Customer Reviews

Urban Legends: The As-Complete-As-One-Could-Be Guide to Modern Myths

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

 

 

The worst sin a book about Urban Legends could commit is to confuse the reader about what is fact, and what is fiction. This book does that time after time. The author hops around between Urban Legend and the truth that may have inspired it, and the writing is so poor that you can't keep track of what's what. The book is also filled with nonsensical run-on sentences; I often had to go back and reread certain sentences 3 or 4 times before just giving up. This book looks and reads like somone published it from their basement. N.E. Genge goes on my list of "Must-NOT-Read" Authors.

People interested in a well-done book on the same topic should start with Paradox Press' excellent "Big Book of Urban Legends".

If ever a book cried out for a competent editor, this is the one. It's rife with misspellings, typos and incredibly obtuse prose. While it does fulfill its stated purpose of being a compendium of both classic and contemporary urban legends, it's an exhausting read because of its startling lack of polish. And if you find you're interested in learning whether or not a particular legend is true or even based in truth, I hope you're the patient type: the author often waits several pages before deciding to comment on the veracity of a story, sometimes saving up multiple stories and commenting on them collectively. That's when she chooses to weigh in on a tale's truthfulness at all, mind you. There are definitely better titles in this genre, not to mention the great Web sites covering the same territory.

from a critic stand point i can see how one would find fault in this, however unless you are looking for serious studies of urban legands i see little fault in this book. I read it a number of times in highschool and found it delightful and entertaining. Does she say what is legand and what is not, no not really, but somt of them should be obvious and other ....well thats what the show myth busters is for. However if one where looking for something fun with a selction of fictional facts this book would do that. Not only does it contain urban legends, but silly laws, dumb things people do in court(and else where), and more.

Yes there are a few Urban Legends books out there now many taking advantage of the movie. Brunvand has been writing books on Urban Legends way before the movie and new interest in the topic ever came up, this book is can't compare to his but its not too bad its updated has new stories and legends. The other reviewer said this info is taken off the Urban Legends Reference Pages which may be true but it doesnt necessarly make it a bad book. Not everyone has access to a computer and/or the internet and not everyone knows about the best urban legends webpage either so this book is handy to take with you and share these fun and interesting urban legends with your friends.

Amazing how much of the material in this book came right off the Urban Legends Reference Pages web site. Save your money and visit the real thing.