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alisarae's review against another edition
My favorite memoir format is the graphic memoir. This book is prime example of how wonderful the genre is. The author+illustrator Derf Backderf recounts his middle-school and high-school experiences as a friend of the future serial killer Jeff Dahmer. Frequently referenced are the similarities in their lives: besides living in the same town and attending the same schools, both were bottom rung on the social ladder, both had dads who were chemists, both were the oldest sibling to a younger brother, both lived in practically identical homes... so where did their lives diverge? If I were the author, I would have started obsessing over that too. But through lots of research, Backderf shows that their family relationships could not be more different. Why is it always the mom that sparks a serial killer?
The only way this story could be more interesting is if it included more of Dahmer's life, but as the focus of the book is the author's personal interactions with Dahmer, that would be out of the scope. I'm super excited to watch the movie based on this book that came out last year.
The only way this story could be more interesting is if it included more of Dahmer's life, but as the focus of the book is the author's personal interactions with Dahmer, that would be out of the scope. I'm super excited to watch the movie based on this book that came out last year.
gabipetersen's review against another edition
4.0
A real story written by one person who knew the serial killer Dahmer before he “became” a serial killer. It’s a really interesting story to read and see how after we know the person was bad, all the signs seemed to be so clear. Also it shows his sad and turbulent childhood. It’s a “not so heavy” way to learn about such a heavy story.
lefttoread's review against another edition
1.0
I have a lot to say about this book and not one bit of it is good..
I'm interested in serial killers and the way their minds work, their lifestyles before they became a serial killer ect ect and I've always been interested in Dahmer's story.
When I got the chance to read this book I was excited because this isn't a part of Dahmer's story I have heard, I've heard about his upbringing with his parents and his sexuality but nothing on his 'friends' or his school life.
The title is totally misleading, I didn't go in thinking the author and Dahmer were going to be best buddies but I did expect some sort of conversations and something that would make me surprised I guess.. but no the author and his friends were basically bullying Dahmer and using him for their own laughs.
I didn't go in wanting to sympathise with Dahmer and I never have but seriously.. what a shit upbringing, the author comes off like the bullying was okay and I'd seriously say them excluding Dahmer the way they did definitely played a part in how he turned out.
A lot of the story also was mainly just how strange Dahmer was, some trigger warnings for this story as he would imitate people he knew that had cerebal palsy and epilepsy, the story seemed centered around this which was just a small bit of his life..
I would really say this 'friend' of Dahmer's knew very little about him and thought this was a great way to make some money as he went to the same school and breathed around one of the most famous serial killers..
Ugh.
I'm interested in serial killers and the way their minds work, their lifestyles before they became a serial killer ect ect and I've always been interested in Dahmer's story.
When I got the chance to read this book I was excited because this isn't a part of Dahmer's story I have heard, I've heard about his upbringing with his parents and his sexuality but nothing on his 'friends' or his school life.
The title is totally misleading, I didn't go in thinking the author and Dahmer were going to be best buddies but I did expect some sort of conversations and something that would make me surprised I guess.. but no the author and his friends were basically bullying Dahmer and using him for their own laughs.
I didn't go in wanting to sympathise with Dahmer and I never have but seriously.. what a shit upbringing, the author comes off like the bullying was okay and I'd seriously say them excluding Dahmer the way they did definitely played a part in how he turned out.
A lot of the story also was mainly just how strange Dahmer was, some trigger warnings for this story as he would imitate people he knew that had cerebal palsy and epilepsy, the story seemed centered around this which was just a small bit of his life..
I would really say this 'friend' of Dahmer's knew very little about him and thought this was a great way to make some money as he went to the same school and breathed around one of the most famous serial killers..
Ugh.
mozbolt's review against another edition
4.0
So. Damn. Chilling! I need to watch Bob's Burgers for 10 hours after finishing this crazy... good? graphic novel. How does one describe a book about the most fascinatingly f***ed up serial killer?
raven1358's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.0
I honestly don’t know how to feel about this , never really knew anything about Jeff Dahmer apart from here about the show so I really don’t know what to think right now . I don’t know what pisses me off more the “obliviousness” of the adults or the “stupidity” of the kids , I will never understand the whole never report on a fellow kid because me personally if I see something or someone acting weird I am going to say something about it because you honestly never know. Just because it’s “normal” or “common “ for kids to grow up in dysfunctional families doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at least try to help. But hey what do I know 🤷🏾♀️ I wasn’t born during those times so I can’t really say anything . The drawing style also helped make this way more creepy , I might consider watching the show who knows?
cjgmiranda220's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
emilyinlibraryland's review against another edition
4.0
Legitimately one of the creepiest things I've ever read. The art really works for the story, adding even more horror to an already horrible tale.
That being said, it also made me laugh (albeit in an uncomfortable way). Prime example: the scene where the author was dressed as Hitler and chatting to Jeffrey Dahmer. It's too surreal not to laugh, but ugh, creepfest.
That being said, it also made me laugh (albeit in an uncomfortable way). Prime example: the scene where the author was dressed as Hitler and chatting to Jeffrey Dahmer. It's too surreal not to laugh, but ugh, creepfest.