The Rat A Perverse Miscellany Author:Barbara Hodgson From Booklist — Rats abound in this aptly subtitled, wonderfully creepy celebration of one of nature's least appealing creatures, a book whose charm is not unlike that of a favorite frightening movie scene lovingly seen and recalled again and again, for each turn of the page scares, shocks, or thrills anew. Here are rat vignettes from many dispar... more »ate sources, including George Orwell's Homage to Catalonia, Erich Maria Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front, and Pliny's Natural History, to name a few (the bibliography is quite a treat, too). Rat myths are debunked, "rat vocabulary" (really a rat glossary) is illuminated, and, generally, rat culture is explored. The illustrations constitute a treasure trove of creepy clip art and may be the most extraordinary feature of this singular collection that does, indisputably, "show just how deep our fascination for this repellent rodent is." Mike Tribby« less