Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom
25 reviews
painausten314's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Classism, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Murder
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.
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
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.alistairjack's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Why are we so interested in books made of human skin? How many are there? Why were they made? And why are there so many fakes? This book is an interesting history of human books and the stories of some of the ones we know about. It does a good job of myth busting and getting the reader think about ethics.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death
brittanythechronicreader's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Murder
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.
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.
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.lizzieuch's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
VERY interesting material and definitely has me thinking a lot about ethics in collecting and how we treat the dead. The stories are great and perfect for spooky season, but this is definitely written as if the dignity and value of a book override that of a human being if it can be useful for research. But the tensions raised are important and will continue to be wrestled with probably forever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Rape
maria_s's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Death, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Medical trauma, and Colonisation