What do you think?
Rate this book
Neighbors from Hell: An American Bedtime Story
"Neighbors From Hell" finds itself nestled in the "children's book for adults" niche in the vein of "Go the Fuck to Sleep." The book tells the story of the real life monsters in America who could be living next door, people like a repo man, a reality TV star, or a slumlord.
The playful rhymes provide the reader (whether a child or an adult), an informed perspective on the biggest social and economic problems facing our country.
Taras Kharecko illustrates stories by AlterNet editor Jan Frel and prolific author John Dolan that will intrigue children of all ages and terrify adults who understand the real damage caused by these monsters in our neighborhood.
The playful rhymes provide the reader (whether a child or an adult), an informed perspective on the biggest social and economic problems facing our country.
Taras Kharecko illustrates stories by AlterNet editor Jan Frel and prolific author John Dolan that will intrigue children of all ages and terrify adults who understand the real damage caused by these monsters in our neighborhood.
24 pages, ebook
First published May 12, 2015
1 person is currently reading
146 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 25, 2015
“Neighbors From Hell” is billed as a picture book for adults in the spirit of “Go the F*ck to Sleep,” except by different authors. Young Dan begs for a gory bedtime story about monsters -- yes, this story is told in rhyme. While telling him all about their seven monstrous neighbors who have ruined their lives, Dad breaks the news that they’ve lost the house and will be moving in with Grandma.
Reading about the seven sleazy neighbors brought to mind the seven deadly sins. Rhonda the reality star is envy. Shady Steve the slumlord is sloth. Mike the maid service goblin is lust. Lobbyist Bob the prison profiteer is gluttony. Jane Munney the bitter day trader is wrath. Shelley the real estate snake is pride. And Paul the mortgage loan officer is hands-down greed. Read the “Neighbors From Hell” and see if you agree. Play the seven deadly sins game with your friends.
Kharechko’s watercolor cartoons highlight all the ruthlessness and decay of declining suburbia a la “Mad” magazine. “Neighbors From Hell” is farcical social satire that parodies the downfall of the middle class with demented humor.
Reading about the seven sleazy neighbors brought to mind the seven deadly sins. Rhonda the reality star is envy. Shady Steve the slumlord is sloth. Mike the maid service goblin is lust. Lobbyist Bob the prison profiteer is gluttony. Jane Munney the bitter day trader is wrath. Shelley the real estate snake is pride. And Paul the mortgage loan officer is hands-down greed. Read the “Neighbors From Hell” and see if you agree. Play the seven deadly sins game with your friends.
Kharechko’s watercolor cartoons highlight all the ruthlessness and decay of declining suburbia a la “Mad” magazine. “Neighbors From Hell” is farcical social satire that parodies the downfall of the middle class with demented humor.
Want to read
March 31, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
July 5, 2023
I understand the bad qualities of the neighbors described in the book, but the story was not very well formed.
July 4, 2015
Firstly, I loved that this was a nice short bedtime size story complete with large half page to whole page pictures for adults (or teens that want a good adult scare). The short individual scary stories of each of the neighbors were good by themselves and added up to a big UH-OH moment at the end.
Secondly, the neighbors did seem to actually be from hell some of them. Though it did make me wonder if some of the individual stories were a bit slanted since it was all told by the one who felt most wronged (especially the bitter woman's tale...made me wonder what her side of the story would of said if she had told it).
Lastly, I felt this deserved a 5 star rating for being very entertaining, memorable, and perfect length to tell this story (ok, yes I loved I was able to read it in just a few minutes...slow reader here so its always fun to read a book in just a few minutes, makes me feel like I can start reading anything, so inspiration to read more can never be underestimated in my opinion).
Plus I think this is a perfect book to have on a bookshelf sideways for a cause to look closer and make people wonder why you have a children's size binding on an adult themed shelf, or even better to proudly display the front pic on an adult shelf for the pure shock value of the title in a children's size book and get the joy of informing others that its a book for older people. lol.
I am reviewing a goodreads giveaway book. It came in perfect extremely well-made hardback condition and I do love the color choice of black for almost all the page backgrounds. Great book!
Secondly, the neighbors did seem to actually be from hell some of them. Though it did make me wonder if some of the individual stories were a bit slanted since it was all told by the one who felt most wronged (especially the bitter woman's tale...made me wonder what her side of the story would of said if she had told it).
Lastly, I felt this deserved a 5 star rating for being very entertaining, memorable, and perfect length to tell this story (ok, yes I loved I was able to read it in just a few minutes...slow reader here so its always fun to read a book in just a few minutes, makes me feel like I can start reading anything, so inspiration to read more can never be underestimated in my opinion).
Plus I think this is a perfect book to have on a bookshelf sideways for a cause to look closer and make people wonder why you have a children's size binding on an adult themed shelf, or even better to proudly display the front pic on an adult shelf for the pure shock value of the title in a children's size book and get the joy of informing others that its a book for older people. lol.
I am reviewing a goodreads giveaway book. It came in perfect extremely well-made hardback condition and I do love the color choice of black for almost all the page backgrounds. Great book!
July 11, 2015
Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.
------------------------------------
Neighbors From Hell: An American Bedtime Story is a bleak story intended for gloomy adults written in nursery rhymes, those written about different monstrous people, including a reality star, a slumlord, a human trafficker, a money-grubbing political lobbyist, a loathsome day trader, an unethical real estate agent, and a greedy banker who makes Mr. Henry F. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life act like a compassionate angel.
The book was a quick read (less than an hour), with each page appropriately illustrated to highlight the darkness of each character. However, the book was written from the perspective of a man being evicted from his house, claiming that others were responsible for his unfortunate condition. It would have been better had there been a lesson about life embedded in this story, in lieu of the complainer. Perhaps, the real neighbor from hell was the narrator.
Neighbors From Hell is an interesting book for those wanting to read a depressing story narrated by a bellyaching crybaby to his son.
------------------------------------
Neighbors From Hell: An American Bedtime Story is a bleak story intended for gloomy adults written in nursery rhymes, those written about different monstrous people, including a reality star, a slumlord, a human trafficker, a money-grubbing political lobbyist, a loathsome day trader, an unethical real estate agent, and a greedy banker who makes Mr. Henry F. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life act like a compassionate angel.
The book was a quick read (less than an hour), with each page appropriately illustrated to highlight the darkness of each character. However, the book was written from the perspective of a man being evicted from his house, claiming that others were responsible for his unfortunate condition. It would have been better had there been a lesson about life embedded in this story, in lieu of the complainer. Perhaps, the real neighbor from hell was the narrator.
Neighbors From Hell is an interesting book for those wanting to read a depressing story narrated by a bellyaching crybaby to his son.
September 20, 2017
A scary bedtime story about the monsters who actually surround us.
Hilarious and brilliant. Read it to your kids.
Hilarious and brilliant. Read it to your kids.
July 13, 2015
The title "Neighbors From Hell" grabbed me instantly. It's a rhyming storybook exploring the real-life monsters that haunt adults. The book is well written and beautifully illustrated. It's an entertaining read for all and would be especially appreciated by anyone who has suffered through an eviction or foreclosure.
I was given a copy to read free of charge thanks to GoodReads and Feral.
I was given a copy to read free of charge thanks to GoodReads and Feral.
July 6, 2015
I received this book as part of the goodreads giveaways.
This book is awesome. It made me smile, it made me laugh. It was short and sweet but it kept me interested. The neighbor was relateable. I loved the pictures and how easy the book was to read. Definitely one I'll be passing on to my friends.
This book is awesome. It made me smile, it made me laugh. It was short and sweet but it kept me interested. The neighbor was relateable. I loved the pictures and how easy the book was to read. Definitely one I'll be passing on to my friends.
October 27, 2015
What a depressing little book.
A boy asks his father for a bedtime story that is complete and gory. What the poor child hears is a tale of woe, full of sadness and hopelessness, no hope full of blows.
A boy asks his father for a bedtime story that is complete and gory. What the poor child hears is a tale of woe, full of sadness and hopelessness, no hope full of blows.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews