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Book Review of Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People

Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People
reviewed on + 106 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2


WARNING: DO NOT ORDER THIS BOOK WITH THE IDEA THAT IT WILL HAVE CRAFTS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!
I really wanted to like this book. (and I did not get it with the idea of using it with children or even seriously doing crafts - I just wanted a chuckle or two) That wasn't possible.
This book is JUST PLAIN SICK! The pictures are disgusting, some are revolting. If some of this stuff is supposed to be funny I totally fail to see it. Some of presentations are just plain tasteless.
EXAMPLES:
1. Scarred and mutilated faces which result from too much alcohol or too many drugs consumed while making "your crafts" The drug and alcohol use are strongly encouraged because they will expand your imagination and make your crafts more interesting.
2. Graphic staged full color pictures of what might happen when you play unsafely with your crafting tools; bloody eyes that are stapled shut, full size inflamed iron burns on the thigh, melted crayons attached to a horribly burned hand over an open stove flame, needles and thread stitched through the skin.
3. Glue sniffing to make your crafting experience "Out of this World!"
4. Sedaris uses the example of how some "SERIAL KILLERS" often take trophies from their victims; fingers, skin etc and gives you suggestions on how (using their examples) you too can preserve the memory of a relative or pet. After all, and this is a direct quote, "there is something slightly charming about maniacs wanting to memorialize their conquests"
There are dozens more like the "dismembered finger picture" that I don't even want to see again to tell you how that relates to crafting. Just looking at this book again to review it has turned my stomach.
I'm sure that this type of sick humor appeals to some after all the book does sell. Gratefully, I only paid a quarter for mine at a library book sell. I'll list it here because as of right now there are 131 people wishing for it. I do hope that a lot of them will read this review and decide not to order it. This book belongs in the garbage not on peoples book shelves. It would not hurt my feelings at all if all 131 canceled their wish list requests and I did end up throwing it in the garbage!