Ardinger's latest contribution to pagan literature is a short-essay book of days jammed with facts about goddesses and saints, alongside an assortment of random pop culture references and personal musings. The author of several books including Finding New Goddesses
, Ardinger is a regular encyclopedia of knowledge not only about paganism but more broadly about significant women figures and goddesses in history (think Julian of Norwich, Mother Teresa, and Isis, all of whom make appearances among the 365 days). Loosely organized into monthly themes with, for example, January taking up "home and community" and July and August taking up "water" and "fire" respectively, Ardinger attempts to give some rhyme and reason to the plethora of information. Chocolate lovers will surely delight to learn the story behind Lady Godiva (July 10) and those uninitiated into the history of Sophia (December 16) will be happy to learn of her illustrious past. But the real question for general readers is whether a calendar of random, though often interesting, reflective paragraphs, with a lot of comments directly to the reader and casual prose thrown in here and there, is worth the investment. For readers looking for pagan trivia, though, Ardinger's book of days is the ultimate find. (Aug.)
Correction:
The review of The Language of God: A
Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
by Francis S. Collins (Free Press, PW
, May 29) should have been starred.
