The goth Bible : A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined

Rating:
Summary: Pretty
Review: For the most part, the real important part of this book has got to be the first two chapters. I say this because it overly stresses the most mportant part of the culture. That is, that gothic is what is on the inside, and though it's always a good idea to express ones self on the outside, it is not necessary. The rest of the book just shows things that goths tend to do, and are interested in. Other helpfull things are the mention of gothic artists and writers.
One of the few problems, though, was the unmention of the first gothic novel, either it's there and i missed it or it isn't there, but the mention of Horace Walpole should have been there.
One other problem was that some of the things mentiond about goths made it sound that in order to feel gothic there were things you must buy. Sometimes i thought that, that was what it looked like, but wasn't actually what was said. I believe that some of the book was worded in a way that can cause confusion for those who don't normally know much about it.
One last thing, was that i wished there would have been a spot about those that are gothic and those who actively particapate in the scene. In other words those who aren't into clubs as oppossed
to those who are.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds like i'm complaining too much, but this is a great informational book that everyone should read.

Rating:
Summary: Darkly Enchanting
Review: As a goth who lives in a city with no other goth friends, I thankfully have my books, music and movies to keep me sane. This book is one of them.
I am glad for Ms. Kilpatrick in that she created a book in which goths and non-goths could appreciate it, especially in this day and age in which this country tolerates goth people but does not fully accept the lifestyle. In fact, I have noticed more and more books that have been published lately concerning the goth subculture, forcing people to look at us and realize that, although we do dress in black and may not follow the path of normal, we still are people who feel, think, love and hate and laugh sometimes.
The book was researched well and I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that some of the people she interviewed were over the age of 25, especially since I am 30 myself.
Overall, a very good book and a very good attempt at explaining our way of life.

Rating:
Summary: It's About Time...However...
Review: I Only wish that it was bigger. More More More. I enjoyed it, being a 30-something goth who has seen and done it all at some point. But still, it is nice to know that there are other people out there that have the same sense of goth humor and choose to live that beautiful and misunderstood lifestyle. Some of it is laughable, some is beautiful, nonetheless several times throughout the book I was reminded of how and why I "became goth" pardon the cliche'...and I reminisced about the wonderful music and people I knew during certain periods of my punk/goth/mod/new-wave/new romantic/artrockbeatnikpagan phases. I wish Nancy Kilpatrick, Voltaire (who wrote the "Oh My Goth" comics and has several cds) and Brandon Neil Ragan (who wrote the gothic cult classic "Grey Garden") would all get together and write the official "GOTH-UMENTARY". They seem like they could pull off the ultimate gothic coffee table book. Anyway, thanks for the cool book

Rating:
Summary: Couldve been better
Review: Ok..I ran out out and bought this book as soon as I heard about it. I love Nancy's fiction books and thought this would be a great Gothic compdeum(sp) of the Gothic History and subculture has has gone on despite the norms stating its a fad.

Alas it was not to be. I wanted interviews from those in the scene..babygoths to eldergoths but what I got was a brief history and a lot of websites I couldve googled for.


I think Nancy had the right idea but I feel the book could have been fleshed out more.



Rating:
Summary: A book which by a Goth FOR Goths but hoping to reach others!
Review: This is actually the very first charming Goth book. We have had a few Goth epics in recent years, from my Net-based tome, to Paul Hodkinson's academic study, Gavin Baddeley coming from a Metal perspective, and Dave Thompson rummaging through the eighties. What is unusual here is that Nancy Kilpatrick hasn't any ego-driven agenda, and has actively sought out Goth opinions to decorate each chapter with. 95 Goths answered 125 questions each to form an alternative spine to this work and it makes it a very different book to the rest. Nancy is best known as a Horror writer but she is a Goth, and clearly delighted to be writing the book, as she also wants this book to help others understand Goth.

You get serious contributions on sex/relationships/Fetish/marriage/Goth children/Corporate Goth/Goth homes, Art and Literature (Old and New), and it ends with a chapter on the Future, even if that felt a little skimpy.

Basically, she goes through things that effect Goth life, from clothes to accoutrements, to relationships, religion, cemeteries, architecture, music and all the expected areas, with quotes and photos from her Goths interviews draping pages like curtains, as their comments go down the outer columns to most spreads. Those interviewed within the chapter text tend to be business-related individuals pertinent to the topic in question. So, in the Fashion or Lifestyle sections you have many a Goth contribution, but also meet Morpheus of Siren, R. Hunter Gough of `Gother Than Thou', Fred H. Berger of Propaganda, Terri of Ipso Facto, Natasha of Meltdown, Steven Of Gothic Beauty, Trish & Snooky of Manic Panic, Sonia (Hair Police), AntiSally (Goth Rosary), the Alchemy boys, Batty (Azrael's Accomplice), Mirabai (Tenebrae) Doktor Joy (Pennangalan Dreams), piercer Pierre Black and those lovely X-tra-X people. You can find a proper analyses of Absinthe, then on a similar vein find the weird story of how Michael Marchet finally got Vampire wine onto the market. Out of one area another little bubble will pop, making it a very pleasant read with unexpected dalliances emerging.

The only disappointing part of me was a curious lack of musical coverage but Nancy has admitted the music side of thing isn't her strong point. She looked for willing musical contributors and some of what they say is unusual.

Oh Hell, you get Clubs, and zines, net.goth, net habits, comics, gardening, Goth sub-species, and so on. It's a big book, commendably detailed in its travels to the heart of Goth and it is, without doubt, the most naturally jubilant, Goth-friendly, book which has so far been printed.