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Monday, September 11, 2017

#allthebookreviews: Basic Witches by Jaya Saxena & Jess Zimmerman @quirkbooks @jayasax @j_zimms

Basic Witches:
How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven
by Jaya Saxena & Jess Zimmerman
Quirk Books
Releases 9/12/17




Big thank you to Quirk Books for our copies in return for our honest reviews.


Capitalizing on the rising trend of hipster witchcraft, BASIC WITCHES is a lighthearted and empowering book of spells and lifestyle tips for feisty millennial women.

In Basic Witches, readers will discover how to tap into their inner sorceress and channel the dark arts for everything from cluttered apartments to dating disasters. Want to enhance your attractiveness? Pick the right power color of eyeshadow and project otherworldly glamour. Need to exorcise a toxic friendship? Say the right symbolic curse and banish it from your life. Need to boost your self-confidence? Whip up a tasty herbal “potion” to strengthen your inner resolve. Plus historical and pop culture sidebars that situate the new witchcraft trend within a broader context. With humor, heart, and a hip modern sensibility, journalists Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman dispense witchy wisdom for the curious, the cynical, and anyone who could use a magical boost to get through the day. This ain’t your grandma’s grimoire!

My Thoughts: 





First, let me say that this is definitely not the type of book I would normally read.  It's actually probably the type that I wouldn't even think of picking up.  But anything witches always intrigues me.  I also remember being a kid and thinking I could put a spell on anyone.  I tried.  They never worked! Ha!  

This book gives a little history on witches and then is riddled with rituals and spells to cast the negative out of your life and work on the positive.  Which is basically taking out anything toxic and building your self esteem.. basically your typical self help type of book, but done with humor and in a way that keeps you turning the page.  There's sections on how to read tea leaves that made me laugh.  For instance, seeing a flower means you'll receive praise but seeing Leonardo's Last Supper means your cup is too big.  I also loved the Calisthenics part - they call planking "Light as a feather, stiff as a board."  I found these little things to just be adorable.  All the spells and rituals are things that can be done... and maybe they don't actually work but I think the basic core of just doing SOMETHING helps ease the mind at times.

I'm never going to be that person who will find my inner light or believe in mercury retrograde or the universe making things happen... but will I open this book every once in a while and do a little ritual because it might make me feel better for the moment?  Well, it certainly is healthier than other options so yes, absolutely.

★★


Jessica's Thoughts:




I don't normally read books classified as "self-help", but when I saw this cover and read the description, I had to take a peek! BASIC WITCHES is a hilarious approach to a self-help book. There is a little bit of the history behind witches, which is always interesting to me to read about. It's full of great illustrations and "spells" or rituals to remove negativity from your life. There were a lot of great references and funny sections on reading tea leaves. 

This is definitely one of those books I can see people enjoying. Even if it's just for a laugh or two whenever you're feeling down. So if you're looking for a fun read with some witchy references, then you'll have to give this one a read - even if it's just for the illustrations (I mean, the cover alone will pull anyone in!) There isn't much more I can say without giving away most of the fun of this read. So enjoy the spells and rituals - who knows, maybe if you try hard enough they could work! ;)

I give this one 4/5 stars!

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