Book Review: The Lady of the Cup
- 22-3-2011
- All Flourish: Articles: Archive, Book, Reviews
Serious Fun:
The Lady of the Cup by Roxy O’Reilly
$27.50
208 pages
220mm x 170mm
Words by Claire Williams
I’ve always wanted to have a party trick. I have a friend with a mouth so large she can fit her entire fist inside it. Another friend can do a hair-raising impression of Jack Nicholson’s “You Can’t Handle the Truth” speech from A Few Good Men.
I’m pleased to announce that after reading The Lady of the Cup, I have one: I can reveal destinies by looking into empty coffee cups. Okay, so I’m not completely fluent at it yet, but if I keep this book at my elbow, I should be able to pull it off.
The author is Roxy O’Reilly, a Tassologist – that’s a person who analyses the images found in coffee grounds and tea leaves. She learnt the skill from her grandmother, and has been practising and teaching it for more than thirty years.
O’Reilly provides such a clear explanation of how to prepare your desired drink, and how to read the images it may contain, a child could do it. And a child’s imagination is exactly what you need if you want to really have fun with this. I mean, when I glanced at what remained of my Five Senses Columbian blend, I saw a big brown splat. Upon closer inspection, I discovered a small cluster of grains that looked remarkably like a piece of Jarlsberg cheese. I quickly addressed the extensive glossary of images, seeking insight into my destiny. I was disappointed to learn that holey cheese warns of financial instability. Yikes! However, it is easy to shrug off negative readings if you don’t take the activity too seriously.
Impress the guests at your next dinner party, purchase The Lady of the Cup at www.roxyoreilly.com
Time for a cuppa and to see what the remnants reveal...
