Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

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

5 reviews

francescaastraea's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

4.0

I am only vaguely acquainted with anthropodermic bibliopegy, even taking into account that time I got to look at a translation of Machiavelli's The Prince supposedly bound in human skin. So, take this with a pinch of salt depending on your own prior knowledge and also your desire to dive into the world of Seriously Unethical Shit Humans Make: I think Dark Archives is a solid introduction to medical history and evolving ethical conversations around human remains and anthropodermic bibliopegy. I would like to read most of the listed bibliography. You might not even like the term 'anthropodermic bibliopegy.' This is fine, I think.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror

Moderate: Terminal illness and Violence

sistersin124's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and the way the author presented the information. I will say there are some sections that are designed to provoke thought and can be uncomfortable. The focus is very heavy on the people who created the books and the ethics around it all but I also feel like she gives adequate discussion on those used to create the books as well. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Racism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Colonisation, Death, and Antisemitism

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.

---

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.

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Racism, Slavery, Medical content, and Terminal illness

capitola's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

An excellent read, equally valuable for its insights into the world of rare book librarianship and death positivity as for the history of Western medicine and bookbinding.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Death

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Chronic illness, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Terminal illness, Racism, Murder, Misogyny, and Grief