Reviews tagging 'Gore'

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

13 reviews

gracie_reads_everything's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative mysterious medium-paced

4.0

Very fascinating book on a macabre subject. Adds contexts to these objects and rehumanizes remains in a medical setting. 

---

Content Warnings

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

Minor: Genocide, Gore, Medical trauma, and Racism

vohak's review against another edition

dark funny informative slow-paced

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Gore

Minor: Antisemitism, Murder, Blood, Animal death, and Child death

The author handles it all retty well but don't read it if you're squeamish.

slinders's review against another edition

dark funny informative mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

Started this book on the recommendation of a good friend and man it was right up my alley. Feel the need to say upfront that this is not a book for the easily squeamished. I like to think I have about as close to an iron stomach as a typical person can get, and even I was a little squicked out by some of the passages. Just be aware of that before diving in. But if you think you can stomach it, I *highly* recommend this book. 

I liked how this book demystifies human-skin books without praising or demonizing them. Rosenbloom's primary stance is that the books should be respected and studied as the artifacts they are. To me, the book reads more like a memoir than a straight informational text as its primary through-line is Rosenbloom's view towards human-skin books, medical ethics, and even her own mortality. Makes me think about what I want to do after I expire, so to speak.

10/10

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gore, Medical content, and Body horror

cglharmony's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Gore

Moderate: Death

There is mention of the Holocaust and concentration camps.

scarlett4's review against another edition

dark informative slow-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Classism, Misogyny, Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Racism

jhbandcats's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

A fascinating look at a fairly taboo subject, this book delves into the history of bookbinding, paper making, medicine, and anatomy education. It deals with racism, classism, and sexism, and shows how medicine is still perpetuating antiquated approaches to anyone who isn’t a white male. This book is well-researched and well-written, illuminating and intriguing. The author deals with the subject of anthropodermic bibliopegy with great sensitivity and respect. 

Definitely recommended for people who love books and want to learn more about the less salubrious history of medicine. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Medical content, Death, Classism, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Sexism

dakotuhhh's review against another edition

dark funny informative mysterious medium-paced

4.0

I loved this book!

I’ve honestly never been a huge reader before these last few months, and I’d never read a nonfiction like this before. I really fell in love and was so happy to be learning as much as I was

One thing that stood out to me was the ethical conversations surrounding universities, museums and other institutions keeping human skin books. Almost every human skin book was created without the consent of the person who’s skin was used.

There are those who argue that the books or just their bindings  should be cremated, buried or just somehow laid to rest. The author does a great job of fairly presenting these arguments, while she believes in the importance of preserving and studying the books.

If the goal is to rid all universities, museums and other institutions of human remains that were gathered unethically, Im fairly certain that would be most of them. But I don’t see anyone rioting over Otzi the iceman. Liberty Leading the People is believed to have been painted partially with Mummy Brown, a paint made from ground up Mummified corpses. Yet there are no calls for that to be burnt as far as I know

These books are treated with respect and care by people who understand and appreciate what they are in these institutions. It’s not like a hacky sideshow

I dunno maybe it’s a bad take I just wanted to share my opinion I guess! No one asked! 

Either way I love the book

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Murder

talonsontypewriters's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

4.0

---

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.

sneezy_5000's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Medical trauma, and Medical content

cnidariar3x's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

3.25

While the scope is limited to France, the UK and the USA, the research and thorough documentation provides delightfully macabre teachings on this subject.

The structure of the book gave me some difficulty. My reading required me to power through the first three chapters. 

The chapters focusing on histories behind specific books I found much more engaging than the chapters focused on specific collectors/collections. 

Definitely learned a lot, not sure I feel a need to reread though!

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Medical content, and Medical trauma