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Rating: 
Summary: Oh my Goddess!! This simply slitheringly super!
Review: "The serpent - is it a symbol of evil and pernicious sex, or is it a form of the life-renewing great Goddess?"
This quote is found on the back cover of this title.... the cover of which features the lovely `Lilith' by John Collier. If you haven't seen it, the painting portrays a naked young woman with long hair being caressed and coiled by a large serpent from foot to shoulder. The imagery is naked and erotic.
Before I got my copy of "Goddess in the Grass", I wasn't really sure what to expect... the title sounded interesting in it's own right.
Once I received it, the described cover got my interest straight away... I couldn't wait to learn more about serpentine mythology and the great goddess. Part of this meant learning about the author - Linda Foubister.
I looked through the title for information about Linda, but wasn't able to find anything about her.... my next step was to search the net. I found the publisher's website at http://www.eccenova.com/goddess_in_the_grass.htm where the author's background as a biologist who has studied snakes, and has combined this study with her interest in mythology is explained. Linda lives in Victoria, B.C. in a grove of oak trees - lucky thing!
"Goddess in the Grass" is her first book. It has a depth and complexity that is well worth investing in particularly if you are interested in a female perspective of mythology through the various cultures and historical periods of time. Linda has done a spectacular job in covering this complex subject in easy to read language and logical layout so that the structure keeps relevant subjects easy to navigate.
The dictionary of serpent goddesses is another section of this book I think is worthwhile - this is approximately 50 pages long so is quite detailed. This alone is worth having, so is an added bonus.
I would recommend "Goddess in the Grass" to anyone interested in mythology, women's issues and/or the use of animals as symbols in history and contemporary times. This is an excellent reference book and comparison of serpentine mythology from all parts of the world.
Rating: 
Summary: A Plethora of Goddesses!
Review: Though I consider myself well versed in ancient mythology, I never realized there were so many avatars of the Great Goddess!This is a good reference book for anyone interested in research, as the dictionary offers a great, concise 'bio' of over 100 such avatars, and the multiple stories and referenes provide something for everyone. My only criticism would be that the initial discussion of the overthrow of the feminine/matriarchal society by the patriarchal was not continued strongly enough throughout the book. It was a good, well-attested point, but then the subsequent stories seem to strengthen the female aspect - without a continued reference to the ultimate overthrowal, we come away thinking 'wow, how strong women are'...and yet the spectre of the male-dominated world is just around the corner... In other words, a more focused argument that strung together the details would have been appreciated. But in all, the book is well worth ordering.
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