Lisbeth Zwerger Artist - Library Books

Lisbeth Zwerger is one of my favorite artists. Lisbeth Zwerger is an Austrian illustrator of children’s books best known for being a recipient of the Hans Christian Andersen Award due to her exemplary contribution to the field of children’s literature. Born on May 26, 1954, in Vienna, Zwerger studied at Vienna’s Applied Arts Academy from 1971 to 1974. Though she left before completing the course, her first illustrated book was published in 1977.  Zwerger has worked as a freelance picture book illustrator in Vienna, specializing in fairy tales and classic stories. Zwerger is considered one of the most accomplished illustrative artists in the current century.

Here are some of her books that I got from the library. A local patron donated a pile of her books to our library. I myself have owned a number of her books which are scattered about here and there. Another one of my favorites is her Gift of The Magi - this is the edition that we have. When I got married to my now husband - we each gave one another gifts on our wedding night. He gave me combs for my long hair and I gave him a pocket watch. We both love that story. Lisbeth Zwerger has many other books and art that you can find as well. I hope you’ll search a few out to enjoy. Sitting down with her books is a magical world filled with beauty and wonder.

The Nutcracker illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Aesops Fables - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Selfish Giant - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Selfish Giant - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Canterville Ghost - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Canterville Ghost - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Till Eulen Spiegel’s Merry Pranks - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Till Eulen Spiegel’s Merry Pranks - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Legend of Rose Petal - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Legend of Rose Petal - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

The Legend of Rose Petal - Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger

Lisbeth Zwerger has said that the most difficult task for her now is choosing material to illustrate; at first she gravitated toward childhood favorites, but later she tired of traditional fairy tale end­ings, which often seemed sexist or overly moral­istic. Her work has continued to be published in Austria; in addition, she is published in more than sixteen other countries, and her work has been exhibited worldwide. Zwerger has been honored several times at the Bologna Interna­tional Children’s Book Fair, at the Biennial of Il­lustrators at Bratislava, and by library organiza­tions and literary publications in the United States* She is among the best illustrative artists to have emerged in this century.

Pile Of My Books

Books. I have too many books. I know, I know there have been questions floating around the online world about this very subject. What is too many for me - might not be too many for you. I have to go through the book elimination process pretty hard core every few years. I do not really like it at all. There is generally a build up to it. There is a feeling first. The feeling is generally - an anxiousness. This feeling tends to originate from a not being able to find a book that I am looking for. I do not like being in that position - however, it does alert me to a piling up of books.

There is a lot written about this topic. It can fall into the camp of hoarding books for some. Bibliomania is a term tossed around which means an extreme preoccupation with collecting books. The Japanese term tsundoko - means basically book piling. Each person can determine what their book collection is and means to them. I know for me - when I cannot find a book or things feel out of sorts around this book collection - it’s time for books to go.

I have books in most rooms of my home. I don’t want this to be the case. As I have gotten older I tend to like a peaceful and calm home. When I have lots of books around - even if they are on shelves - it is distracting. My eyes tend to fall on the titles constantly as I pass by. The words jump out at me. Some books like a huge illustrated Ulysses keeps telling me to get to it. I don’t pick it up. With so many books around in my life, it can become somewhat chaotic in determining which book I want to pick up. I have more non-fiction books than fiction.

I would say that three-quarters of my book collection is non-fiction. I have always leaned this way. I do read other things like biographies, history, political works, women’s studies, poetry, fantasy, gardening, self-growth, seasonal , anthroposophical, philosophy and myth and fairy tales. That is a pretty wide range of works. I like having a bunch of books that I am able to go and pick up to read in the moment. I am not an organized reader typically. I am more of a mood reader unless I am working on a project and need to do research.

So books. The past couple of days have found me sorting through books again. I don’t necessarily want to ditch them. The idea that usually comes up is - my husband needs to build us a library. His carpenter ways would easily allow him to do this. But, do I really want to add on a library room to my house? That seems like a great idea to me. However, it is a lot of work, time and financial strain. The idea of sitting surrounded by walls with shelves of all of my books with a comfy chair feels like a dream really. It reminds me of all of those books I have read about the very reading places that live in books. So, is this a reality or born out of book reading?! I notice the word feeling keeps coming up.

The other thing that comes to mind is if I just give away a large portion of my books it will suddenly feel easier and less burdensome. That seems like a very fast and final solution to this issue of too many books. I mean - build a library? It is more to my liking of having less books and a more serene environment regarding book collections. The idea of being free in a quickly carried out swoop feels like a big relief. So, would that not be the thing to move toward? One would think so.

Still, it is challenging to face your stack of books and determine will this be the day that you finally take another plunge in toward eliminating the weight and burden of too many books? I can feel it marching toward me. It seems like a small thing in the face of all that is going on in this mad world right now. It is a grounding force in my life at the same time. Books offer solace, comfort, learning and some sense of order and peace in my life. It is these mad times that seem to push me toward lightening the collection of books that work at the edges of my thinking.

A need for less. The need for some sort of order when you feel like you can’t make any. A sense of control might be peeking around the edges. Books and book collecting is a strange predilection that some of us have. It seems unnecessary. It is also grand and worth pursuing. If you love books and all that they contain you might understand some of this challenge. The layered meaning of books and holding them and owning them is not easily understood by those that do not tend toward book and book collecting. Being an avid reader is just another interest that one can partake of in life.

Where do I go with this need to lessen my book collection? I think for me it is time to let go of a large amount of my books again. So far, they have been moved out of the main house so that I don’t have to look at them all at once. I will from there begin a big sort and purge and donate plan. I tend to do it quickly. Just pick up the book and look at it and put it in the donate pile. If I am undecided I will set it aside. I am wanting to be large in my letting go. I want more space. I want some freedom from burden of the background noise of the books words calling to me. There are always more books to find in places and suddenly I will have more than I planned on owning. The time will come to let go again. Books are a coming in and a letting go in my life. I see this pattern continuing into future days.

Books

Today there are books. I trust that you might go and look these books up if the titles and covers appeal to you. In all of the words - in all of the places - I find myself.

Hagitude by Sharon Blackie

The Old Wise Woman by Rix Weaver

If They Come For Us by Fatimah Ashghar

The Beloved Dead

“an aunt teaches me how to tell
an edible flower
from a poisonous one.
just in case, I hear her say, just in case.”

— Fatimah Asghar

Witch Books

“Click, clock, clack,
Our golden maid’s come back.”

— Mother Holle

It is the day of Samhain or Halloween on this October 31. Here are two interesting books for you. The first book is a book of history - which it is always good to read about. The second book is a book of stories for your reading pleasure. The exploration of stories nourishes our imagination as we might travel in the lands of places we do not quite understand.

"Royal Witches" by Gemma Hollman is a captivating journey into the world of powerful women who lived at the intersection of royalty and witchcraft. This spellbinding book explores the lives of four remarkable women – Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia; Henrietta Maria, Queen of England; Arabella Stuart; and Frances Howard, Countess of Somerset. In the midst of political intrigue, royal courts, and societal expectations, these women's stories are woven with magic, ambition, and the pursuit of power.

Hollman skillfully reveals the secrets, scandals, and struggles these royal witches faced as they navigated a world where witch hunts were all too real. From the mystical practices they were accused of to the fascinating connections between politics and the occult, "Royal Witches" is a rich tapestry of history and enchantment. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the powerful, complex women who dared to defy the norms of their time and left an indelible mark on history.

Chapters for the book "Royal Witches" by Gemma Hollman:
Include Women Discussed - Joan of Navarre, Eleanor Cobham, Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Elizabeth Woodville,

These chapters provide an engaging structure for exploring the lives and experiences of the royal women at the heart of the book.

witch hut at Farmers Daughter

"The Virago Book of Witches by Shahrukh Husain" is an enthralling anthology edited by Shahrukh Husain that delves deep into the realm of witchcraft through the ages. This captivating collection brings together a diverse range of stories, poems, and essays about witches, sorcery, and the mystical, all from a feminist perspective.

Throughout the book, readers encounter a rich tapestry of narratives, both real and fictional, that explore the power and persecution of women accused of witchcraft. It spans different cultures, time periods, and genres, offering a global and multi-dimensional view of the witch archetype. The writings included shed light on the struggles, resilience, and sometimes even empowerment of women who were labeled as witches, often because they defied societal norms and threatened the established order.

Over fifty stories of crones and nixies, shape shifters and beauties are here, including the loving fox witch of Japan; Italy's Witch-Bea-Witch; Scotland's Goodwife of Laggan; Biddy Earl and the terrifying Kali and Baba Yaga who comes in many forms to haunt, entice, possess, transform and challenge.

From every corner of the globe, with tom-foolery, fun, strife and victory, these folklore and legends celebrate women who step out of line.(From AK Press)

"The Virago Book of Witches" is a thought-provoking and mesmerizing journey that not only celebrates the enduring mystique of witches but also highlights the ways in which these women were both oppressed and emancipated through history. It's a literary treasure trove that unveils the complex and timeless world of witches and the feminine power that continues to mystify and inspire.

“The witch: resilient, edgy, awe-inspiring and potent. She never disappears from our culture for long. ”

— Shahrukh Husain

Mermaid Moon by Susan Cokal

“Blood calls to blood; charm calls to charm. It is the way of the world. Come close and tell us your dreams”

— Susan Cokal from Mermaid Moon

Sanna is a Mermaid - except her mother was landish, not seavish. The witch who delivered her cast a spell that made her people, and her mother, forget her birth. Sanna longs to find her mother so much that she apprentices herself to the witch, learns the magic of making and unmaking, and fashions herself a pair of lets to go ashore on the Thirty-Seven Dark Islands, the nearest anyone can remember to where they left her mother. There, Sanna stumbles into a wall of white roses and a community desperate for a miracle - and into a baroness who would do anything to live forever.
~ Inside Cover Mermaid Moon by Susan Cokal

Fairytales offer us something in time out of time. A magical tale meets us where we are at a give moment. What is this story speaking to me in this time? If we read with a metaphorical lens as a wider part of our imagination - all stories can find some sort of poignancy for us if we are curious.

“Fire leaves no history;
Air ever forgets;
Water washes away;
Land holds on too long;
Time is the measure of all.”

— The Mermaids

The Lunar Eclipse is in the cosmos this coming Full Moon on Saturday October 28th. This book mirrors so much of what is being felt in the undercurrents of astrology. In an eclipse time - it is best to just take it easy. No need for grand gesturing - wild proclamations - taking things as they come. However, what is happening in a wider way is a need for your dedicated attention. What is calling you? What is needed in the world? How can you help in ways that are doable for you? Even small ways are lifeways worthy of attention and embrace.

“The moon lowers herself to draw the tide.”

It wasn’t easy. The pains came fast and hard, even at the start. In the light of a half-made moon, she stumbled in the familiar ruts and puddles of the path she’d raced down many times before. Each pain was an ember blazing from her belly to the tips of her fingers and toes: pain blinded her and stole her breath. Only force of will kept her on her feet and stealing toward the waterfront, the one place she knew - or hoped - she’d be safe.
~Prologue - The Mermaid Moon by Susan Coktal

“I intend to narrate everything here exactly as it happened”

As we come upon the Lunar Eclipse - all is not as it seems. The skyways are working upon us in a magical and concentrated way. As the moon is pulling at the tidewaters and our waters - there is a feeling of chaos. Perhaps a feeling of fullness at the same time. Are we ourselves full up with our unique life - unique struggles - unique sadness and joys. What we feel in one part of ourselves - is often reflected outwardly in the world. It is the same as with stories. Their words work on us long after we have finished listening to or reading a story. The images carried from a nourishing book or tale helps us to look out into the world and know what little pieces of gold we can offer or carry into the confusion. It is in trusting what connections are sparked in our imagination - that the “something” is found. There is a knowing that you carry. Can you bring this out into the world wide ways of tending?

Arriving in the Dark Islands, as this place is called, took far more effort than a dive; it required nearly a year of training and chanting, trying and failing, breaking my pride over and over. And now that I’m here, my whole body stings and soars and throbs at once.
From Chapter 1 - The Mermaid Moon by Susan Coktal

This beautiful fairytale is full with imagination and meaningful writing to help immerse oneself in a land of wonder - and also - a land that is fully present in the current moments of the time. We remember that we can dream into existence - in a foundational and profound way. We may be lost now - for a time - maybe always. Then - we can begin to find those ways that we have forgotten. It is a life long journey of growing - remembering.

“Rocking Song
What are these rocks but a haven? What are these arms but a cradle? Swim to me: let me hold you fast. I’ll rock you so gently to sleep.”

— The Mermaids

“Siren song.
This is just a children’s tale; would you wreck your ship for it? Would you drown for a mere mother’s story? It’s only blood that calls to blood. Our voices are foam on the sea!”

— The Mermaids

I am currently reading through The Celtic Myths: A Guide To The Ancient Gods and Legends by Miranda Aldhouse-Green.. Storytelling is as old as the days of when people first gathered together to sit by a fire to keep warm. We are storytelling creatures. We frame our world in story and myth. Dream worlds are stories of the unconscious. We read stories in books - sing story in songs - look forward and back in our lives and create a story. Word of mouth tales told to us through a grapevine - might be true or not. Story has always been with us. Our visual nature and penchant for creativity sparks a natural way of being when it comes to storytelling.

“And after the mist, lo, every place was filled with light. And when they looked the way they were wont before that to see the flocks and the herds and the dwellings, no manner of thing could they see; neither house nor beast nor smoke nor fire not man nor dwelling, but the houses of the court empty, desolate, uninhabited, without man, without beast, within them, their very companions lost, without their knowledge aught of them, save they four only.”

— From the Third Branch Of The Maginogi

From The Celtic Myths: A Guide To The Ancient Gods and Legends. Chapter 1 - Word of Mouth: Making Myths.
Myths, like fables, are elusive things. Modern horror films, whether about vampires, ghosts or revived Egyptian mummies, are arguably acceptable because they allow people to explore the darkest aspects of human nature within a safe environment. In a sense, the same is true of myth, but myths are much more complicated. This is in part because they are almost always associated with religious belief - and often magic - and also because contained in mythic tales are answers to some of the most fundamental human concerns: Who are we? Why are we here? Why is our world like this? How was the world created? What happens when we die? Myths also explore issues related to initiation rites: birth, puberty, marriage and death. Some, particularly those from the Celtic world, are highly concerned with morality - good and evil, chastity, violence, rape and treachery, war and ethics - with gender-roles, maidenhood, motherhood and virility; and with the ideals of female and male behavior.

Myths flourish in societies where such issues are not answerable by means of rational explanation. They are symbolic stories, designed to explore these issues in a comprehensible manner. Myths can serve to explain creation, natural phenomena and natural disasters (such as floods, drought and disease), the mysterious transitions of day and night, the celestial bodies and the seasons. They are often associated with the dreams and visions of so-called ‘holy men’, person (of either gender), with the ability to see into the future and into the world of the supernatural. Myths are inhabited by gods and heroes, and tell of the relationship between the supernatural and material worlds. They can provide divine explanations for the departures of past peoples, their abandoned monuments and burial sites, their houses and places of communal assembly: Myths can explain the origin of enmities between communities and disputes over territory. Finally, myths are often highly entertaining tales than can while away a dark winter’s evening by the fire.

Maps drawn. The concept of drawing maps and land ownership. Boundaries. Who do we keep in? Who do we keep out? How does our life play out based on how we perceive these lines randomly drawn with mostly force and ownership? Can we think of the land we stand with - as anything other than an arbitrary line on a page? The stories we might carry happen inside of these drawn out lines. A lifetime is spent traveling around in these storied mythical places. Placemaking is as old as time.

“Cu Chulainn reached Forgall’s rampart and gave his salmon-leap across three enclosures to the middle of the fort. In the inner enclosure he dealt three strokes of at three groups of nine men. He killed eight men at each stroke and left one man standing in the middle of each group. They were Emer’s three brother, Scibar and Ibor and Cat.”

— From The Tain Bo Cuailange

Reading widely of stories, legends, myths of many places and cultures helps frame our world view. It is interesting to see where an accepted belief comes from. Perhaps a story passed down in a family, a community or an entire culture continues to shape us. As we shape the world the world shapes us. This book of Celtic Myths helps distill where some ancient myths have come from and continue to play out in so many ways in our lives. We are creatures of habit and evolution.

“I am trying to Evolve”

— Ani D'franco