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Book Review: Blood Rush by Jan Verplaetse, translated by Andy Brown

cover for Blood Rush:The Dark History of a Vital Fluid by Jan Verplaetse  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

Blood Rush: The Dark History of a Vital Fluid by Jan Verplaetse, translated by Andy Brown

Reaktion Books, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-78914-196-2

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition

 

The scariest of Halloween costumes usually involve blood spattered on clothing, dripping down faces, or leaking out of fatal wounds. Likewise, detailed written descriptions of bloody murders that really took place or seeing that blood flow in a horror film can easily inspire terror and revulsion. So, it makes perfect sense that Jan Verplaetse would want, as he says in the subtitle of Blood Rush, to write “The Dark History of a Vital Fluid.” However, Verplaetse‘s ends up offering odd tidbits of information only to leave the reader wondering where it will all lead.

The book begins with the usual descriptions of and explanations for pagan sacrifices and winds its way to Christian transubstantiation. Along the way, we are regaled with stories of Christians accused of cannibalism, Odysseus’ trip to Hades, and the belief that epileptics could be cured by drinking fresh blood, usually procured from executed criminals or gladiators. This ancient time period provides everything from the author’s thoughts on blood sausage and pudding to demonic blood drinking. The focus on bloodlust, something the author tells us he experienced, and blood vapor or mist as the essence of the life force establish the dark underpinning of human interest, even attraction to, blood.

In contrast, the rest of the book does not progress in a way that would suggest there has been a development or a series of changes in the way humans perceive blood, nor are the examples of people and events particularly interesting. Instead, Verplaetse jumps from religious relics, to toxic menstrual blood and public slaughterhouses. Suddenly, the book seems to be about violence and then blood sports and “barbaric masculinity.” Can people really smell blood? Verplaetse experiments with its impact on gamers and decides the answer is no. Are cows upset by blood? He decides they are actually upset by what they are experiencing not the blood itself. “Why do we derive pleasure from the horrific?” he queries after summarizing the plot of Stoker’s Dracula for us.

By the end of the book, the theme as stated in the title is lost. It seems as though the research led Verplaetse in other directions, yet he continued to move forward without showing how his new findings tied into his original thoughts. However, there is promise in other possible themes he mentions like “dark romanticism” or the impact of myth and superstition as they relate to blood. In this sense, Blood Rush does not fulfill its potential.

 

Reviewed by Nova Hadley

Posted on January 3, 2021 by , Reply

Book Review: Who’s There? A Collection of Stories by Dimas Rio

Who’s There? A Collection of Stories by Dimas Rio ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

Self-published, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1676174103

ASIN: B082T3MW2W

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

 

 

Who’s There? is a collection of stories by Indonesian author Dimas Rio. It is an interesting read. I was curious how an Indonesian author’s work in horror would translate across cultures, and I was not disappointed. Who’s There? opens with the title work. A groom is waiting for his fiancé with their friends at the hotel bar for one last party before the wedding.  The hour grows late and still no bride-to-be.  Where could she be?

In the second story, At Dusk, a high school student is sent to interview a famous mystery novelist for the school paper.  The elderly writer is eager to tell his story.  But will the ending be more than the student can handle?

Third up is The Wandering.  A night watchman struggles to provide for his pregnant girlfriend.  He steals from the office he is trusted to guard and lies to cover it up.  This is not the only theft in his past.

Fourth is The Voice Canal, A homesick graduate student is struggling to finish his dissertation.  His father tells him to stay and finish, it’s only a few more months.  They’ll spend plenty of time together.

The fifth and final entry is The Forest Protector.  A mother is taking her son to visit his grandparents.  At the start of the trip, she feels impure.  She must cleanse herself.  How can she raise her son and protect him from the cruelties of the world if she can’t look after herself?

Throughout the work there was a good use of tone and pacing to build suspense and draw the reader in.  The flow of each story went well.  The descriptions were enough to envision what was going on without overwhelming me.  It felt right.  The characters were believable and helped ground the stories in the culture.   The author used Indonesian terms throughout, and the ebook edition includes links for each word to definitions at the back. Fun stuff!  Even though a couple of the stories started out a little rough (The Wandering in particular), they recovered and drew me in to a strong conclusion.  There were some minor grammar issues, but I will chalk that up to issues with translation (the book was originally published in Indonesian).  None of them were so glaring that I couldn’t sort out what was happening.  All in all, this was a worthwhile read.  Recommended.

 

Reviewed by Aaron Fletcher

Posted on August 21, 2020 by , Reply

Book Review: Swimming in Darkness by Lucas Harari, translated by David Homel

Swimming in Darkness by Lucas Harari, translated by David Homel

Arsenal Pulp Press, 2019

ISBN-13: 9781551527673

Available:  Hardcover, Kindle

 

Pierre is found by a former professor working as a bartender. When questioned about why he is not back at school, Pierre reveals that he destroyed his thesis research on the Vals Thermal Baths designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, and dropped out of architecture school after some health problems.

 

After their conversation, Pierre seems to be called back to the baths. Along the way, he meets Christian, an old man who tells him of the legend of “Der Mund des Berges”, or “the mouth of the mountain”. The legend says that every 100 years, the mountain lures a foreigner to the mouth where he is swallowed and never seen again. Pierre doesn’t pay attention to this until he arrives at the baths, and, as he begins to draw out elements of the building in his sketchbook, discovers certain secrets about the baths and mountain as he works. He also isn’t the only one interested in unlocking the secrets of the baths. Pierre meets famed architect Phillipe Valeret at the baths, who seems to be equally obsessed with the architecture of the place, but to what purpose?

 

The story is compelling and haunting. The characters are fantastic, especially the grumpy old man Testin, who tells Pierre more of the legend than is known. Pierre’s love interest, Ondine, is not seen much, but she believes in Pierre, even after he destroys her apartment in a fit when he finds out Valeret’s motives.

I love the illustration style in this book. It has a somewhat art deco feel to it. Harari accomplishes a lot with use of shadow and a simple color palette.

 

Contains: nudity

 

Recommended

 

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

Posted on December 31, 2019 by , Reply
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