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snazzymoose's review against another edition
3.0
It’s definitely interesting. Serial killers always are. But something bugged me about how they portrayed his mother. I’m sure she was no picnic, but she seemed to be the only one in the family able to support them. She ran the businesses and the farm and kept the house and raised the kids. But she’s also the bad guy for being domineering? The dad was an abusive drunk who wouldn’t work. But oddly the psychosis wasn’t his fault. Idk. As a parent, she obviously had a hand in his upbringing, but I just felt it was skewed in her direction. It wasn’t just written as ‘crazy eddy was obsessed with his mother’ it was like ‘his mom really screwed up eddy’.
lackof_shelf_control's review against another edition
4.0
‼️TW: murder, violence, obscenities, graphic descriptions‼️
I’ve never read Harold’s work before, but he did a brilliant job of telling such a horrifying tale. True crime books can read a little textbook-y, but not this one! I was engaged the whole time. This is not a book for the faint of heart. It’s graphic, terrifying, and sad. The autopsy report of one of the victims was hard to read. The jokes about his crimes that were circulating at the time are appalling. I also learned a lot about him that I had no idea about. I was shocked at some of the things they found in his house especially because (I would argue) there were other items that were just as gruesome as the infamous nipple belt, but feel like that’s the one everyone talks about. I feel like he doesn’t get the mainstream coverage like Bundy and Gacy because of the question of his sanity. I found myself thinking, although no excuse for his actions, how sad and isolating his life was. This book really brings to light the age old question - nature versus nurture. I honestly feel like with Ed Gein it was a perfect storm of both. I think we often like to classify people as pure evil, which makes it feel unavoidable. If Ed Gein was insane, it speaks to the larger issue at play of mental health and the potential that all of his horrors could have been avoided if he had the proper treatment. Highly suggest this book for those who can stomach it!
I’ve never read Harold’s work before, but he did a brilliant job of telling such a horrifying tale. True crime books can read a little textbook-y, but not this one! I was engaged the whole time. This is not a book for the faint of heart. It’s graphic, terrifying, and sad. The autopsy report of one of the victims was hard to read. The jokes about his crimes that were circulating at the time are appalling. I also learned a lot about him that I had no idea about. I was shocked at some of the things they found in his house especially because (I would argue) there were other items that were just as gruesome as the infamous nipple belt, but feel like that’s the one everyone talks about. I feel like he doesn’t get the mainstream coverage like Bundy and Gacy because of the question of his sanity. I found myself thinking, although no excuse for his actions, how sad and isolating his life was. This book really brings to light the age old question - nature versus nurture. I honestly feel like with Ed Gein it was a perfect storm of both. I think we often like to classify people as pure evil, which makes it feel unavoidable. If Ed Gein was insane, it speaks to the larger issue at play of mental health and the potential that all of his horrors could have been avoided if he had the proper treatment. Highly suggest this book for those who can stomach it!
johnbreeden's review against another edition
5.0
This was a very interesting, well-flowing story about a very strange, demented man. It takes its subject seriously and maintains a sense of non-bias. The book overall is a good exploration of Ed Gein and his life. It allows the reader to find his own opinion about the nature of this killer and his insanity. Great book for those with interest in serial murder.
tends's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty interesting, but tended to use very loose definitions of mental illnesses.
kaylascoffeeplot's review against another edition
4.0
Like a 3.5, but rounding up because Schechter has such a great writing style for true crime that keeps things moving at a good pace.
jamesdanielhorn's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy. Gets slightly long-winded towards the end, but an excellent account none the less.
literary_heather's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book about Ed Gein, the "original Psycho" - his crimes have influenced so many books, movies and serial killers that you probably know his story before you pick up the book. I enjoyed the book and thought the author did a good job of showing how pathetic his life was (you almost pity his existence) but the horror of what he did is still shocking. He was very sick, not necessarily evil and calculating like Bundy or Ridgeway.
Found the public reaction from outside his town to be disconcerting - how it because a family outing to drive passed his farm, and how some creep bought his car to create a sideshow at fairs.
Found the public reaction from outside his town to be disconcerting - how it because a family outing to drive passed his farm, and how some creep bought his car to create a sideshow at fairs.