Review of Disarrhoea
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
- Stephanie Runyon
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3136
- Joined: 17 Aug 2019, 06:37
- Favorite Book: The Omicron Six
- Currently Reading: The North Factor
- Bookshelf Size: 1662
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-runyon.html
- Latest Review: Deadly Sexy Lizzy Vol. 1-3 by Michael Richey
- Reading Device: B07R3HTWLN
Review of Disarrhoea
Life is not always rainbows and butterflies. Happily ever after is for fairy tale stories we read in our childhood. In Kevin Vodden’s book, Disarrhoea, six short stories leave the unknown to the reader’s imagination.
The first story is “Disarrhoea.” This piece features a man writing a journal account as a pandemic sweeps the nation. The second is “Fearground.” Narration by a carnival’s ringmaster prompts people through their nightmarish rides. The third story, “Terror Perisscolosa,” presents a group of scientists exploring a new planet for colonization. Story four, "Matryoshka Loop,” involves an explorer sacrificing his safety for his colleagues to escape. “Eat Thy Neighbor” is the fifth piece, where a reality show’s contestant is debating if she made a mistake by entering the contest. The last story of this anthology is “Where Credit’s Due.” The tale has a dog and cat thanking every human for creating a comfortable life.
This anthology involves some morbid concepts. For instance, one story stood out with its dark humor. “Fearground” was extremely vivid with the ringmaster’s depiction of each ride. Even riding the train between tents was dangerous. Despite the darkness of the story, I could laugh at the dry humor. My favorite expression was his response when a woman asked if her children would be safe. His response: “I can assure you, madam, they couldn’t be safer if they were snuggled up inside the belly of an anaconda.” If I were the woman, I would have noticed the red flag. Add in the clown's name, Diabolico, and I question the sanity of the people who entered the carnival.
“Disarrhoea” and “Fearground” were my favorite stories in the book. The end of “Disarrhoea” fascinated me. I tried picturing the struggle to stay alive in a deteriorating world. “Fearground” was funny to me, even though it involved death and mild gore. This book appears exceptionally edited. It impressed me when I only found two minor instances of mild profanity in the entire anthology.
Disarrhoea deserves a rating of five out of five stars. The details, imagination, and transitioning scenes are excellent in each story. I would classify this book in the horror story genre. I didn’t deduct a star for the errors, as they didn’t impede the flow of the stories.
The content in this book is adult-level only. It would traumatize children thinking of the topics of each story. “Eat Thy Neighbor” even made me nauseous, and I don’t have a weak stomach. If you can handle blood, violence, and gruesome death in great detail, then this book has it all. Readers who like dark horror will enjoy this book.
******
Disarrhoea
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"Don't try to keep up with me, I live on the edge too thin to see." Ryan Upchurch
"See, one man's inconvenience is another's joy." NF
- María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 5251
- Joined: 27 Apr 2018, 16:22
- Favorite Book: The Nightingale
- Currently Reading: People we meet on vacation
- Bookshelf Size: 2398
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-mar-a-andrea-fern-ndez-sep-lveda.html
- Latest Review: You Say Goodbye by Keith Steinbaum
Great review, my friend!
- Cheryl Erickson
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 1038
- Joined: 16 Mar 2022, 19:56
- Currently Reading: 3 Sisters 3 Weeks 3 Countries (Still Talking)
- Bookshelf Size: 49
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-cheryl-erickson.html
- Latest Review: The Caroler by Liza Martini
- 2024 Reading Goal: 24
- 2024 Goal Completion: 0%
-
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 656
- Joined: 12 Dec 2021, 19:21
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 334
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hager-salem.html
- Latest Review: Awesomely Awkward Dating Tips for Beginners by Tina Kowalski
- Stephanie Runyon
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 3136
- Joined: 17 Aug 2019, 06:37
- Favorite Book: The Omicron Six
- Currently Reading: The North Factor
- Bookshelf Size: 1662
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-stephanie-runyon.html
- Latest Review: Deadly Sexy Lizzy Vol. 1-3 by Michael Richey
- Reading Device: B07R3HTWLN
"Eat Thy Neighbor" is exactly what is detailed in the story. On a reality show where a girl is thinking of quitting since one of the contestants she became friends with lost that week. The losers were then eaten in celebration. The preparation of the meal was what grossed me out. I wondered who the heck would want to participate in a show like that?María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda wrote: ↑10 Feb 2023, 22:24 I love creepy tales and dark humor. But if “Eat Thy Neighbor” made you nauseous I'll stay away from that one for sure. You're a tough lady so that must be one disgusting story. Also, I'd really love to never think about a pandemic ever again. I get it's cathartic for some people, but not for me. The great thing about anthologies is that I can just read the ones I want.
Great review, my friend!
"Don't try to keep up with me, I live on the edge too thin to see." Ryan Upchurch
"See, one man's inconvenience is another's joy." NF
-
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 393
- Joined: 26 Mar 2022, 20:08
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 126
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kayla-archer.html
- Latest Review: One Jesus, One Way by The Proving Jesus Group
- Sarah Sonbol
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 783
- Joined: 19 Jun 2021, 06:18
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 88
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sarah-sonbol.html
- Latest Review: Virus 4 Peace by June