Becoming Dangerous by Katie West (and others)

  • Source: This was a book club pick

  • My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (see my review on Goodreads)

Becoming Dangerous is a collection of essays from a beautifully curated selection of people, some of whom I have long been a fan of, and others that were completely new to me. I read this for my witchy book club, as our theme for the month was “prowess”! I was delighted, charmed, touched, and inspired by this book.

I love that every essay dropped me into a different life and showed me a different way to infuse magick and ritual into the everyday. I love that each author shared their vulnerability and brought a level of connection that felt palpable through the pages. I love the variety of writing styles, or narrative techniques, of poetry and artistic expression and exploration. I love that I got to read about gardening and skin care and sex magick and fashion and therapy and boxing and sigils and manicures and music and the sea. I love that I got to experience haircuts and Scotland and sweat and quiet moments. I love that there is an essay that subverts and points fingers directly at the entire theme and title of the book!

This book also came with plenty of discomfort that I think is important and it’s part of the point. I experienced some authors’ traumas, bullying, depression and racism and bigotry. I experienced the anxiety and despair that followed the entire 2016 election in the US and its aftermath. Not all of this felt good and some of it was hard to read. But I think this book wouldn’t be complete without it. The whole picture is one of transformation and death and pain and the reclamation of one’s life, beauty, magic, and SELF from those ashes.

book reviewKelleynonfiction, anthology, witches