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The Rib From Which I Remake the World
A travelling picture show turns a rural Arkansas town inside out in this WWII-era mystery horror novel—“engaging characters and a captivating story” ( Crimespree Magazine ).
As World War II rages across Europe, a small Arkansas town is abuzz with the arrival of a travelling hygiene show. Ex-cop George “Jojo” Walker, now the Litchfield Valley Hotel’s house detective, is mostly concerned with maintaining the status quo. But nothing will ever be normal in Litchfield again once locals start viewing the peculiar travelling show.
What begins with a gruesome and impossible murder soon spirals into hallucinatory waking nightmares for Jojo—nightmares that converge with his reality and dredge up his painful, secret past. Black magic and a terrifying Luciferian carnival boil up to a surreal finale for the town of Litchfield, when truth itself unfurls and Jojo Walker is forced to face his own identity in ways he could never have expected.
As World War II rages across Europe, a small Arkansas town is abuzz with the arrival of a travelling hygiene show. Ex-cop George “Jojo” Walker, now the Litchfield Valley Hotel’s house detective, is mostly concerned with maintaining the status quo. But nothing will ever be normal in Litchfield again once locals start viewing the peculiar travelling show.
What begins with a gruesome and impossible murder soon spirals into hallucinatory waking nightmares for Jojo—nightmares that converge with his reality and dredge up his painful, secret past. Black magic and a terrifying Luciferian carnival boil up to a surreal finale for the town of Litchfield, when truth itself unfurls and Jojo Walker is forced to face his own identity in ways he could never have expected.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2016
141 people are currently reading
1535 people want to read
About the author
Ed Kurtz
56 books145 followersEd Kurtz is the author of THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD and other novels. His short fiction has appeared in numerous collections, and has been honored in Best American Mystery Stories as well as Best Gay Stories. Kurtz lives in Minneapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 23, 2016
"All I ever wanted was a mad, mad world."It feels like Ed Kurtz borrows a lot of this book's structure from much of Stephen King's small town work, especially 'Salem's Lot and Needful Things, where the story moves at a slow pace for the first half, introducing us to the various characters around town and getting you invested in their stories and their fate until all hell breaks loose. And that's just what happens here. Just not as effectively.
The everyday laid-back ambience in the small Arkansas town of Litchfield is shaken up with the arrival of a traveling movie roadshow. It's an educational "hygiene picture" meant to teach the kiddies and their parents about the horrors of sex but the locals discover that the roadshow's purpose is much more horrifying. We first learn about the people of Litchfield and not a whole lot happens initially, but then the story devolves into all kinds of scary shit like voodoo, werewolves, old silent films, circuses, creepy nurses, calliope music and even Hell itself.
And although Kurtz gives it a good try at first, the final half just doesn't work and all the pieces of Kurtz's story puzzle kept falling apart all the way to the end. The characters ultimately fell flat and their relationships never rang true, with some dying throwaway deaths that should have been more impactful. Attempts at a little levity and witty one-liners here and there just rang silly. There are also several good ideas in this book that should work well in any good horror tale, but they never came together as a cohesive whole for me. It felt like Kurtz had a bunch of ideas that he found interesting and tried to stitch together for this book but just couldn't get the threads to stick right. Some story points even felt forgotten about, or maybe they just weren't all that important to begin with.
also...
!!!!MINOR SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
September 5, 2016
With The Rib From Which I Remake The World, Kurtz has solidified himself as an author I am going to prioritize when he releases new books. I also intend to make my way through his whole catalog. Similar to the way I would someone like Tom Piccirrilli. Matter of fact I think there could be some parallels drawn between the works of Picc and Kurtz. Of course I mean that with all due respect to both parties.
When you crack the covers of this book (and what a beautiful cover I must say) it's like you're entering genre heaven. It's part hardboiled private detective written in a gothic style that eventually becomes a cosmic hell on earth tale. Needless to say I loved it. JoJo Walker is the "House Dick" for the Litchfield Valley Hotel in 50's Arkansas. JoJo, who lost his job as sheriffs deputy due to an affair with a black woman after which his wife committed a murder/suicide with the mistress, is wrapped up in self loathing. He bounces low lifers out of the hotel while drinking and chain smoking and checking out pictures at the local theatre. JoJo's world gets turned upside down again when some odd characters from the theatre come to stay in his hotel and a brutal murder happens. JoJo is determined to solve the murder but he also learns this is more demonic than a run of the mill murder.
As I said before this book sort of spans multiple genres. I feel like it could've easily been bogged down but it actually flows seamlessly. I would recommend this books to both fans of Derek Raymond or Bentley Little. I feel like it could satisfy both tastes. The section of the book called "The Midnight Show" is some of the most disturbing and creative horror scenes I've read in a long time. I can say enough good things about this book. Go ahead and pick this one up, trust me. chiZine has yet to fail me. In the mean time I will be making my way through Kurtz's back catalog.
When you crack the covers of this book (and what a beautiful cover I must say) it's like you're entering genre heaven. It's part hardboiled private detective written in a gothic style that eventually becomes a cosmic hell on earth tale. Needless to say I loved it. JoJo Walker is the "House Dick" for the Litchfield Valley Hotel in 50's Arkansas. JoJo, who lost his job as sheriffs deputy due to an affair with a black woman after which his wife committed a murder/suicide with the mistress, is wrapped up in self loathing. He bounces low lifers out of the hotel while drinking and chain smoking and checking out pictures at the local theatre. JoJo's world gets turned upside down again when some odd characters from the theatre come to stay in his hotel and a brutal murder happens. JoJo is determined to solve the murder but he also learns this is more demonic than a run of the mill murder.
As I said before this book sort of spans multiple genres. I feel like it could've easily been bogged down but it actually flows seamlessly. I would recommend this books to both fans of Derek Raymond or Bentley Little. I feel like it could satisfy both tastes. The section of the book called "The Midnight Show" is some of the most disturbing and creative horror scenes I've read in a long time. I can say enough good things about this book. Go ahead and pick this one up, trust me. chiZine has yet to fail me. In the mean time I will be making my way through Kurtz's back catalog.
April 23, 2017
This book has originally attracted my attention due to its carnival aspect. So I was hoping for something at least mildly entertaining. Way to exceed expectations, Ed Kurtz. Seriously, this is a literary equivalent of looking for a snack and stumbling upon a gourmet five course meal. Which is to say this book is awesome in the most authentic definition of the word. In fact, it sets up almost impossible standards for genre fiction, which I don't read as often as I used to precisely because a lot of it isn't like this one. This also may very well be one of the most philosophically profound works of genre fiction I've read recently. The sort of thing that'll make you brain spin, but then slow down and think and think and think some more. And yes, it does have a carnival...and black magic and side show freaks and picture shows and a terrific protagonist and equally strong supporting cast and a very satisfying denouement and so many things I love in stories. It all takes place during WWII in a small town in Arkansas when a midnight picture show comes to Litchfield to show its denizens the mad and terrifying things that change their lives forever. Enough to question the very fabric of reality. Which is sort of a theme here and precisely what the main character will have to grapple with. So in a way it's an existential story, a dark and frightening meditation on the nature of existence. And it's very well done, Kurtz has got some serious talent as a writer if this book is something to go by. Striking, haunting, stunning from title and cover all the way through, this one is the very definition of literary horror (which really isn't meant as a backhanded compliment or a genre snub, it simply denotes the level of quality) and an exceptional read. Most enthusiastically recommended.
September 18, 2016
World War II rages overseas, but Litchfield is almost untouched. That isn’t to say there’s not scandal here. Pariah hotel house detective Jojo Walker is battling his own demons. Little does he know, things are about to get much worse.
Written in an engaging, dry, noir style, Kurtz walks us though this small town. Evil bubbles under the surface, and in the beginning we only see glimpses of it. We tell ourselves it’s normal, every small town has its quirks. Peyton Place, anyone? What about Castle Rock?
When a controversial movie comes to town, everything changes. Kurtz plunges us into a world where voodoo dolls are real, nothing (and no one) is what they seem, and alliances are fragile at best. The book descends into nihilistic mayhem, and leaves the reader questioning the purpose of human existence. Thanks for that, Ed.
If you’re looking for a dark, atypical, noir thriller, The Rib From Which I Remake the World is the book for you.
Written in an engaging, dry, noir style, Kurtz walks us though this small town. Evil bubbles under the surface, and in the beginning we only see glimpses of it. We tell ourselves it’s normal, every small town has its quirks. Peyton Place, anyone? What about Castle Rock?
When a controversial movie comes to town, everything changes. Kurtz plunges us into a world where voodoo dolls are real, nothing (and no one) is what they seem, and alliances are fragile at best. The book descends into nihilistic mayhem, and leaves the reader questioning the purpose of human existence. Thanks for that, Ed.
If you’re looking for a dark, atypical, noir thriller, The Rib From Which I Remake the World is the book for you.
September 20, 2017
"That ain't no chicken bone."
George (Jojo) Walker is the resident house dick at the Litchfield Valley Hotel. He hasn’t had the greatest luck these past few years and it doesn’t appear that things are getting any better for him. As a matter of fact, when a group of out-of-towners arrive at the local theater to show a controversial hygiene film, it sets off a nasty series of events that could wipe the entire town off the map. Dude can’t seem to catch a break.
I wasn't too sure about this one at the beginning. Seemed like a standard old school feeling crime noir. Then all kinds of crazy hit the fan. Not a wee crazy, either. Super f*cking bloody nasty wtf crazy. Nice. I guess if I had read the synopsis, I would have seen some of this sh*t coming, but I’m glad I didn’t. As with most synopsis, it gives too much away and I hate that.
It appears that the circus is indeed coming back to town. Plus, I have been chomping at the bit to say “house dick” and “controversial hygiene film” in the same review forever. Cross that off my bucket list. Bam!
3+ Stars.
George (Jojo) Walker is the resident house dick at the Litchfield Valley Hotel. He hasn’t had the greatest luck these past few years and it doesn’t appear that things are getting any better for him. As a matter of fact, when a group of out-of-towners arrive at the local theater to show a controversial hygiene film, it sets off a nasty series of events that could wipe the entire town off the map. Dude can’t seem to catch a break.
I wasn't too sure about this one at the beginning. Seemed like a standard old school feeling crime noir. Then all kinds of crazy hit the fan. Not a wee crazy, either. Super f*cking bloody nasty wtf crazy. Nice. I guess if I had read the synopsis, I would have seen some of this sh*t coming, but I’m glad I didn’t. As with most synopsis, it gives too much away and I hate that.
It appears that the circus is indeed coming back to town. Plus, I have been chomping at the bit to say “house dick” and “controversial hygiene film” in the same review forever. Cross that off my bucket list. Bam!
3+ Stars.
December 27, 2016
The Rib from Which I Remake the World is one of those books which doesn't fit neatly into any category. Is it Noir? Horror? Psychological Thriller? Occult? The list could go on, but truthfully, what Ed Kurtz's latest is, is a heluva read.
People came and went from circuses all the time, running away to join and then running back home when things got rough.
From the beginning, what really stood out about this book was the prose with a strong sense of noir.
Then the lady came in—floated in, more like—right by the cashier's cage and straight to the beat up chair like she's been sitting in it all her life.
Litchfield, Arkansas. Not a lot going on there, but it is a place rich in characters. The hotel detective, the local sheriff and his deputy, the local preacher and his daughter, the movie house owner and his wife and it's there that this story really comes to life.
A Road Show comes to town with film to play at the Palace Theatre Motherhood Too Soon. It's scandalous, purporting to show an actual childbirth at the end of the motion picture.
Then there's a mysterious, invitation only, midnight show which accompanies the main feature This is where Kurtz's tale goes from being a crime story to something more. Before long it warps into something completely metaphysical and becomes an unrelenting nightmare for those still alive.
One of the members of the road show is torn apart in his hotel room. The one witness says it was more like his arms and legs tore themselves off.
I get the feeling I may have already said too much, but in some ways, I've merely scratched the surface of this wonderful book.
The final reveal was wonderfully inventive and totally original. All of your questions will be answered. I've never read anything like The Rib from Which I Remake the World.
This was a read I will not soon forget.
From ChiZine Publications, The Rib from Which I Remake the World is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Ed Kurtz is also the author of Nausea, Angel of the Abyss, The Forty-Two, and A Wind of Knives, as well as numerous short stories. Ed resides in Minnesota.
People came and went from circuses all the time, running away to join and then running back home when things got rough.
From the beginning, what really stood out about this book was the prose with a strong sense of noir.
Then the lady came in—floated in, more like—right by the cashier's cage and straight to the beat up chair like she's been sitting in it all her life.
Litchfield, Arkansas. Not a lot going on there, but it is a place rich in characters. The hotel detective, the local sheriff and his deputy, the local preacher and his daughter, the movie house owner and his wife and it's there that this story really comes to life.
A Road Show comes to town with film to play at the Palace Theatre Motherhood Too Soon. It's scandalous, purporting to show an actual childbirth at the end of the motion picture.
Then there's a mysterious, invitation only, midnight show which accompanies the main feature This is where Kurtz's tale goes from being a crime story to something more. Before long it warps into something completely metaphysical and becomes an unrelenting nightmare for those still alive.
One of the members of the road show is torn apart in his hotel room. The one witness says it was more like his arms and legs tore themselves off.
I get the feeling I may have already said too much, but in some ways, I've merely scratched the surface of this wonderful book.
The final reveal was wonderfully inventive and totally original. All of your questions will be answered. I've never read anything like The Rib from Which I Remake the World.
This was a read I will not soon forget.
From ChiZine Publications, The Rib from Which I Remake the World is available in both paperback and e-book formats.
From the author's bio - Ed Kurtz is also the author of Nausea, Angel of the Abyss, The Forty-Two, and A Wind of Knives, as well as numerous short stories. Ed resides in Minnesota.
January 19, 2017
This is my first foray into Kurtz country, and it won't be my last. There is some truly fantastic stuff here, from the amazing title on down. The book lands somewhere in between Something Wicked This Way Comes, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 'Salem's Lot, The Pilo Family Circus, and the work of Jim Thompson (there is a nice little nod to Thomson early on). So, if that stuff gets you going, you'd better give Rib a shot. You'll dig it. I'm sure you will.
*I think I found a reference to Joe R. Lansdale in the book, too. Pulling that kinda stuff is the quickest way to gain me as a lifelong reader. Well done, Mr. Kurtz!
*I think I found a reference to Joe R. Lansdale in the book, too. Pulling that kinda stuff is the quickest way to gain me as a lifelong reader. Well done, Mr. Kurtz!
November 10, 2016
This one took me back to long before I was born, and how! The Rustic theme, the un-relatable-yet-understandable characters and the smart exchange of words, the transition between the story telling and the dialogues were seamless. Absolute Joy!
#theguywiththebookreview present 'The Rib from which I remake the world' by Ed Kurtz.
An entertainment group comes and starts a magic show in the community theatre and slowly things start getting bizarre. What starts as a murder mystery ends up being anything but. There are voodoo dolls and creepy nurses, excitable kids and a devil or two in the mix.
The protagonist is one of the best I've read in a while, extremely strong in the mind yet has his weaknesses. His relationship with Cigarettes had a characteristic charm and played a very symbolic role by the end.
This is a newly released book but the writing is very mature in the classic sense of the word. It's very natural and the flow is constant. The editing is on point and I couldn't find any unnecessary details. Everything contributed to bringing the early 1900's back!
The only problem I had with this book was its length. I needed another 300 pages. Please @edkurtz and Thank you!
I'll keep it short and simple for this one, don't want to spoil anything.
#theguywiththebookreview present 'The Rib from which I remake the world' by Ed Kurtz.
An entertainment group comes and starts a magic show in the community theatre and slowly things start getting bizarre. What starts as a murder mystery ends up being anything but. There are voodoo dolls and creepy nurses, excitable kids and a devil or two in the mix.
The protagonist is one of the best I've read in a while, extremely strong in the mind yet has his weaknesses. His relationship with Cigarettes had a characteristic charm and played a very symbolic role by the end.
This is a newly released book but the writing is very mature in the classic sense of the word. It's very natural and the flow is constant. The editing is on point and I couldn't find any unnecessary details. Everything contributed to bringing the early 1900's back!
The only problem I had with this book was its length. I needed another 300 pages. Please @edkurtz and Thank you!
I'll keep it short and simple for this one, don't want to spoil anything.
August 9, 2018
4 stars
This takes place in an Arkansas small town during WWII. Jojo, the town outcast, is working as a hotel detective when a strange group of people come into town with plans of showing a "hygiene show" at the theater, but there's a special midnight show where everyone that leaves a completely changed person.
This book had so much atmosphere. I also think the story did a good job with pacing. The fist part of the story did a great job with establishing the town, the characters and a sense of unease. Then there's a gruesome murder, a strange show and then a crazy finale! It was a very surreal story told with a noir style. This was a fun and fast-paced story I could not put down!
This takes place in an Arkansas small town during WWII. Jojo, the town outcast, is working as a hotel detective when a strange group of people come into town with plans of showing a "hygiene show" at the theater, but there's a special midnight show where everyone that leaves a completely changed person.
This book had so much atmosphere. I also think the story did a good job with pacing. The fist part of the story did a great job with establishing the town, the characters and a sense of unease. Then there's a gruesome murder, a strange show and then a crazy finale! It was a very surreal story told with a noir style. This was a fun and fast-paced story I could not put down!
September 19, 2016
While investigating the brutal occult slaying of a member of a mysterious movie roadshow troupe, disgraced ex- lawman turned hotel detective JoJo Walker is drawn into an existential nightmare. Pitch-perfect period noir that spirals inexorably into the bleakest of cosmic horrors. Bracken MacLeod rightly draws comparisons to Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, and William Hjortsberg’s Falling Angel, to which I’d add Stephen King’s Needful Things – shades of Leland Gaunt in the sinister Barker Davis – and the genial misanthropy of Jim Thompson. Another strong contender for Book of ’16. So Kurtz it hurts!
February 12, 2017
2 Stars
The Rib From Which I Remake the World by Ed Kurtz never really added up to anything for me. The attempt at making this a book that has the location featured as a character never felt real. I was bored throughout, confused at times and at the end of the day, I never cared. This was my first Kurtz novel and I feel let down. Hopefully I can find another book of his that will suit my interests better.
Pass.
The Rib From Which I Remake the World by Ed Kurtz never really added up to anything for me. The attempt at making this a book that has the location featured as a character never felt real. I was bored throughout, confused at times and at the end of the day, I never cared. This was my first Kurtz novel and I feel let down. Hopefully I can find another book of his that will suit my interests better.
Pass.
May 8, 2017
3.6
I found this review by Richard Vialet which I feel sums up my thoughts pretty well. So, instead of paraphrasing it, I am just going to quote it for you and save us all needless repetition (and give some props to Richard):
I didn't dislike this book as much as Richard, and I would mention additionally that I thought the eventual reveal was a bit ridiculous (and kind of confusing), yet I still think it may be worth a read -- many of the other reviewers apparently think so and as always, individual mileage may vary. I do know though that this will not be put back in my to-read-again pile.
Buy, borrow, or burn: Borrow.
I found this review by Richard Vialet which I feel sums up my thoughts pretty well. So, instead of paraphrasing it, I am just going to quote it for you and save us all needless repetition (and give some props to Richard):
"All I ever wanted was a mad, mad world."
It feels like Ed Kurtz borrows a lot of this book's structure from much of Stephen King's small town work, especially 'Salem's Lot and Needful Things, where the story moves at a slow pace for the first half, introducing us to the various characters around town and getting you invested in their stories and their fate until all hell breaks loose. And that's just what happens here. Just not as effectively.
The everyday laid-back ambience in the small Arkansas town of Litchfield is shaken up with the arrival of a traveling movie roadshow. It's an educational "hygiene picture" meant to teach the kiddies and their parents about the horrors of sex but the locals discover that the roadshow's purpose is much more horrifying. We first learn about the people of Litchfield and not a whole lot happens initially, but then the story devolves into all kinds of scary shit like voodoo, werewolves, old silent films, circuses, creepy nurses, calliope music and even Hell itself.
And although Kurtz gives it a good try at first, the final half just doesn't work and all the pieces of Kurtz's story puzzle kept falling apart all the way to the end. The characters ultimately fell flat and their relationships never rang true, with some dying throwaway deaths that should have been more impactful. Attempts at a little levity and witty one-liners here and there just rang silly. There are also several good ideas in this book that should work well in any good horror tale, but they never came together as a cohesive whole for me. It felt like Kurtz had a bunch of ideas that he found interesting and tried to stitch together for this book but just couldn't get the threads to stick right. Some story points even felt forgotten about, or maybe they just weren't all that important to begin with.
I didn't dislike this book as much as Richard, and I would mention additionally that I thought the eventual reveal was a bit ridiculous (and kind of confusing), yet I still think it may be worth a read -- many of the other reviewers apparently think so and as always, individual mileage may vary. I do know though that this will not be put back in my to-read-again pile.
Buy, borrow, or burn: Borrow.
December 28, 2016
This book started out ugly, by which I mean the characters. For the first few chapters they all seemed so uniformly gross and unappealing, I wasn't sure I was actually going to like the book much. But then they gradually expanded, obtaining a deeper humanity underlying the external nastiness, and I started to care. Then the story got weird. Deeply, unexpectedly strange, with plenty of gruesome carnage to accompany the bizarre events, and I was hooked. Following a thread that has run through several of the books I've read this year, there was use of film as a means by which narrate, and even alter the world, or at least the characters' perceptions of the world they inhabit. Good stuff, for those that like a bit of ghastly gore with their noir.
October 27, 2017
Not exactly the book I was expecting, but an interesting revisionist mid-century take on religious America. The protagonists of THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD was melancholic outcasts with physical and psychological scars, who are fighting off an Luciferan carnival trying to take over a quiet Arkansas town. I liked how the novel confronted religious morals with "righteous" ones, which offers a unique perspective on novels that ceaselessly pit individual justice with legal systems.
This is a simple novel told is a very intricate and spectacular way, which I enjoyed. Lots of splatter and nightmare landscapes. Why don't you pick it up for Halloween?
This is a simple novel told is a very intricate and spectacular way, which I enjoyed. Lots of splatter and nightmare landscapes. Why don't you pick it up for Halloween?
November 1, 2021
This was a great novel. Truly unique characters, and a fun and interesting, not to mention horrific, premise, made this hard to put down. Previously enjoyed Bleed by Kurtz a whole lot, and this one confirms my original feeling that he is a talented writer, and has developed his craft, which is always a good thing. I will definitely be reading more Ed Kurtz.
February 9, 2017
5+ stars. Completely original and brilliantly brought to life. One of the best books I've read in a long time.
November 23, 2017
Really 3.5 stars. This is a wild book. I enjoyed it but I also think that it went a little insane towards the end, much to the detriment of the overall plot and tone.
February 8, 2017
I'm surprised so many people are raving about this book. I didn't find it bad necessarily, but felt the second half of the book was very much lacking. It almost felt as if Kurtz wrote himself into a corner and had to resort to parlor tricks to wrap up his story. I felt the last 100 pages cheapened what came before. And while I get that Kurtz was shooting for "noir", having the protagonist reach for a cigarette every 3rd paragraph got old pretty quickly. Not a bad effort, but I wouldn't put it near the top of any "must read" lists.
October 21, 2019
This story centres around a small town during the time of WWII and a movie roadshow which arrives on it's doorsteps to promote a sex education piece to assist parents and teenagers at that sensitive time in their lives. What follows is some really crazy stuff and what nightmares are made of. Highly entertaining!
November 13, 2021
This is the kind of book that I would say is objectively a really good Horror book, subjectively I don't think I liked it all that much, mostly I feel rather indifferent. Always good enough to keep reading, yet at the same time in my reading breaks I kept forgetting what just happened, I wasn't engaged at all. But seriously, writing, plotting, surprises, Horror elements: I think it is all pretty solid. Definitely personal preferences at play, and maybe Kurtz is throwing a little bit too much at the canvas? It is for sure one of those stories where the prologue seems disconnected, you then start in one place and go on this journey to a completely different type of story and I feel for me these different stages didn't come together all that perfectly. I mean it was advertised as a circus Horror and for good 150 pages there is no popcorn filled air in sight, then it starts to come back to that promise but at this point I felt like it didn't fit the story anymore.
I'm not sure I didn't know or if I forgot about the fact that this is written in noir style, and it's not my personal jam. It is executed well but I can only read so much from a chain smoking, down on his luck hotel detective wisecracking his way through the story. It is also the kind of story where women end up split naked repeatedly (never happens to the men, weird in't it?), the villain has fairly undefined magical villain powers and while I kind of liked the very ending I feel very strongly that so much from the first half and the second half don't blend together well. I mean, you do get explanations but there are so many reveals about people's past and what's really going on and how it is all connected, it was too much for me. The ending is interesting, it has some food for thought, you can get all philosophical with this, but did it seem like the right ending for where this story started? I don't know. It sometimes seemed made up along the way, as if Kurtz got caught up in his small town noir tale to suddenly remember this was supposed to be involving creepy circuses and mighty dark magicians.
But it's not a bad book, it is definitely different from what I mostly read, Kurtz can swing strong sentences and images and even throws some fascinating ideas around. It just didn't float my boat, that's how it is sometimes.
2.5*
I'm not sure I didn't know or if I forgot about the fact that this is written in noir style, and it's not my personal jam. It is executed well but I can only read so much from a chain smoking, down on his luck hotel detective wisecracking his way through the story. It is also the kind of story where women end up split naked repeatedly (never happens to the men, weird in't it?), the villain has fairly undefined magical villain powers and while I kind of liked the very ending I feel very strongly that so much from the first half and the second half don't blend together well. I mean, you do get explanations but there are so many reveals about people's past and what's really going on and how it is all connected, it was too much for me. The ending is interesting, it has some food for thought, you can get all philosophical with this, but did it seem like the right ending for where this story started? I don't know. It sometimes seemed made up along the way, as if Kurtz got caught up in his small town noir tale to suddenly remember this was supposed to be involving creepy circuses and mighty dark magicians.
But it's not a bad book, it is definitely different from what I mostly read, Kurtz can swing strong sentences and images and even throws some fascinating ideas around. It just didn't float my boat, that's how it is sometimes.
2.5*
January 10, 2024
Not really what I expected it to be. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really love it either. It was more of a twisted crime novel than a true horror story for me, and that's just not really my thing. The first half of the book was a pretty good set up for the story, though the second half kind of fell a bit flat. It just didn't flow well for me, and I lost the narrative a bit the further in I got. I don't fully understand the point of the hygiene picture, when the real point was to get people to the midnight show. Are that many folks, even back in the 1940s, jonesing to line up for a sex ed film featuring live child birth at the end? You'd have more success just getting them to come to an illicit midnight show that isn't being advertised; the mystery aspect alone would draw in a crowd in a small town like that.
I'm from a small town. Trust me. I know.
Anyway, just not my thing. I might try more from Ed Kurtz in the future, but this wasn't what I really wanted today, alas.
I'm from a small town. Trust me. I know.
Anyway, just not my thing. I might try more from Ed Kurtz in the future, but this wasn't what I really wanted today, alas.
February 16, 2018
I enjoyed much of the beginning of this story and liked the main character well enough. I lost interest once the black magic started, which is when the reader should become even more interested. After that point, I was mostly just interested to find out how things would end.
September 9, 2018
Excellent
I loved this book! Period. I kept hearing about it for the last year or so and finally picked it up, and it definitely lived up to the praise I t well deserves. a must read for sure!
I loved this book! Period. I kept hearing about it for the last year or so and finally picked it up, and it definitely lived up to the praise I t well deserves. a must read for sure!
December 15, 2023
This sounded so interesting and mysterious, but I really think this book and I were just on different vibrations or something because it never, at any point, caught my attention, and I struggled hard to get through it the entire time. I usually am totally fine to put down a book that I know isn’t doing it for me, but I tried so hard, haha. This felt so slow, it took forever to get into the real meat of the story, but even then I didn’t find it compelling. The characters never drew me in. There were so many POVs, a lot of the time it switched to someone new within two pages. Talk about whiplash. I couldn’t connect names to backstories… it was just a lot of work for me. I’m not trying to work, I’m trying to escape.
Read
August 31, 2022Tapping out at 30%. I think it's just a case of this book isn't for me right now. I'll keep this on the back burner and possibly return to it in the future. Right now, just not clicking.
March 18, 2018
Ed Kurtz’s The Rib From Which I Remake the World is, in a word, awesome! OK, so it takes its time to get going, but even so there was never a feeling of ‘come on, get on with it.’ The setting of small town America during World War II had me engrossed from the very start. Although the war was happening thousands of miles away, the townsfolk felt it hanging over their lives all the same.
Jojo Walker, an ex-cop turned security man for the town’s hotel is just desperate for a smoke. His hunt for matches is a great way to introduce us the characters he shares the town with. There’s definitely more to Jojo than we are told at first, but don’t worry, you do find out about it all.
As Jojo settles down for a coffee and finally a cigarette in the local diner his attention is drawn to the strange film company taking residence in both the cinema, and later, his hotel. Apparently these weird carnies have been travelling the country with their weird-ass film. There’s something a little off about these people and their reason for being in Litchfield is somewhat of a mystery. Jojo doesn’t like them, and neither did I.
The pace kicks up a notch when a body is discovered in one of the hotel rooms. Well, when I say body, it would be more apt to say ‘parts’ of a body. The scene described is horrifying, and even our Jojo is shocked. As the reader we sort of know what’s happened but are not sure why.
Soon enough the residents of Litchfield have been enticed to the cinema to watch this sex educational film. It’s not what you’d call ‘classic cinema’ and not what they’d normally pay money to see, but there’s something almost hypnotic in the way they are drawn in. Subliminal, corporate marketing techniques have been around forever! Some of the patrons are then ‘lucky’ enough to be invited to the late-night screening, something altogether more sinister.
Of course, soon enough shit starts to go down and the town of Litchfield welcomes a host of terrifying horrors that threaten to destroy the town in the name of, well, evil! It’s up to Jojo and Theodora, wife of the cinema’s owner, to solve the mystery and save the town. Enter an ancient sigil of evil, black magic, and residents acting in a way very different to their normal behaviour. They’re kind of like a horde of zombies, but without the gore and brain-hunger.
And that’s as much as I’m going to say about the plot. I’d heard from other reviews that the ending was great, and I must concur. As I approached the last few chapters I was awed with how the story unfolded and the history of the town revealed. There weren’t exactly twists, as that would suggest something happened that was the opposite of what I was expecting. No, I didn’t have a clue how it would all turn out and luckily, it didn’t disappoint.
What a great little horror novel this is. I’ve heard people compare it to works by Stephen King, and been quite derogatory about this, but I have to say that I found it to have definitely more of an ‘well-influenced by’ vibe to it. The ‘small town with secrets’ scenario had me picturing the scenes directed in all their glory by David Lynch.
So yeah, a superb read, one that you really should enjoy for yourself, if only to find out exactly about Jojo’s past, shift uncomfortably in your seat while learning of the strange man who brings the film to town, and to stare in terrifying awe at just what Litchfield is hiding.
Great stuff!!
Jojo Walker, an ex-cop turned security man for the town’s hotel is just desperate for a smoke. His hunt for matches is a great way to introduce us the characters he shares the town with. There’s definitely more to Jojo than we are told at first, but don’t worry, you do find out about it all.
As Jojo settles down for a coffee and finally a cigarette in the local diner his attention is drawn to the strange film company taking residence in both the cinema, and later, his hotel. Apparently these weird carnies have been travelling the country with their weird-ass film. There’s something a little off about these people and their reason for being in Litchfield is somewhat of a mystery. Jojo doesn’t like them, and neither did I.
The pace kicks up a notch when a body is discovered in one of the hotel rooms. Well, when I say body, it would be more apt to say ‘parts’ of a body. The scene described is horrifying, and even our Jojo is shocked. As the reader we sort of know what’s happened but are not sure why.
Soon enough the residents of Litchfield have been enticed to the cinema to watch this sex educational film. It’s not what you’d call ‘classic cinema’ and not what they’d normally pay money to see, but there’s something almost hypnotic in the way they are drawn in. Subliminal, corporate marketing techniques have been around forever! Some of the patrons are then ‘lucky’ enough to be invited to the late-night screening, something altogether more sinister.
Of course, soon enough shit starts to go down and the town of Litchfield welcomes a host of terrifying horrors that threaten to destroy the town in the name of, well, evil! It’s up to Jojo and Theodora, wife of the cinema’s owner, to solve the mystery and save the town. Enter an ancient sigil of evil, black magic, and residents acting in a way very different to their normal behaviour. They’re kind of like a horde of zombies, but without the gore and brain-hunger.
And that’s as much as I’m going to say about the plot. I’d heard from other reviews that the ending was great, and I must concur. As I approached the last few chapters I was awed with how the story unfolded and the history of the town revealed. There weren’t exactly twists, as that would suggest something happened that was the opposite of what I was expecting. No, I didn’t have a clue how it would all turn out and luckily, it didn’t disappoint.
What a great little horror novel this is. I’ve heard people compare it to works by Stephen King, and been quite derogatory about this, but I have to say that I found it to have definitely more of an ‘well-influenced by’ vibe to it. The ‘small town with secrets’ scenario had me picturing the scenes directed in all their glory by David Lynch.
So yeah, a superb read, one that you really should enjoy for yourself, if only to find out exactly about Jojo’s past, shift uncomfortably in your seat while learning of the strange man who brings the film to town, and to stare in terrifying awe at just what Litchfield is hiding.
Great stuff!!
August 13, 2017
This was my first Ed Kurtz novel, and it certainly won't be my last. I loved the atmosphere Kurtz created with this tale. The town felt small and dangerous--in other words, genuine--and the expertly crafted suspense made me worry more and more for the characters I'd come to love. With just the right blend of noir and supernatural horror, this was a moving and thrilling story I will not soon forget.
November 22, 2016
I love old movies. Give me a film noir classic with Bogey growling the voice over and I am in heaven. And then add to that the mournful wail of a horn playing some lonesome jazz in the background. The opening chapters of "The Rib From Which I Remake the World" has that same plaintive chord to it and one finds oneself running the soundtrack as you read. It's World War II and the last of the thirties are hanging around in the remnants of depression era side shows. Displaced freaks pepper the town of Litchfield, Arkansas; but don't tell anyone because they are trying desperately to live a "normal" life. Bad things happen in Litchfield, people die or are lost or just can't find a match to light their cigarette but the feeling of despair is rich and warm and unsettling; like the rancid mud that gathers on the shore of a dying lake. George Walker has had his share of tragedy and it doesn't look like things are going to look up any time soon. The main source of entertainment is the movie theater and a new show is coming to town. One that warns the citizens of the dangers of fast women and sex. George Jo-Jo Walker isn't going to the midnight show, however, because Jo-Jo the dog faced boy has a date to meet god. This god makes the vengeful god of the Old Testament look like an amateur. And so Ed Kurtz takes us on a roller coaster ride through a story that is terrifying and confusing and deliciously horrifying. This isn't a book for the casual reader of horror. This is for full tilt boogie horror fans. It will rock you off your comfortable seat as you come to realize that what Kurtz is suggesting is that our origins might not be what we want to believe them to be and our destination is unimaginable and unacceptable. What is the nature of god and suffering? Is our life a fantasy of our own creation or are we simply an idea in someone else's head? Can we change the course of our destiny or are we doomed to live out a story that someone else wrote the screenplay for? Do we have agency or are we puppets in a macabre theater presentation that loops endlessly with no intermission? There are no answers here but there are lots of things to ponder and dream about if you can get to sleep at all. Did I say dream, excuse me, this is the stuff of nightmares and I loved it. If you like your horror visceral and with no holds barred you will too. Step behind the curtain, folks and experience the dark side of existence.
November 15, 2016
Author Ed Kurtz’s pacing and story structure is astounding. Kurtz uses the first chapter to give the reader all they need to know about JoJo, all while he is on a quest to find a match for his cigarette. During this quest, we learn about JoJo’s past, his coworkers on the night shift at the hotel, and that a “hygiene” movie is coming to town. None of this development feels rushed or forced. You can tell from the seamless transitions from scene to scene that Kurtz is a fan of cinema. The book feels like a movie.
Kurtz also excels at character development. Early in the book we are introduced to Theodora, the movie theater owner’s wife. She starts out as a lonely housewife that doesn’t see her husband on a regular basis because of his work and mistress. She’s mousey and isn’t happy. As the book progresses, she calls on her inner strength and becomes stronger than she thought possible. Kurtz took a character that could have easily become a throw-away victim in the story, but he gave her an integral role.
To be honest, horror novels are not usually my forte. Ed Kurtz proved to me that not all horror novels have to be blood and guts and gore. Don’t get me wrong, those elements are in THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD, but Kurtz balances them with engaging characters and a captivating story.
Kurtz also excels at character development. Early in the book we are introduced to Theodora, the movie theater owner’s wife. She starts out as a lonely housewife that doesn’t see her husband on a regular basis because of his work and mistress. She’s mousey and isn’t happy. As the book progresses, she calls on her inner strength and becomes stronger than she thought possible. Kurtz took a character that could have easily become a throw-away victim in the story, but he gave her an integral role.
To be honest, horror novels are not usually my forte. Ed Kurtz proved to me that not all horror novels have to be blood and guts and gore. Don’t get me wrong, those elements are in THE RIB FROM WHICH I REMAKE THE WORLD, but Kurtz balances them with engaging characters and a captivating story.
September 22, 2016
Mixing genres is never an easy task for authors. It's a gamble on whether the ingredients will gel or only combine to create a mess, creating nothing more than a confusing, bland lump.
Unless you're Ed Kurtz. In RIB, Kurtz manages to sprinkle noir, horror, a bit of love and even some social commentary into a melting pot of a novel which leaves the reader not only full, but satisfied.
A tale of a down-on-his-luck hotel detective who's been unlucky in love and is now the town pariah, in itself, would make for a great read. Add in a traveling movie show, a circus, freaks, black magic and Ol' Scratch himself and, well, you've got what would be a mess in a lesser author's hands.
Luckily, Kurtz crafts a story which is at times poignant and at others terrifying.
The best thing about Kurtz is his ear for dialect. The dialogue is authentic, the wit is sharp enough to shave with and the examination of love - lost mostly, sadly - are highlights.
Admittedly, the book's not going to be for everyone, but it's well worth a few nights with a hot coffee, cigarettes and the shades closed.
Unless you're Ed Kurtz. In RIB, Kurtz manages to sprinkle noir, horror, a bit of love and even some social commentary into a melting pot of a novel which leaves the reader not only full, but satisfied.
A tale of a down-on-his-luck hotel detective who's been unlucky in love and is now the town pariah, in itself, would make for a great read. Add in a traveling movie show, a circus, freaks, black magic and Ol' Scratch himself and, well, you've got what would be a mess in a lesser author's hands.
Luckily, Kurtz crafts a story which is at times poignant and at others terrifying.
The best thing about Kurtz is his ear for dialect. The dialogue is authentic, the wit is sharp enough to shave with and the examination of love - lost mostly, sadly - are highlights.
Admittedly, the book's not going to be for everyone, but it's well worth a few nights with a hot coffee, cigarettes and the shades closed.
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