Reviews tagging 'Cannibalism'

The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer by Jennifer Jordan, Liza Rodman

3 reviews

myantigone's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Sexual assault, Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Violence, Death, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Gun violence, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Cannibalism

librarymouse's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

4.5

The Babysitter shows life in Provincetown MA in the 1906s through a mix of personal memoir and synthesizing a timeline of Tony Costa's life and crimes. There was an astounding amount of casual drug use, alcoholism, and a combination of the two, and the manic energy that cocktail of drugs creates was captured really well by Rodman's descriptions of the adults in her life. It was fully not the intention of the book, but having friends from MA and fond memories of visiting them, the vivid description of Portuguese foods and familiar locations made me smile. The happy memories Liza Rodman shares are intimate and nostalgic. This book is written with stunning detail, showing both the best and the worst the era and location had to offer. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Child abuse, Rape, Murder, Suicide, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Cannibalism, Car accident, and Homophobia

Minor: Incest

molsreads's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Part memoir, part serial killer true crime novel--The Babysitter: My Summers With a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman & Jennifer Jordan is told through Liza's first-person recollections of her summers spent in Provincetown often spending time with the local hotel handyman, Tony Costa, who, years later, she learns was a sadistic serial killer known as The Cape Cod Vampire.
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 What's heartbreaking and shocking about this story is that Tony, despite his brutal crimes,  is not portrayed as the only villain in this story. Liza's own mother is physically and emotionally abusive and deliberately cruel. 
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It's heartbreaking when one of the few people from Liza's childhood that showed her the most kindness is revealed to be a serial killer-- who was likely grooming her to be a future victim.
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I had never heard of Tony Costa so his story and gruesome crimes were completely new to me. It's not the best true crime book I've ever read, that honor is still held by American Predator but it is definitely worth a read for any true crime fans. 
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Thanks to @netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 
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Since @jobis said true crime counts for the #50states50horrorbooks challenge; this is my choice for Massachusetts.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Violence