Various Books On Magic, What's your opinion??? Options

I was just browsing through Barnes & Noble online and made a list of titles that looked interesting. Their reviews all looked good, but since I'm fairly new at this, I'm probably over my head trying to figure which ones are worth buying. My question to you is: Which of these books are useful? Also: Which of these books are of the "fluffy bunny" variety?

• Spells for the Solitary Witch (Eileen Holland)
• Witch's Box of Magickal Protection (Gilly Sergiev)
• Magic... the Simple Truth: Alchemy for Today's World - the Real Magic Course (Sylvia Bennett)
• The Witch and Wizard Spellbook (Sirona Knight)
• The Wizard's Book of Spells (Beatrice Phillpotts)
• Kitchen Witchery: A Compendium of Oils, Unguents, Incense, Tinctures, and Comestibles (Marilyn Daniel)
• Earth, Air, Fire & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magic (Scott Cunningham)
• Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magick (Scott Cunningham)
• Herbal Magick (Judith Hawkins-Tillirson)
• Spirit Medicine: A Guide to Healing in the Sacred Garden (Hank Barnard Wesselman)

Any advice on what other books would be better but about the same topics as these books?

Thanks again!

--"Rabbit"

All in all, those are as good a starting point as any. As you move through texts and authors, you'll start seeing those you resonate well with and those you don't like.

I was impressed with Valerie Worth's (two earlier) books.
For traditional purposes, read Drawing down the Moon.
I liked Ellen Cannon Reed's Witches Qabalah . . . not that I found it very useful, but a wonderful perspective on pagan use of the Qabalah.
Cunningham's The Solitary Wiccan is a nice presentation of a form of Wicca that's resonably appropriate for a solitary beginner, but should be incorporated into a personal system, not really to be used "cookbook" style.
For seaonal ritual . . . The Wheel of the Year by the Campanelli and Kynes A Year of Ritual, I found comfortably inspiring.

Of course, If you could borrow a book before buying it (which I do recommend owning) would be very cool. Many public libraries have "interlibrary" programs (like WorldCat) that you can search and request books thru.

On another front....
I think D M Kraig's treatment (Modern Magick) of pagan work within the umbrella of Western Ceremonial is an enjoyable read and could be a useful addition to one's pagan development (everything taken with a grain of salt)
I'm impressed with Duquette's Chicken Qabalah. Its not pagan (again, Western Ceremonial) but its writen to be very engaging and entertaining . . . and even pagans could find a lot of good resources in it.

If you like to add some self style aspects to your general pagan work (ie, outside of Wicca proper), Jan Fries works are simply great . . . Visual Magick is a treat, and either Seidway or Helruner . . . simply outstanding. (and for the I Ching'er psuedo Tao'ist . . Living Midnight is fine)

This post has been edited by palindroem: Nov 18 2008, 09:09 AM