking burial urns. Good characters with interesting quirks, light romantic moments.
Excellent for a winter's Day.......2007-08-05
Not as easy flowing as some other witch mysteries, but a terrific cosy mystery. Our heroine gets a new job with a witch and she finds very quickly that she has to chose between defends her new friend or going with her upbringing. The mystery whilst easy to gets who, it is not easy to guess why
Totally "bewitching," and a good mystery, too........2007-06-24
I enjoyed this book so much that it was hard to put down. The characters are intriguing and the murder mystery keeps you guessing. In fact, it left me wanting more to the point that I ran right out to the store to buy the next edition in the series. You might want to just order both books together to save yourself the trip!
This book might not be quite right for you if the idea of ESP and/or witchcraft offends you. Also, the description of the practice of "magick" could be considered a bit enticing to someone who is easily swayed. But if you can take it with an ounce of imagination and fun, it makes for a fun, slightly goosebumpy reading experience. Nothing too scary - just the right amount to make it interesting, but still allow you to get to sleep at night.
An enchanting mystery.......2007-06-21
This new series written by Madelyn Alt is a fresh new perky kind of series. It involves magic, murder, mystery and mayhem. The 4 m's what could be better?
Anyway, the back of the book pretty much tells the plot, Maggie recently gets a job at a charm shop working for Felicity when all of a sudden Felicity is charged with murdering her own sister. Maggie is convinced that she is innocent as does Felicity's friend, Marcus. Felicity and Marcus and a few other people gather every now and then to practice their magical capabilities. They are known as the N.I.G.H.T.S. and they deal with the supernatural when it occurs around them. Maggie is asked to join them on the account of she recently and slowly starts to develop strange powers...
Anyway it's a good read with a bit of magic and mystery to keep you hooked. I read it in a little under two days. I am anxious to see how Maggie's adventures continue in the second book.
Fun "Witchy" Series.......2007-06-13
Once I picked up "The Trouble With Magic" I could not put it down. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I guess that I see a lot of myself in Maggie - someone who struggles, not necessarily against, but with the beliefs of her upbringing and those that she wishes to hold as an adult. I thought that for a first in a series, the character development was good, the mystery intriguing and the romance subplot good. Personally, I enjoy a good "cozy" type mystery with a little romance thrown in. I am currently reading the next in the series and look forward to finishing it and hope that the series is here for a while.
Book Description
Featured on Entertainment Tonight
Brand New 5th Edition 165pp
Features 75 plus new and rare photos, new interviews and information including a lengthy Q & A with Bewitched producer/director Richard Michaels.
Drawing upon research from primary sources dating back to the 19th century, this biographical work presents an in-depth, multi-dimensional look at the life and career of Elizabeth Montgomery.
Included in the work is a detailed family history, Elizabeth's own stories describing her childhood and youth, her early career, her life and work with William Asher and her devotion to their children, as well as her later work in television movies and with various charities and social service groups. Featured are more than 500 images of Elizabeth throughout her life, as well as from her early television days, her Bewitched television series and her TV movies. Included are numerous direct quotes and stories from Elizabeth herself, as well as from family members.
Special BEWITCHED section includes:
1. The Bewitched 100 - 100 facts about Bewitched in a clear, easy-to-read, easy-to-find listing.
2. Connecticut vs. New York?
3. Lots of Bewitched-related photos
4. Interview with Richard Michaels, Director & Producer of Bewitched
5. It's all relative
6. Episode listing by title and date aired
7. Cast bios, production information and much more
Customer Reviews:
THE BEGUILING MS. MONTGOMERY.......2007-01-27
I was too young to see Bewitched when it was on in the sixties, but I developed a crush on "Sam" in reruns, she was just so charming, sexy, and beautiful, I later saw her in a movie in which she played a woman that had been assaulted, I was like eight, and I was really upset, I mean my Sam was being beat up, but she was fantastic in the role, so different than her Bewiched part, then later on I saw her, in this movie that she played this shrew, she was mean as hell, and she was spectacular. This book is an odd mix of familar stories and it tries to get into what made this iconic woman tick..it's not a total success, Ms. Montgomery was a VERY private person and she gave very few interviews, I guess that comes from growing up with a famous father and her early huge success. At any rate, good read, but we really never understand the enigma that is Elizabeth Montgomery, but that is how she wanted it, it adds to her mystic I suppose.
Our Elizabeth.......2006-06-07
Elizabeth Montgomery is one of my idols and I'd always wished someone would write her biography. Now we have one...although I wouldn't call this book a biography in the traditional sense.
Elizabeth's story is told here in quotes, magazine articles and interviews previously given by Elizabeth and people who knew and worked with her. There are a great deal of interesting bits about Bewitched, especially obscure trivia that even diehard fans probably don't know, and some details about Elizabeth's ill-fated marriage to the odd actor Gig Young. This book also includes a lot of excellent photos of Elizabeth, many of which are from early in her career and before she became synoymous with Samantha.
I did learn a lot about my idol in reading this book, but because Elizabeth was a very private person, there are understandably a lot of holes that may never be filled.
Overall, I'm pleased with this book. True Elizabeth fans will like it too.
NEW LIMITED 4th EDITION!.......2006-01-22
Brand New SPECIAL LIMITED 4th EDITION
Features 30 additional pages, 75 plus new and rare photos, new interviews and information including a lengthy Q & A with Bewitched producer/director Richard Michaels.
An in-depth, informative & fun Q&A with Richard Michaels, former director and associate producer of Bewitched. Mr. Michaels provides much factual information about the show, everything from scripts to stand-ins to the Bewitched movie. Behind the scenes info is shared and Richard offered several one-of-a kind photos.
Drawing upon research from primary sources dating back to the 19th century, this biographical work presents an in-depth, multi-dimensional look at the life and career of Elizabeth Montgomery.
Included in the work is a detailed family history, Elizabeth's own stories describing her childhood and youth, her early career, her life and work with William Asher and her devotion to their children, as well as her later work in television movies and with various charities and social service groups. Featured are more than 500 images of Elizabeth throughout her life, as well as from her early television days, her Bewitched television series and her TV movies. Included are numerous direct quotes and stories from Elizabeth herself, as well as from family members.
Special BEWITCHED section includes:
1. The Bewitched 100 - 100 facts about Bewitched in a clear, easy-to-read, easy-to-find listing.
2. Connecticut vs. New York?
3. Lots of Bewitched-related photos
4. Interview with Richard Michaels, Director & Producer of Bewitched
5. It's all relative
6. Episode listing by title and date aired
7. Cast bios, production information and much more
NEW Limited Edition.......2006-01-20
FAST delivery from USED & NEW
On sale now the brand new LIMITED 4th EDITION in both book and CD-ROM versions.
New information and material and photos in every section and in each chapter chapter, increased info on Bewitched, television movies and more.
75 new and very rare photos, 30 addl pages, interviews with Bewitched producer/director RIchard Michaels.
Best Edition yet.
CD-ROM has great bonus features at a great price.
Elizabeth Montgomery: A Bewitching Life.......2005-10-04
For anyone interested in either Bewitched or Elizabeth Montgomery this book is a must. I just could not put it down.
Average customer rating:
- Super Great Stories
- Unforgettable
- Love That Conquers Time
- Awsome Book!
|
Avon Books Presents: Bewitching Love Stories
Rebecca Brandewyne ,
Christina Skye ,
Shannon Drake , and
Kasey Michaels
Manufacturer: Avon Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Skye, Christina | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Brandewyne, Rebecca | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Drake, Shannon | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Michaels, Kasey | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0380768321 |
Customer Reviews:
Super Great Stories.......2002-10-13
Bewitching Love Stories
Anthology -
Devil's Keep Rebecca Brandewyne 5*
This was a real sensual delight and so worth the entire book - although the other stories were very, very good. Count Drago von Reicher puts an advertisement in the paper for a governess for his son. Lenore Blakely answers the ad after being turned down so many times before due to a lack of references from former employers. It seemed that wives did not look kindly towards beautiful governesses once their husbands and sons were effectively rebuked by Lenore. She is hired sight unseen and without an interview by the Count - her first inkling that something might not be right. But, considering the fact that she was close to being totally impoverished, she accepted the position. Upon meeting her employer, the extremely dark and enigmatic Count, her first instinct was to run, but after gazing into his eyes this soon became an impossibility.
The reader as well as our heroine is then hooked - pulled into this devastatingly sensual adventure to mind boggling delights of the senses. The love story here transcends all time and is truly fabulous for such a short novella.
Vanquish the Night - Shannon Drake 4*
Colonel Michael Johnston, famed war hero and Indian fighter felt the evil coming into the night on the cool breeze, but never imagined it would be a fight for the very survival of the woman he loved.
Anne Pemberton was a descendant from a very strong woman, one who committed suicide rather than live with evil. The very handsome and enigmatic, David Drago had searched for centuries to find Anne, the one woman he would take for his bride to live in the darkness and evil that was his domain. It took all the faith and love Anne and Michael had for each other to face down and destroy the vampire - proving that love and faith could conquer evil.
This was a very fast and sensually written read with this time, a very bad type vampire! Good story.
My Aunt Grizelda by Kasey Michaels 4*
I really liked this story which kind of reminded me of Cinderella and gave me visions of the very inept and bumbling witch from the TV series Bewitched . Do you remember Aunt Clara? As you read this delightful story - Aunt Clara is pictured quite vividly in my imagination. The sensuality is minimal in this story of the governess who falls happily in love with the Earl, but the laughs are numerous. Ms. Michaels witty dialog is delightful and this story is quite like reading a fairytale. But I do believe in magic and fairytales so - Yes - I liked it!
What Dreams May Come - Christina Skye 5*
Re-enter the ethereally beautiful world of Draycott Abbey, where Adrian Draycott, the resident ghost and caretaker resides with his ever faithful companion, Gideon. Once more, Adrian has been awakened with feelings of danger in the wind. He is feeling depressed, ever since he had helped his brother (in one of his many incarnations) find his way back to loving his reincarnated soul mate. With Nicholas and K.C. on their honeymoon, he is really annoyed that a woman has entered his precious Abbey. More annoying is the fact that without trying, his ghostly being has become quite real, flesh and blood! And, this woman has aroused in him feelings in his, shall we say, man-parts, that haven't been aroused in centuries!
Who is this woman, Gray Mackenzie? Why can she see him, and touch him and arouse him to such a fever? What is the secret she hides, and why can he not remember who she is? In this very, very sensual offering from Ms. Skye you are in for the treat of your life as you experience a most ghostly affair! Dynamite love scenes that will curl your toes! And of course, there is Adrian, my own personal dream of who I'd like to haunt me! Super read.
Unforgettable.......2002-10-02
This book is one of my favorite keepers. If you can get a copy, it'll be well worth it. I read this many years ago and the most memorable story is Devil's Keep by Brandewyne. This is a beautiful vampire romance with scorching text! I have never forgotten the emotions and the erotic passion I experienced when reading about Count von Reicher and his son's governess, Lenore Blakely. I have yet to find another story that evokes such intense rapture and such a good feeling at the end! I give this one 5+ stars. The other stories are very good too, and my overall rating is 4+ stars for the collection.
Love That Conquers Time.......2001-05-24
Bewitching Love Stories is an anthology written by four favorite authors. It is Hot, Hot, Hot!!
Devil's Keep written by Rebecca Brandewyne is a KEEPER! Count Drogo von Reicher places an ad in the London Times seeking a governess for his young son. Lenore Blakeley's ravishing beauty and gentleness immediately places her in danger. She arouses dark, sinister desires in her mysterious employer who is no man at all but a vampire.
The love scenes in this story are positively scourching!! They are hot enough to keep you warm even in sub zero temperatures. Grab a copy and enjoy!!
Shannon Drake's Vanquish The Night was another great read. David Drago is a vampire who has searched hundreds of years for his lost love, Anne Pemberton. He is not noble or gentle. He is ruthless and . . . evil. He intends to have Anne and will allow nothing or no one to stop him. Anne has encountered this vampire long ago in another life. She escaped him through death but this time David Drago is very determined to claim Anne for his own. He will not allow her to seek death.
This story was incredible. The menace, danger and suspense kept the pages turning until the very last. A Keeper!
Kasey Michael's My Aunt Grizelda was another good read. The romantic dreams of a lovely, poor nanny are made true by a well-meaning witch. Sweet story.
Lastly, is Christina Skye's What Dreams May Come. An artist risks her sanity and her heart while encountering a ghostly protector. Great story that will renew your faith in love.
Enjoy!!
Awsome Book!.......2000-06-15
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great page-turner. I really enjoyed the Draycott Abbey series of the book.
Average customer rating:
- Hopeless heroine, horrid hero
- Couldn't put it down, but...
- Love it!
- I laughed non-stop through the entire book...
- Delightful and amusing
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Bewitching
Jill Barnett
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books | Cosmetics | General | Hair | Skin Care
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Barnett, Jill | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671778633 |
Book Description
She had bewitched the most serious, snobbish, and handsome Duke in England. Joyous MacQuarrie...the pixie-like, green-eyed beauty had appeared from nowhere and fell unashamedly into his arms. And all that his society friends knew of the mysterious lady was that she was Scottish and that her grandmother had been a Locksley. Even her fine bloodline didn't make Joy quite proper enough to be a Duchess, but a proud nobleman like Alec, Duke of Belmore, did as he pleased...and he wanted to marry the beautiful girl who aroused his desire.
But Alec soon discovered he could not do what he pleased with Joy Fiona MacQuarrie. Bubbling with laughter, filled with spirit, she turned stately Belmore Park upside down with merriment and strange occurrences. She might even have gotten Alec to laugh -- and to cherish her -- if it had not been for the truth she hid. Though he turned to fire when he tasted her petal-soft lips, he turned to ice when he discovered that this winsome lady was, in fact, a witch. A witch whose powers of white magic were not always perfectly under control....Too late, Joy knew she was desperately in love and that nothing could stop the course of their destiny -- the scandal threatening to destroy her and the passion that held them both spellbound in a forbidden, irresistible match of two enchanted hearts.
Customer Reviews:
Hopeless heroine, horrid hero.......2007-05-11
Our heroine, the Scottish witch Joyous MacQuarrie, is a loser at everything she attempts. She stinks at witchcraft, can't cast a spell to save her life. And I found her pathetic. Whoopee she was an eternal optimist that smiled a lot. But I kind of thought of a fool everytime I pictured her. A silly, "Ramling Rose" kind of fool. I became very frustrated that she was good at nothing and no job she ever attempted worked out right. The Duke of Belmore was nothing I would have fallen in love with either that's for sure.
In the end, Stephen saved the story. Somehow his reveal saved the tale.
The lovestory itself ended predictably, but satisfyingly.
I think overall this protagonist just wasn't my cup of tea.
I will heartily applaud Barnett for the pink roses thing, Beezle (hated the hair eating tho), tree-hugging, and the dancing statues on the roof. Wonderful!
Couldn't put it down, but..........2006-04-17
I liked this book, couldn't put it down, but I have noticed that in many of Jill Barnett's books, the hero is just cruel until he realizes his love for the heroine. In this one, it took longer than others. So, I kept wishing Joy would just leave him already. Instead she stayed and took his verbal abuse. I was glad when she FINALLY stood up for herself and got mad and struck back! I wish she had more backbone. On the other hand, there was humor, the scenes with Stephen were touching, and the ending was very sweet.
Love it!.......2005-11-27
Bewitching is one of my all-time favourite books. Joy McQuarrie is a delightful Scottish witch. Alec Castlemaine is proud English duke. Put them together and what have you got? Magic! Jill Barnett has filled this book with hilarious scenes that will leave you laughing out loud. I think the scene where Joy seals her lips to the cold carriage window is particularly funny. This book also has some moving parts. Basically, this book has got it all. Great dialogue, but not too much. Descriptive prose that wisks the reader to Regency England. A conflicted couple. A delightful heroine. A stuffy hero that learns to live and love. A moment of sadness when Joy runs away. And of course, a happy ending. I love it!
I laughed non-stop through the entire book..........2005-07-16
And so will you! This story was the most hilarious I have ever read...period. And the fact that it's wrapped up in an intricate romance makes it as adorable as the Meg Ryan tear jerkers from the 80's and 90's. The characters are so well developed and the the chemistry between the two leads is sizzling. I won't rehash the plot...you can read the summary and editorial reviews for that. I will say; however, that you will not be disappointed. And be prepared for some serious belly laughs. If you read this book, you will embark on a journey full of toad-spitting threats, rose petal fantasies, and a bevy of wonderful characters including one hair eating weasel. One of the best books I've ever read.
Delightful and amusing.......2005-06-14
Often laugh-out-loud funny, this book also contains a lot of heart. poor Joy just can't seem to control her magic, which makes for a happy, laughing reader and a furious duke. Alec is so staid and proper, so concerned about even a minor scandal -- and he unknowingly marries a witch, a very clumsy one. Sometimes Alec is verbally cruel to her, but it comes from his upbringing and generations of Duke's just like her starts this novel -- wow, do things change by the end. Joy's natural optimism keeps her from giving up early in their relationship. But who can resist all those pink rose petals? Oh, my goodness. A delightful paranormal that is emotionally satisfying without taking itself too seriously.
Book Description
Enchantment is not limited to the Sabbats and the occasional full moon. Magic happens all the time and every day. 7 Days of Magic demonstrates how to successfully apply the specific magical energies of each day into spells, charms, and rituals.
Forget about memorizing massive correspondence charts. This practical, easy-to-use guide encourages readers to learn at their own pace. Every chapter-one for each day of the week-contains a small table of magical correspondences (planetary influence & symbol, deities, flowers & plants, metals, colors, crystals & stones, Tarot cards, herbs & spices), which are talked about in-depth within seven distinct sections. Each chapter ends with a magickal potpourri of sample spells and rituals.
Customer Reviews:
Informative.......2006-11-04
Lots of useful information for a beginner like me. I enjoyed the book and found it practical and useful.
Cute and Useable.......2006-08-22
This book may be small and definitely isn't super in-depth, but I still recommend it. It manages to squeeze in lots of information about the days of the week, from Tarot correspondences to incense, and deities associated with such. Overall, I would only want to see people with a knowledge base in magic using this book because it is mainly "how-to" in its format. However, if you understand magic basics and want some reference points for the days of the week, this is a cute little book thats easy to read and use.
Best of it's kind! .......2006-07-13
I can already see that I will require another copy from shear wear! Everything is easily arranged and right at your fingertips at a moments notice. Don't miss!
A staple reference for your library..........2005-02-17
Witty, enchanting, practical and entertaining, Ellen Dugan breaks down complicated daily correspondances in a way that makes the reader comfortable- so comfortable at times it feels as if Dugan is in the room talking to you! Great for the pragmatic practitioner who is a wee forgetful at times about the basics.
Educational and Fun to Read!.......2004-11-30
This is an excellent book for anyone who has ever wondered what each day of the week can mean for them. Each chapter is arranged in such a way that the reader can easily find each day's correspondences, and even a little of the lore and legend behind each day. You can learn about the gods and goddesses associated with the days, and spells and charms that go along with them. It is a great book, whether you are new to magick and want to learn more, or are an advanced practioner who needs a bit of a reminder now and then. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those interested in writing their own spells and charms.
Product Description
first in the bewitching new Three Sisters Island trilogy.
Book Description
This impressive array of essays considers the contingent and shifting meanings of gender and the body in contemporary Southeast Asia. By analyzing femininity and masculinity as fluid processes rather than social or biological givens, the authors provide new ways of understanding how gender intersects with local, national, and transnational forms of knowledge and power.
Contributors cut across disciplinary boundaries and draw on fresh fieldwork and textual analysis, including newspaper accounts, radio reports, and feminist writing. Their subjects range widely: the writings of feminist Filipinas; Thai stories of widow ghosts; eye-witness accounts of a beheading; narratives of bewitching genitals, recalcitrant husbands, and market women as femmes fatales. Geographically, the essays cover Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. The essays bring to this region the theoretical insights of gender theory, political economy, and cultural studies.
Gender and other forms of inequality and difference emerge as changing systems of symbols and meanings. Bodies are explored as sites of political, economic, and cultural transformation. The issues raised in these pages make important connections between behavior, bodies, domination, and resistance in this dynamic and vibrant region.
Customer Reviews:
gender studies of Southeast Asia.......2005-01-16
This is a mixture of Southeast Asian studies and gender studies. Though most of the articles are by women, some are by men. Though most articles are by people with European last names, there are some contributors with Asian names. Like many gender studies anthologies, there is more information on femininity than masculinity. However, I blame no one since men's studies is such a recently emerging field.
This book focuses more upon Southeastern Asian island nations than other places. There are no articles on Vietnam or Myanmar in this book. Still, given that Indonesia is approximately the fifth most populated country in the world, the work here is novel. I mean, how often do you hear about Indonesia and Malaysia in American books?
Unfortunately, this book says little about feminism in the region. Further, each chapter begins with a summary that tells you everything you need to know. Really, students could get away with reading the summaries and not having to read the rest of the text.
My main reason for being proud to own this book is because of the cover painting by Arunothai Somsakul. I definitely have to find more of her work; it's pure beauty. I missed whether the editors explain the title. But I find it misleading in two ways. First, it comes off as somewhat sexist that men are labeled "pious" while women are labeled "bewitching." Too, this book is not about religion in Southeast Asia. It focuses on fertility, employment, and family dynamics, not spirituality.
It's funny to me how books become timely. There were no fears about tsunamis when this anthology was collected in 1995. However, this book covers the nations that were worst effected by the recent disaster. Anthropological and other academic studies of the area may have some useful impact on the recovery efforts taking place as I write this review.
Book Description
In 1604, 20-year-old Anne Gunter was bewitched: she foamed at the mouth, contorted wildly in her bedchamber, went into trances. Her garters and bodices were perpetually unlacing themselves. Her signature symptom was to vomit pins and "she voided some pins downwards as well by her water or otherwise.". Popular history at its best, The Bewitching of Anne Gunter opens a fascinating window onto the past. It's a tale of controlling fathers, willful daughters, nosy neighbors, power relations between peasants and gentry, and village life in early-modern Europe. Above all it's an original and revealing story of one young woman's experience with the greatly misunderstood phenomenon of witchcraft.
James Sharpe is Professor of History at York University and the author of Instruments of Darkness: Witchcraft in Early Modern History and other works of social history.
Customer Reviews:
Anne's sad story.......2004-01-27
The book of James Sharpe "The Bewitching of Anne Gunther" contains the story of,I quote :"The best-documented English witchcraft case ever".
The book tells us the story of a girl named Anne Gunther who was "bewitched" by three women,"witches", and whose names I will not mention, because if you decide to read the book you have to be aware of the fact that you will have to cope with LOTS of names.
Although the subject metter discussed in the book is familiar to everyone, it is surprising that the girl actually did not act and simulated fits by her own will. The most familiar case of, so to say, witchcraft and "bewitching" is the one of Salem witches in America, and it is well known that those girls from Salem did not do it against their will.
Anne was forced by her father to act as if she was bewitched, and by doing that she had to suffer a great deal of pain, physical as well as psychological. The sad thing is that she was not a little girl, ( which would explain her obedience to her father), she was a twenty year old woman. So, this book also gives us a clue what was the position of women in that society. Brian Gunther, her father, drogged her, and forced her to do all kinds of "sick" things, to make the bewitchment more authentical. Later on, she was trialed at the Star Chamber court ( the most notorious court in English history) and I will leave it up to you to find what happened to Anne.
The story is rather interesting, and it really shows us what are some people caoable of doing just for the revenge. However, the book contains a lot of facts that are rather boring and that could be left out.
But anyway, the book should be read. At least, do it for the sake of your knowledge!
history vs. entertainment.......2004-01-12
Anne Gunter, a 20 year old woman, lived in the Oxfordshire village of North Moreton. In the summer of 1604 she fell ill. Yet witchcraft was not being discussed, but it was when the illness recurred on the 23rd of October and continued over the following weeks that people began to make more note of the symptoms. Doctors could not find natural reasons for her illness. The inevitable was thought and assumed - that she was bewitched. Anne vomited pins and other unnatural things, she had fits and trances and one time during a trance she named three women as witches that bewitched her: Agnes Pepwell, her daughter Mary Pepwell and Elizabeth Gregory. Agnes Pepwell managed to run away, but the other two women were tried for witchcraft, but both were found not guilty. Anne's father Brian Gunter took the case in front of the court of King James I. He was known as a witch-hunter, but during the trial Anne confessed that her father forced her to act as bewitched and also forced her to accuse the three women as witches. He made her drink strange things and she had to hide pins in her mouth in order to vomit them up whenever people were there to visit her. Brian Gunter and the Gregory family had a feud, which was the result of a football game some years ago. Anne's father killed two members of the Gunter family and got away with it. He orchestrated Anne's fits to have the family branded as witches. The King's churchmen were not fooled or amused and brought Brian and Anne Gunter before the Court of the Star Chamber in 1606 for perjury and false accusation.
"The Bewitching of Anne Gunter - A horrible and true story of deception, witchcraft, murder, and the King of England" is highly recommendable. But it depends on what you want to do with the book. If you expect a novel on witchcraft that is exciting, entertaining and full of suspense until the end - than this book might be the wrong one for you. James Sharpe, a professor of history at York University, took a very interesting historical events and narrates it in three pages. The other 227 pages are background information. The historian goes back to the Oxford connection of Brian Gunter, he explains very detailed what happened at that football match were the feud between the Gunter's and the Gregory's started. Other chapters explain terms like possession or exorcism. Everything that is essential for this case is investigated. The facts of the story are taken apart in it's component parts and the many names of people are a little confusing. There is also a lot of repetition, some things are explained more than two times. However, if you are interested in a historical book, if you are interested in witchcraft this book might be the right thing for you. If you are looking for an exciting novel on witchcraft you better should keep on searching.....
212 pages of pure historical information.......2004-01-11
The Bewitching of Anne Gunter by James Sharpe tells the true story of 20-year-old Anne from North Moreton near Oxford, who in the summer of 1604 fell sick with symptoms that the age considered indicative of demonic possession or witchcraft: She had fits during which she writhed and contorted, she fell into trances or comas and vomited foreign bodies, particularly pins. As she suffered her fits she called out against her supposed tormenters before an ever expanding audience of fascinated spectators and named three women from her village as having bewitched her: Agnes Pepwell, her illegitimate daughter Mary and Elizabeth Gregory. In March 1605, when one of the accused women had escaped and the two others were acquitted in a trial, the case was still not over for Anne's father Brian Gunter. He decided to gain sympathy at the highest level, by arranging a meeting between his daughter and King James I, who was well known as a witch hunter. The plan misfired badly, though. The king, as well as the archbishop of Canterbury, Richard Bancroft, was rather sceptical and by October Anne had confessed to the king that she had simulated bewitchment under parental pressure. Her father had made her swallow a mixture of "sack", or sherry, and "sallet", or salad oil, in order to make her fits more believable. Brian Gunter's motive was some bad blood between him and the family of the chief of the accused witches, Elizabeth Gregory. The feud had begun some years before when Gunter had inflicted fatal injuries on two of the Gregorys at a football match. Proceedings were initiated against Brian Gunter and his daughter Anne for falsely accusing the three women.
Although the story itself is a fascinating one, it unfortunately gets spoiled by the author's unnecessary repeating of names, dates and side-events, which make it hard to stick to the story without losing interest. Sharpe is without a doubt an excellent historian, which he proofs in giving such a thoroughly detailed reconstruction of this English witchcraft case, but still, I think, this is not what most people would expect from this book. Especially the promising subtitle A HORRIBLE AND TRUE STORY OF DECEPTION, WITCHCRAFT, MURDER, AND THE KING OF ENGLAND may lead the reader to the wrong assumption that this might be a sensational, gripping novel, which it obviously is not. It is rather a historical account of a true witchcraft case, embroidered with detailed background information.
What comes clearly out, are the reasons why people might have participated in the so-called witch craze.
Not exactly thrilling, but still informative.
A story drowned in facts, figures and dates.......2003-12-31
In the summer of 1604, a 20-year-old woman called Anne Gunter, daughter of Brian and Anne Gunter in North Moreton, fell ill. Her illness was first ascribed to "the disease called the mother", which is hysteria. But the symptoms returned in October. Doctors were called in and all agreed that the fits from which Anne suffered could not be due to illness but must have some supernatural cause. In her fits she contorted and writhed, fell into trances and vomited foreign bodies, especially pins. These symptoms were at that time considered to be signs of demonic possession or witchcraft. And indeed, Anne named three women, Elizabeth Gregory, Agnes and Mary Pepwell, as her supposed tormentors and said they had bewitched her. At the Abingdon witch-trial of 1605, though, the judges did not find the evidences convincing and decided against her father's accusation: two of the three alleged witches (one had fled by that time) were not found guilty and acquitted. However, Brian Gunter did not want to leave it at that and took his daughter's case to a higher instance, namely that of King James I of England. The king, who was known to be a witch hunter, though, was sceptical and passed Anne to the care of Archbishop Bancroft and then to his chaplain. It was at then, when Anne was away from the influence of her father for the first time, that she confessed that she had simulated bewitchment. Consequently, a story of deception became uncovered which began with a game of football some years ago. This game turned violent, Anne's father intervened and beat two young men of the neighbouring Gregory family, who both died from their injuries (apparently). The result of this incidence was a feud between the two families. When Anne became ill with "the mother" hysteria, Brian Gunter had obviously found a convenient way to discredit the Gregorys and accused Elizabeth Gregory of having bewitched his daughter. He forced his daughter Anne to play the role of the bewitched and made her swallow "sack and sallet oil" and a "green mixture" to make her fits more convincing. This physical and mental pressure nearly drove her into suicide. But Brian Gunter's plan failed and in 1606 a Star Chamber interrogation was initiated against him and his daughter for falsely accusing the three women.
In "The Bewitching of Anne Gunter" James Sharpe closely investigates a case of witch-hunt of the early 17th century with the thorough methods of a historian. He looks at witchcraft as a social, political and economic phenomenon by bringing to the surface all the factors which seemed to have pushed people to accuse fellow citizens of witchcraft or demonic possession. He does so by giving detailed accounts of parish and other registers of that time, records of trials and further authentic material. However, as a reader (and more or less layperson in the field of historical research) I sometime had problems keeping track of the story itself. Although the book is written in a light and easily accessible style, the endless listings of names, dates and figures very often hinder comprehension and distract from the more significant issues. These facts, which they doubtless are, may trigger off a feeling of boredom and at some point or the other, I really had to force myself not to skip entire pages in order to keep up my attention. The case of Anne Gunter surely is an interesting one, because it provides us with an insight into the credulous (and hypocritical) world of the Jacobean age and depicts the culturally rooted forces behind the witch-crazes of that time. So on the whole I would say it is a passable read. However, reduced to its essentials by, for example, avoiding unnecessary repetitions of details, descriptions and explanations, it would be an even better one (at least for people who do not want to engage themselves too much with, for instance, genealogy)!
Informative, but not Bewitching.......2003-11-18
If you're looking for something sensational and dramatic like THE EXORCIST, you're looking in the wrong place in reading THE BEWITCHING OF ANNE GUNTER: A HORRIBLE AND TRUE STORY OF DECEPTION, WITCHCRAFT, MURDER, AND THE KING OF ENGLAND. Despite its lurid subtitle this is not a sensationalistic novel, nor is it a biographical narrative. It is, however, very informative. It's really a cultural history about witchcraft centered on the alleged bewitching/possession of a nineteen-year-old girl in early Jacobean (17th century) England. It tells use about what people believed about witchcraft at that time and place and proves that there wasn't a monolithic belief in killing witches. Different segments of society held different ideas about witchcraft.
The important thing to remember is the girl, Anne Gunter, withdrew her allegations of witchcraft. Now what caused her to assert them in the first place? Her father. What were the social, economic, and religious ideas of the day that caused people to believe her? There are many surprising revelations in book. None more surprising to me than the different picture I got of James I of England (James VI of Scotland), who is usually portrayed as a rabid Bible-thumping witchhunter.
So not a thrilling biography, but well worth reading if you are interested in the general milieu of the witchcraft hunts. This slim book of 238 pages has 9 chapters, Notes and References, and an Index.
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