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The Slenderman MysteriesThe Slenderman Mysteries, BookAn Internet Urban Legend Comes to Life
by Redfern, Nicholas, 1964-Book - 2017Book, 2017
Added Oct 18, 2018
deebitner's rating:
Added Oct 09, 2018
Comment:
Ah, the most common type of true crime book: a lurid cover, bad wordplay in the title, and overwrought writing. This is a perfect example of the Pop Tarts of true crime writing: not great, not nourishing for the soul, but so much fun to consume and doesn’t leave you with a terribly bad aftertaste. (It may be very wrong to use a food metaphor in a book about a poisoner. Oh well!)
I’d seen a Dateline on this case, but this gave a lot more information. A woman poisons her husband (with antifreeze, ew!) and is really stupid about it, to be honest. Benson is good at pointing out the errors in the crime scene that she made, as well as the others - like telling police she called home multiple times to check on her husband when her cell phone records show otherwise. I won’t tell you the others, because spoilers, but they will make you groan and shake your head.
But that wasn’t enough for her! No, when she feels the cops closing in, she attempts murder on her oldest daughter. The oldest and the deceased - her stepfather - had a strained relationship, so Mommy decides to kill her daughter and blame the murder of her husband on the teenager. She made a fake suicide note and made her daughter drink alcohol with a lot of drugs in it. Luckily, the younger daughter found her sister in time to save her sister’s life. At this point, police decide they need to exhume the murderer’s first husband’s body - he supposedly had a heart attack, but they suspect that she might have killed him too.
I cannot imagine the coldness needed to murder someone, much less the brutality to try to kill your kid so she’d take the fall for you! And the sensationalism of the crimes is amplified by the breathlessness of Benson’s writing. If you like Ann Rule, this is right up your alley. Four of five stars for comfort food factor, three of five if that’s not your thing.Ah, the most common type of true crime book: a lurid cover, bad wordplay in the title, and overwrought writing. This is a perfect example of the Pop Tarts of true crime writing: not great, not nourishing for the soul, but so much fun to consume and…
ChernobylChernobyl, BookThe History of A Nuclear Catastrophe
by Plokhy, Serhii, 1957-Book - 2018 | First editionBook, 2018. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Oct 05, 2018
Comment:
There are very few books on disasters that match the quality and insight of “Chernobyl.” Dr. Plokhy is Ukranian and speaks the local languages. He has ties to the region, and best of all he is an accomplished, clear, and informative writer. We get a good overview at the beginning of the political situation as Mikhail Gorbachev took office, and we get to know the people under him who were the ministers and party members responsible for certain decisions.
It’s carefully researched, and focuses less on the explosion moment itself as the people who were affected by the plant’s disaster. From the wives of firefighters to the minsters of the Union to the impact on nearby republics, Dr Plokhy has researched them all. His bibliography is extensive, if less useful for those who don’t speak Russian or Ukranian as he does.
There are terrifying scenes here, like firefighters unaware of what they’re being exposed to fighting graphite and oil fires. The denial that the reactor had experienced an accident is almost unbelievable, except that we see the denial in so many other events. It isn’t too much of a stretch to say that Chernobyl was the beginning of the end for the USSR, and Dr. Plokhy shows us how that worked.
This is not a light book, but his writing talent makes it easier to read and digest than many I’ve read. I strongly recommend it for anyone who wants to know how this disaster became possible, how it happened, and the impact on people and institutions for years to follow. Five of five stars.There are very few books on disasters that match the quality and insight of “Chernobyl.” Dr. Plokhy is Ukranian and speaks the local languages. He has ties to the region, and best of all he is an accomplished, clear, and informative writer. We get a…
The Big OnesThe Big Ones, BookHow Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them)
by Jones, Lucile M.Book - 2018 | First editionBook, 2018. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 19, 2018
Comment:
I’ve been doing a lot of true crime and not enough other stuff lately, with the exception of the Ehrman book. Let’s switch it up with some general disaster books!
“Big Ones” is fantastic. Dr. Jones is one of the most respected scientists in the field of seismology. This book doesn’t limit itself to talking about earthquakes, though. Its focus is in lessons we can learn from past disasters which ended up being literal civilization-altering events. From the Lisbon earthquake and tsunami to Vesuvius’s 79CE eruption, she covers how this affected people and how they recovered.
Dr. Jones is an amazing communicator. The overall feeling I had reading this book is of sitting down to have a talk with her and just listening as she educated me. I have a greater understanding of how subduction zones work and why their earthquakes are so much worse. I know more about what the ShakeOut scenario really is and how it works. I know much more about flooding than I did before, and I’m glad I live up on a ridge now. I had no idea whatsoever about the Central Valley floods in California, but now I have a new story to research. And I’ve rethought my plans of perhaps moving to Iceland in my eighties - Hekla and Katla are scary volcanoes. If you’re new to disaster books, don’t let that stop you from picking this up. Dr. Jones gets you up to speed very quickly, and her tone is matter-of-fact and reassuring.
This came out in 2018, so it’s very up to date and talks about very recent disasters, even briefly touching on Hurricane Maria and its effect on Puerto Rico. I heartily recommend this to absolutely anyone who wants to know more about how disasters happen, how people can learn from them, and as a jumping-off point to learning more. Five of five stars, wish I could give it six!I’ve been doing a lot of true crime and not enough other stuff lately, with the exception of the Ehrman book. Let’s switch it up with some general disaster books!
“Big Ones” is fantastic. Dr. Jones is one of the most respected scientists in the…
The Triumph of ChristianityThe Triumph of Christianity, eBook
by Ehrman, Bart D.eBook - 2017 | First Simon & Schuster hardcover editioneBook, 2017. First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 16, 2018
Comment:
I’ve read plenty of Dr. Ehrman’s books now, and I know some things he’ll say in almost every one. When the pool of primary sources is small, there’s bound to be some repetition - I’ve long come to terms with that! But I was pleasantly surprised to find that large sections of this history were new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Ehrman tells the story of how Christianity progressed to become the dominant religion of Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. He details the story of Constantine’s conversion in more detail than I’ve ever seen in any other source. This is possible because Constantine’s reign was well-documented, especially by the standards of the day, but the parts that relate to Constantine’s ascension to the Emperor of the Roman Empire have not been explained to me before. It was welcome and refreshing to add to my understanding of that period of history.
Ehrman also brings in the vast differences in worldview between how we think of pagans now (except among pagans ourselves) and the way things actually were. He gets across how performative ritual was critical, and how it was considered perfectly fine to be devoted to one particular God. The difference in the Abrahamic faiths is that they now (although perhaps not in the distant past) expect a kind of religious monogamy of thought. At first, many pagans may have done as Hindus tend to do today: take the Christ as a new god and add him to the pantheon. It was only later that the exclusivity kicked in.
It was sad for me reading about the end of the pagan age in Europe. So much was lost. Ehrman repeatedly says that he makes no judgment as to whether the ascension of Christianity was a good thing or not. I am not so restrained: I think that it was a tragedy for diversity of worldview around the world. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning just how a small cult from an unstable region became the western world’s dominant faith. Five of five stars.I’ve read plenty of Dr. Ehrman’s books now, and I know some things he’ll say in almost every one. When the pool of primary sources is small, there’s bound to be some repetition - I’ve long come to terms with that! But I was pleasantly surprised to…
The Wilderness of RuinThe Wilderness of Ruin, BookA Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer
by Montillo, RoseanneBook | 1st edBook. 1st ed
Added Sep 14, 2018
Comment:
Another in a series of late 19th-early 20th century murder sprees that aren’t common knowledge, this is the story of Jesse Pomeroy and his preying on children during his teenage years. It also follows what feels like a trend in true crime books detailing the era: It brings in the larger picture of the world in which these people lives, since it’s so different from our own. That part was OK, I guess. In this case, Montillo chose to weave in the life of Hermann Melville. It didn’t work as well as she wanted it to work.
It’s possible she took this tack because, given how long ago this was, there wasn’t as much research material for her to make a full book-length retelling of the story. She uses primary sources a lot for the Pomeroy end of the book, and even more for the Melville end. But the stories don’t mesh well. She uses Melville’s own mental illness and his choice of the word “monomania” to build a bridge between the two men. I wish she had had a little more to go on, to flesh it out more. As it was, it felt like an inadequate biography of both men.
Pomeroy is one of the worst amoral killers in the true crime books I’ve read, and his constant attempts to escape reminded me of King’s “Rita Hayworth And The Shawshank Redemption.” At one point Pomeroy actually had been excavating a wall with a spoon and put a piece of paper over it! Maybe King found some inspiration there. In other ways, Pomeroy reminded me of Ted Bundy.
The Melville sections felt inadequate to me. There are many better books written on his life, and I encourage people interested in his story to seek them out.
Two of five stars, and I hope someone else takes on the Pomeroy story and does it justice.Another in a series of late 19th-early 20th century murder sprees that aren’t common knowledge, this is the story of Jesse Pomeroy and his preying on children during his teenage years. It also follows what feels like a trend in true crime books…
Final AnalysisFinal Analysis, BookThe Untold Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case
by Crier, CatherineBook - 2007 | 1st edBook, 2007. 1st ed
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 11, 2018
Comment:
Wow. Wow. Wow wow wow. I am appalled by this book. I am actively horrified by this book. It has all the triggers in the world! The killing part of the true crime is bad enough, with a mother killing her husband and then having her youngest teenage child find the body. That’s awful and callous and how can anyone do that to their child??? enough for me. But Susan Polk didn’t seem to mind at all, and she minded less trying to turn her children against one another. And terribly unfortunately, she is obviously mentally ill.
I don’t subscribe to the view of mental illness that is super-common in this society, where mentally ill people are the ones who are dangerous. Actual people out of touch with reality are far more likely to be a danger to themselves. It’s more often a failure of empathy than contact with reality that drives people into being killers. (And no, I don’t think that psychopaths or sociopaths are more likely to kill. I’ve actually known a few, and while they often enjoyed manipulation as a game - which is why we are no longer friends - they were not murderous in any way.) Susan Polk seems to be the exception for this rule. The farther I read into “Final Analysis,” the more I felt bad for her. She was clearly suffering, medically paranoid, and out of touch with the real world.
But I don’t feel all that sorry for the victim in this case. While Felix Polk seems to have been an OK father to their three boys, he was a reprehensible excuse for a human being. He started sleeping with Susan while she was a teenager and his patient! Sorry he was killed, and I ache for his kids, but he needed to be in prison himself for child abuse way back in the 70s. Instead he married Susan. As I would say to my friends, “This is 67 million kinds of wrong!”
To top it off, he used hypnosis with someone who was having major issues. I don’t know if he actually assaulted her while she was hypnotized or not, but even if he did not - and there is no evidence either way except for Susan’s recounting which may not be reality-based - hypnosis is contraindicated for use with people who are having issues contacting reality. That gets my professional dander up too, although not as much as the ethical breach of sleeping with a patient AND sleeping with an underage girl. It’s a complete disaster of a story.
I never watched Catherine Cryer while she was on Court TV. I think I’m glad, too, because that means I missed this trial while it was happening, which was a time I watched Court TV a lot during the day on my days off. This isn’t the best-written true crime book I’ve ever read, but it is certainly in the top three for completely messed up. If you’re looking for “Holy cow, she said what?!?” in your true crime, this is recommended highly. If you want to feel sorry for the victim or the killer, it is certainly not. If any of this is triggering, skip it. Four of five stars.Wow. Wow. Wow wow wow. I am appalled by this book. I am actively horrified by this book. It has all the triggers in the world! The killing part of the true crime is bad enough, with a mother killing her husband and then having her youngest teenage…
Blood BrotherBlood Brother, Book33 Reasons My Brother Scott Peterson Is Guilty
by Bird, AnneBook - 2005 | 1st edBook, 2005. 1st ed
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 10, 2018
Comment:
I feel very, very bad for Anne Bird, and this was a hard book to read. Bird is the biological sister of Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his wife Laci and their unborn child, Connor. Bird was given up for adoption at birth, and only met her biological family after Scott and Laci were married. She formed a bond with her sister-in-law, and then when the horror of the murder happened she was caught between her desire to believe the best of Peterson - who Bird says she resembles - and her growing uneasiness over his actions.
Bird is not a trained writer, and it shows. But I couldn’t put her story down for more than a few minutes because I wanted to give her hugs and witness her horror and grief. I think most readers will be glad to know she sought therapy to help her process her feelings and deal with both them and her husband’s suspicions. She went into meeting her family fairly warily, trusted them, and then came to believe that Peterson had committed the crime. To make matters worse, the world at large believed she was supporting him.
This isn’t a book that’s easy to review. It’s as raw as most memoirs, a scream from her heart about the unfairness of it all. Because she’s not a trained writer, there are places where it could have been tightened up. But I’m glad her editor let her voice come through as clearly as it does. She deserves that, in the face of the betrayal and pain and mourning. Mostly, this feels as inevitable and brutal as any Poe story. I am very sorry it’s nonfiction. Four of five stars.I feel very, very bad for Anne Bird, and this was a hard book to read. Bird is the biological sister of Scott Peterson, convicted of killing his wife Laci and their unborn child, Connor. Bird was given up for adoption at birth, and only met her…
The Fire LineThe Fire Line, BookThe Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots
by Santos, FernandaBook - 2016 | First editionBook, 2016. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 07, 2018
Comment:
My first impression of this book isn’t as good as the previous I’d read on the subject. Santos’s book felt somehow colder, more scattered. While her firefighting credentials are comparable to Dickman’s, there was a feeling of greater distance from the firefighters and their story. I don’t think she’s as good a writer, and that makes the story less relatable.
Santos does go a bit more into the smaller-scale economics of the city of Prescott and the impact of many of the firefighters’ status as being without benefits. She has clearly spoken quite a bit with the co-founder of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, Darrell Willis, as that point of view is well-represented in the book. Brandon McDonough, the sole survivor of the team, is mentioned quite a bit but is less of a focal point in this book than Dickman’s. This is to her credit in some ways - the rest of the team is mentioned more and in relation to each other as well as McDonugh’s memories. It does lead to that feeling of scattering, though. There’s less relation to the reader. This isn’t a bad thing. This is more of a journalistic book. But it does mean that the team feels more like its own character instead of illuminating much of the very real human men who died. On the other hand, the families are treated with great respect and kindness in this book.
I loved the extensive footnotes. They give me a great jumping off place for future research if I want to go farther. Ultimately, though, I think it’s a matter of whether you’re more in the mood for a story about a man and his friends or a detailed writeup of a tragic event with some small insight into the people involved. Three of five stars, your milage may vary!My first impression of this book isn’t as good as the previous I’d read on the subject. Santos’s book felt somehow colder, more scattered. While her firefighting credentials are comparable to Dickman’s, there was a feeling of greater distance from…
On the Burning EdgeOn the Burning Edge, BookA Fateful Fire and the Men Who Fought It
by Dickman, KyleBook - 2015 | First editionBook, 2015. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 06, 2018
Comment:
After reading about the Esperanza Fire, I wanted to explore more about wildfires and their history in the United States. Most of the books that have been written about fires involve those that caused deaths, and the next book I found was no exception. “On The Burning Edge” tells the story of the Yarnell Hills fire, which caused the death of 19 wilderness firefighters. (I’ll also be reviewing another book on this same fire in a few days.) I knew this wouldn’t be a happy ending.
Unlike the Esperanza fire, the Yarnell Hills fire was caused by a lightning strike. I don’t know why that made me feel a bit better, but it did. I was relieved that there wasn’t an arsonist involved in this. But it was still a terrible, terrible day. I was already familiar with smoke jumpers - I actually know a guy who used to be one - and when they die the part of me that is afraid of heights just kind of shivers and nods and cries. The team of firefighters in this case was a hotshot team. Instead of jumping in, they come in on the ground and do the brutally hard work of eliminating vegetation and fuel in an area wide enough to keep a fire from spreading past the line. Their equipment includes chainsaws and picks and they hike in with their own water. They also, in the United States, use portable shields that in some cases can save lives. The Granite Mountain Hotshot team, headquartered in Prescott Arizona, used theirs. Unfortunately, the circumstances were wrong and the shelters could not save them.
“On The Burning Edge” tells the story of that whole fateful summer, from the hiring of the rookies on the crew to the aftermath of the fire. Dickman is a firefighter himself, and his expertise came in handy as he explains how the training for these crews work and how they differ from structural firefighters. He clearly conjures the heat and awful environment in which the Granite Mountain team worked. He also rounds them out and lets us see the people they were outside of their coats and boots. Dickman’s writing talent made the book fly by, and even though the story is tragic he brings out many moments of levity right up until the end.
Read this for insight into firefighting - which is only going to get more intense over time - and to understand more about what they and their families sacrifice. Five of five stars.After reading about the Esperanza Fire, I wanted to explore more about wildfires and their history in the United States. Most of the books that have been written about fires involve those that caused deaths, and the next book I found was no…
The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau BellThe Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell, eBookTales of A 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-up Comedian
by Bell, W. KamaueBook - 2017eBook, 2017
deebitner's rating:
Added Sep 03, 2018
Comment:
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I appreciated it. I wanted to hear more Black points of view, and I read it for that - trying to understand, trying to put myself in shoes I can never fill (and not just because Bell is 6'4") and imagine what on earth it must be like to be a Black man in America. Of course I failed - I can't even put myself in the place of a Black woman. But understand or not, it's important that I try, if for no other reason than to try to minimize my damage.
This is not a funny book. It's occasionally amusing, but Bell isn't trying to be funny. He's trying to give a point of view, and that he does extremely well. But comedians aren't always funny, even when they're joking, and I can see his points clearly.
It's instructive to compare this to Bossypants, Tina Fey's book. (For some reason Goodreads isn't letting me insert links.) Both are comedians in space dominated by white males. But Tina seems to have more career leverage right from the beginning. Where she comes off as rebellious, Bell seems to come off more as resigned.
I have to say that I'm not upset that I'm white, but Lord and Lady, my ancestors were at least complicit and at worst actively involved in some awful shit. Awful shit continues, and Bell lays out a lot of it. I am trying to do better, and to do better I have to know better. I'm grateful to Bell for being as gentle as he is, because he sure doesn't need to be.
Don't expect to like this book if you're white. Expect to appreciate it if you give a damn about other people's issues.
And, by the way, as I write it's Black Women's Equal Pay Day. Let's take care of each other out there, OK? Because the fact that there needs to exist a Black Women's Equal Pay Day is some seriously fucked-up crap right there.I didn't enjoy this book as much as I appreciated it. I wanted to hear more Black points of view, and I read it for that - trying to understand, trying to put myself in shoes I can never fill (and not just because Bell is 6'4") and imagine what on…
The Time Traveler's WifeThe Time Traveler's Wife, BookA Novel
by Niffenegger, AudreyBook - 2003Book, 2003
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2018
Comment:
The first half of the book was an odd mélange of vaguely misogynistic wish-fulfillment fantasy, bad romance novel, and EW EW EW EW EW NO AGH. Henry clearly isn't appreciating Claire for who she is when she's younger, but for who she will be, and his very care about her being child makes it in-my-face squicky for me. He can't stop thinking of her as a sex object, even as a kid. GROSS. I am not at all a fan of this - he could have enjoyed knowing her as a little kid, at least. I could not get past it. I tried.
Then there's the misogyny, where she's so good at sex! And they have sex! A lot! She's the most incredible lay ever! It must be love! And flowers and valentines rain from the ceiling. I'm not a romance reader, so I'm not sure if this is par for the course - in which case I shouldn't read them - or unique to this story, but it didn't impress me at all.
The second half was a half-decent book that was torpedoed by anvil-levels of FORESHADOWING DID YOU SEE THE FORESHADOWING DID YOU HUH HUH and then had an ending that even wimped out on itself. Again, maybe my fandom is making things rough on me, but this plot didn't feel new and fresh or even old but freshly taken. It just felt routine.
Meh. I give it two stars.The first half of the book was an odd mélange of vaguely misogynistic wish-fulfillment fantasy, bad romance novel, and EW EW EW EW EW NO AGH. Henry clearly isn't appreciating Claire for who she is when she's younger, but for who she will be, and his…
One of UsOne of Us, BookThe Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in Norway
by Seierstad, Åsne, 1970-Book - 2015 | First American editionBook, 2015. First American edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2018
Comment:
I hated loving this book. It’s so very sad, moment by moment watching someone become a Red Pill asshole and decide that the world sucks and it also owes him. Anders Breivik could have been anyone. He reminds me of Yiannopolis, he reminds me of Trump. The fact that he’s from a calm and peaceful country makes it even worse. In the US, we’re numbed to mass shootings. But in Norway, where they have reasonable gun control laws and an increasingly diverse population, the horror is more visible and brutally sad.
Seierstad is a wonderful writer. The book is clearly a translation: some idioms may not work as well as in Norwegian, and the phrasing can occasionally be awkward. But she knows her craft. She weaves multiple stories in parallel, with male and female victims’ lives detailed against the growing darkness of Breivik. We get to know the families, and we know that nothing good is going to come from the young peoples’ trip to the island. Like in a horror movie, we want to tell them not to go. But we also know they will, and their collision course with a brutal and corrupt human being will end in sadness.
I recommend this book if you want a non-USian true crime book. Like many of them, it will break your heart. But as you grieve, you will appreciate the care and attention to detail that Seierstad has put into her work, and you might find yourself wanting to learn more about the factors that went into Breivik’s downfall. It can happen to anyone. Please don’t let it be someone you know. Five of Five stars.I hated loving this book. It’s so very sad, moment by moment watching someone become a Red Pill asshole and decide that the world sucks and it also owes him. Anders Breivik could have been anyone. He reminds me of Yiannopolis, he reminds me of…
MeltdownMeltdown, BookWhy Our Systems Fail and What We Can Do About It
by Clearfield, ChrisBook - 2018Book, 2018
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 26, 2018
Comment:
<p class="p1">A few years ago when I still had Scribd, I found a book by Charles Perrow called “Normal Accidents.” My Goodreads review of it is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1438437539?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">here</a>. As it turns out, that wasn’t the kind of book I was looking for. “Meltdown” is exactly what I was looking for. It takes Perrow’s theories and provides a more modern and digestible framework.</p>
<p class="p1">Perrow’s thesis is that in systems with sufficient complexity and tight coupling (not a lot of time or room for error), accidents are inevitable. He calls them normal accidents. “Meltdown” uses this and applies it to more recent accidents - everything from Wall Street crashes to Enron to software bugs to potential issues with dams and nuclear power plants. Where Perrow was writing in the 80s, which was the thing I remember most from his book, Clearfield and Tilcsik have the advantage of everything he knew and everything that has happened since.</p>
<p class="p1">This doesn’t make me feel any better on a global scale, because if anything normal accidents have become more normal and expanded out into more areas of life. “Meltdown” makes it clear that areas that formerly were loosely coupled are now tightening, such as dam safety. It does also point out areas where active work to decrease issues has been successful, such as cockpit resource management (a philosophy of flight decks where first officers feel more empowered to challenge potentially dangerous actions by their captains). Overall, though, I don’t feel like my world is any safer than it was before.</p>
<p class="p1">That’s not to say it can’t become safer. Taking lessons from Perrow and other systems analysts can help and have helped many businesses. It’s too bad this wasn’t around before Target rolled out in Canada. Instead of being an object lesson in failure for Clearfield and Tilcsik, they could have been a lesson in success. Five of five stars.</p><p class="p1">A few years ago when I still had Scribd, I found a book by Charles Perrow called “Normal Accidents.” My Goodreads review of it is <a…
The World of LoreThe World of Lore, BookMonstrous Creatures
by Mahnke, AaronBook - 2017 | First editionBook, 2017. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 22, 2018
Comment:
First, a small disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Mahnke’s podcast, Lore. I urge you to give it a listen if you like creepy history, told by a guy who knows his subject matter and has a really nice speaking voice and good storytelling rhythm. That said, this book and its companion volume, “Wicked Mortals,” are their own experience and well worth the read. I’ve said before “I am not the target audience for this book” in other reviews. Friends, I am the target audience for this book.
Mahnke opens with a bang, taking on the subject of vampires as the initial topic. He talks about cases in the US, in Europe, and how vampire lore is different around the world. From there he moves on to stories of werewolves, the Jersey Devil, big flying critters from thunderbirds to the Mothman, and more. He does tell stories I hadn’t heard before, and he tells them well.
What stands out is his writing voice, which will annoy some people but I love to read. Mahnke has a delightfully snarky humor - on more than one occasion, he mocks people running into the dark after barely-seen things - and doesn’t actually believe in ghosts or monsters. As a result, his take is often refreshingly skeptical. Even he isn’t immune to the temptation to do the equivalent of “it was just the wind - OR WAS IT??” But when he does it, it’s pretty obvious what he’s doing. If you can’t get into that, or you assume that mocking the tale is mocking the reader, you won’t like this book. On the other hand, if you do like that style, it’s a great read for 3am.
Five of five stars.First, a small disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Mahnke’s podcast, Lore. I urge you to give it a listen if you like creepy history, told by a guy who knows his subject matter and has a really nice speaking voice and good storytelling rhythm. That said,…
Deadly VowsDeadly Vows, BookThe True Story of A Zealous Preacher, A Polygamous Union and A Savage Murder
by Wright, Leif M.Book - 2014Book, 2014
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 21, 2018
Comment:
It’s no secret that I’m liberal and a fan of open relationships as a relationship option between consenting adults. And it’s no secret that I’m pagan and feminist and don’t have a lot of respect for those who can’t seem to treat women like adults. This, then, is a story out of my nightmares: a patrifocal horrible excuse for a human grooming a teenager, marrying her, and then forcing her to accept a second wife - and then after the second wife starts to show signs of having a spine and a desire to live her life, he kills her.
It’s a true crime book, no spoilers there. But what is a little different about this one is that the writer, Leif Wright, was the best friend and accidental planning partner of Joy Risker’s murderer. He tells the story from his point of view the whole time, from meeting the murderer in college to finding out what happened and testifying in the trial. Along then way, he (accidentally? perhaps…) issues an indictment of fundamentalist culture and indoctrination. It’s really quite sad.
In this era of multiple true-crime channels and scads of podcasts, it’s a headache for detectives to find clues that were easier to locate in former days. One reason is that all of this information is educating murderers on being more stealthy. Wright and Sean Goff, the murderer, talked through what Wright thought was planning a murder mystery. novel. In reality, he was helping Goff with the planning for how to kill and dispose of Risker’s body. It’s terrible and sickening what Goff does, but at least Wright owns his own role in the whole thing. And I do believe him when he says that he had no reason to think his fellow Christian college friend and work buddy would ever kill his favorite wife.
I cannot do this book justice. It angers me beyond every word in my dictionary. This is a must-read. It’s not the best written true crime book I’ve ever read, but it’s at least better than Aphrodite Jones’s work. Rest in peace, Joy Risker. Four of five stars.It’s no secret that I’m liberal and a fan of open relationships as a relationship option between consenting adults. And it’s no secret that I’m pagan and feminist and don’t have a lot of respect for those who can’t seem to treat women like adults.…
The Man From the TrainThe Man From the Train, BookThe Solving of A Century-old Serial Killer Mystery
by James, Bill, 1949-Book - 2017 | First Scribner hardcover editionBook, 2017. First Scribner hardcover edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 18, 2018
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I love reading about historic true crime, and this is one of the best books I’ve ever read - and not just in the genre, but period. “The Man From The Train” is well-written, intensively researched with citations, and tells the story of a set of serial killings that took place early in the 20th century. Unlike Jack the Ripper, most people have never heard of this series of murders. If the Jameses (father and daughter) are correct, this killer murdered many more people and was on the prowl for more than a decade, almost coast to coast.
The Jameses begin in medias res, with a killing they believe is in the middle of the extended spree of brutality. They then move forward in time, presenting both the method of the killings and the signature aspects - those that are not related to the actual commission of the crime but is needed for the murderer in some way. For example, some killers feel a need to wash or put makeup on their victims after death. The Jameses painstakingly note the similarities and the differences in killings across the country and present their case for whether they think a case is part of the series or not.
This was not easy research. In one chapter, they recount the differences in forensics and journalism between now and the early 20th century. This gives them the chance to show how accustomed we’ve become to things like fingerprinting (in its infancy at the time), well-funded police forces, and a news media that at least sometimes does more than pay lip service to telling the truth. Frequently arrests were made and then the person released, with and without that release being subsequently publicized. Cars were a new thing, as was indoor plumbing and electricity over much of the country. Yet there are tens of deaths over more than a decade with certain important elements in common.
The one that most caught my attention is that many were performed with an axe, but as a bludgeon instead of using the cutting edge. That is unusual. The Jameses make a point of how common axes were at the time in almost every dwelling, but to strike with the blunt side is noteworthy. They also note the location in reference to at least one and usually multiple railway lines, which would have worked as well for escape as modern interstates.
Then they go back in time to the late 1800s, to try to find the start of the spree. They make the argument that the killings they presented first show an accomplished murderer, and wanted to see if they could pinpoint the first crime. Finally, they present their theory for who the killer may have been.
Frankly, I found “The Man From The Train” to be more engaging than any Jack the Ripper book I’ve ever read. I liked it better than any book by Ann Rule, including “The Stranger Beside Me,” and it blows “Helter Skelter” right out of the water. If you like true crime, you should definitely give this one a chance! Five of five stars.I love reading about historic true crime, and this is one of the best books I’ve ever read - and not just in the genre, but period. “The Man From The Train” is well-written, intensively researched with citations, and tells the story of a set of…
EbolaEbola, BookThe Natural and Human History of A Deadly Virus
by Quammen, David, 1948-Book - 2014Book, 2014
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 16, 2018
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This was given to me as a gift by a friend who knows I love books and bats. It may seem like an odd choice for a gift for people who don’t know me, but it was really thoughtful! And the book itself is thoughtful and informative. Quammen eschews the lurid descriptions of Ebola victims to tell the story of how researchers are seeking more information on the virus and those related to it, and their impact on the outbreak areas.
The most heartbreaking part of the book for me is the way that investigators keep finding that areas formerly known to house chimps and gorillas are empty of our closest relatives. I was completely unaware of the toll that Ebola has taken on the great apes, although it makes total sense - we’re so similar that it is logical that the virus would devastate their populations. There aren’t so many left in the world that we can afford to have them killed off in their family groups. But they’re not the reservoir where the virus hides, and that brings up the bats.
I am afraid that if we do find that the bats carry filovirii (the family that contains the Ebola strains, Marburg, and Taī Forest germs) that there will be a huge cull of vulnerable species of bats. That said, the work to find the reservoir is important. Many people are trying to figure out what species of animal houses the virus without being killed, so that we can save people (and now the great apes). Many researchers are capturing different species of rodents and birds and bats and trying to find out of there is any link between them and the outbreaks. And many of them are not happy with earlier books on the topic.
I personally found “The Hot Zone” to be a cheesy potboiler, and apparently the author was fast and loose with his descriptions of the effects of the filovirii. Over half of the people with these diseases do not hemorrhage, and those that do are not necessarily the ones who die. If all you’ve read is “The Hot Zone,” do yourself a favor and seek out more information. It will both reassure you and sadden you.
I loved Quammen’s work! Five of five stars.This was given to me as a gift by a friend who knows I love books and bats. It may seem like an odd choice for a gift for people who don’t know me, but it was really thoughtful! And the book itself is thoughtful and informative. Quammen eschews the…
How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It ComingHow I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming, Book
by Brown, Mike, 1965-Book - 2012 | Spiegel & Grau Trade Paperback edBook, 2012. Spiegel & Grau Trade Paperback ed
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 16, 2018
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I admit I have warm feelings for a very cold little solar system body. Dr. Brown obviously does too, but he’s also into science for learning’s sake, and he has a sense of humor. I will recommend this book right off the bat, before I even go into why I recommend it. I think it’s a great read for everyone at all remotely interested in the nomenclature debate.
At the heart of the debate is the question of what makes a planet, and how is it different from other solar system bodies. Brown covers the history of the question, which seems to have been asked very quietly before the International Astronomical Union of 2006 where they stunned the world by revoking Pluto’s planetary status. (Which, by the way, is not “killing” Pluto. One of the best ways to get my husband on a rant is to mention this - he’ll go for half an hour straight on how a rock does not care what it is labelled.) Before I read this book, I had no idea that Ceres and Vesta were considered planets in the 1800s, then had that status almost silently removed. Brown describes the circumstances around that before going into his own work.
And what work it was! I personally think the whole reason that Pluto was demoted was that Brown’s work was being noted and the IAU thought “Holy shit, we’ll have fifty planets soon! That’s too many for kids to learn in school!” and did the right thing from there. I am also personally a fan of fifty planets, but I am not the IAU. Nor is Brown, but his team’s work on finding Haumea and Quaoar and Eris and Sedna was simply amazing. (And would get us into the teens on planets if we kept Pluto anyway.)
Brown weaves together the story of his personal life - including meeting the love of his life and the birth of their child - and his work on the outer solar system. He talks about scientific ethics when dealing with discovery and tells his side of a controversy that’s so weird you really should read it for yourself. I adore the personal touches, because what is going on in one field of life dictates reactions in another for almost everyone in the world. To hear about a scientist of Brown’s caliber and how he found his own balance might be valuable to someone in the future.
Ultimately, though, it’s not for the personal touches I recommend this book. It’s for the history, for Brown’s clear and deep love for his work and the others who do it, for his respect for those who make it possible for him to get the observations he and his team used. I simply enjoyed reading this book. The audiobook is just as good - I checked that out and listened as well. Five of five stars, and thank you, Dr. Brown!I admit I have warm feelings for a very cold little solar system body. Dr. Brown obviously does too, but he’s also into science for learning’s sake, and he has a sense of humor. I will recommend this book right off the bat, before I even go into why…
The Esperanza FireThe Esperanza Fire, eBookArson, Murder and the Agony of Engine 57
by Maclean, John N.eBook - 2013eBook, 2013
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 08, 2018
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I don’t know many people who don’t love watching fire. I certainly do, when it’s controlled. But one thing I’ve never understood is setting one that completely destroys things, and with the horrible fires going on right now in the American west - especially California - it’s worth looking back at the fire that resulted in the first arson murder conviction and death penalty in California history.
The Esperanza fire was one of a series that was set by an arsonist. Even before this particular fire was set, the authorities were aware that there was an arsonist on the loose, and they were looking for him. But this fire, due to a confluence of the lay of the land and fuel availability, resulted in the deaths of five firefighters. They died a terrible death, basically roasting in a jet of flame that overcame them before they had a chance to deploy their shelters.
Part of the MacLean book reads like a true crime book, detailing the investigation and eventual arrest and conviction of the arsonist. Part of it reads like a disaster book, explaining what probably happened and how, the history of similar events, and a warning about future horrors (which appears to be coming true as I write). It was an ideal book for me. The best - and also worst - part of the whole thing is that MacLean has a gift for evoking empathy, I really felt for the families of the firefighters, and even for the family of the arsonist.
I am against the death penalty in principle. I do not think that it is an appropriate punishment and I do not think it is a deterrent. But I can fully understand why the jury came back with that decision - even if I would not have made it myself - and I hurt for the community that lost five wonderful people who also happened to be heroic firefighters. May their friends and family find peace. Certainly they are trying - I may one day visit the memorial.
Five of five stars.I don’t know many people who don’t love watching fire. I certainly do, when it’s controlled. But one thing I’ve never understood is setting one that completely destroys things, and with the horrible fires going on right now in the American west -…
deebitner's rating:
Added Aug 05, 2018
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It’s time for another Stephen King book! This is the inspiration (and I use that loosely) for the TV series of the same name from a few years back. Reading this review will tell you absolutely nothing about the series, but if you want to know more about that you can check https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-season-finale-of-under-the-dome-recapped-by-the-do-1340612358 for an index of hilarious recaps written from the point of view of the eponymous Dome.
King opens with a highway leading into Yet Another Maine Town (this one, as with the others, located not far from Castle Rock). Abruptly an invisible, barely-penetrable-by-gases hemisphere slams down over the town, with the predictable car accidents the first human casualties. The town of Chester's Mill is in trouble, naturally, and the usual separation of the baddies and the good folk is set in motion. In this case, the baddies are led by Big Jim Rennie, owner of the auto dealership from out of town, his son, one of the other members of the town selectmen, and a deeply crazed meth addict. The good guys are led by a former soldier called Barbie, the town doctor, the town’s newspaper publisher and a very smart group of high school kids.
The power lines and phone lines to the town are cut by the Dome, but at first cell phone signals and wireless can get through. (As an amateur radio operator myself, I think King missed a chance here by not having one in town, but oh well!) The government soon jams the signals, creating the isolation in which awful people thrive. Big Jim is the stereotypical horrible person masquerading as an elder of an evangelical church, and he sees this as a chance to make everyone in town, including those who have opposed him, kiss his boots.
Barbie is on his way out of town when the Dome appears, since he had gotten into a fight with Big Jim’s son’s buddies. The Dome prevents him leaving, but sticking around provides a ready source of conflict. Human danger is soon joined by environmental danger, as the air begins to get more and more stale and polluted. And that meth addict’s drug-induced psychosis is coming to a head.
It’s a wonderful read of a potboiler, and if you enjoy King’s typical fare you’ll like this. The ending is perhaps more than a little deus ex machina, but that won’t deter most King fans. It didn’t deter me. Four of five stars, with the caveat that opinions on this may vary wildly depending on whether you’re one of those King fans or not.It’s time for another Stephen King book! This is the inspiration (and I use that loosely) for the TV series of the same name from a few years back. Reading this review will tell you absolutely nothing about the series, but if you want to know more…
deebitner's rating:
Added Jul 18, 2018
Comment:
Dr. Jeff Meldrum is a frequent sight on cryptid-related television. He is brought in as an expert in primate footprints, there to explain why a plaster cast is or is not a fake. He always interviews well, and I was accordingly happy to find this book. I am sad to say it was a complete disappointment. It took a long time to get through it - checking it out multiple times - and in retrospect, I should have just quit and called it good.
Meldrum comes across as snappy and peevish in tone through most of the work. He does exactly what I hope scientists would not do: he is claiming that his valuable insights are being suppressed. While he does attempt to address his critics’ arguments - and there are many - he can’t resist talking about how obviously wrong they are. I was not convinced, and I don’t think it was my lack of background in comparative anatomy of various primates. I think he’s making the cardinal error of underestimating the ingenuity of forgers and pranksters.
This has undermined more than a few scientists through the years, and I strongly believe Meldrum is among them. He repeatedly says that this or that cast must be legitimate, because no one could create a cast with the appropriate degree of realism. I have seen some amazing work done with rubber and plastic and foam in costuming over the years, and that’s at an amateur level of costuming expertise. It saddens me that he completely disregards the ability of interested amateurs to do what experts have not considered doing, just because they think it’s difficult.
Mostly, though, his tone annoyed me. At first I thought it was just snark. Over time I came to realize that no, he’s just grumpy and annoyed, and in doing so he made himself annoying. After this many years in the business I would have expected him to grow a thicker skin or at least some responses that make more sense than a movie mad genius’s rant. One of five stars.Dr. Jeff Meldrum is a frequent sight on cryptid-related television. He is brought in as an expert in primate footprints, there to explain why a plaster cast is or is not a fake. He always interviews well, and I was accordingly happy to find this…
Monster HuntersMonster Hunters, BookOn the Trail With Ghost Hunters, Bigfooters, Ufologists, and Other Paranormal Investigators
by Krulos, TeaBook - 2015Book, 2015
deebitner's rating:
Added Jul 14, 2018
Comment:
Tea Krulos has brought us what should by all rights be a charming investigation of the ghost hunting and cryptid scene in the United States (with a special focus on Wisconsin). From Champ to the skunk ape to ghost investigations in reputedly haunted theatres, this is a book that has the potential to become a favorite for me. Alas, the author shoots himself in the foot.
I’ll cut right to the point: The best sections are the ones on cryptids. Krulos has come up with a lively and entertaining group of people who hunt or collect stories about mysterious animal sightings. Even if Linda Godfrey (of Beast of Bray Road fame) is the only one who seems even somewhat anchored to this reality, the others are worth the price of admission. I love the founder of Champ Camp, for instance - he reminds me of some people I knew in college. I was charmed, even with the people with whom I don’t want to, say, take in a meal.
The ghost hunting sections are, bluntly, annoying. The habit of constantly repeating one hunter’s nickname got old very quickly and by the end almost became drinking-game worthy. The hunters themselves strike me as less quirky and more just plain mean. “Plain-spoken” is not the same as crass and uncaring. I wouldn’t have wanted to go into a dark structure with any of them.
If that wasn’t enough, the book derails into demon-hunting and exorcism way too much. I don’t need to hear about lay exorcists trying to purge demons from people who are clearly hypnotically susceptible. It saddens me when I hear about people coming back over and over to be exorcised by this jerk. I long for the pages that could have been spent on, say, the chupacabra or lizard men instead of a flam-flam artist. I cry for the pain he’s caused.
If you get this book, please stick to the beastie chapters, and leave the ghost hunting alone. Much as I like ghost hunting, take it from me: You’ll be glad you did. Three of five stars.Tea Krulos has brought us what should by all rights be a charming investigation of the ghost hunting and cryptid scene in the United States (with a special focus on Wisconsin). From Champ to the skunk ape to ghost investigations in reputedly haunted…
The Hate U GiveThe Hate U Give, Book
by Thomas, AngieBook - 2018 | Collector's editionBook, 2018. Collector's edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Jul 14, 2018
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When I started this book, I wasn’t yet aware that it’s soon going to be a movie. I’m glad I read the book before that, not because I don’t expect the movie to be good but because this is such an amazingly well-written work that it feels only right to have read it first. I am going to tell you up front this is a hard read, especially if you’re white. But it is absolutely essential, heartbreaking, and if it doesn’t stir you to act I don’t want to know you.
Starr is a high schooler going to a private school well outside of her neighborhood. She has always lived in that area, and her father was once a gang member of some notoriety. He has decided to get out, though, and he wants to be sure the same life doesn’t ensnare his children. That’s all well and good, except that it has essentially divided his daughter’s life into white neighborhood life and black hood life, and as the story starts this is already causing her trouble.
When a party she’s attending starts to go bad, Starr gets a ride with her childhood buddy Khalil. They are pulled over by a police officer and Khalil is murdered right in front of her. Her home neighborhood is overwhelmed by unsurprising anger; the white kids at her school talk about protesting. But when she finds out they just want to get out of school she is enraged in her turn. To complicate matters, Starr has been hiding her white boyfriend from her Dad, and the fact that she is the young woman who was with Khalil from her school.
The Hate U Give has so much to teach about listening to marginalized people. It’s obviously modelled in some ways on what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, but its message encompasses far more than that. It raises a lot of questions that white people, including me, need to answer for ourselves about our motivations and the way we co-opt marginalized peoples’ struggles to make ourselves feel better about how we treat them. Are we in fact serving them by drowning out their voices with ours? This book comes down clearly on the side of “No,” and it marshals strong arguments in its favor.
Not limiting herself to portraying police brutality or challenging white people, Thomas meditates on friendship, on family (and Starr’s is a complex example), on gangs and the purpose they serve, and much more. I know that I missed out on volumes of subtext, since I’m white and middle-aged. That’s OK. I am not the intended audience for this book. I hope they love it as much as I did.
If the movie is half as good as this book it will be a worthwhile view. I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone willing to challenge their prejudices. Five of five stars.When I started this book, I wasn’t yet aware that it’s soon going to be a movie. I’m glad I read the book before that, not because I don’t expect the movie to be good but because this is such an amazingly well-written work that it feels only right…
Death in the AirDeath in the Air, BookThe True Story of A Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of A City
by Dawson, Kate WinklerBook - 2017 | First editionBook, 2017. First edition
deebitner's rating:
Added Jul 13, 2018
Comment:
The other day I read that for the first time in ages, London’s astronomical observatory was able to be used for actual observation. I was very happy to heat about this success, and the more so because I have read this book and understand what a journey it has been.
Once upon a time, London’s air was worse than the legendary Los Angeles smog. In Death in the Air, Kate Winkler Dawson tells two seemingly unconnected stories in parallel: a serial killer who preys on young women and girls in London after World War II, and the far more widespread depredations of the coal-fueled toxic air in one of the world’s biggest and - at least on the surface - most prosperous city.
The serial killer lived in a nondescript cul-de-sac in a lower-class area of London. He murdered his upstairs neighbors, prostitutes he picked up in bars, and eventually his own wife. John Reginald Christie buried his victims in his backyard, even putting some in the laundry house outside. Amazingly, his house was searched any number of times. Dawson does a great job of drawing out how the police miss the clues and how this relates to the more prolific killer, the smog.
Running in parallel to the story of Christie we find the story of a girl living in a similar house in a similar neighborhood as her already-ill father succumbs to the particulates and toxic chemicals in the air. Dawson explains how and why the air condition got to the point it reached during that time, and how Britain’s government grappled - or didn’t - with possible solutions.
There is no such thing as clean coal. There never has been. But some coal is dirtier than others, and Death In the Air graphically explores what happens when the dirtier kind is all that’s available. Shops were burglarized mere feet from Bobbies trying to guard them, vehicle headlights were useless, and that’s before the effects on the human body and mind are taken into account. (And the bodies of nonhuman animals as well - she also talks about the fate of cattle brought into London for a show.) From the highest halls of government to the backwash of the old city, we find out the horrors that can happen when pollution begins to get out of hand. We also find out about a few similar events in the United States.
I found this to be a chilling precautionary tale. Honestly, the true crime got me into this book, but while the story of the serial killer is intriguing it is not as meaningful to me as the sadness of a little girl losing her father to a murdering force that blocked all else from visibility. It doesn’t take much to extrapolate the information we’re given to our own time, and I highly recommend this book. Read it and contact your government officials, no matter where you are. We could be right back where we were before we know it.The other day I read that for the first time in ages, London’s astronomical observatory was able to be used for actual observation. I was very happy to heat about this success, and the more so because I have read this book and understand what a…
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