Book Review: Cursed Objects Strange But True Stories of the World’s Most Infamous Objects by J.W. Ocker
This is the kind of book that feels like a journey. There’s a lot of information here, about a variety of different objects, their curses, the people ‘affected’ and the kind of places that house them. Whether you believe in cursed objects or not, this is a fascinating book, and well worth picking up for anyone interested in the paranormal.
This book touches on some of the most infamous objects in the world. There are entries here for Annabelle, Robert the Doll, the Hope Diamond, the Crying Boy paintings, and many others. Ocker goes into the objects and their stories, the people who ended up in possession of them and why they tried to get rid of them. I received an e-book ARC, but I definitely want to get a physical copy – the book looks beautiful, and one that looks great to actually hold in your hands.
I’m always fascinated by ‘curses’, whether it’s objects, people, places, or even things like cursed films. Less because of the paranormal aspect to them, and more the reactions of people, the stories surrounding them, how they come to be perceived. And, of course, the lengths people will go to either to acquire said object or get rid of it. This book dives into all that, while also giving some information about the author’s own journey while researching.
After reading Cursed Objects, my list of places to visit has definitely increased. Though maybe I’ll avoid the most evil objects of all, because whether cursed or not, I promise you there is something not right about china dolls and ventriloquist dummies and I don’t want to risk either Annabelle or Robert’s wrath and vengeance. I do, however, want to see many of the museums and collections mentioned in this book – will just have to close my eyes in the doll section.
A fascinating, intriguing read, with plenty of information told in an accessible, fun way.
Grade: A
Review by Elle Turpitt
I received this e-book from publisher Quirk Books via NetGalley for review consideration.
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