Customer Reviews

Cannibal: The True Story of the Maneater of Rotenburg

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a veteran of many true crime books, this may be the most disturbing one that I have read. While the body count of Armin Meiwes stands at one, the nature of his crime is shocking. The existance of cannibals is nothing new to society. The fact that the victim volunteered for purposes of personal pleasure puts cannibalism into a new perpective.

The crime of Armin Meiwes would not have been possible without the internet and the wide range of sites and chatrooms for cannibals. While many on these sites are posturing, Meiwes was serious as was the man that volunteered to be his victim. Growing up in the village that was home to the Brothers Grimm may have factored into desires that took root in Meiwes early in his life. He began practicing on dolls until the overwhelming desire led him to a real act.

German law could not convict Meiwes of any crime worse than manslaughter. Because the victim was voluntary, the worst possible penalty could not be distributed. In a seemingly more absurd circumstance, Germany has no law against cannibalism.

With quick chapters and quick pace, this book was tough to put down. Lois Jones proves to be a quality writer in this first offering. Having read so many true crime books, this is easily one of the most disturing. If you have a strong stomach as many scenes are quite graphic, I would highly recommend this book.

This book was creepy, yes; but a more accurate discription would be "disturbing". To think that all of this actually happened is almost unbelievable. I didn't even realize, for one thing, there are cannibalism websites, as mentioned in the book, that people actually post that they want to be eaten. It is an upsetting story that is not for the squeamish. It was strange enough, in fact, that I threw it in a dumpster immediately after I read it, because I didn't want it in my house where my young teenage boys might get ahold of it. I am buying another copy because after telling my mother-in-law about it, she wants to read the book.

This boook is by far the most detailed book on a cannibal that I have read so far. There were times when I had got a bit grossed out and it takes a lot to gross me out. I liked how the book talked about his childhood but didn't talk to much about it like other books on cannibals and serial killer I have read. I like how the author doesn't try to make him sound like something he's not she just gives you the facts. I can't believe that someone would want to become dinner. This book will change the way you look at meat with comments like " Berns's sexual organ looked like a stick of salami". This was the first book written by this author and I have to give her props for writing such a good book.

Wow, very graphic, and gory. i work in the medical field and got a little grossed out on this one, however you will know a little more about cannabalism then you ever wished to find out, and also learn what went on in the mind of the one being eaten. I really liked the book though, it was very direct and to the point. Just don't read it while you are having a meal.

Well, this book caught my interest originally due to its title.
CANNIBAL with its dark black cover was just sitting there staring out at me from one of the true-crime display stands in a bookstore. I first picked up the book and had a quick glance at it, then began to read bits and pieces from its pages, and before you knew it an hour had gone past.
I was so intrigued by this story that apparently made major news headlines all over the world (I must have been too busy drinking a beer!), that I decided then and there to purchase it. When I eventually settled at home that night, I read over half of it in one sitting, and by the second night I had it finished. The most amazing part was that the edible accomplice of this most unusual crime was more willing than the Cannibal himself. The book was also an eye opener to the true, hard, and sick facts of the internet surfing convenience regarding mentally disturbed beings such as psychopaths lurking every corner of these dark, twisted, and gloomy web sites that our little freak friend Armin Meiwes (Cannibal) lurked at. I was amazed to find so many people out there just as twisted, if not worse, and demented asking for the most extraordinary and incredibly unbelievable fetishistic sexual depravities to be performed on them and or upon others, that I have ever heard of in my entire life. Where the hell are the cops when they need to be around? These loonies make paedophiles look like cartoon characters.
Anyway, the book is written from a journalist's point of view, so it's very reader friendly, and it focuses mainly on the act and aftermath rather than trying to explain the concept and motive behind this depraved crime. It also questions our judicial system about the laws in relation to these most unusual crimes. I believe that there is currently an appeal being lodged to bring charges of murder for a re-trial due to the lenient conviction imposed in the first place.
All you gore hounds out there will definitely enjoy this sick story. After all, they say that fact is more incredible than fiction. This book definitely proves that argument!

Disturbing! So much so I had to have someone from my work read it so I could talk about the issues of the story and how well it was written. My husband would not touch the book. From there several of my co-workers have had to read it also to see what the deal is with this book!

This is the true story of German native Armin Meiwes who was notorious as the 'internet cannibal'. The guy who met people with similiar interests through advertisments on the internet then made a pact to kill and eat them.

This book tells his life story. Interprets how he became that way and the events that led to the gruesome murders which took place. The book also has pictures of his house, inside and out, including where the murders took place, his victim, and him in prison.

I couldn't put this book down. It was so engrossing and the story was bizarre. Really scary good book.

This book is the most comprehensive telling of this true story that I could find, and I do feel that I know more now than I did before I read it. It is well-written and went down quickly. However, a couple of things did annoy me: 1) the lack of any type of bibliography or sources and 2), the practice the author had of quoting people's thoughts or words, when there was obviously no way she could have known what exactly was thought or said. I am not an avid reader of true crime, and perhaps those two faults that I found are accepted in the community. I just know it was a bit of a turn off for me.

I got this book for my sister, who has a weird fascination with true crime, and serial killers especially cannibals.

From the excerpts she read to me, this is a very graphic and sometimes disturbing book. But even more than that, it's the fact that the cannibal found numerous WILLING victims to the ad he placed for someone to murder and then eat.

If you've ever wondered if there really are such messed up people in the world, the answer is undoubtedly YES!

Well written & concise. If you avidly followed this story in the news, you'll probably already be familiar with most of the details herein regarding the case & the immediate events leading to it, but Ms. Jones does an excellent job investigating the lives of both Meiwes & Brandes prior to their epic crossover. As a bit of a drawback, she too often postulates about the possible inner dialogues of the people involved, but it doesn't necessarily interfere with the overall retelling of the saga. Meiwes is probably the most infamous cannibal in recent history (especially with the heated ethical implications sparked by the use of the internet, Brandes' consent, the lack of laws in place, Meiwes' debated sanity & continued "hunger," etc.), but this account is told without added sensationalism (which is wholly unnecessary & all too common in true crime books about notorious cases).