graspee
I don't think putting it down then picking it back up later will make much difference, since Crowley's life was basically a picaresque series of episodes.
If anyone finds it heavy going then I would suggest not reading it as fast, or reading it for not as long, then maybe it will sink in more. I personally don't read biographies at the same speed as I read a novel for example.
I have just re-read the Paris Working in both Sutin and Perdurabo and it's funny actually, there are details in each account that are missing in the other. I can see what you mean, kind of, about the heavy going of the magick bits in Perdurabo. There are several words used in the account in Perdurabo which aren't explained; Sutin uses some of those same words, but explains them in brackets.
I was surprised actually, that in this case, there isn't a difference in the "magickyness" of the two accounts; I certainly think that Sutin presents a more readable account of the goings on and seems to explain more: not just the meanings of words, but the reasons why certain things happened and were done in a certain way; He also ties everything together and explains the mystical stuff around the word "kratos" in clear terms, which Perdurabo doesn't, at all.
On the whole I would say Sutin's account of the Paris Workings is more readable, makes more sense and is more accessible than the one in Perdurabo. The latter account is still good and contains details not in Sutin (but misses some out too).
If you're finding the more magick-related portions of Perdurabo heavy going then I would urge you not to be embarrassed about just reading them and letting it all wash over you without being too concerned about what exactly is going on. I don't see a need to understand exactly why everything is the way it is, unless you're thinking of recreating the ritual. A lot of magick rituals are very personal anyway; If you look up the colours, metals and so on that they used for those rituals in the tables in 777 you'll find they don't all correspond.
In fact if you really want to be totally confused and/or have your mind blown, google Liber 415 and read the full account of the workings by Crowley himself- the source for most of the details in both accounts.
If anyone finds it heavy going then I would suggest not reading it as fast, or reading it for not as long, then maybe it will sink in more. I personally don't read biographies at the same speed as I read a novel for example.
I have just re-read the Paris Working in both Sutin and Perdurabo and it's funny actually, there are details in each account that are missing in the other. I can see what you mean, kind of, about the heavy going of the magick bits in Perdurabo. There are several words used in the account in Perdurabo which aren't explained; Sutin uses some of those same words, but explains them in brackets.
I was surprised actually, that in this case, there isn't a difference in the "magickyness" of the two accounts; I certainly think that Sutin presents a more readable account of the goings on and seems to explain more: not just the meanings of words, but the reasons why certain things happened and were done in a certain way; He also ties everything together and explains the mystical stuff around the word "kratos" in clear terms, which Perdurabo doesn't, at all.
On the whole I would say Sutin's account of the Paris Workings is more readable, makes more sense and is more accessible than the one in Perdurabo. The latter account is still good and contains details not in Sutin (but misses some out too).
If you're finding the more magick-related portions of Perdurabo heavy going then I would urge you not to be embarrassed about just reading them and letting it all wash over you without being too concerned about what exactly is going on. I don't see a need to understand exactly why everything is the way it is, unless you're thinking of recreating the ritual. A lot of magick rituals are very personal anyway; If you look up the colours, metals and so on that they used for those rituals in the tables in 777 you'll find they don't all correspond.
In fact if you really want to be totally confused and/or have your mind blown, google Liber 415 and read the full account of the workings by Crowley himself- the source for most of the details in both accounts.
I think there's also a lot of the Victorian hangover of how women were seen; as muses, as idols, as perverse. He likes his women with the faces of angels but whorish, women without social constraints (and drugs help with this). I've just been pondering who the significant women were in his life - and how women were always responsible for his spiritual epiphanies - and why they were significant.