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dorhastings's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.0
How this book ended up on my TBR: For book club! Allison bought us all copies!
Prior to joining the San Diego Murder Mystery Book Club, Allison asked if I liked thrillers. I answered with a cautious "...yes?" Because I knew I liked some horror, and I was really digging mystery novels at the time, but I wasn't sure about thrillers. As a result of being in the club, I've encountered many of Hendrix's works (more specifically Final Girls Support Group and How to Sell a Haunted House [note: update your bio here, GoodReads; Final Girls Support Group has been out for years]). I dug both of these novels, especially How to Sell a Haunted House (which is maybe just me). I have but have not read Horrorstor, and I have but have not read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (I've been saving that one). I did not dig My Best Friend's Exorcism, but that was my first hint at Hendrix's love for horror and camp from the 70s and 80s. Enter this book.
It's clear to me that this finished product is a passion project for Hendrix. And for authors I like, I like reading their passion projects. You get the sense that the books he mentions are ones that inspired the kind of writing that he does, though I'm not sure he ever out-and-out says so. This book is like 85% a who's who of horror fiction from the 70s and 80s. But he doesn't just talk about authors, some of whom are all but forgotten; he also impressively dives into artwork, artists, editors, and publishers. The chapters all have themes, some of which he sticks to, and others he sort of wavers a bit on, perhaps because there's a little less to cover. In those cases, he usually turns to nonfiction, to what's happening in the US that provides some context for trends in horror (and it may go without saying, but we're focusing on US horror, as far as I know). There is a definite arc, wherein the end of horror and the transition to thriller marks the close of the book. There are several book and author recommendations.
This is, to me, a coffee table book. You are meant to read, certainly. But it's also a piece to have out on your table to spark the attention and interest of house guests. It's a conversation starter. It's not an anthology, but it does have recommended reading. For someone like Hendrix, I think it serves as something to pick up from time to time, revisit old classics and artwork. I am not that person, and frankly, I don't have any interest in diving into those books. But I can appreciate his dedication and the way that horror authors and artists dove into our psyches to create some mind-boggling fiction. (Actually, I will say that I'm very interested to pick up more of Anne Rice's work.)
Prior to joining the San Diego Murder Mystery Book Club, Allison asked if I liked thrillers. I answered with a cautious "...yes?" Because I knew I liked some horror, and I was really digging mystery novels at the time, but I wasn't sure about thrillers. As a result of being in the club, I've encountered many of Hendrix's works (more specifically Final Girls Support Group and How to Sell a Haunted House [note: update your bio here, GoodReads; Final Girls Support Group has been out for years]). I dug both of these novels, especially How to Sell a Haunted House (which is maybe just me). I have but have not read Horrorstor, and I have but have not read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (I've been saving that one). I did not dig My Best Friend's Exorcism, but that was my first hint at Hendrix's love for horror and camp from the 70s and 80s. Enter this book.
It's clear to me that this finished product is a passion project for Hendrix. And for authors I like, I like reading their passion projects. You get the sense that the books he mentions are ones that inspired the kind of writing that he does, though I'm not sure he ever out-and-out says so. This book is like 85% a who's who of horror fiction from the 70s and 80s. But he doesn't just talk about authors, some of whom are all but forgotten; he also impressively dives into artwork, artists, editors, and publishers. The chapters all have themes, some of which he sticks to, and others he sort of wavers a bit on, perhaps because there's a little less to cover. In those cases, he usually turns to nonfiction, to what's happening in the US that provides some context for trends in horror (and it may go without saying, but we're focusing on US horror, as far as I know). There is a definite arc, wherein the end of horror and the transition to thriller marks the close of the book. There are several book and author recommendations.
This is, to me, a coffee table book. You are meant to read, certainly. But it's also a piece to have out on your table to spark the attention and interest of house guests. It's a conversation starter. It's not an anthology, but it does have recommended reading. For someone like Hendrix, I think it serves as something to pick up from time to time, revisit old classics and artwork. I am not that person, and frankly, I don't have any interest in diving into those books. But I can appreciate his dedication and the way that horror authors and artists dove into our psyches to create some mind-boggling fiction. (Actually, I will say that I'm very interested to pick up more of Anne Rice's work.)
craftsbooksandcoffee's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up for the Old School April Read-A-Thon as a host recommendation with mixed feeling on how I was going to feel about reading it. But from the very first page I was hooked. As a Horror lover it doesn’t surprise me that I ended up loving this. I lived going through all the history of Paperback Horror! It sent me into a huge research spiral. And I look forward to reading and digging deeper into older horror books. With that being said I have lots of work to do thanks to Grady Hendrix.
rjdenney's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this! I'm a sucker for anything retro and horror so this was right up my alley.
madmooney's review against another edition
5.0
“…for Herbert had revealed a great truth to aspiring horror novelists that would guide British Horror books for the next twenty years: human beings are delicious, and England is full of them.”
[a:Grady Hendrix|4826394|Grady Hendrix|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1542284521p2/4826394.jpg], you had shamed and reduced me!
I am a person who touts myself as a lifetime lover of horror. Ever since spent my 7th Thanksgiving on this planet watching back-to-back Romero's Night of the Living Dead and The Dunwich Horror, I knew that the thrills I derived from this new thing in my life was well worth the nightmares that would follow (and perhaps be what fuelled my childhood insomnia).
At a young age I was given an 'adult' library card, which meant that I would get little to no 'tuts of disapproval' when I came to the checkout area with paperbacks featuring vile and gory scenes.
I had thought that [b:Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction|33670466|Paperbacks from Hell The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction|Grady Hendrix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504436657l/33670466._SX50_.jpg|54542087] would be a recollecting tour de force of all the horror that I had read as a child/teen ... but I was WRONG! This history of horror fiction had dove deep into black oceans that I had never seen! Perhaps I was too young to coexist with these books (or perhaps the public libraries had limits on what they would allow into their hallowed stacks).
The upside here is that I get to learn anew and see the origins of the horror trend to which I was a latecomer.
The first feature of this title is the GORGEOUS|GRUESOME artwork. Do not feel guilty if this is how you initially consume this book – you are among friends and fans here. If you want more imagery after this, Goodreads has a couple of great Retro Horror lists:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/163459.Retro_Horror_Books_list_1_
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/163459.Retro_Horror_Books_list_1_
Following the gory feast for the eyes, there is also a well-chronicled history of 70’s and 80’s horror here as well – of both the books and the illustrators who designed the eye-catching covers. I found it interesting that some artists got tired from the one-man-upmanship with themselves in creating even more awful covers, and eventually would resign from horror themselves.
But this is a book that goes beyond the cover offerings, it also breaks down the history of horror’s evolution, citing interesting tropes like“Southern Deluge”, “Man’s Worst Friend”, “Toys R Death” and many more.
[b:Paperbacks from Hell: The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction|33670466|Paperbacks from Hell The Twisted History of '70s and '80s Horror Fiction|Grady Hendrix|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504436657l/33670466._SX50_.jpg|54542087] is a title to draw respect for the genre by those who have always watched from the outside deigning it ‘not for them’, but also to give bred-in-the-bone fans a reaffirmation and remembrance of why Horror is fantastic!
We know we cannot make these authors famous again. We know we cannot give their titles another chance at the bestseller list. But for those who love these impossible, unpredictable books, it's enough for us to imagine that somewhere out there, under the vast dome of the night, a few people are curled up on their couches, nestled in their beds, riding the bus or train holding a copy of {these titles}
We can't be certain that anyone is reading these books anymore. But we can hope. Because after all the monsters have flown away, hope is what is left at the bottom of the box.
ksweatt84's review against another edition
4.0
This book is great & a must read for horror fans. Super fun & a quick read, that is filled with an interesting look back on the horror paperback boom. The boom my be over, but this book puts some life back into these forgot tales. The pictures through out the book are also very stunning. Highly recommend this book+ Really inspired me to see if I can find any of these hidden gems in 2nd hand book stores.