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A review by dakotuhhh
Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation Into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin by Megan Rosenbloom
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I loved this book!
I’ve honestly never been a huge reader before these last few months, and I’d never read a nonfiction like this before. I really fell in love and was so happy to be learning as much as I was
One thing that stood out to me was the ethical conversations surrounding universities, museums and other institutions keeping human skin books. Almost every human skin book was created without the consent of the person who’s skin was used.
There are those who argue that the books or just their bindings should be cremated, buried or just somehow laid to rest. The author does a great job of fairly presenting these arguments, while she believes in the importance of preserving and studying the books.
If the goal is to rid all universities, museums and other institutions of human remains that were gathered unethically, Im fairly certain that would be most of them. But I don’t see anyone rioting over Otzi the iceman. Liberty Leading the People is believed to have been painted partially with Mummy Brown, a paint made from ground up Mummified corpses. Yet there are no calls for that to be burnt as far as I know
These books are treated with respect and care by people who understand and appreciate what they are in these institutions. It’s not like a hacky sideshow
I dunno maybe it’s a bad take I just wanted to share my opinion I guess! No one asked!
Either way I love the book
I’ve honestly never been a huge reader before these last few months, and I’d never read a nonfiction like this before. I really fell in love and was so happy to be learning as much as I was
One thing that stood out to me was the ethical conversations surrounding universities, museums and other institutions keeping human skin books. Almost every human skin book was created without the consent of the person who’s skin was used.
There are those who argue that the books or just their bindings should be cremated, buried or just somehow laid to rest. The author does a great job of fairly presenting these arguments, while she believes in the importance of preserving and studying the books.
If the goal is to rid all universities, museums and other institutions of human remains that were gathered unethically, Im fairly certain that would be most of them. But I don’t see anyone rioting over Otzi the iceman. Liberty Leading the People is believed to have been painted partially with Mummy Brown, a paint made from ground up Mummified corpses. Yet there are no calls for that to be burnt as far as I know
These books are treated with respect and care by people who understand and appreciate what they are in these institutions. It’s not like a hacky sideshow
I dunno maybe it’s a bad take I just wanted to share my opinion I guess! No one asked!
Either way I love the book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder