Secrets and Gods

I notice that posts for this blog have been a bit sparse recently: nonetheless, my book-buying has continued unabated, largely through the medium of Amazon One-Click which ensures that my bank account is regularly depleted, and my book-shelves (or piles) are likewise augmented.

The most interesting book that I have bought recently is Manly P. Hall's The Secret Teaching of All Ages. It is an absolutely fascinating account of religious parallelism, a stunning work to have been published by someone in his late twenties, magisterial and learned in the good old-fashioned sense of the word. I've been reading it slowly over the past month or so: it's certainly a book to be savoured and digested rather than gobbled up. Equally enthralling, although not quite so accessible, is the same author's companion guide Lectures on Ancient Philosophy. It is this volume that really showcases Hall's learning, and I'm having to take it very slowly indeed as the topics are immense in their implications. He seems to be a Neo-Platonist of sorts, which rather accords with my own philosophical sympathies, and I'm reading it very thoroughly indeed.

I can see that Hall might be bracketted with the like of the theosophistic Mme Helena Blatavsky, which would be a pity as his learning was the result of many hours spent in the British Library and Museum, rather than received at the hands of spirit guides, but Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism and Masonic symbolism and themes have been hijacked by the likes of Dan Brown and his ilk recently. Probably one of the most important books I've ever read......and I don't say that lightly. Unfortunately, the reprint of The Secret Teaching is dogged by typographical errors and apparently xeroxed illustrations. What it really needs is a thorough edit and cross-references and bibliography adding. Still, hats off to 'Forgotten Books' for keeping Hall's flame burning!

At the moment my lightwight reading consists of Neil Gaiman's American Gods (one of the Husband's favourite books) which I think I am enjoying, the writing style is not really up my street, but the premise (ancient gods transported to the USA vie with modern gods in the guise of shopping malls etc) and characterisation are decent enough to keep me turning the pages a while yet.

I was quite heartened by the Bright-Eyed Boy's decision to source a new reading book for himself: he got on the computer and read a number of children's horror/thriller reviews before deciding on Gone by Michael Grant. His excitement was palpable at the prospect of a book arriving through the post for him. A chip indeed off the old block!