Sharon Blackie

''Snow Queen loves silence. Loves the silence of ice and snow…Snow Queen will make an iceberg of your heart.''

Disappointing. I struggled with the style of writing and the unnecessary dramatics, which is no doubt why it took such an inordinate time to read.

This was portrayed as a female driven retelling of European folklore & myths, but the story of Baba Yaga (or in this case ‘Babs’ the hippie) was the strangest and most unconvincing version I’ve come across. There was a definite repetitiveness to the tales, generally revolving around women being wronged and getting revenge. In one instance a woman was actually glad her husband slept with another, so that she could improve her sexual skills to please him! What the actual F?!

I found Last Man Standing the most enjoyable, but overall the artwork was the better element of the book. In fact I found this to be more ‘anti-man’ than a celebration of woman.… (más)

“Recently, I happened across it again, by chance – if you believe, which I do not, that stories ever come to you by chance.” I don't think I happened across this book by chance.

Sharon Blackie explores the philosophical and psychological history of *disenchantment*, and how Western society came to be so thoroughly and determinedly disenchanted with the world. In the face of the trauma this has caused (in the form of increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and physical manifestations of stress), she offers up an alternative: *enchantment*, or falling in love with the world and all its complexities.

Don't underestimate this work. It's not "woo-woo", a term she uses a few times in reference to escapist, magical, potentially silly ways of thinking. Blackie has a strong background in neuroscience and doesn't hesitate to dive into academic texts spanning psychology, philosophy, and folklore.

This book was incredibly meaningful to me. As soon as I read the comparison of Woman A vs. Woman B, I started trying to implement some of these ideas into my own life. I do feel like I've fallen prey to the isolation and meaninglessness that result from such determined individualism, human supremacy, and pessimism. I hope that I can bring myself to a better place now that I've recognized where those feelings may come from.

There are little exercises throughout the book that tie into what she's talking about. Some of them can be quickly written down in a journal; others are more involved and will take time. I've done some of the easy ones and intend to do most of them eventually.… (más)