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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
The combination of the content and the drawing style made me super uncomfy very quickly. Either I hadn’t known or didn’t remember that Dahmer played with dead animals and that was a hard nope from me.
I was a bit disappointed in this book. I was hoping for a memoir, of sorts, from someone who had actually been friends with Jeffrey Dahmer. Instead I read a graphic novel, wonderful in it's own way, titled "My Friend Dahmer" where the author spends large portions of the story saying "we weren't really friends, but I'm probably as close as he got so I'll claim it."
Yeah, he called Dahmer a mascot and not a friend. Now, I get it, sometimes the weird ones are hard to really consider friends. I'm fairly weird, so I'm pretty sure I was this person for some people. I even had a few of these "friends" myself, but I never called them my friends. They were acquaintances. But I guess "My Acquaintance Dahmer" wasn't as catchy a book title, huh?
Regardless of my issues with the title, I was fascinated by the story and was thrilled that it was in graphic novel format. The artwork works well with the story being portrayed and, as tragic and graphic as this story is, it is probably one I would include on a required reading list. If it makes enough of a difference in one person's perspective to turn that awkward mascot into a real friend, then it's done it's job. It's only more heartbreaking to know that if an adult had just taken a bit more time and noticed something was up that Dahmer might not have turned into a killer, let alone a serial killer.
This book was so hard to put down that I was actually reading it while sewing - not an easy feat I might add! I recommended this book, already, to my mother and will be making sure my youngest brother (in eighth grade) reads it. This was a used bookstore find and, while I had heard of the book before, I had never bothered to look into getting my own copy because I was under the impression it would be just like every other "I knew random famous/infamous person before you did so I really did know them" and in a lot of ways it was because, like I said, this guy wasn't really friends with Dahmer like the title suggests, but it is written as a graphic novel, which is different, and he even admits in the book that Dahmer wasn't really his friend. Sooo... Props for honesty within the book if not the title, but I did still knock a star for that because it was extremely disappointing for me to discover it was "My Acquaintance Dahmer."
But at school, Jeff, for the first time, had friends. OK, he was more mascot than pal. He was, after all, a pretty strange kid. But he's always been a nonentity. Now he was the center of attentions!
Yeah, he called Dahmer a mascot and not a friend. Now, I get it, sometimes the weird ones are hard to really consider friends. I'm fairly weird, so I'm pretty sure I was this person for some people. I even had a few of these "friends" myself, but I never called them my friends. They were acquaintances. But I guess "My Acquaintance Dahmer" wasn't as catchy a book title, huh?
Regardless of my issues with the title, I was fascinated by the story and was thrilled that it was in graphic novel format. The artwork works well with the story being portrayed and, as tragic and graphic as this story is, it is probably one I would include on a required reading list. If it makes enough of a difference in one person's perspective to turn that awkward mascot into a real friend, then it's done it's job. It's only more heartbreaking to know that if an adult had just taken a bit more time and noticed something was up that Dahmer might not have turned into a killer, let alone a serial killer.
This book was so hard to put down that I was actually reading it while sewing - not an easy feat I might add! I recommended this book, already, to my mother and will be making sure my youngest brother (in eighth grade) reads it. This was a used bookstore find and, while I had heard of the book before, I had never bothered to look into getting my own copy because I was under the impression it would be just like every other "I knew random famous/infamous person before you did so I really did know them" and in a lot of ways it was because, like I said, this guy wasn't really friends with Dahmer like the title suggests, but it is written as a graphic novel, which is different, and he even admits in the book that Dahmer wasn't really his friend. Sooo... Props for honesty within the book if not the title, but I did still knock a star for that because it was extremely disappointing for me to discover it was "My Acquaintance Dahmer."
Well, this wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be. I remember when the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was caught and read everything I could about his story and background. But, as I read this graphic novel written by someone who went to school with him, I couldn't help thinking that the author published it just to make money. I didn't feel the story was that enlightening. Yes, Backderf did his research. He had to since he pretty much ignored Dahmer or teased him throughout school. I never felt all that sorry for Dahmer--rather I found myself feeling sorry for the author and how he had to justify his bullying and exploitation of a kid who grew up to be a serial killer.
This has been compared to [b:Stitches|6407014|Stitches|David Small|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327728261s/6407014.jpg|6595917] (there's even an endorsement from Small on the book), but I just didn't see the comparison other than that it's a graphic novel and a memoir.
This book is a 2013 Alex Award Winner and I can see the teen appeal. I also understand how committees want to have a wide range of genres present on the list. But I wouldn't have fought to keep this one on it. I know, I know--I'm in the minority here because it won so many awards and has received praise from tons of people, including many of my friends. But I just didn't see what the fuss was all about.
This has been compared to [b:Stitches|6407014|Stitches|David Small|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327728261s/6407014.jpg|6595917] (there's even an endorsement from Small on the book), but I just didn't see the comparison other than that it's a graphic novel and a memoir.
This book is a 2013 Alex Award Winner and I can see the teen appeal. I also understand how committees want to have a wide range of genres present on the list. But I wouldn't have fought to keep this one on it. I know, I know--I'm in the minority here because it won so many awards and has received praise from tons of people, including many of my friends. But I just didn't see what the fuss was all about.
dark
fast-paced
dark
informative
A memoir of one of America's worst killers. Really interesting snapshot into his high school years.
dark
dark
sad
slow-paced
While interesting to read a secondhand account of a prolific serial killers life I had a few issues. I understand the author started the novel as a therapeutic was to express his emotions over finding out a high school classmate was a serial killer. However, to claim they were friends is a stretch to me. The author made it clear in the story that Dahmer was a loner and didn’t have any true friends, including our author. Rather his social circle was comprised of other students being amused with his outbursts and using him for entertainment. The author does admit to adding much of Dahmers home life to the story after learning about it after his arrest. The parts in the story about Dahmers life outside of school is speculative to me, while believable given interviews after his arrest.
This story was not created by a friend of Dahmer’s but rather a classmate who openly used him if entertainment. It is an interesting read and a fast one
This story was not created by a friend of Dahmer’s but rather a classmate who openly used him if entertainment. It is an interesting read and a fast one
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship
This was one of my first graphic novels, so I have no grounds for comparison and don't consider myself to be a good judge. But I enjoyed reading it! And was delighted to be able to finish a book so quickly.
In terms of the actual contents, they were both a grim picture of a future serial killer's unfortunate high school experience and a fascinating, dated glimpse of what high school was like in the 70s.
In terms of the actual contents, they were both a grim picture of a future serial killer's unfortunate high school experience and a fascinating, dated glimpse of what high school was like in the 70s.