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shane_tiernan's review against another edition
4.0
This is my third book from Mr. Carbuncle and I have to say, "The hits just keep coming."
After bragging to my wife about how much fun and how crazy the first two books were I decided we should read this one together. She's hooked. We both laughed our asses off every night as I read this absurd, scatological tale of a boy pushed too far. All the characters were memorable and some were so archetypal that they put the reader right back in the shark pool of high school. This really makes it sound like an episode of the Wonder Years, so let me just mention, "piss monkeys", re-animated fetal pigs, rampaging undead racoons... I think that's enough to give you an idea.
I believe I missed one of Carbuncle's books, so my life won't be completely empty and worthless while I'm waiting for the next one, but I'm very curious where he's going from here.
After bragging to my wife about how much fun and how crazy the first two books were I decided we should read this one together. She's hooked. We both laughed our asses off every night as I read this absurd, scatological tale of a boy pushed too far. All the characters were memorable and some were so archetypal that they put the reader right back in the shark pool of high school. This really makes it sound like an episode of the Wonder Years, so let me just mention, "piss monkeys", re-animated fetal pigs, rampaging undead racoons... I think that's enough to give you an idea.
I believe I missed one of Carbuncle's books, so my life won't be completely empty and worthless while I'm waiting for the next one, but I'm very curious where he's going from here.
mrfrank's review against another edition
3.0
One thing is certain, you never get the same thing twice when you read Lance Carbuncle. THE UNMENTIONABLES is Carbuncle working in horror mode. And while you never know what you're going to get with Lance Carbuncle, the voice of the story is always, unquestionably, Lance Carbuncle. No one else could have written this book.
This was not my favorite Reverend Carbuncle book. I can't put my finger on exactly why. Perhaps it lacked that certain level of weirdness I've come to enjoy. That doesn't mean I found the story any less engaging or entertaining. I think I was just not able to connect and care about these characters as much as some of the memorable characters in some of his other books.
Still, this is a dark and wonderful horror story at its core. While the weird feels dialed down in this offering, there is still a healthy dose of weird in THE UNMENTIONABLES. In fact, as the story winds on it does gets weirder and weirder. It crescendos in a truly oddball ending the likes of which only Carbuncle himself could have crafted.
If you've always wanted to check out Lance Carbuncle and you have a penchant for dark horror or fantasy this is where you need to start. For those who've read Carbuncle the whole way, well I don't know how you're going to react to this one. I am certain one way or another you will find overall satisfaction with the story and you won't take up your pitchforks and slay the Carbuncle where he stands perched on his balcony, writing up a new gem for us to be blown away by.
This was not my favorite Reverend Carbuncle book. I can't put my finger on exactly why. Perhaps it lacked that certain level of weirdness I've come to enjoy. That doesn't mean I found the story any less engaging or entertaining. I think I was just not able to connect and care about these characters as much as some of the memorable characters in some of his other books.
Still, this is a dark and wonderful horror story at its core. While the weird feels dialed down in this offering, there is still a healthy dose of weird in THE UNMENTIONABLES. In fact, as the story winds on it does gets weirder and weirder. It crescendos in a truly oddball ending the likes of which only Carbuncle himself could have crafted.
If you've always wanted to check out Lance Carbuncle and you have a penchant for dark horror or fantasy this is where you need to start. For those who've read Carbuncle the whole way, well I don't know how you're going to react to this one. I am certain one way or another you will find overall satisfaction with the story and you won't take up your pitchforks and slay the Carbuncle where he stands perched on his balcony, writing up a new gem for us to be blown away by.
daviddavidkatzman's review against another edition
4.0
The Unmentionables is quite apropos. Bullies are topical because the President of the United States is a bully. This is a story about the physical and emotional violence of bullying as well as a revenge fantasy that satisfies one's inner need to end this abuse once and for all.
The main character's name is Greg Samsa, which is a reference to Gregor Samsa from The Metamorphosis. They both transform, and the transformation is intended to highlight and explore the psychological abuse that comes from various social circumstances, specifically in this case how family abuse and neglect can often turn boys into bullies and how the notion of communities that "just don't care" affects the possibilities for justice and mercy. And without the possibility for justice, we are left with revenge. Greg utterly loses control in his pursuit of revenge. It's repulsive, in many ways, and implicates the reader...Carbuncle touches on how revenge puts you on the same level as the abusers. Yet in this context, it's set up as the only way to end the violence and it provides satisfaction. Yet, perhaps there is another way, as represented by the likable old janitor, who does his best to defend and protect without violence. Unfortunately, he can't be there all the time.
Although the government isn't mentioned here, except for the ineffectual police department, The Unmentionables reminded me of the way that a violent culture, particularly the violence of our own government, trickles down to justify the hatred and violence directed toward those who are "different." Carbuncle made me uncomfortable, but this is a good thing. It's why a book being "disturbing" can also be valuable.
The main character's name is Greg Samsa, which is a reference to Gregor Samsa from The Metamorphosis. They both transform, and the transformation is intended to highlight and explore the psychological abuse that comes from various social circumstances, specifically in this case how family abuse and neglect can often turn boys into bullies and how the notion of communities that "just don't care" affects the possibilities for justice and mercy. And without the possibility for justice, we are left with revenge. Greg utterly loses control in his pursuit of revenge. It's repulsive, in many ways, and implicates the reader...Carbuncle touches on how revenge puts you on the same level as the abusers. Yet in this context, it's set up as the only way to end the violence and it provides satisfaction. Yet, perhaps there is another way, as represented by the likable old janitor, who does his best to defend and protect without violence. Unfortunately, he can't be there all the time.
Although the government isn't mentioned here, except for the ineffectual police department, The Unmentionables reminded me of the way that a violent culture, particularly the violence of our own government, trickles down to justify the hatred and violence directed toward those who are "different." Carbuncle made me uncomfortable, but this is a good thing. It's why a book being "disturbing" can also be valuable.
kingjason's review
4.0
The only book I had read by the Dr. Reverend Lance Carbuncle was Grundish and Askew and I loved that, a violent, funny and bizarre story so I was really happy to see he had a new book. If you were ever bullied at school, then this book is a must read for you, the ultimate revenge book. If you were a bully at school, or thinking of a career in school bullying then read this as a warning.
Lance hits the nail on the head with the bizarre story, a magical house that alters itself depending on it's mood, zombie pigs, flying creatures grown in jars of wee and the Big Bopper, casually walking around town witnessing events as they unfold. I'm not really sure of why he is in the book other than being a witness, but he is cool and it was fun reading his little moments.
There are a number of full page illustrations and they are fantastic, some very dark stuff.
One thing is missing for me, the humour. The book seems very serious and it needed a bit of humour to grab my attention more and become a 5star book.
A very interesting story, I recommend you give it a read.
Lance hits the nail on the head with the bizarre story, a magical house that alters itself depending on it's mood, zombie pigs, flying creatures grown in jars of wee and the Big Bopper, casually walking around town witnessing events as they unfold. I'm not really sure of why he is in the book other than being a witness, but he is cool and it was fun reading his little moments.
There are a number of full page illustrations and they are fantastic, some very dark stuff.
One thing is missing for me, the humour. The book seems very serious and it needed a bit of humour to grab my attention more and become a 5star book.
A very interesting story, I recommend you give it a read.
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