Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Dollar Bin Horror Spotlight - Tales of Woe by John Reed (Book Review)


True stories of totally undeserved suffering. Spectacularly depressing. Nobody gets their just deserts. Crushing defeats. No happy endings. Abject misery. Pointless, endless grief. No lessons of temperance or moderation. No saving grace. No divine intervention. No salvation.

When I first got the request to review this book from MTV press, I thought it was going to be a book of short stories based on true events that were probably a bit tacky or funny, but I was dead wrong. The book reads more like police bulletins with more details. When the back of the book says "True stories of totally undeserved suffering" and "No happy endings", I didn't know how true it was. The stories are dark, disturbing, disgusting, and horrid...yet I couldn't stop reading! From the first story of a baboon mistaking an infant for a meal, to the story of what albino humans are used for in Tanzania, to the tale of a man having too close of a relationship with animals, this book will highly disturb those who can't handle the true depravity of what really goes on behinds closed doors in the world around you. But even more grotesque and beautiful than the stories is the artwork. Done by a multitude of artists such as 8Pussy, Elisabeth Alba, and Stephane Blanquet to name a few, the images in this book are both hideous and gorgeous. They heighten the effect of each story, each one complimenting the disgusting tale it was drawn for. Disturbing stories of true terror, beautiful artwork in bold bright colors...this book is a great read (if you can handle it). Learn more by checking out the official website, talesofwoe.com.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rhonny,

I see you got this book too. I'm linking back to your review from my own. Hope you don't mind!

--J/Metro

Cie Cheesemeister said...

What is done to the Albinos in some African countries is inexcusable. I don't know what it will take to perhaps get the U.N. or such to step in and end this horrific human rights abuse.