Customer Reviews

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: The Book of Scary Urban Legends

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I remember hearing the "Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the lights" story while attending a Midwestern university and it was sufficiently believeable to spook me for a long time until I read that it was an urban legend. Professor Brunvand's book details various legends from those that will send chills up your spine to others that will just tickle your funny bone. A highly recommended read for all!

I read The Vanishing Hitchhiker a few months ago and decided to pick up this book for updated UL and found this book to be just a good as the first.

I am a sociology major and The Vanishing Hitchhiker has been mentioned in a few of my classes therefore I had a desire to read the book. It is very textbook oriented in that, it gives many explanations to the UL. This book followed the same outline in format. Brunvand provides an explanation of why and how the UL for arisen followed by examples of the UL. Even though it is textbook oriented, if you have an interest in UL you should find this book entertaining even though it provides scholarly explanations to where the UL originated and how all UL originate.

Many people receive on a weekly basis a "true" event to watch out for, say for example, flashing your lights at the car that is driving without their headlights on, this is circulating as a gang orientation ritual, what Brunvand sheds light on is these stories are untraceable to the source which is one indicator that it is a UL. He also provides the reference of [...] to verify to the recipient of the email to check out the story they received as true.

Some people rated this book at too academic, considering the other is a professor of folklore, how else would he write but academically. I am looking forward to picking up another Brunvand book to read in the next few weeks that is how much I have enjoyed his writing style. If you are looking for a book only full of stories and not the academic perspective, my suggestion is Brunvand's Encyclopedia of Urban Legends, it leaves out the academic aspect.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS! THE URBAN LEGENDS GET ME SO GOOD. THESE ARE STORIES THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD, UNLIKE MOCT URBAN LEGENDS BOOKS. I DEEPLY SUGGEST THIS BOOK.

You've undoubtedly heard some of these "true" stories that very definitely happened to a friend of a friend of a friend, but if you've not read any of Jan Harold Brunvand's books about where they come from and what they really tell us, this volume of the scarier tales is a good place to start. Part spooky tale told around a campfire, part lesson in modern folklore, urban legends are both fun and instructive when told by the master, as Brunvand is.

If you've read a number of Brunvand's many other popular books on urban legends, you won't find a lot new here, though that doesn't make it any less an entertaining read. For a first timer, this is a five star book. Devotees of urban legend lore (like me) will want it to complete their collections.

Just don't dim the lights too much as you read it.

I just got mine a few days ago and I must say, this book surprised me. It is a relatively easy read and can give one the jitters if read alone at night ;) My only knock on this book is that I was hoping it would have more ghost tales but I'd still recommend this book especially during Halloween.

I was able to finish this book in a week. The stories were fascinating and whenever possible the author does his best to credit his sources. I own his encyclopedia of Urban Legends as well(about 1000 pages) and after reading this book I can't wait to start reading it.

If you enjoy myth and folklore, this will be an interesting read. I liked the fact that it gave several variations of the legends, everythig from where it originated from to who its told by and how it changes from being passed around. As you read through you will know some of these legends and think back to who told them to you. If they say it happend to them or a friend of a friend you can hand them the book and sadly tell them it's been around for years!.

this book is very cool. fun to read so you won't get bored. and you find out where some of the urban legends originated too, which will make you an interesting conversationalist at any party.

This book was not quite what I had imagined. I love Urban Legends, they're terrifying, bizarre, probable and, as I believe there is always a grain of truth behind every fiction, I am always wondering if at some point this really DID happen to someone's sister/cousin/neighbor...etc.

If you're expecting something in the line of a book of short stories based on Urban Legends with a bit of effort but into literary endeavors you'll be disappointed. It's very heavy on the text book explanations and light on the telling of the story itself. The possible historical origins of the legend and the efforts to capture its variations are explained, and some casual "De-bunking" (I hate that word it's an oxymoron) is thrown in. An example of a particular legend is given and following it are retellings of the same exact story, except a man is the victim this time or the child is 8 in this version, or the dog was killed in this rendition from Kentucky. It becomes repetitive and dull.

I'm sending it back.