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helenareadsbooks's review against another edition
The audiobook was hard to follow. I enjoyed the beginning but lost interest when the focus shifted to the author's relationship with her ex.
bookish_matcha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
laurynreads's review against another edition
4.5
Really enjoyed and appreciated this—less about magic, per se, and more about settler colonialism and violence against women, particularly Indigenous women. Loved the way Washuta played with form, structure, and narrative
lybarron's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
liagiba_abigail's review against another edition
4.0
incredible essays...not at all what i was expecting
marmoo's review against another edition
4.0
Messy, fractal, and raw, this essay collection is an experiment with structure—an experiment that succeeds in some essays more than others, but always leaves you grateful to see the narrative cracked open, emotional yolk leaking out.
When describing “Twin Peaks: The Return,” Washuta observes: “The last two episodes aren’t easy. Answers don’t come clearly or neatly; the viewer has to work to piece them together, but there’s no key.” It’s understandable, then, that Twin Peaks becomes such a throughline in this book, as that observation might well double as a mission statement of this ambitious collection.
When describing “Twin Peaks: The Return,” Washuta observes: “The last two episodes aren’t easy. Answers don’t come clearly or neatly; the viewer has to work to piece them together, but there’s no key.” It’s understandable, then, that Twin Peaks becomes such a throughline in this book, as that observation might well double as a mission statement of this ambitious collection.
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Every essay in White Magic is deeply memorable thanks to Washuta’s unique and searing candor. Washuta is incredibly honest about her past and completely unafraid of sharing some of the ugliest and most heart-wrenching moments from her past. She also uses repetition throughout the collection in an almost aggressive way, challenging readers to consider why they don’t like reading the same thing over and over again. I really appreciated being challenged in that way.
One thing I’d like to note, though, is that I believe that this book was marketed and represented incorrectly. The first essay is about white women’s appropriation of magic and witchery. It’s a critical look at the ways that white women have not only stolen indigenous practices but have sanitized them as well. Woven throughout that essay is a narrative about Washuta’s own relationship with magic. It’s excellent and fascinating in equal measure. However, based off of that first full essay, the book’s title, and the blurb on the back of the library copy I read, I expected the content to follow that same theme. While Washuta does continue to describe her own spiritual reckoning, the rest of the essays are more memoir-oriented and less focused on cultural criticism regarding magic.
One thing I’d like to note, though, is that I believe that this book was marketed and represented incorrectly. The first essay is about white women’s appropriation of magic and witchery. It’s a critical look at the ways that white women have not only stolen indigenous practices but have sanitized them as well. Woven throughout that essay is a narrative about Washuta’s own relationship with magic. It’s excellent and fascinating in equal measure. However, based off of that first full essay, the book’s title, and the blurb on the back of the library copy I read, I expected the content to follow that same theme. While Washuta does continue to describe her own spiritual reckoning, the rest of the essays are more memoir-oriented and less focused on cultural criticism regarding magic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Genocide and Colonisation
Minor: Stalking
isachu's review against another edition
5.0
When I had first seen the summary of this book from Tin House, I knew I had to read it as soon as possible (which led to a very silly interaction between me and the book buyer for the store that I work at but I digress--). I had high expectations for this book but it absolutely blew them out of the water!
What I had originally thought would be an indictment of colonialism along with explorations into the occult turned out to be so much more. It is a story of love, trauma, loss, addiction, and magic. Elissa Washuta, a member of the Cowitz tribe voice is fierce and compelling as she takes the reader down a rabbit hole through pop culture, Native American history and her own story of addiction and heartbreak. The first act of the book begins as an interrogation of the "witch aesthetic," which has been sanitized and pared down for Instagram, but as one goes on, the narrative turns into an exploration of her own vulnerability -- which she lays bare for the reader. The magic in the book is not merely in the lore that Washuta shares but the ways in which she wields her cleverness and wit. White Magic is a book that is at once complex with its difficult subject matter and nuanced writing yet will leave the reader absolutely enchanted.
What I had originally thought would be an indictment of colonialism along with explorations into the occult turned out to be so much more. It is a story of love, trauma, loss, addiction, and magic. Elissa Washuta, a member of the Cowitz tribe voice is fierce and compelling as she takes the reader down a rabbit hole through pop culture, Native American history and her own story of addiction and heartbreak. The first act of the book begins as an interrogation of the "witch aesthetic," which has been sanitized and pared down for Instagram, but as one goes on, the narrative turns into an exploration of her own vulnerability -- which she lays bare for the reader. The magic in the book is not merely in the lore that Washuta shares but the ways in which she wields her cleverness and wit. White Magic is a book that is at once complex with its difficult subject matter and nuanced writing yet will leave the reader absolutely enchanted.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Very interesting and haunting read and really quite different from what I was expecting. I quite enjoyed it though!