kcraig73's reviews
43 reviews

The title novella “Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke” is really the gem of this piece. The two other short stories included here are not nearly as strong as the original novella. 
“Things Have Gotten Worse…” is a disgusting and twisted statement about devotion and the desperation for affection. Well executed with beautiful prose. My only complaint being…no one talked like that in chat rooms in the early 2000s. 
“The Enchantment” felt stiff and forced. There was almost too much going on in the story to make it work. Some of the threads could’ve been cut and it would’ve been a much stronger more simplified piece that works in the pages it has. 
“You’ll Find Its Like That All Over” feels unpolished and frankly, unfinished. I can see through to the “moral” of the story and the story itself is good but the execution feels stiff. It doesn’t flow like I would like. 
Overall great but I would probably only ever reread “Things Have Gotten Worse…” 

5 star read for me. I would definitely read again. The writing is somewhat elementary but I actually think that adds to it. Gruesome and dark, definitely some fucked up shit in here. Loved it. Check the content warnings. 

Purchased this book from Adam Cesar’s hands and he warned me it was a dark read. I didn’t find it overly dark for the genre, with only one heavy gore scene in the book (there were definitely details in there that I liked). Overall, a fun fast paced read. The main character isn’t what I would consider “likable” but he’s charismatic enough to hold the reader’s attention. 

The only thing that I really don’t like about this book is the ending. It really feels like Adam Cesar just gave up writing it, put a slapstick 2 page ending on it, and called it a day. I feel like this book could’ve been double the length. Lots to explore here. 

I lot of poems I didn’t like, but the few I did I really liked. 

An informative read about the past and present of pigeon fanciers. I learned a lot about pigeons and the people who love them. A decent “birds’ eye view” of the topic. 

However, there were a few notable and glaring issues with this book. The first and most notable is the author’s uncharitable treatment of the human subjects in this book. If Blechman’s goal was really to “treat [them] fairly and with the dignity that, like the rock dove, [they] all deserve” then he has failed miserably. I find myself feeling bad for these people who trusted Blechman and let him observe the most insulated parts of their lives, who trusted him enough to speak with enthusiasm about their niche hobbies freely, only to be mocked and maligned in the pages of his book. I can’t imagine how devastating that would be. I’m not sure I can respect an author who insists on taking cheap shots at his subjects for entertainment. 

Lastly, there are moments in the book where the author has seemingly no idea what he is doing or what he is talking about. For example, as noted on page 215 he apparently arrives to tour the pigeon meat factory in sandals. Why on earth would you wear sandals to a pigeon meat factory? More to the point, why on earth would you wear sandals to an interview? Additionally, there was at least one mistake so glaring that it makes you question the whole of fact-checking on this book. Page 132-133 “Pigeons don’t carry the virus [West Nile Virus], either, because their body temperature is too high to host the bacteria.” I’m sorry? Bacteria? What are you talking about? Obviously, West Nile Virus is caused by a virus, not a bacteria. This is a mistake which should’ve easily been caught by the author, editors, or any early readers. How did this manage to get in the final printing? 

While I love pigeons and found this book to be easily readable I don’t think I’ll be returning to it. Certainly not any time soon. 

While a beautiful contemplation on the octopus and their natural beauty it lacks substance from a purely scientific perspective. There are occasional tidbits from research and scientific consensus but the vast majority of the book is rooted in challenging the perspective that octopuses are gross and stupid. I still enjoyed it. Sy Montgomery is a beautiful writer and this book is a beautiful tribute to the octopus, but if your looking for a more informative, science based read I’d consider looking elsewhere. 

Read primarily out of curiosity and an interest in understanding. The first half explains the basic principles of La Veyan Satanism and La Vey’s philosophy. The first half I would read again. The second half goes into the more mystical side of Satanism. While being anti religious La Vey was not specifically against spirituality. His belief in magic is somewhere between psychodrama and ceremonial occult Magic. The second half I would be unlikely to revisit. 

A well written and concise book that is one part autobiographical reflection and one part philosophy/psychology. While I feel that some of the examples encourage over simplification of the concept I think that this book has very meaningful insights. It’s easy to see how this has become a classic since it’s original publication.