A review by thegingerbookeditor
Odsburg by Matt Tompkins

5.0

While reading Odsburg, I couldn't help but laugh. Written as a series of fictional transcriptions from Odsburg, WA, the book reminds me of all the cooky (for lack of a better word) people that live in the Pacific Northwest and the way our community embraces the odd while simultaneously othering it. As the researcher, Wallace Jenkins-Ross, interviews the residents of Odsburg we get several short accounts of odd happening around the town, that might seem coincidental at first. Wallace's transcriptions vary from relatable to comic as he attempts to understand what makes Odsburg so affected by abnormal behavior, and as a result catches the attention of the local pharma company, OdsWellMore Inc. who may have more to do with the town's abnormalities than any other factor. They deny having any involvement in the town's abnormal behavior or when members of the community go blind after taking their drugs. While fictional and at times far reaching, the story feels very indicative of small town America especially in the PNW where drugs (regulated or not) and oddity are interwoven into the community, as Wallace addresses these issues indirectly. I'll be recommending Odsburg to people in my community even if it's just for some of the funny anecdotes. It's like a dark Gravity Falls for adults :)