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Bright from the Well: Northern Tales in the Modern World
'Bright From the Well' consists of five stories plus five essays and a rune-poem. The stories revolve around themes from Norse myth - the marriage of Frey and Gerd, the story of how Gullveig-Heidh reveals her powers to the gods, a modern take on the social-origins myth Rig's Tale, Loki attending a pagan pub moot and the Ragnarok seen through the eyes of an ancient shaman. The essays include examination of the Norse creation or origins story, of the magician in or against the world and a chaoist's magical experiences looked at from the standpoint of Northern magic.' Dave Lee coaches breathwork, writes fictionand non-fiction, blends incenses and oils, creates music and collage.
168 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
August 11, 2020
Sometimes you're glad that you didn't get a chance to write a review until later.
Sometimes when you read a good book,
you're sad that it's over, because you know
you might not read it again, even though it was great.
You get another book, and maybe even
forget about the old book until later,
then give it another read.
Not this one!
Bright From The Well is so incredible,
you want to read it all,
just so you can read it again,
literally right after,
as if the book just flips over,
and starts new, again, and again.
Perhaps now I am in a better place with my writing skills
to more appropriately appreciate this book with a review
it deserves.
Not only that, but after having it for years,
I can say from personal experience how many times
I have gone back to this book, I swear it sits on my working desk
this very minute.
Why?
Let's see, where to begin?
First off, I would have paid full price for the rune poems alone.
Dave's rune poems are among the best I've ever read,
and I quite fancy me some rune poems.
Then, consider the length of the book is poetic,
in that is is so fanciful pieced together.
Every story makes you think, this is my favourite one.
Until you read the next one,
then you will get into an argument
with yourself constantly over
if chapter one the creation?
is best, a retelling of the classic Voluspa,
or perhaps The Turing Test?
I won't even say one word about that,
but then there's The Sky Under The Earth.
If I had to pick,
I would pick the latter,
but only if I absolutely had to choose,
because still there are other chapters
that hold a place so near and dear
in my heart, they ache a bit for lack
of mention, but I won't go over the whole book,
not here at least.
Did I mention the end holds a nice morsel of surprise?
Oh, does it ever!
I won't give it away,
because it too is worth
its weight in gold,
I'll just say that Dave also gives
Connected Breathwork lessons,
and the end is something really
quite special, and unexpected!
Arguably also the most important part,
depending on why you purchase the book,
for its multitude of eternal value.
The artwork throughout is ridiculous!
Not too much, but every chapter has
a new bind rune, artistically drawn up
in such a fashion, that you too will wish
dearly you had the artwork plastered
on your very walls!
I could not build this book up too much,
as there is no way you could be disappointed
if you have any love whatsoever for rune poems,
masterful retellings of the sagas from "Viking"
era, or just tales so masterfully woven together,
you will be dying to read this book,
as much as any new book,
even though you've already read it,
three, four, five, six, 100 times?
Let's put it this way.
I can honestly say, if I had to have ONE
book, not joking, one book,
say I was stuck on a deserted island...
Well, my friends, no offense to everyone else,
because there are many books that hold
a special place in my heart,
this is the only time you will read this,
because "there can only be one",
but you bet your behind it would be this one!
No other book has inspired me so greatly,
to such a degree, so many times,
again, and again, and again,
as this book.
So, yes, I can honestly say
this would be my choice,
over even Lord of the Rings,
or anything of the sort,
nothing would make me
think twice, yet,
and I wouldn't regret it for a second.
That's how memorable this book is,
and how useful it is, even now,
years after I first read it,
still it sits right next to me.
If you don't have this book,
unless it's sold out,
I would ask what's wrong with you?
Sometimes when you read a good book,
you're sad that it's over, because you know
you might not read it again, even though it was great.
You get another book, and maybe even
forget about the old book until later,
then give it another read.
Not this one!
Bright From The Well is so incredible,
you want to read it all,
just so you can read it again,
literally right after,
as if the book just flips over,
and starts new, again, and again.
Perhaps now I am in a better place with my writing skills
to more appropriately appreciate this book with a review
it deserves.
Not only that, but after having it for years,
I can say from personal experience how many times
I have gone back to this book, I swear it sits on my working desk
this very minute.
Why?
Let's see, where to begin?
First off, I would have paid full price for the rune poems alone.
Dave's rune poems are among the best I've ever read,
and I quite fancy me some rune poems.
Then, consider the length of the book is poetic,
in that is is so fanciful pieced together.
Every story makes you think, this is my favourite one.
Until you read the next one,
then you will get into an argument
with yourself constantly over
if chapter one the creation?
is best, a retelling of the classic Voluspa,
or perhaps The Turing Test?
I won't even say one word about that,
but then there's The Sky Under The Earth.
If I had to pick,
I would pick the latter,
but only if I absolutely had to choose,
because still there are other chapters
that hold a place so near and dear
in my heart, they ache a bit for lack
of mention, but I won't go over the whole book,
not here at least.
Did I mention the end holds a nice morsel of surprise?
Oh, does it ever!
I won't give it away,
because it too is worth
its weight in gold,
I'll just say that Dave also gives
Connected Breathwork lessons,
and the end is something really
quite special, and unexpected!
Arguably also the most important part,
depending on why you purchase the book,
for its multitude of eternal value.
The artwork throughout is ridiculous!
Not too much, but every chapter has
a new bind rune, artistically drawn up
in such a fashion, that you too will wish
dearly you had the artwork plastered
on your very walls!
I could not build this book up too much,
as there is no way you could be disappointed
if you have any love whatsoever for rune poems,
masterful retellings of the sagas from "Viking"
era, or just tales so masterfully woven together,
you will be dying to read this book,
as much as any new book,
even though you've already read it,
three, four, five, six, 100 times?
Let's put it this way.
I can honestly say, if I had to have ONE
book, not joking, one book,
say I was stuck on a deserted island...
Well, my friends, no offense to everyone else,
because there are many books that hold
a special place in my heart,
this is the only time you will read this,
because "there can only be one",
but you bet your behind it would be this one!
No other book has inspired me so greatly,
to such a degree, so many times,
again, and again, and again,
as this book.
So, yes, I can honestly say
this would be my choice,
over even Lord of the Rings,
or anything of the sort,
nothing would make me
think twice, yet,
and I wouldn't regret it for a second.
That's how memorable this book is,
and how useful it is, even now,
years after I first read it,
still it sits right next to me.
If you don't have this book,
unless it's sold out,
I would ask what's wrong with you?
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review