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Bone Meal Broth
The world is full of horrors both real and imagined. Bone Meal Broth adds a few more.
The nine stories in this collection vary in style and content, but all of them strive to unsettle.
Inside Bone Meal Broth you'll meet a P.I. who works the dark streets of a post-biological-cataclysm New Orleans, a sleazy glamor photographer with a pest problem, and a misanthrope who's just made the most important (and deadly) purchase of his life. And those are the heroes.
You'll visit the grotesque inhabitants of America's backwoods and shrink from the quiet terrors of suburbia. No matter your dark preference: a cup of Bone Meal Broth will hit the spot.
The nine stories in this collection vary in style and content, but all of them strive to unsettle.
Inside Bone Meal Broth you'll meet a P.I. who works the dark streets of a post-biological-cataclysm New Orleans, a sleazy glamor photographer with a pest problem, and a misanthrope who's just made the most important (and deadly) purchase of his life. And those are the heroes.
You'll visit the grotesque inhabitants of America's backwoods and shrink from the quiet terrors of suburbia. No matter your dark preference: a cup of Bone Meal Broth will hit the spot.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
17 people are currently reading
277 people want to read
About the author
Adam Cesare
65 books2,602 followersAdam Cesare is a New Yorker who lives in Philadelphia. His books include Clown in a Cornfield, Video Night, The Summer Job, and Zero Lives Remaining. He’s an avid fan of horror cinema and runs Project: Black T-Shirt, a YouTube review show where he takes horror films and pairs them with reading suggestions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 15, 2015
Nine very short stories from one of my favourite new authors, Adam Cesare, should have been a sure fire hit. I'm not a huge fan of longer short stories - those that clock in around 30 pages - as they often end up promising a great deal and delivering not enough. So I was all primed for a series of stories that were over and done with in the time it takes to complete an especially satisfying bowel movement.
Yes I went there! Because that's the kind of uncomfortable reaction some of Cesare's stories elicit. The only problem being, most of these were actually too short. The set-ups were usually good, then something significant would happen and, well, the story would just end. PINK TISSUE and THE NEW MODEL both suffered from this syndrome. They were each intriguing, and set up a different world in a scant few pages, and then ended either on a worthy twist or just when the action was ramping up.
To my mind, the best of this small collection was ROLLIN & JEANIE, a nasty backwoods story that starts with a tender bond between sister and brother before ... Maybe I'll just conclude it doesn't stay with that. I also liked THE GIRLS IN THE WOODS and BORDER JUMPER, but others stories like FLIES ON THE BRAIN and THE WHITE HALLOWEEN did not strike the same chord with me.
Overall, this is a decent collection of short fiction from an author who at this stage was still developing his voice. Thankfully he now seems to be allowing that voice more time to charismatically woo the listener before, belaboured metaphors be damned, sticking the tazer in said listener's ribs.
3 Broken Offerings to Father for Bone Meal Broth.
Yes I went there! Because that's the kind of uncomfortable reaction some of Cesare's stories elicit. The only problem being, most of these were actually too short. The set-ups were usually good, then something significant would happen and, well, the story would just end. PINK TISSUE and THE NEW MODEL both suffered from this syndrome. They were each intriguing, and set up a different world in a scant few pages, and then ended either on a worthy twist or just when the action was ramping up.
To my mind, the best of this small collection was ROLLIN & JEANIE, a nasty backwoods story that starts with a tender bond between sister and brother before ... Maybe I'll just conclude it doesn't stay with that. I also liked THE GIRLS IN THE WOODS and BORDER JUMPER, but others stories like FLIES ON THE BRAIN and THE WHITE HALLOWEEN did not strike the same chord with me.
Overall, this is a decent collection of short fiction from an author who at this stage was still developing his voice. Thankfully he now seems to be allowing that voice more time to charismatically woo the listener before, belaboured metaphors be damned, sticking the tazer in said listener's ribs.
3 Broken Offerings to Father for Bone Meal Broth.
August 6, 2013
What you see
and what you get
are different things
than you suspect.
I saw a weird cover
and overlooked
reading anything
inside this book.
The stories were entertaining
made me think of telling you,
That's why I'm recommending
that others might like it too.
by Nikki
3 Stars - The Still
4 Stars- Flies in the Brain
5 Stars- Rollin & Jeanie
4 Stars- Pink Tissue
4 Stars- Border Jumper
4 Stars- Trap
4 Stars- The New Model
3 Stars- The Girls in the Woods
2 Stars- The White Halloween
Glad I read this treat of a read. The stories were all interesting and better than a lot of collections I have read.
Highly Recommended. Will Definitely check out his other reads. Video Night sounds good~
and what you get
are different things
than you suspect.
I saw a weird cover
and overlooked
reading anything
inside this book.
The stories were entertaining
made me think of telling you,
That's why I'm recommending
that others might like it too.
by Nikki
3 Stars - The Still
4 Stars- Flies in the Brain
5 Stars- Rollin & Jeanie
4 Stars- Pink Tissue
4 Stars- Border Jumper
4 Stars- Trap
4 Stars- The New Model
3 Stars- The Girls in the Woods
2 Stars- The White Halloween
Glad I read this treat of a read. The stories were all interesting and better than a lot of collections I have read.
Highly Recommended. Will Definitely check out his other reads. Video Night sounds good~
October 13, 2024
A decent collection of Adam Cesare stories with no real standouts. In fact most of these don't feel like complete stories but more like outlines or starts to longer/larger stories.
July 10, 2017
Solid collection, if you like things a bit on the graphic side check it out!
February 12, 2016
It seems peculiar to use the word "breezy" to describe a collection of deeply dark and disturbing tales of short horror, but that's the adjective that leaps to mind. Not "lightweight" in the sense that there was no substance to them, but "breezy" in that they flew by, slipping down the throat of my mind like sliders from some kind of infernal White Castle.
First, some generalities. Cesare has an incredible command of prose, and the way he assembled words and phrases reminded me of an orchestral conductor. This isn't workmanlike prose, this is art.
As for the style, I wouldn't really classify any of these as extreme horror, but neither are they quietly restrained Victorian spook pieces, either. I hate to use a term like "middle-of-the-road" because it implies mediocrity (and these stories are anything but) but their scare levels are somewhere between 4 and 7 on the terror spectrum. Gorehounds like myself will find a lot to enjoy but I don't think average, non-horror types should feel intimidated, either.
Now, a look at some of the specific stories. As with any collection, there were highs and lows. Nothing was truly terribly, but a few of the weaker stories elicited a "meh" rather than a bloodcurdling scream.
"Pink Tissue," on the other hand, was the standout of the lot. Set in a post-apocalyptic New Orleans populated by mutants who have become the de facto norm, this noirish body horror piece packed a punch and managed to sketch out a world in a few thousand words better realized than most sci-fi movies can do with a couple of hours and a multi-million dollar budget. I sincerely hope Cesare revisits this setting in the future.
"Bringing Down the Giants" was a fascinating creeper. I was a little bit lost on the nature of the creatures. Were they toys brought to life? If not why did they so closely resemble one of the protagonist's childhood toys? In any case it takes a conceit played for fun in countless cases of children's fare like "Ferngully" and "Epic" and turns it on its ear with the result being rather grotesque.
I know now where Cesare gets his reputation. As a primer and an introduction to the Cesarean section of the horror world, BONE MEAL BROTH is definitely worth checking out.
First, some generalities. Cesare has an incredible command of prose, and the way he assembled words and phrases reminded me of an orchestral conductor. This isn't workmanlike prose, this is art.
As for the style, I wouldn't really classify any of these as extreme horror, but neither are they quietly restrained Victorian spook pieces, either. I hate to use a term like "middle-of-the-road" because it implies mediocrity (and these stories are anything but) but their scare levels are somewhere between 4 and 7 on the terror spectrum. Gorehounds like myself will find a lot to enjoy but I don't think average, non-horror types should feel intimidated, either.
Now, a look at some of the specific stories. As with any collection, there were highs and lows. Nothing was truly terribly, but a few of the weaker stories elicited a "meh" rather than a bloodcurdling scream.
"Pink Tissue," on the other hand, was the standout of the lot. Set in a post-apocalyptic New Orleans populated by mutants who have become the de facto norm, this noirish body horror piece packed a punch and managed to sketch out a world in a few thousand words better realized than most sci-fi movies can do with a couple of hours and a multi-million dollar budget. I sincerely hope Cesare revisits this setting in the future.
"Bringing Down the Giants" was a fascinating creeper. I was a little bit lost on the nature of the creatures. Were they toys brought to life? If not why did they so closely resemble one of the protagonist's childhood toys? In any case it takes a conceit played for fun in countless cases of children's fare like "Ferngully" and "Epic" and turns it on its ear with the result being rather grotesque.
I know now where Cesare gets his reputation. As a primer and an introduction to the Cesarean section of the horror world, BONE MEAL BROTH is definitely worth checking out.
May 17, 2016
Three and a half stars.
Originally published in 2012, the short fiction collection titled Bone Meal Broth can be seen partially as a retrospective of Adam Cesare's early efforts. It may sound strange to call works of only 4 years ago and before as "early" yet if one has read anything later by the author such as Mercy House or Zero Lives Remaining, it is easy to see a maturation then and now. Or maybe it is because these are relatively brief short stories and, for the most part, goes for the shock with less development of character that novellas and novels allow. But however you see it, these stories are successful because they are capsule scares. They are pretty nasty frights at that. And, if I can theorize where I have little knowledge and authorization to do so, it seems to me that this may be exactly what he was focusing on at that time of his career; delivering a nasty jolt and making sure the reader felt it long after he read the lines. He seems to have perfected it well.
In Bone Meal Broth, we have 11 stories of varying quality. When they work, they are dynamite. When they don't, they are still not half bad. The winners include" The Still", a great example of going for the kill quickly, and "Rollins & Jeanie" with the moral perhaps being the family that plays together ain't quite right in the head. My favorite may be "Border Jumper" about two men who take a monster to a dog fight. I rooted for the monster. "The Girls in the Woods" is rather exquisite in its telling and deserves two readings to really get it.. The others range from good to uneven, yet they all show that Cesare is an author that knows how to deliver in the dark.
This is the first short fiction collection I have read by the author. I still prefer his novellas . They seems to be the perfect size for his imagination. But what these short pieces prove is that he can go straight to the shocker yet leave you with characters and situation that stick in your mind. If they feel too short it is because they are. But the short fiction fan will certainly want to check them out. For that matter, so will anyone else who likes good storytelling.
Originally published in 2012, the short fiction collection titled Bone Meal Broth can be seen partially as a retrospective of Adam Cesare's early efforts. It may sound strange to call works of only 4 years ago and before as "early" yet if one has read anything later by the author such as Mercy House or Zero Lives Remaining, it is easy to see a maturation then and now. Or maybe it is because these are relatively brief short stories and, for the most part, goes for the shock with less development of character that novellas and novels allow. But however you see it, these stories are successful because they are capsule scares. They are pretty nasty frights at that. And, if I can theorize where I have little knowledge and authorization to do so, it seems to me that this may be exactly what he was focusing on at that time of his career; delivering a nasty jolt and making sure the reader felt it long after he read the lines. He seems to have perfected it well.
In Bone Meal Broth, we have 11 stories of varying quality. When they work, they are dynamite. When they don't, they are still not half bad. The winners include" The Still", a great example of going for the kill quickly, and "Rollins & Jeanie" with the moral perhaps being the family that plays together ain't quite right in the head. My favorite may be "Border Jumper" about two men who take a monster to a dog fight. I rooted for the monster. "The Girls in the Woods" is rather exquisite in its telling and deserves two readings to really get it.. The others range from good to uneven, yet they all show that Cesare is an author that knows how to deliver in the dark.
This is the first short fiction collection I have read by the author. I still prefer his novellas . They seems to be the perfect size for his imagination. But what these short pieces prove is that he can go straight to the shocker yet leave you with characters and situation that stick in your mind. If they feel too short it is because they are. But the short fiction fan will certainly want to check them out. For that matter, so will anyone else who likes good storytelling.
August 5, 2013
Cesare's Bone Meal Broth is a tasty treat to whet your appetite when you crave a bit of horror to get you through the night. These short tales are punchy, hooky, fun, and genuinely creepy. Cesare definitely knows how to spin around a situation, to lead you to that revealing point with grace--you won't see it coming: the blade, the chains, the mice. When I was young I used to watch "Tales from the Crypt" on late-night television and these stories opened back up that world for me.I know Cesare has a few novels out and this collection has certainly opened the door to checking out his longer works. Enjoy.
May 17, 2017
A collection of well-written tales that takes you on a cold nasty ride.
Bitter unhappy people together with vile rotting corpses. It's good stuff
but be prepared for a journey through life's seamy underbelly.
Bitter unhappy people together with vile rotting corpses. It's good stuff
but be prepared for a journey through life's seamy underbelly.
April 15, 2015
Great collection
All the stories in this collection are good not one bad apple. Each story has a dif feel and twist and turns.
All the stories in this collection are good not one bad apple. Each story has a dif feel and twist and turns.
May 8, 2021
Contains 11 of short stories and trust me each one of them equally terrific + unique to read. It's Total 5 from me. Thanks a bunch to the author for delivering such a piece of joy like this one...
The Still -
Wooster and Chase together going to Wooster's uncle Rhett's place to experienced most bizarre thing that could only exist in horror fantasy mind. There's something very disgusting and disturbing case in that place which not only frightening but also can blow your mind. Sick the word you can call it...
Files In The Brain-
Danny that 10 year old boy didn't have the slightest idea what fate waiting for him while he was doing some distributing thing with his grandmother. Even his father Dylan could not do anything but watch. There were flies everywhere...
Rollin & Jeanie-
Rollin only want Jeanie his sister but not the way that normal siblings want each other. Not my favourite actually...
Pink Tissue-
Jacoby was on the mission to find missing a girl whose sister looking for her. But Jacoby didn't know about what he was going for until it was too late...
Border Jumper -
This actually I liked and enjoyed too. The story about some kind of horrible creature to whom Patch, Hernandez they all need to fight and needed to make conclusion what to do about it. Could they do what they want or that creature gonna overtook them. Read it to find out...
Trap -
Another favourite one. Kent hired Ashley for some kinky photograph of her til one day Ashley noticed a mouse in Kent's room and fed away from his house. Kent did his best to remove that mouse and again called Ashley for the same business. But the mouse was not done with him. This time there's more and what they did to them was something you don't wanna know...
The New Model -
The person liked that model which give him the satisfaction he needed. Until that day he regrets he never had that...
The Girls in the Woods -
This another favourite one to read. The little girl got something into her and she could find in the woods of forest. Blaire her father was so sick that there's might be no chance of him to live more. Somehow Blaire did meet with that strange girl and the result was something you could ever imagine...
The White Halloween -
The story hadn't much to offer but anyhow it was ok enough to enjoy. There's not supposed to snow in Halloween but it did. George was 78 years old and he liked the Halloween tradition. But at the end of the story he had to face his unfortunate fate...
Bringing Down the Giants -
This my favourite too. Why? Because this short tale was all about dolls. I do afraid doll and you can say I have pediophobia. Anyway Julia was worried about her daughter Susan. Susan got more dolls to play. But the dolls in a way not seem normal from any angle. What happened later was something they need to endure before something terrible thing occurs...
So Bad -
Jesus! This last one just took my breath away. I absolutely freaking loved this short one. The concept of this short story was too good to ignore but enjoy fully. The guy was playing an old movie tape in his room sitting and watching it. But something about the movie tape was not quite right. It seems the characters of the movie were acting very strange. There's the scene he had watch but next time while he rewind the scene it was all gone. What most terrific was he couldn't take of his eyes from the movie and there's more thing going on. Like the author wrote the last line from this tale - "It's so bad it's good."...
The Still -
Wooster and Chase together going to Wooster's uncle Rhett's place to experienced most bizarre thing that could only exist in horror fantasy mind. There's something very disgusting and disturbing case in that place which not only frightening but also can blow your mind. Sick the word you can call it...
Files In The Brain-
Danny that 10 year old boy didn't have the slightest idea what fate waiting for him while he was doing some distributing thing with his grandmother. Even his father Dylan could not do anything but watch. There were flies everywhere...
Rollin & Jeanie-
Rollin only want Jeanie his sister but not the way that normal siblings want each other. Not my favourite actually...
Pink Tissue-
Jacoby was on the mission to find missing a girl whose sister looking for her. But Jacoby didn't know about what he was going for until it was too late...
Border Jumper -
This actually I liked and enjoyed too. The story about some kind of horrible creature to whom Patch, Hernandez they all need to fight and needed to make conclusion what to do about it. Could they do what they want or that creature gonna overtook them. Read it to find out...
Trap -
Another favourite one. Kent hired Ashley for some kinky photograph of her til one day Ashley noticed a mouse in Kent's room and fed away from his house. Kent did his best to remove that mouse and again called Ashley for the same business. But the mouse was not done with him. This time there's more and what they did to them was something you don't wanna know...
The New Model -
The person liked that model which give him the satisfaction he needed. Until that day he regrets he never had that...
The Girls in the Woods -
This another favourite one to read. The little girl got something into her and she could find in the woods of forest. Blaire her father was so sick that there's might be no chance of him to live more. Somehow Blaire did meet with that strange girl and the result was something you could ever imagine...
The White Halloween -
The story hadn't much to offer but anyhow it was ok enough to enjoy. There's not supposed to snow in Halloween but it did. George was 78 years old and he liked the Halloween tradition. But at the end of the story he had to face his unfortunate fate...
Bringing Down the Giants -
This my favourite too. Why? Because this short tale was all about dolls. I do afraid doll and you can say I have pediophobia. Anyway Julia was worried about her daughter Susan. Susan got more dolls to play. But the dolls in a way not seem normal from any angle. What happened later was something they need to endure before something terrible thing occurs...
So Bad -
Jesus! This last one just took my breath away. I absolutely freaking loved this short one. The concept of this short story was too good to ignore but enjoy fully. The guy was playing an old movie tape in his room sitting and watching it. But something about the movie tape was not quite right. It seems the characters of the movie were acting very strange. There's the scene he had watch but next time while he rewind the scene it was all gone. What most terrific was he couldn't take of his eyes from the movie and there's more thing going on. Like the author wrote the last line from this tale - "It's so bad it's good."...
September 18, 2019
2.5 stars. Many of the stories felt rushed or left me feeling unsatisfied, like there should have been more to that particular story. Most of the early stories in the collection seemed amateurish, whereas the later stories were presented better and a bit more polished, showing a progression in the author's abilities, style and voice. All writers must begin somewhere, I suppose. I would be interested in reading some of his more recent works.
January 25, 2018
A spectacular collection of short stories.
March 30, 2019
Fantastic book of short stories. Adam Cesare is always a pleasure to read. Think I will tackle Summer Job next!
June 15, 2019
A good mix of horror. Cesare shows range here.
October 7, 2022
Amazing collection! This was my first read from the author and I can't wait to explore his work more. I'm not exaggerating when I say that every single story was brilliant!
January 13, 2013
I usually steer clear of short story collections. I never feel invested, and if it has the makings of a good story, it’s over before you know it. Due to the length there is always a lack of depth. After having really enjoyed Tribesmen by Adam Cesare, I decided to take a punt on this collection, Bone Meal Broth, featuring nine stories. The eBook price is a steal.
This collection is anything but fluff, containing some vivid and brutal imagery. Flies In The Brain really made me cringe – home performed lobotomy, wow. The lives we glimpse in each tale have a pervasive darkness and often a sense of decay about them. There is a good variety of settings for the stories both in time period and locations. As an adopted Louisianian, it was great to see the seedier side of New Orleans as a setting for the noir inspired Pink Tissue. Every story packs a significant punch, concise but effective. As with any short fiction collection, there were some stories I liked better than others. My favorites were The Still, Flies In The Brain, and Border Jumper. In my opinion, it did seem like the stronger stories were at the beginning and their power waned towards the end of the collection. There was only one story that I didn’t care for. They were all interesting though, so I’m splitting hairs. I would love to see some of these stories expanded upon and they would be great as stand alone novellas.
It’s a quick read with some stories that will stick in your head long after you’ve finished. Definitely worth reading. Don’t even think about it, just buy it.
This collection is anything but fluff, containing some vivid and brutal imagery. Flies In The Brain really made me cringe – home performed lobotomy, wow. The lives we glimpse in each tale have a pervasive darkness and often a sense of decay about them. There is a good variety of settings for the stories both in time period and locations. As an adopted Louisianian, it was great to see the seedier side of New Orleans as a setting for the noir inspired Pink Tissue. Every story packs a significant punch, concise but effective. As with any short fiction collection, there were some stories I liked better than others. My favorites were The Still, Flies In The Brain, and Border Jumper. In my opinion, it did seem like the stronger stories were at the beginning and their power waned towards the end of the collection. There was only one story that I didn’t care for. They were all interesting though, so I’m splitting hairs. I would love to see some of these stories expanded upon and they would be great as stand alone novellas.
It’s a quick read with some stories that will stick in your head long after you’ve finished. Definitely worth reading. Don’t even think about it, just buy it.
May 8, 2012
I enjoyed this collection a great deal. There's plenty of creepy characters (Rollin & Jeanie)*awesome, and freaky imagery for the horror fan to enjoy in the short, sharp shocks offered in Bone Meal Broth.
From the opening story - The Still - through to the closing tale, The White Halloween, both of which happen to be highpoints in my opinion, Adam allows us nine brief glimpses into a world just out of sync with the one most us inhabit - thankfully - steering us down, into the dark, shattering the fragile safety of our brighly lit and populated world.
The light is just out of reach, forever beyond our grasp.
I do however think that this is just a starter for the main course...The Tribesman - my copy is en route so I don't have too long to wait to find out.
I can't end these thought's without mention of a story called Trap. Having personally experienced a home invasion of the twitching kind myself, I certainly related to this tale on a personal level and I suspect that others will too.
*For Awesomwe fellow brits may choose to read splendid!
From the opening story - The Still - through to the closing tale, The White Halloween, both of which happen to be highpoints in my opinion, Adam allows us nine brief glimpses into a world just out of sync with the one most us inhabit - thankfully - steering us down, into the dark, shattering the fragile safety of our brighly lit and populated world.
The light is just out of reach, forever beyond our grasp.
I do however think that this is just a starter for the main course...The Tribesman - my copy is en route so I don't have too long to wait to find out.
I can't end these thought's without mention of a story called Trap. Having personally experienced a home invasion of the twitching kind myself, I certainly related to this tale on a personal level and I suspect that others will too.
*For Awesomwe fellow brits may choose to read splendid!
February 1, 2014
Horror for those bored with horror.
As with any short-story collection, there will be tales that work for you, and some that don't. I suspect Rollin and Jeanie will blow you away, regardless of your tastes. Also loved Still, Border Jumper (it was like an episode of Tales from the Crypt) and Trap --though that one fell into the old short story trap of the reader wanting so much more by the time the story ends.
In fact, there's a few stories that almost fall into that realm of not-quite-satisfied, which in this case seems to be a good thing, as this appears to be something of a sampler of Adam Cesare's writing. A testament to the fact that in just a few pages he can hook you, keep you, and then do whatever he want's with you.
I got this for free (which at the time of writing it is still free) but I would definitely recommend picking this up at the .99 price too. There's a lot of crap out there on the K-store for .99, but this sure as heck ain't one of them. Check out this author. I know I'll be reading more from him.
As with any short-story collection, there will be tales that work for you, and some that don't. I suspect Rollin and Jeanie will blow you away, regardless of your tastes. Also loved Still, Border Jumper (it was like an episode of Tales from the Crypt) and Trap --though that one fell into the old short story trap of the reader wanting so much more by the time the story ends.
In fact, there's a few stories that almost fall into that realm of not-quite-satisfied, which in this case seems to be a good thing, as this appears to be something of a sampler of Adam Cesare's writing. A testament to the fact that in just a few pages he can hook you, keep you, and then do whatever he want's with you.
I got this for free (which at the time of writing it is still free) but I would definitely recommend picking this up at the .99 price too. There's a lot of crap out there on the K-store for .99, but this sure as heck ain't one of them. Check out this author. I know I'll be reading more from him.
April 27, 2012
Adam Cesare, Bone Meal Broth (Adam Cesare, 2012)
Quick collection of horror shorts, about half previously published. Some interesting ideas, though most require fuller fleshing-out to achieve their true potential (e.g., the noir tale “Pink Tissue”, which could stand to be four or five times its current length) and some awkward writing here and there, usually at the end of a story (either it simply cuts off when it seems like there should be more to it, or there's just something vaguely unsatisfactory about the way Cesare ends the tale). These tales could use some work, but Cesare obviously has some talent, and with a bit more work, he'll be doing professional-level stories in the relatively near future. ** ½
Quick collection of horror shorts, about half previously published. Some interesting ideas, though most require fuller fleshing-out to achieve their true potential (e.g., the noir tale “Pink Tissue”, which could stand to be four or five times its current length) and some awkward writing here and there, usually at the end of a story (either it simply cuts off when it seems like there should be more to it, or there's just something vaguely unsatisfactory about the way Cesare ends the tale). These tales could use some work, but Cesare obviously has some talent, and with a bit more work, he'll be doing professional-level stories in the relatively near future. ** ½
February 8, 2017
My first Adam Cesare. These stories are top notch. Flies in The Brain, The Still and the Chupacabra one were the highlights.
December 24, 2016
I first came across Adam Cesare's writing in the anthology, Splatterpunk's Not Dead. I simply had to grab Bone Meal Broth as it came up on my recommendation list. Super glad I did, my inner freak was feeling stifled with all the feel good Christmas crap floating around. lol Give me creepy, give me weird..Bone Meal Broth delivers all that with a dark twist of humor that, well I've got two tabs open right now and I'm trying to figure out whether to read Mercy House or Summer Job next. :) I can't recall where I read it, but somebody said this book is horror, written for fans who think they are sick of horror. This is horror done right.
February 22, 2016
Bone Meal Broth is the bets possible name for a collection such as Adam Cesare's. Murderous toys, deadly fly infestations, human blood drinks, and Halloween are all the ingredients used to create the human pulp that is this book. A lot of these stories remind me of great horror movies such as Videodrome, Creepshow, and Trick r Treat. While I felt a bit nostalgic reading this, there was always the haunting undertone that something wicked is resting just under the surface, which added a much enjoyable sense of dread throughout.
February 6, 2017
Really got some good horror stories to sink your teeth into. Sorry, couldn't help the pun LOL. But seriously, I really enjoyed it.
January 23, 2014
This is the first I've read from Adam Cesare. This book is filled with well written stories, but the payoffs were just so short. Even by short story standards. A few of these stories went from action to ending in a matter of a sentence or two. Just wish a couple of them could have been fleshed out a little bit more. Still an interesting read, though, and I look forward to checking out more from Adam.
February 6, 2014
A collection of shorts that leave you wondering and some that crawl up your skin and leave you checking for bugs or mice.
*Flies in the Brain- Lobotomize the Grandma, but there is more than brain tissue inside.
*Pink Tissue- The search for a sister becomes more than just money.
*Trap- Mice do more than play, when it comes to revenge.
*Flies in the Brain- Lobotomize the Grandma, but there is more than brain tissue inside.
*Pink Tissue- The search for a sister becomes more than just money.
*Trap- Mice do more than play, when it comes to revenge.
August 22, 2013
There is some seriously creepy stuff in this book. My only complaint is that there weren't more and they weren't longer. I loved Cesare's "Tribesman" and I liked this collection as well. He sneaks up on you with little twists that make you shudder and think, "Oh gawd, seriously?" I like that. Give me more, Adam.
March 1, 2016
Cesare is a can't miss author
I just can't stop reading stuff by this guy. I've enjoyed everything of his I've read so far. These were the first short stories by him that I've read and they were great! He writes like Joe Lansdale, Stephen King, and Jack Ketchum got together and decided to pound out some homages to horror culture (especially 80s movies). Highly recommended!
I just can't stop reading stuff by this guy. I've enjoyed everything of his I've read so far. These were the first short stories by him that I've read and they were great! He writes like Joe Lansdale, Stephen King, and Jack Ketchum got together and decided to pound out some homages to horror culture (especially 80s movies). Highly recommended!
January 9, 2026
It’s an incredibly well-done anthology from Cesare. In my opinion, none of the stories felt like the typical sort of short stories you see in anthologies. Like they all had such unique aspects to them.
And it’s so grim and deeply disgusting. There were definitely times when I sat there reading this like “WHAT?”
And it’s so grim and deeply disgusting. There were definitely times when I sat there reading this like “WHAT?”
June 20, 2016
Engaging thoughtful and fun
I enjoyed this short, short story collection. Hell I even seen places in the book I am familiar with. It was pretty smooth, flowed well and hardly had any typos. I recommend to all fans of modern horror.
I enjoyed this short, short story collection. Hell I even seen places in the book I am familiar with. It was pretty smooth, flowed well and hardly had any typos. I recommend to all fans of modern horror.
December 23, 2016
Keeps You Up at Night
I gave this collection 5 stars because it is not traditional horror. It is slightly skewed and sometimes has an undercurrent of humor. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.
I gave this collection 5 stars because it is not traditional horror. It is slightly skewed and sometimes has an undercurrent of humor. Check it out. You won't be disappointed.
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