[UA] Voodoo Bibliography

[Courtney]

Okay, since a lot of people seemed interested, here's a list of books we used in my Vodun class.  This was a while ago, so I may not remember all of them :P

Voodoo In Haiti by Alfred Metraux - a history book.  Fairly dry, but good background information, especially to put the religious formation in a historical context.

Mama Lola: A Voodoo Priestess in Brooklynn by Karen McKarthy - My favorite book on Vodun.  First person narrative of a sociologist's own experience with a Mambo and her eventual conversion to Vodun.  It's kind of long, but it's a GREAT read and full of some really good information.  This book is an amazing overview of the religion of Vodun and the culture behind it.

Voodoo: Search for the Spirit by Laennec Hurbon - if I remember this one right, it's basically a flimsy little picture book that has the tone of a children's story.  It has some misinformation, and seems fairly insulting if it isn't the first book on Vodun you read, but it's small and it's a GREAT on-the-spot reference to use in a game.

Aaand the only textbook: Dancing Spirits: Rhythms and Rituals of Haitian Vodun, the Rada Rite by Gerdes Fleurant - like most textbooks it is RIDICULOUSLY expensive.  But if you want a more in-depth dissection of the culture that surrounds Vodun, as well as explanations and first-hand accounts of many rituals and how they fit into the larger diaspora of Hatian culture, then this is a great book.  But unless you're writing a thesis it probably isn't worth it. 
 
 
  
  
  
I know there was one or two more books in there, but I don't remember what they were...I'll shoot some e-mails out to friends and see if they remember.


"English doesn't borrow from other languages. English follows other languages down dark alleys, knocks them over and goes through their pockets for loose grammar." - - -James Nicoll 

_________________________________________________________________
Get the power of Windows + Web with the new Windows Live.
http://www.windowslive.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_powerofwindows_122007
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.unknown-armies.com/pipermail/ua/attachments/20071219/f030c65a/attachment.html