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pun1sher's reviews
236 reviews
Coroner's Journal: Stalking Death in Louisiana by Louis Cataldie
2.75
I have to admit I'm slightly disappointed. Most of the book consists of general thoughts of the author on murder and descriptions of crime scenes, whereas there is little to no writing about the actual autopsies which are what interests me most.
Other than that I was frustrated by the authors approach to women as subjects of violence - he called murdered sex workers "women who lived risky lives" and condemned women who didn't live on high alwrt during a wave of brutal femicides. The book is quite old but I think it serves somewhat well how women are sometimes blamed for falling victims to violence and how men might not even realize most women are always on high alert to potential violence.
Other than that it's just a topically heavy book with heavy themes of grief and anger. It's clear that the author cares very much about all of the cases he works on - I just wanted something different.
Other than that I was frustrated by the authors approach to women as subjects of violence - he called murdered sex workers "women who lived risky lives" and condemned women who didn't live on high alwrt during a wave of brutal femicides. The book is quite old but I think it serves somewhat well how women are sometimes blamed for falling victims to violence and how men might not even realize most women are always on high alert to potential violence.
Other than that it's just a topically heavy book with heavy themes of grief and anger. It's clear that the author cares very much about all of the cases he works on - I just wanted something different.
Cursed Objects: Strange But True Stories of the World's Most Infamous Items by J.W. Ocker
2.75
I was hoping for something more detailed but most of the info you can take out from Wikipedia articles. Might be a good start if you know absolutely nothing about cursed objects but ultimately, I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
Reading an asoiaf book is the bookish equivalent of birthing a child
Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me: Depression in the First Person by Anna Mehler Paperny
Informational but far from hopeful 😭
I was hoping for less facts and more personal recounts, especially because I cannot imagine how one can endure years of unsuccessful medication attempts without completely losing the will to keep going
I was hoping for less facts and more personal recounts, especially because I cannot imagine how one can endure years of unsuccessful medication attempts without completely losing the will to keep going
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
3.5
I've seen this book in many "weird books" adjacent posts but it feels diminutive to the books message. I for one don't think this is a weird book. It's very sincere to me and the author clearly wants to destigmatize death.
One small irk: the chapter about the young man who committed suicide has a scene where the narrator hopes to find quote "notes from a suicidal maniac". Although on a surface level I understand that it's a joke, as someone who's been living with clinical depression and on and off suicidal thoughts it seems like a very hurtful comment to make on someone who has ultimately preferred to die than to live a day more.