Matt McAvoy Book Review

Even being totally honest, I have to give Kay the credit this book deserves, though in truth the subject is a little wasted on me.  I can clearly see that this is an excellently crafted and presented book which caters to a very niche market; if you are not a believer in the spiritual power of runes or a student of the subject, you will probably struggle to get engaged by it.  That said, the fact is that this is a beautiful book and a good quality, hard-grafted project, as Kay, clearly an expert in her field, presents her method of spiritual reading, using trees as her runes.  The method itself is intriguing, though the vast majority of the book comprises a long and comprehensive glossary of tree breeds, defined by their spiritual values.  This in itself is a remarkable achievement, it has to be said, and serves only as further testimony of the sheer hard work the author has put into this book.  No effort is spared in her research, and the sources are well referenced, as well as a useful bibliography for lovers of the subject.  And that is undoubtedly what this is for Kay: a genuine love and interest in the runes.  The runes themselves are also quite lovely, and in truth it is pleasant to learn about their emotional, physical and spiritual properties, regardless of whether you subscribe to the belief that they can be read and applied in life.  The fact that I do not did perhaps hinder my benefit gained from this book, which is really rather more a superb reference guide.  Even a passionate lover of the subject would likely not read from cover to cover, as I did, but rather familiarize themselves with the contents and then keep the book on their reference shelf.  Practitioners are strongly recommended to buy and keep it within easy reach, for regular referral; it is very nicely indexed to do this with ease.  Additionally, Kay is a superb writer, and the information is imparted eloquently and articulately.  The book itself is tremendously well polished.

In summary, if you intend to pursue and practice the study of tree runes, I highly recommend this book as your first point of reference; I can’t conceive that it doesn’t contain everything you need within.  If you are not committed to the subject, or are just browsing, it might not be right for you.  If you love trees and sincerely want to know a little more about their superstition qualities, then absolutely give it a go.