Of Skinning Cats And Reading Books | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Of Skinning Cats And Reading Books

Sometimes reality makes a better story than fantasy ever could.

25
Of Skinning Cats And Reading Books

Reading can be a great way to abandon your own reality for another, if only for a short while. Unfortunately, it would seem that the vast majority limit this wonderful effect purely to works of fiction. While it is understandable that going on an adventure with Gandalf or a ride with Eragon and Saphira is infinitely more appealing than what is going on around you at points, it can be just as easy to get lost in a cleverly built work of non-fiction. Erik Larson is an author who knows how to write just such a work.

"With titles such as "The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic", and "Madness at the Fair That Changed America," and "In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror" and "An American Family in Hitler's Berlin" attributed to him, he knows how to tell a tale about the making of a monster from the context of someone who is relatively unknown. Larson effectively gives his readers reasons to care about these people that may have never graced a high school history text book as more than a simple sentence. H. H. Holmes is the subject of documentaries and quirky supernatural television shows alike. The events surrounding Adolf Hitler's rise to power are surrounded by much the same, however while the film industry tends to tone down the level of sheer violence surrounding his ascent Erik Larson seems to have no such compunction.

The fluent combination of artistic storytelling and direct sources makes for a thrilling narrative of a time that most wold want to forget. It also throws into perspective just how horrific reality can be. A murder house constructed in the middle of Chicago and a family's time in Hitler's Berlin may not seem like a good escape from one's own reality, but they can provide the same sense of slow building terror that Stephen King and other authors are famous for. The realization that these are real events simply compounds the sense of gut wrenching horror. Taking a stroll down history's collective memory lane through books like those mentioned above can be both educational and thrilling.

This type of reading is not for everyone. For those that can't stomach a horror that truly belongs to someone else's reality, I would recommend treading cautiously when choosing a similar work as the aforementioned books. While Tolkien, Paolini, and their beloved characters will always have their place, sometimes it is nice to know that there were and are worse things out there than the reality that you face every day. Weather your poison of choice is fiction or nonfiction, have fun reading regardless.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

3328
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

449764
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21820
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44794
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments