Close to where I live, there's a public bookcase, in which everyone can put discarded books that other people can take for free.
There must be some interesting people living in this area, judging by the books the put in there. I've collected such a variety of books on different occult topics, mythology and ancient religions - My private library is actually more stacked in those areas than the Hamburg Public Library (which is a very good library!) - And it hasn't cost me a dime!
I've also found countless books on film and theater and, in particular, theater plays, as well as retro horror, sci-fi and fantasy novels. It's like that bookcase is magically filled up specifically with the weird stuff I like!
Right now, I'm reading up on Germanic mythology and folklore to write a concept for a TV series. I am quite doubtful in regards to this series' chances to ever get produces, but my new idea is to just turn the concepts into novels if I love them too much to bear their fate of ever becoming anything more than an idea.
One of the books I am reading for this is called "Aberglaube" ("Superstition"), written by Kurt E. Koch, a protestant pastor. This one is a blast, you guys!
Across the street from my magical bookcase, there's an administrative center of the protestant church. I think they are using the shelf to get rid of books they're ashamed of.
Thanks to this practice, I already own a book detailing the war against the armies of hell, that will surely take place in Israel in the year 2000 and some other very interesting, yet less crass, tomes.
"Aberglaube" takes the cake, though.
Kurt E. Koch compiles an alphabetical list that he calls "The Devil's Alphabet". It contains things like Atheism, Astrology, Hypnosis, "Healing Magnetism", Psychoanalysis, Fortunetelling and so on and so forth.
There are a couple of really interesting things about his approach. The first thing I noticed was, that he had listed some fellow Christians in his Devil's alphabet. "Belief in witches" is one of his hated superstitions, and so is "Christian science".
Now, going by the general vibe his list gives off, I would have thought, he would find the completely demented American form of Christianity delightful, but at least this particular brand is not to his liking.
The second thing I noticed, is that he doesn't say "this belief is stupid and this thing completely unreal" - He believes in the magical powers of every single thing on his Devil's Alphabet! Even atheism is a magical practice to him, that works (evil) wonders (like giving your kids or grandkids disabilities . This man is a really vile piece of shit, if you hadn't figured that out by yourself yet).
Most interestingly, these two facts overlap in his account of parishioners of his being targeted by evil, occult Christian Scientists from Boston. Koch tells the story of a man, who had been a member of the Christian Scientists, then announced his departure from the sect via letter to their headquarters in Boston, which led to them targeting him magically - Skinning him from overseas, thrice, until he died.
I love this book.
On another page he recounts attacks on supposed witches in the 1950's, in the area where I grew up - So that's also interesting (and going into my script).
I love my magical bookshelf!
