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All New Pipes
Stuart W.
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Books - The X Pipe and Other Mystagogic Stories for the Pipe Smoker
A wild ride indeed!
I have recently completed reading “The X Pipe” by Mark Irwin a work that showcases his most eclectic knowledge and unique writing style. The second chapter on the ‘Five Laws of Pipe Companioning’ alone is a fascinating study on the differences of Collecting and Companioning pipes and is worthy of the price of admission into Mark’s pipe filled world. One of my most memorable and appreciated scenes is in this chapter set in Geneva, and I must say that through Mark’s descriptions and the character’s interactions I could easily imagine being a ‘fly on the wall”. I vividly imagined the blue airborne haze of their fine tobacco, the astringent yet sweet notes of their European coffee and the conversations and dissertations which were as sweet, to my ear, as a mature Virginia tobacco to my palate. The ‘Mystagogy’ itself was a pure work of art, a catechesis for the “Thinking Man”, an allegory based on the “pipe smoakers” symbols. A well done and inspired work, I would dare to say. If that was not enough within the 345 pages there are Appendices on subjects as diverse as “Smoakers Prayers and Collects”, to discussion on reducing risks of pipe smoking and, why not - Emily Dickinson’s Black Cake recipe! Highly recommended to those “Thinking pipe smoakers” who wish to immerse oneself into Mark’s allegoric and stimulating work.