Customer Reviews

Goth Bible

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is actually the very first charming Goth book. We have had a few Goth epics in recent years, from my Net-based tome, to Paul Hodkinson's academic study, Gavin Baddeley coming from a Metal perspective, and Dave Thompson rummaging through the eighties. What is unusual here is that Nancy Kilpatrick hasn't any ego-driven agenda, and has actively sought out Goth opinions to decorate each chapter with. 95 Goths answered 125 questions each to form an alternative spine to this work and it makes it a very different book to the rest. Nancy is best known as a Horror writer but she is a Goth, and clearly delighted to be writing the book, as she also wants this book to help others understand Goth.

You get serious contributions on sex/relationships/Fetish/marriage/Goth children/Corporate Goth/Goth homes, Art and Literature (Old and New), and it ends with a chapter on the Future, even if that felt a little skimpy.

Basically, she goes through things that effect Goth life, from clothes to accoutrements, to relationships, religion, cemeteries, architecture, music and all the expected areas, with quotes and photos from her Goths interviews draping pages like curtains, as their comments go down the outer columns to most spreads. Those interviewed within the chapter text tend to be business-related individuals pertinent to the topic in question. So, in the Fashion or Lifestyle sections you have many a Goth contribution, but also meet Morpheus of Siren, R. Hunter Gough of `Gother Than Thou', Fred H. Berger of Propaganda, Terri of Ipso Facto, Natasha of Meltdown, Steven Of Gothic Beauty, Trish & Snooky of Manic Panic, Sonia (Hair Police), AntiSally (Goth Rosary), the Alchemy boys, Batty (Azrael's Accomplice), Mirabai (Tenebrae) Doktor Joy (Pennangalan Dreams), piercer Pierre Black and those lovely X-tra-X people. You can find a proper analyses of Absinthe, then on a similar vein find the weird story of how Michael Marchet finally got Vampire wine onto the market. Out of one area another little bubble will pop, making it a very pleasant read with unexpected dalliances emerging.

The only disappointing part of me was a curious lack of musical coverage but Nancy has admitted the music side of thing isn't her strong point. She looked for willing musical contributors and some of what they say is unusual.

Oh Hell, you get Clubs, and zines, net.goth, net habits, comics, gardening, Goth sub-species, and so on. It's a big book, commendably detailed in its travels to the heart of Goth and it is, without doubt, the most naturally jubilant, Goth-friendly, book which has so far been printed.

I Only wish that it was bigger. More More More. I enjoyed it, being a 30-something goth who has seen and done it all at some point. But still, it is nice to know that there are other people out there that have the same sense of goth humor and choose to live that beautiful and misunderstood lifestyle. Some of it is laughable, some is beautiful, nonetheless several times throughout the book I was reminded of how and why I "became goth" pardon the cliche'...and I reminisced about the wonderful music and people I knew during certain periods of my punk/goth/mod/new-wave/new romantic/artrockbeatnikpagan phases. I wish Nancy Kilpatrick, Voltaire (who wrote the "Oh My Goth" comics and has several cds) and Brandon Neil Ragan (who wrote the gothic cult classic "Grey Garden") would all get together and write the official "GOTH-UMENTARY". They seem like they could pull off the ultimate gothic coffee table book. Anyway, thanks for the cool book

I borrowed this book from a friend's mother and had it finished in less than an hour. It was so interesting I couldn't put it down. The book didn't even have to leave their house. Such a great read. I only wish that those people who believe all goths are suicidal Satanists would read it. Even though I don't go for the whole labling people thing, I must say that this was enlightening and not at all what I thought it would be when it was insisted I read it.

For the most part, the real important part of this book has got to be the first two chapters. I say this because it overly stresses the most mportant part of the culture. That is, that gothic is what is on the inside, and though it's always a good idea to express ones self on the outside, it is not necessary. The rest of the book just shows things that goths tend to do, and are interested in. Other helpfull things are the mention of gothic artists and writers.
One of the few problems, though, was the unmention of the first gothic novel, either it's there and i missed it or it isn't there, but the mention of Horace Walpole should have been there.
One other problem was that some of the things mentiond about goths made it sound that in order to feel gothic there were things you must buy. Sometimes i thought that, that was what it looked like, but wasn't actually what was said. I believe that some of the book was worded in a way that can cause confusion for those who don't normally know much about it.
One last thing, was that i wished there would have been a spot about those that are gothic and those who actively particapate in the scene. In other words those who aren't into clubs as oppossed
to those who are.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds like i'm complaining too much, but this is a great informational book that everyone should read.

This is basically a book of opinions on what goth is and what goth isn't. There are a lot of basic facts about different aspects of the subculture, but nothing really new that hasn't been done before by other authors.

I would like to state that the people calling others 'poseur' in this review section don't have a clue about the subculture. It was originally about being yourself, but according to them you have to be a sheep. Please don't think that all people into the subculture are immature morons.

To put it simply, this book is just a collection of opinions formatted as though they were fact. The book's "facts," can easily be supported, or disputed. Whether or not the book is actually goth, well, that largely depends on what you think goth is. In the end, no matter what you think goth is, this book is boring. Like a textbook, boring. It's written flatly and boringly. It's neither entertaining nor enlightening. I've enjoyed many history books and books about subculture, but as I said, this book is neither fun to read nor informative. Bottom line: no matter what you think goth is, this book is a bore. If you must have it, you might like it. For a far superior book about the goth subculture, I'd highly suggest Voltaire's "What Is Goth?"

As a goth who lives in a city with no other goth friends, I thankfully have my books, music and movies to keep me sane. This book is one of them.
I am glad for Ms. Kilpatrick in that she created a book in which goths and non-goths could appreciate it, especially in this day and age in which this country tolerates goth people but does not fully accept the lifestyle. In fact, I have noticed more and more books that have been published lately concerning the goth subculture, forcing people to look at us and realize that, although we do dress in black and may not follow the path of normal, we still are people who feel, think, love and hate and laugh sometimes.
The book was researched well and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that some of the people she interviewed were over the age of 25, especially since I am 30 myself.
Overall, a very good book and a very good attempt at explaining our way of life.

I bought this book by Nancy Kilpatrick when I first became interested in goth subculture about a year ago. This book let me dive head first into the beautiful lush dark world with an open heart and mind. I love it to pieces! Becoming goth for me was a lonely road being that I took the transform at such a later age than most (26) and no one around me seemed to quite understand me.
This book was like walking into a room of kindred spirits who all smiled and welcomed me warmly. I have a passion for learning and understanding so when I do anything I like to know Im immersing myself in. This book is definately a "Bible" for darkly inclined. You dont have to define yourself as a goth but simply someone who is interested in subcultures or maybe the music, whatever your reason I certainly recommend this book.
It went into the history and then moves forward. Nancy writes with a wonderful passion and I feel she understands goths. She contributed to making me the happy darkling I am today.
This book details history and origins of goth, the media associates with goth and shows that being goth isnt a terrible thing. Being different is a wonderful thing so Nancy encourages us to embrace it with open arms. Even if you dont consider yourself goth perhaps this book will bring enlightenment of a new subculture and delicious world that you were previously afraid of.
If you are a parent unsure of your children's pending gothic transformation, maybe you should read it yourself then give it to them as a token of understanding.
If you are older like me and need understanding and acceptance then find it here in the pages of the well written compendium. It even references my most favourite corset/victorian/gothic wear store in Sydney Australia so that made it even better in my eyes :)

PS. Feel free to contact me to discuss anything goth, i welcome any interaction with other dark individuals

When I read this book I was really amazed by how they talked about older goths. Now a days most of the people in this world are people trying to be goth by wearing black and makeup but this book showed what real gothic was about..It talked about the gothic bands that were made back in the day Play Dead, and Dead Can Dance, I was amazed if you think your gothic and follow manson think again...Read this book.

As a Goth myself, I expected to know most of the Gothic scene. But I didn't. This book is great, filled with valuable and interesting information, no Goth should be without.