I hoped this book would have more insight into the topic than just a collection of overviews of the particular series. That's been done before and better.

I loved the idea of this book. I love TV and Owen is an outstanding TV writer (for a good sample, read his column on-line). The book has some interesting ideas, but the book gets dull. It breaks no new ground and doesn't shed light on others. I liked the fact that it wasn't steeped in the usual "media criticism", but there is no depth to much of the book. I think Owen will write a great book on TV one day...he just isn't there yet.

I would recommend using the book only in advanced-level classes in folklore. The content is strong, and the presentation, in general, is clear. There is also a fine bibliography that will provide a useful reference resource for studying folklore. The main problem with using this book in introductory classes is that it is too complicated for most undergraduates. Also, there is a wide variety of examples that illustrate various points, but in the thrust to represent cultural diversity, the authors include too much material that simply is irrelevant and uninteresting to students. This book might be useful in a graduate course in folklore studies, but by the time that students begin studying folklore at advanced levels, they will probably be interested in more complex and thorough studies of folklore. The book might, however, be a good starting point for professors and students in other disciplines who are interested in folklore research. It also could be useful for researchers who wish to access the scholarly literature on folklore.

A consant rehashing of the same topics chapter after chapter...dry, uninteresting...yet had to read for class. Good luck w/ this one unless you are a believer in any number of Ed. theories.