This isn’t a D.N.F.—it’s an N.D.F.: Narcissistic Dumpster Fire.My Time to Stand: A Memoir by Gypsy Rose Blanchard is so full of contradictions, I’m half convinced the co-authors were actively working against her. Here’s the problem: when it comes to Gypsy Rose Blanchard, facts are optional. They don’t matter to her, and they definitely don’t matter to her “gyp-babes.” It’s not just contradictions on the page—though there are plenty of them. ...
Biography & Autobiography
Book Review: Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher | Trauma, Faith, and Religious Harm
Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher is a heartbreaking memoir that explores religious trauma, abuse, and survival. At times, it is difficult to digest — but it is absolutely worth the read. Because Jessica narrates the audiobook herself, I highly recommend listening to it in that format if possible. Hearing her gentle voice tell her own story — and sing her lyrics — creates a profound sense of intimacy, camaraderie, and understanding. The ...
Book Review: Satan’s Harvest by Robert David Chase | Victim Blaming in Paranormal Narratives
Satan’s Harvest is book #6 in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series, and the fourth one I’ve read. I’ve had some trouble tracking down a couple of the earlier titles (yes, I am glaring directly at my library for this), but honestly—that frustration pales in comparison to the reaction this book inspired. I’m just going to say it outright: writing this review may very well be the literary equivalent of setting fire to any chance of being accepted as ...
Book Review: Werewolf by Robert David Chase | Jacob Black Not Included
Werewolf by Robert David Chase is the fifth installment in the Ed and Lorraine Warren series. It’s the third book I’ve read so far, and honestly? At this point, every story involving them somehow circles back to extremely mentally ill people being turned into paranormal spectacles. Werewolf is no different. While it’s credited to the Warrens, the Ramseys, and coauthor Robert David Chase, no matter how many people were involved, the narrative ...
Book Review: The Haunted by Robert Curran | Terror in the Smurl Home
My first impression of this book? Not great. The author understandably uses pseudonyms for people who didn’t want to be revealed, which is fine. But then they admit that one character—Donald Bennett—is completely fictional, and that events were altered to make the story more dramatic. For a book billed as a “true story,” that’s a huge red flag. Because of that, I can’t in good conscience give this more than 2.5 stars. The preface really set ...
