Reviews tagging 'War'

Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom

5 reviews

dexkit10's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Body horror, and Death

Moderate: Classism, Grief, and War

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

This book messed me right up, and I was here for it lol it totally freaked me out, and I'm not sure that many other people could have pulled this book off. The narrator was also a perfect match - some levity, while also focusing on the seriousness of the subject. So much information in here, and I really appreciated that the author wasn't afraid to touch on the racial implications of some of the books. There are so many tiny ways that white oppressors have tried to make sure their bigoted ideas were mainstream, and we have to catch them in history. Whatever else Ms. Rosenbloom writes, I'm in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Medical content

Moderate: Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Antisemitism, Blood, Classism, Murder, War, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Racism, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Toxic relationship

If you think this is going to freak you out, it likely will, but it's not gross just to be gross.

metaphorsandmisc's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical content and Blood

Minor: War and Racism

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, Blood, Antisemitism, Racism, Medical content, Body horror, Death, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Misogyny, Animal death, Genocide, Child death, War, Sexism, Suicide, and Slavery

Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexual violence

Descriptions of the Holocaust and other acts taken/beliefs espoused by the Nazi Party throughout WWII era. Descriptions of tanning process and related topics, of both animal and human skin. Discussion of medical ethics and violations thereof, including desecration of corpses. Mostly allegorical mentions of sexual violence/rape.

cryptidkay's review against another edition

dark informative relaxing medium-paced

4.5

Normally, the only NF books I read are "thrilling" true crime ones (I'm aware it's a problem... you should see my netflix suggestions...). I saw this book referenced in The Madman's Library: The Strangest Books, Manuscripts and Other Literary Curiosities from History and, due to the macabre subject, knew it'd be the next nf title I read. I put it on hold at the library and profited!

50 pages in I'd had a page of notes, my own copy in the mail, and several imaginary conversations I'd like to have with the author. Librarian to librarian conversations.

The book and author's death-positive look at the practice of anthropodermic bibliopegy is fantastic. Rosenbloom matches my awe and fascination with these books while acknowledging the issues surrounding their conservation, curation, and creation; the classist origins of the practice and the medical field that made it popular, how the nazis were never actually involved (Whaaaat?), and how we as a contemporary society can deal with death better.

Rosenbloom's work is easy to read and easy to follow. My only wish is that this be republished as an illustrated edition so the reader can see some of the specimens and examples (especially of the beautiful reading rooms) she references in the text.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, and Sexism

Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, and War

This book is explicitly about books bound in human skin. Often the skin is not taken with a person's consent and is taken by a person (usually a medical "professional") in a place of power. Also there's a whole chapter on concentration camps and WWII.