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Unmemory
An original, 9,000-word short story by Kristi DeMeester, with 10 illustrations by Yves Tourigny. A university student attempts to track down the briefly-glimpsed Christmas film which traumatized her as a child.
40 pages, Saddle-stitched
First published January 1, 2018
487 people want to read
About the author
Kristi DeMeester
80 books565 followersKristi DeMeester is the author of Beneath, published by Word Horde, and Everything That's Underneath by Apex Books. Her short fiction has been included in Ellen Datlow's Year's Best Horror Volumes 9 and 11, Year's Best Weird Fiction Volumes 1, 3, and 5, and Stephen Jone's Best New Horror. Her short fiction has also appeared in publications such as Black Static, The Dark, Pseudopod, as well as several others. In her spare time, she alternates between telling people how to pronounce her last name and how to spell her first.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 29, 2018
4.5!
UNMEMORY has a lot of great things going for it. First of all, it's written by one of the best voices in horror today, Kristi DeMeester. Over the last year or so, I've become quite the fan.
This short story is also packaged in a chapbook format which I think is really collectible and unique-it reminds me of buying singles on vinyl--it's just worth having it as a piece of any horror lover's collection. The design of the chapbook itself and the illustrations all by Yves Tourigny are exceptional. His company, Tall Hat Press, produces other chapbooks as well (something to keep under your hat).
Lastly, Christmas horror. It's great to have some horror that's holiday inspired. I don't know why other than it's just fun to have something seasonal to look forward to each year.
This story had a few flaws but nothing that turned me off--I read this voraciously and was engaged the entire time so I don't have any complaints. It's eerie, disturbing and compelling-one illustration towards the end gave me goosebumps. Seriously creepy.
I loved this little story and it was perfect for our debut Night Worms package.
I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
UNMEMORY has a lot of great things going for it. First of all, it's written by one of the best voices in horror today, Kristi DeMeester. Over the last year or so, I've become quite the fan.
This short story is also packaged in a chapbook format which I think is really collectible and unique-it reminds me of buying singles on vinyl--it's just worth having it as a piece of any horror lover's collection. The design of the chapbook itself and the illustrations all by Yves Tourigny are exceptional. His company, Tall Hat Press, produces other chapbooks as well (something to keep under your hat).
Lastly, Christmas horror. It's great to have some horror that's holiday inspired. I don't know why other than it's just fun to have something seasonal to look forward to each year.
This story had a few flaws but nothing that turned me off--I read this voraciously and was engaged the entire time so I don't have any complaints. It's eerie, disturbing and compelling-one illustration towards the end gave me goosebumps. Seriously creepy.
I loved this little story and it was perfect for our debut Night Worms package.
I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
December 17, 2018
It seems that the Kristi DeMeester chapbook “Unmemory” will become my 2018 book of the Christmas season. It does feature Santa Clause or perhaps Krampus, though the tale does not overtly take place during the holiday season.
This being such a short story it would be easy to give things away, and I will do my best to refrain, If you have not read any of Ms. DeMeesters work I would strongly suggest that this is not the place the reader would want to start. She is a much, much better writer than this story would indicate.
Our young unnamed heroine comes from a newly repressive household, Her mother and father made her throw out her records and made her watch as they burned the family television. It seems they have decided to become fundamentalists. Then one day, when she was eight or nine, she was at a family friend’s house when she decided to go to the basement. A television was playing a movie and the patriarch of the house was asleep on a nearby couch. As she watched, while sitting on the steps to the cellar, the movie of a holiday nature scared the bejesus out of her. She could not sleep for months, and yet had no inkling of what the movie may have been called.
Our heroine grows and attends college where the strange film she saw as a child has never left her. Now, the hunk of a film studies teacher has caught her attention and she figures perhaps he can tell he about the film. So she seduces him in his office. However he informs her that he is blatantly unfamiliar with horror movies. Next she joins an internet forum to continue her search for the elusive film.
It appears Ms Demeester has thrown varied ingredients into a blender and concocted a story that becomes cliched and obvious, well below her potential as an author. The book is illustrated with six or eight page size illustrations that add little to the narrative, though the cover is nice.
This chapbook is illustrated by Yves Tourigny
This being such a short story it would be easy to give things away, and I will do my best to refrain, If you have not read any of Ms. DeMeesters work I would strongly suggest that this is not the place the reader would want to start. She is a much, much better writer than this story would indicate.
Our young unnamed heroine comes from a newly repressive household, Her mother and father made her throw out her records and made her watch as they burned the family television. It seems they have decided to become fundamentalists. Then one day, when she was eight or nine, she was at a family friend’s house when she decided to go to the basement. A television was playing a movie and the patriarch of the house was asleep on a nearby couch. As she watched, while sitting on the steps to the cellar, the movie of a holiday nature scared the bejesus out of her. She could not sleep for months, and yet had no inkling of what the movie may have been called.
Our heroine grows and attends college where the strange film she saw as a child has never left her. Now, the hunk of a film studies teacher has caught her attention and she figures perhaps he can tell he about the film. So she seduces him in his office. However he informs her that he is blatantly unfamiliar with horror movies. Next she joins an internet forum to continue her search for the elusive film.
It appears Ms Demeester has thrown varied ingredients into a blender and concocted a story that becomes cliched and obvious, well below her potential as an author. The book is illustrated with six or eight page size illustrations that add little to the narrative, though the cover is nice.
This chapbook is illustrated by Yves Tourigny
December 3, 2018
I've heard a lot of great things about DeMeester over the past year, but Unmemory serves as my official introduction to her work, appropriate considering how much I love Christmas horror. Overall, I'm very intrigued with Kristi's weird, unique (and terrifying) style. In so few words, DeMeester paints an unsettling picture of childhood memory and, looking back on those memories now as an adult, how hard it is to decern what really happened and what was seen on a television screen.
This is a chilling story, and while I wish DeMeester had gone a little deeper into the darkness of repressed memory, she did wonders in so few pages. The amazing illustrations were a nice touch as well! I can say that I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Kristi's work.
P.S. Big thanks to the Night Worms subscription box for including this book in their December package!
This is a chilling story, and while I wish DeMeester had gone a little deeper into the darkness of repressed memory, she did wonders in so few pages. The amazing illustrations were a nice touch as well! I can say that I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Kristi's work.
P.S. Big thanks to the Night Worms subscription box for including this book in their December package!
December 6, 2018
"...the memory of a film was the closest to a haunting we would encounter in our lives."
Unmemory was the third book I've read this year by Kristi DeMeester, and she is the greatest. She writes such gorgeous and unsettling scenes, and Unmemory did not disappoint. I think this was my first time reading a chapbook, and I enjoyed the experience.
I love that the book was illustrated. This made the book even more fun, and Yves Tourigny is very talented. The cover of this book is gorgeous, too. It would be great to see more collaborations from Kristi and Yves in the future.
I was going to get this book no matter what, but I was thrilled when I found out that it was about a video and possible haunting. This setup always creeps me out, and Kristi did it so well. The suspense built nicely, and things got spooky. I really wish that this could have been longer because there were so many cool pieces to the story, but it still worked as a full story in the chapbook format. I actually already want to reread it to enjoy the story with the illustrations again. Authors, please write more stories with haunting videos and photos; I love them!
I unfortunately felt that the wrap-up was anti-climactic after such an excellent build-up. I felt like I was missing something, so I flipped back a bit. It's just vague. Sometimes I don't mind this, but I was at least hoping for something spooky to happen, even if everything wasn't explained. I know this is just personal preference, but I felt dissatisfied. I had loved everything up until then, though, so I only had these feelings about a small portion of the book.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading Unmemory, and I adore Kristi's writing. She's an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what she does next. I love Christmas-related horror, and it would be fun to see more!
Unmemory was the third book I've read this year by Kristi DeMeester, and she is the greatest. She writes such gorgeous and unsettling scenes, and Unmemory did not disappoint. I think this was my first time reading a chapbook, and I enjoyed the experience.
I love that the book was illustrated. This made the book even more fun, and Yves Tourigny is very talented. The cover of this book is gorgeous, too. It would be great to see more collaborations from Kristi and Yves in the future.
I was going to get this book no matter what, but I was thrilled when I found out that it was about a video and possible haunting. This setup always creeps me out, and Kristi did it so well. The suspense built nicely, and things got spooky. I really wish that this could have been longer because there were so many cool pieces to the story, but it still worked as a full story in the chapbook format. I actually already want to reread it to enjoy the story with the illustrations again. Authors, please write more stories with haunting videos and photos; I love them!
I unfortunately felt that the wrap-up was anti-climactic after such an excellent build-up. I felt like I was missing something, so I flipped back a bit. It's just vague. Sometimes I don't mind this, but I was at least hoping for something spooky to happen, even if everything wasn't explained. I know this is just personal preference, but I felt dissatisfied. I had loved everything up until then, though, so I only had these feelings about a small portion of the book.
Overall, I did really enjoy reading Unmemory, and I adore Kristi's writing. She's an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what she does next. I love Christmas-related horror, and it would be fun to see more!
December 17, 2018
Unmemory is a 40 page chapbook. 10 of those pages are beautifully illustrated by artist Yves Tourigny who brings the creep factor to life. His drawings buzz with unease and one of them is an eye-opening reveal that I just loved.
A young girl grows up in a religious cult that doesn’t allow television. They’re the windows to the devil and all that. Horrific, right? One day mom drags curious daughter to visit a friend and she goes snooping where she shouldn’t go snooping and spies a man watching a creepy Christmas horror flick. It haunts her forevermore. Later, when she’s a college student, she decides to embark on a journey to hunt down a copy of that old VHS tape but it’s not as easy as she imagined.
This is such an odd little story and the less said the better. There is seduction and simmering distaste and all sorts of uglies and strangeness bubbling under the surface of this story and that’s what I love most about DeMeester’s writing. She knows how to create atmosphere and a sense of disquiet and she does it very well here. Ashleigh is also wily and smart and full of confidence. I liked that about her, even if I wasn’t entirely thrilled with some of her actions.
I received my copy through the NightWorms subscription box and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. With that said, this book sells for $15.00 so it’s hard to recommend it at cover price unless you’re a collector or a super fan. There are little more than 30 pages of text here but what is here is good stuff so do what you will.
A young girl grows up in a religious cult that doesn’t allow television. They’re the windows to the devil and all that. Horrific, right? One day mom drags curious daughter to visit a friend and she goes snooping where she shouldn’t go snooping and spies a man watching a creepy Christmas horror flick. It haunts her forevermore. Later, when she’s a college student, she decides to embark on a journey to hunt down a copy of that old VHS tape but it’s not as easy as she imagined.
This is such an odd little story and the less said the better. There is seduction and simmering distaste and all sorts of uglies and strangeness bubbling under the surface of this story and that’s what I love most about DeMeester’s writing. She knows how to create atmosphere and a sense of disquiet and she does it very well here. Ashleigh is also wily and smart and full of confidence. I liked that about her, even if I wasn’t entirely thrilled with some of her actions.
I received my copy through the NightWorms subscription box and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. With that said, this book sells for $15.00 so it’s hard to recommend it at cover price unless you’re a collector or a super fan. There are little more than 30 pages of text here but what is here is good stuff so do what you will.
December 10, 2018
UNMEMORY is the first I have read from author Kristi DeMeester. This chapbook struck me as being as complete as any novella, in regards to how well we get to "know" the main character, Ashleigh.
We begin with a glimpse of her as a young girl, and how her home life and values were organized for her then.
". . . Thou shalt not, thou shalt not is easy enough to follow and allows you to imagine yourself worthy of redemption . . . "
This step was crucial in order for us to see how things impacted her at that point, and continued to morph--changing her into the woman she later becomes. A woman who then has control of her own life.
". . . An unreality that was interesting only because it was forbidden . . . "
The reader is able to connect with this young child, and continue on after this because we already feel as though we were a "part of her" all along. The way DeMeester did this through her beautiful prose, and simply observing our character later on, made for a seamless transition in my mind.
". . . part of me wanted to see it, to see if my childhood self had conflated the fear I felt that day into something larger than it was . . . "
The other characters are all as fleshed-out as their roles require them to be. DeMeester manages this much more through showing, than by telling. Movements such as twitches, playing with hair, and uneasy glances portray the impression that an elusive something is off; though the "what" is cleverly kept concealed.
". . . I wondered if she'd stopped saying words at all but was only making garbled, indistinct sounds."
However, what I found most impressive was her use of language, and writing style, in general. While we are given some pertinent information, it is done so in a way that the reader can easily get "lost" in the words, and begin second guessing their own first impressions.
". . . the thought struck me that there was no fiction in it."
The other thing of note, in my opinion, was how effortlessly the author was able to control MY emotions. From the beginning scene, to the very end, I found myself "feeling" what it was I expect our main character was meant to feel. For the time I spent in this book, it became my entire world.
". . . There are things that are just right, and this is one . . ."
Overall, I was extremely impressed with my first read from Kristi DeMeester. I already have another book of hers purchased, and am looking forward to getting lost in her visions once again.
Recommended.
We begin with a glimpse of her as a young girl, and how her home life and values were organized for her then.
". . . Thou shalt not, thou shalt not is easy enough to follow and allows you to imagine yourself worthy of redemption . . . "
This step was crucial in order for us to see how things impacted her at that point, and continued to morph--changing her into the woman she later becomes. A woman who then has control of her own life.
". . . An unreality that was interesting only because it was forbidden . . . "
The reader is able to connect with this young child, and continue on after this because we already feel as though we were a "part of her" all along. The way DeMeester did this through her beautiful prose, and simply observing our character later on, made for a seamless transition in my mind.
". . . part of me wanted to see it, to see if my childhood self had conflated the fear I felt that day into something larger than it was . . . "
The other characters are all as fleshed-out as their roles require them to be. DeMeester manages this much more through showing, than by telling. Movements such as twitches, playing with hair, and uneasy glances portray the impression that an elusive something is off; though the "what" is cleverly kept concealed.
". . . I wondered if she'd stopped saying words at all but was only making garbled, indistinct sounds."
However, what I found most impressive was her use of language, and writing style, in general. While we are given some pertinent information, it is done so in a way that the reader can easily get "lost" in the words, and begin second guessing their own first impressions.
". . . the thought struck me that there was no fiction in it."
The other thing of note, in my opinion, was how effortlessly the author was able to control MY emotions. From the beginning scene, to the very end, I found myself "feeling" what it was I expect our main character was meant to feel. For the time I spent in this book, it became my entire world.
". . . There are things that are just right, and this is one . . ."
Overall, I was extremely impressed with my first read from Kristi DeMeester. I already have another book of hers purchased, and am looking forward to getting lost in her visions once again.
Recommended.
December 11, 2018
I’ve decide Christmas horror is my thing. UNMEMORY by Kristi Demeester is an eerie, dark short story with ten exceptional illustrations by Yves Tourigny packaged in a pretty chapbook which has a vintage feel and I loved it.
I received this beauty in my Night Worms subscription box and I could not be more thrilled. It’s a compelling, unsettling short story that revolves around a chilling Christmas film that traumatized a young girl as a child. The creep factor is high and the story had the perfect amount of suspense that built up slowly as you read. My only criticism is that the ending was abrupt. I needed maybe a couple more pages but wanting more isn’t always a bad thing. I would definitely read more from this author and I am officially hooked on Christmas horror - it fits my December mood.
I received this beauty in my Night Worms subscription box and I could not be more thrilled. It’s a compelling, unsettling short story that revolves around a chilling Christmas film that traumatized a young girl as a child. The creep factor is high and the story had the perfect amount of suspense that built up slowly as you read. My only criticism is that the ending was abrupt. I needed maybe a couple more pages but wanting more isn’t always a bad thing. I would definitely read more from this author and I am officially hooked on Christmas horror - it fits my December mood.
December 20, 2018
So this is a "chapbook" that was included in the Night Worms Horror Subscription box, Christmas edition which I bought as a treat for surviving the fiasco of "the horror box which shall not be named." While I loved that it featured Christmas, horror and cool illustrations, I think I'd have a hard time spending $15.00 on it so I'm glad it was included with some other. For real, it took me 1/2 hour to read and that was also while I was watching the Steelers self destruct or it might have went faster. And while I love short story collections, it's odd because short stories don't really work for me. I need more information people!
But anyway, enough ranting. When Ashleigh was a young child, she sneaked down into a neighbor's basement and saw a horrifying scene on the TV of an evil Santa sticking a blond kid in his sack and the kid crying for his mom. Not having much exposure due to her bible-thumping mother, this scene haunts Ashleigh for years to come. Fast forward to her college days and now Ashleigh wants to do a paper on this movie, but she doesn't know its name. Her quest to find it leads to some quick sex with her professor (really?), an encounter with an odd woman and a videotape (see nostalgia).
This story was fine and the woman with the tape VERY weird. The ending was decent but other than that, I don't know what to say. Oh, the artwork was great! I have heard some wonderful things about DeMeester and own another one of her books. I do want to read more from her because I know she is raved about as a wonderful woman horror writer. However, I could take of leave "Unmemory."
But anyway, enough ranting. When Ashleigh was a young child, she sneaked down into a neighbor's basement and saw a horrifying scene on the TV of an evil Santa sticking a blond kid in his sack and the kid crying for his mom. Not having much exposure due to her bible-thumping mother, this scene haunts Ashleigh for years to come. Fast forward to her college days and now Ashleigh wants to do a paper on this movie, but she doesn't know its name. Her quest to find it leads to some quick sex with her professor (really?), an encounter with an odd woman and a videotape (see nostalgia).
This story was fine and the woman with the tape VERY weird. The ending was decent but other than that, I don't know what to say. Oh, the artwork was great! I have heard some wonderful things about DeMeester and own another one of her books. I do want to read more from her because I know she is raved about as a wonderful woman horror writer. However, I could take of leave "Unmemory."
December 10, 2018
Kristi DeMeester grows as a favorite author of mine with each of her works I read. I first read Beneath. Then I read one story in Everything That's Underneath - and I am so eager to open that horror collection back up! And now I was able to read Unmemory, a creepy holiday-themed short story, due to it being included in the Night Worms book package for December.
I am going to start by saying that I am not YET a huge short story fan as a whole. I enjoy less of them than I love. And I LOVE even less than I enjoy. I am not sure what it is - it could be that I just want more more more all the time and I am not the right audience for "snippets" of horror. But then there are some authors like DeMeester who make me forget I am reading a short story at all and I just love everything I am reading. Unmemory is that!
I loved the format in which it was told - a chapbook pamphlet with some KILLER illustrations throughout. Yves Tourigny slayed me with all the fantastic artwork! The opening sentence had me beyond hooked. And the "focal point" of the story surrounds an old VHS tape. SOLD.
I do not want to give too much away since the story is so short, but I will say that I got some great nostalgia Christmas vibes from this one in the midst of the Santa-fueled movie terror. And I am also reminded that I need to be ever so grateful at all times that the man I ended up meeting online turned out to be normal and that I married him! Things could have gone in such a different path...
4.5 out of 5 for Unmemory from me! DeMeester just know show to tell a story and her way with words will just make you warm all over. HIGHLY recommended!
I am going to start by saying that I am not YET a huge short story fan as a whole. I enjoy less of them than I love. And I LOVE even less than I enjoy. I am not sure what it is - it could be that I just want more more more all the time and I am not the right audience for "snippets" of horror. But then there are some authors like DeMeester who make me forget I am reading a short story at all and I just love everything I am reading. Unmemory is that!
I loved the format in which it was told - a chapbook pamphlet with some KILLER illustrations throughout. Yves Tourigny slayed me with all the fantastic artwork! The opening sentence had me beyond hooked. And the "focal point" of the story surrounds an old VHS tape. SOLD.
I do not want to give too much away since the story is so short, but I will say that I got some great nostalgia Christmas vibes from this one in the midst of the Santa-fueled movie terror. And I am also reminded that I need to be ever so grateful at all times that the man I ended up meeting online turned out to be normal and that I married him! Things could have gone in such a different path...
4.5 out of 5 for Unmemory from me! DeMeester just know show to tell a story and her way with words will just make you warm all over. HIGHLY recommended!
December 6, 2018
Ok y’all this story has creeped me out and terrorized me. It’s the kind of terror that seeps into the brain to stay!
This follows a young college student who has been haunted by a film she saw as a little girl. Can’t say too much more because this is such a short story that anything would be considered a spoiler.
I was able to relate to this story so much especially in the beginning when she was a child and the way she was brought up only that mine happened later in life. The illustrations in this book are killer, and add to the creepiness of the story.
So thankful to the ladies over at Night Worms for adding this to the “A Very Scary Christmas” box!
This follows a young college student who has been haunted by a film she saw as a little girl. Can’t say too much more because this is such a short story that anything would be considered a spoiler.
I was able to relate to this story so much especially in the beginning when she was a child and the way she was brought up only that mine happened later in life. The illustrations in this book are killer, and add to the creepiness of the story.
So thankful to the ladies over at Night Worms for adding this to the “A Very Scary Christmas” box!
December 4, 2018
This is my second work by DeMeester, and I'm definitely a fan. This little chapbook has so much inside!
I don't really want to talk about the story much because it's so short. I will say that it involves a movie, and I can very much relate to disturbing imagery in a film having a lasting impact on a person. Film is a medium that can truly haunt you. While Unmemory is a Christmas story, and really has nothing to do with the film Sinster, it still made me think about that film. The first time I saw it the super 8 films had such a strong impact on me. They are truly disturbing. And of course there are the times when I would accidentally walk in on my parents watching something creepy when I was a child. I remember tiptoeing back to my bedroom with the image I had just seen seared into my brain. I'm a very visual person, and film can have a truly lasting impact on me.
So I really liked this one. It spoke to me. And the cover art and illustrations are fantastic! The dialogue was a bit off for me, but other than that this is a creepy little Christmas tale that will have you thinking about those old VHS tapes your parents still have from when you were a kid.
I don't really want to talk about the story much because it's so short. I will say that it involves a movie, and I can very much relate to disturbing imagery in a film having a lasting impact on a person. Film is a medium that can truly haunt you. While Unmemory is a Christmas story, and really has nothing to do with the film Sinster, it still made me think about that film. The first time I saw it the super 8 films had such a strong impact on me. They are truly disturbing. And of course there are the times when I would accidentally walk in on my parents watching something creepy when I was a child. I remember tiptoeing back to my bedroom with the image I had just seen seared into my brain. I'm a very visual person, and film can have a truly lasting impact on me.
So I really liked this one. It spoke to me. And the cover art and illustrations are fantastic! The dialogue was a bit off for me, but other than that this is a creepy little Christmas tale that will have you thinking about those old VHS tapes your parents still have from when you were a kid.
December 4, 2018
Review to come.
November 30, 2018
"...there [are] no such things as ghosts, but the memory of a film was the closest to a haunting we would encounter in our lives."
Our childhood and how our parents raise us has such a lasting impression on our lives, even (and sometimes especially) well into adulthood. We can try, much like our narrator/main character, to go as far away from those memories as we can, but in the end they always come back out. Some lesson we are "taught," perhaps some movie we happen to watch...these things stick and return when we least expect them, sometimes in very creepy ways...
Unmemory is FANTASTIC! It's pulls you in immediately and just doesn't really stop until the end. Super short, but packs a punch. And as someone raised similarly to the narrator (not her extremes, but not that far off either), this story hit pretty close to home for me. Kristi DeMeester's writing is superb! I've only ever read an introduction written by her for another book, so this is my first encounter with her writing style, and I love it! A great short little creepy Christmas related read that's already haunting me.
Our childhood and how our parents raise us has such a lasting impression on our lives, even (and sometimes especially) well into adulthood. We can try, much like our narrator/main character, to go as far away from those memories as we can, but in the end they always come back out. Some lesson we are "taught," perhaps some movie we happen to watch...these things stick and return when we least expect them, sometimes in very creepy ways...
Unmemory is FANTASTIC! It's pulls you in immediately and just doesn't really stop until the end. Super short, but packs a punch. And as someone raised similarly to the narrator (not her extremes, but not that far off either), this story hit pretty close to home for me. Kristi DeMeester's writing is superb! I've only ever read an introduction written by her for another book, so this is my first encounter with her writing style, and I love it! A great short little creepy Christmas related read that's already haunting me.
December 6, 2018
A creepy and compelling story, but something was missing for me.
UPDATED REVIEW: I’ve been thinking about my review and trying to pinpoint what didn’t work for me. Some of the actions of the main character didn’t seem realistic. I think my original review was a bit too harsh. I enjoyed the way Demeester crafted a very specific creepy feeling of remembering something scary from childhood. I haven’t read something that makes me feel dread quite like this little book.
UPDATED REVIEW: I’ve been thinking about my review and trying to pinpoint what didn’t work for me. Some of the actions of the main character didn’t seem realistic. I think my original review was a bit too harsh. I enjoyed the way Demeester crafted a very specific creepy feeling of remembering something scary from childhood. I haven’t read something that makes me feel dread quite like this little book.
December 1, 2018
This short story packs a punch!
The build up and illustrations felt like a five star read to me. I devoured it all at once, because the creepiness kept me glued to the page. I'm fairly certain it's the first Christmas horror story I've ever read. We meet the main character as a child and things go from weird, to dark, to extremely disturbing. The illustrations were also phenomenal.
The thing that brought down the rating was the ending. I'm okay with some unanswered questions, but in this case I felt like I still had too many. I was not ready for it to be over.
The build up and illustrations felt like a five star read to me. I devoured it all at once, because the creepiness kept me glued to the page. I'm fairly certain it's the first Christmas horror story I've ever read. We meet the main character as a child and things go from weird, to dark, to extremely disturbing. The illustrations were also phenomenal.
The thing that brought down the rating was the ending. I'm okay with some unanswered questions, but in this case I felt like I still had too many. I was not ready for it to be over.
December 10, 2018
A short Christmas treat from one of the rising modern horror greats.
DeMeester knows she doesn’t always have to get gory or have everything dripping with blood and monster fangs to scare your pants off. Sometimes it is all in the art of suggestion, in the strange moments of “what if” and supplanting the reader’s expectations.
She fills each short scene of this story with dread, leaving the reader with the impression that at any moment, something horrible could happen. That tension of waiting, not knowing exactly when the horror will drop, is always worse than whatever comes out of the closet—at least in my opinion.
Once you know what the monster is, it’s easier to face it. But, like Ashleigh in the story, if all you have are swirling, amorphous half-memories of a horrific scene from a movie you saw when you were little, it will haunt you until you seek it out, though you might not like what you find.
This slim meditation on childhood, memory, film, and how we let the past haunt our lives. There’s a lot to think about in these few pages.
And that illustration toward the end—that was some stomach-dropping-out, nightmare-inducing stuff. But you’ll have to read it to find out exactly what I mean.
My thanks to Tall Hat Press and the Night Worms for the chance to read and review this one.
DeMeester knows she doesn’t always have to get gory or have everything dripping with blood and monster fangs to scare your pants off. Sometimes it is all in the art of suggestion, in the strange moments of “what if” and supplanting the reader’s expectations.
She fills each short scene of this story with dread, leaving the reader with the impression that at any moment, something horrible could happen. That tension of waiting, not knowing exactly when the horror will drop, is always worse than whatever comes out of the closet—at least in my opinion.
Once you know what the monster is, it’s easier to face it. But, like Ashleigh in the story, if all you have are swirling, amorphous half-memories of a horrific scene from a movie you saw when you were little, it will haunt you until you seek it out, though you might not like what you find.
This slim meditation on childhood, memory, film, and how we let the past haunt our lives. There’s a lot to think about in these few pages.
And that illustration toward the end—that was some stomach-dropping-out, nightmare-inducing stuff. But you’ll have to read it to find out exactly what I mean.
My thanks to Tall Hat Press and the Night Worms for the chance to read and review this one.
December 27, 2018
UNMEMORY is a short story that truly delivers something haunting! The premise of this story focuses on a college student who was traumatized by a film that she accidentally watched when she was a young child. This film is about a Santa Claus who is anything but jolly! The journey to discover what this film is called is one that will linger with you beyond the 9,000 words contained within this chapbook.
Kristi DeMeester is one of those horror authors that I have heard a lot of buzz surrounding this year, but haven’t had the opportunity to pick up. Enter in December’s Night Worms box to fix this problem! I loved the way DeMeester starts this story with a childhood incident that could happen to anyone. We’ve all stumbled into situations where we’ve seen something that we don’t quite understand. Something that stays with us as time goes on. Now in present day our narrator is trying to track down this creepy Christmas film and she takes us on an unsettling ride.
I absolutely loved the way this story flowed. I was hooked from the first few paragraphs and could not put this little book down! Not only does DeMeester deliver a fantastic story, but she also includes illustrations from Yves Tourigny that bring her words to life. Part of the fun in reading any book is to imagine the pages coming to life, but I’ve recently fallen head over heels for books that include illustrations with them. These illustrations may not always be what I had imagined, but they a reality to the author’s vision, which is exactly what Tourigny’s did for me in UNMEMORY. I can’t wait to incorporate more of DeMeester’s work into my 2019 TBR!
Kristi DeMeester is one of those horror authors that I have heard a lot of buzz surrounding this year, but haven’t had the opportunity to pick up. Enter in December’s Night Worms box to fix this problem! I loved the way DeMeester starts this story with a childhood incident that could happen to anyone. We’ve all stumbled into situations where we’ve seen something that we don’t quite understand. Something that stays with us as time goes on. Now in present day our narrator is trying to track down this creepy Christmas film and she takes us on an unsettling ride.
I absolutely loved the way this story flowed. I was hooked from the first few paragraphs and could not put this little book down! Not only does DeMeester deliver a fantastic story, but she also includes illustrations from Yves Tourigny that bring her words to life. Part of the fun in reading any book is to imagine the pages coming to life, but I’ve recently fallen head over heels for books that include illustrations with them. These illustrations may not always be what I had imagined, but they a reality to the author’s vision, which is exactly what Tourigny’s did for me in UNMEMORY. I can’t wait to incorporate more of DeMeester’s work into my 2019 TBR!
December 2, 2018
I'm a newbie when it comes to holiday-themed horror, and after reading this chapbook from Kristi DeMeester, I am ready for more! The dedication and the first few lines of the story immediately drew me in, and I couldn't put it down. DeMeester is a master of writing unsettling stories.I had similar feelings with this one as I did while reading her collection "Everything That's Underneath". I enjoyed this story, and thought that the illustrations by Yves Tourigny perfectly added to the creep factor. I've no doubt that this tale will linger in my mind throughout the holiday season. I look forward to reading more from this author and from Tall Hat Press in the future!
December 30, 2018
What's creepier than trying to track down the ghost of a memory that scared you badly as a child? Tracking it down and finding out that it wasn't what you thought it was---it's even weirder and more horrifying!😱 This was my first @kdemeester read and the first book I read to get in the mood for the holidays. Unmemory was short and sweet, like licking a candy cane into a spike and cutting your tongue.
[Does anyone else eat candy canes like that or am I just strange?]
This story is going to linger in my brain and work it's way into my dreams, I just know it!
I'm definitely going to be giving Santa figurines a closer look.🔎
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
[Does anyone else eat candy canes like that or am I just strange?]
This story is going to linger in my brain and work it's way into my dreams, I just know it!
I'm definitely going to be giving Santa figurines a closer look.🔎
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
December 30, 2018
Kristi Demeester has a unique voice me a gift for visualizations. However, I wasn’t too impressed by the short little work one way or the other. It seemed a bit thematically stilted to me and the plot a bit haphazard.
I will say I loved the illustrations and the format for such a small publication, though I did note a few spelling errors.
I will say I loved the illustrations and the format for such a small publication, though I did note a few spelling errors.
November 29, 2018
Haunting. That sums this up in one word.
December 20, 2018
This is a little gem. I love the story and the illustrations.
December 13, 2019
This was a creepy little story that has a way of getting under your skin and sticking to you. I’m pretty sure I’ll be having Santa related nightmares now.. why Megan why 😂
December 5, 2018
This is my first introduction to Kristi DeMeester and it won't be my last. The short chapbook was haunting and the idea that our memories will the very thing that haunts us was chilling. The artwork included with the story was phenomenal and sent shivers, it certainly added to the overall experience. I devoured this on the train ride into work this morning and now I feel like I'll be haunted for the rest of the day. And who doesn't love Christmas Horror!?
May 10, 2022
Review to come!
December 16, 2018
This short piece took me about an hour to read, and is perfect for the holiday season. The cover art and illustrations throughout are a welcome addition to Demeester's work, and I appreciated that the illustrations didn't attempt to script the horror into a single image, instead, highlighting the terror of having to imagine what these shapes look like. A nice touch!
Unmemory came in my first NightWorms package. I've not yet read Demeester's full length works, but I'm familiar with her unsettling brand of short, atmospheric horror. I think this story fits nicely into that trend while also offering some new techniques that might bring in readers who had struggled with her previously. Specifically, this story is more narrative and cohesive than some of her other, more cosmic stories in collections like Everything That's Underneath. I've always been thrilled and unsettled reading Demeester's work, but I could never begrudge someone who didn't enjoy the style. She doesn't always tell you what to be afraid of. I find it interesting, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
I still think she manages that fear of the unknown in this story. Unmemory-- without giving too much away-- is about a girl who is haunted by a short clip of a Christmas horror film she seems during her youth. She revisits the film in college to try to find answers. I don't think anything in this story was unclear, though it did leave me wanting a little more of Demeester's usual unfettered, dark, cosmic-level horror. I would never call her work mundane, but it was... settled.
There's also one weird element of the story that I didn't think fit, especially after talking to a couple other readers. Demeester's work is usually unafraid of hedonism, and so I wasn't surprised to find sex in this story, and while I think I know the intent behind that section of the work (showing the dramatic evolution of the character from one time period to another), I don't know that it was necessarily the best way to show that change in the amount of space given. It felt like a loose thread. Maybe I missed something.
If you've read this work, I'd like to talk about how you think religion factors into this piece. Do you think the conclusion asks us to make new assumptions about memory and change? Let's chat in the comments!
#nwscaryxmasreviews
Unmemory came in my first NightWorms package. I've not yet read Demeester's full length works, but I'm familiar with her unsettling brand of short, atmospheric horror. I think this story fits nicely into that trend while also offering some new techniques that might bring in readers who had struggled with her previously. Specifically, this story is more narrative and cohesive than some of her other, more cosmic stories in collections like Everything That's Underneath. I've always been thrilled and unsettled reading Demeester's work, but I could never begrudge someone who didn't enjoy the style. She doesn't always tell you what to be afraid of. I find it interesting, but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
I still think she manages that fear of the unknown in this story. Unmemory-- without giving too much away-- is about a girl who is haunted by a short clip of a Christmas horror film she seems during her youth. She revisits the film in college to try to find answers. I don't think anything in this story was unclear, though it did leave me wanting a little more of Demeester's usual unfettered, dark, cosmic-level horror. I would never call her work mundane, but it was... settled.
There's also one weird element of the story that I didn't think fit, especially after talking to a couple other readers. Demeester's work is usually unafraid of hedonism, and so I wasn't surprised to find sex in this story, and while I think I know the intent behind that section of the work (showing the dramatic evolution of the character from one time period to another), I don't know that it was necessarily the best way to show that change in the amount of space given. It felt like a loose thread. Maybe I missed something.
If you've read this work, I'd like to talk about how you think religion factors into this piece. Do you think the conclusion asks us to make new assumptions about memory and change? Let's chat in the comments!
#nwscaryxmasreviews
December 15, 2018
Kristi Demeester is one of my favorite author discoveries of 2018. I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about her, and my first personal experience with her writing was in the LOST FILMS anthology that came out earlier this year. While that whole book is great, it is honestly worth it for Kristi’s story alone.
Since reading that story I’ve been determined to check out more of her work. Her collection and novel are both on my list for next year—but UNMEMORY was an unexpected surprise included in the Night Worms first subscription box. It is a tiny chapbook, more of a long short story than a novellette even.
But this book is wonderful. First of all—chapbooks are so cute! I love this concept and want to see more of these little books from authors.
The art by Yves Tourigney adds such a nice touch and makes this book extra special. It almost gives it a comic book vibe—though it’s definitely it’s own thing. I love the mood set my the illustrations. Too good!
As for the story itself: I love it. It touches on themes that (so far) are common to Demeester’s work (religion, societal and familial expectation, gender roles etc.) She has such a raw and honest way of exploring these topics that it forces you to look at them head on. I love it and I feel certain that we are kindred spirits. The themes she writes about are ones I think of often and so I am just at home in her stories.
The creep factor is there but subtle (in the best way.) My favorite horror is the kind that can subvert expectation, that can explore the uncanny with a light, ambiguous hand. Demeester achieves all this and more. I highly recommend this chapbook as a cool collectors item. And I’m looking forward to diving into more of her work in 2019!
Since reading that story I’ve been determined to check out more of her work. Her collection and novel are both on my list for next year—but UNMEMORY was an unexpected surprise included in the Night Worms first subscription box. It is a tiny chapbook, more of a long short story than a novellette even.
But this book is wonderful. First of all—chapbooks are so cute! I love this concept and want to see more of these little books from authors.
The art by Yves Tourigney adds such a nice touch and makes this book extra special. It almost gives it a comic book vibe—though it’s definitely it’s own thing. I love the mood set my the illustrations. Too good!
As for the story itself: I love it. It touches on themes that (so far) are common to Demeester’s work (religion, societal and familial expectation, gender roles etc.) She has such a raw and honest way of exploring these topics that it forces you to look at them head on. I love it and I feel certain that we are kindred spirits. The themes she writes about are ones I think of often and so I am just at home in her stories.
The creep factor is there but subtle (in the best way.) My favorite horror is the kind that can subvert expectation, that can explore the uncanny with a light, ambiguous hand. Demeester achieves all this and more. I highly recommend this chapbook as a cool collectors item. And I’m looking forward to diving into more of her work in 2019!
December 3, 2018
I received this short story in December's @night_worms debut book box. This tale was one of three books included in the box, and my first to read from it. It was a pleasant surprise, but not a shock, coming from said author. I have read some of her other work, and I'm definitely a fan! But a Christmas themed horror story? Bold move, but Demeester definitely delivered!
This short story revolves around a college student who trys to track down a Christmas film that traumatized her as a child.
There are numerous points beyond the obvious, that make this a horror story. The protagonist is raised in a radically religious home, in which the main character describes an actually burning of the family television, records etc., beginning the family's new start in their extreme beliefs. This, in and of itself, makes my skin crawl. I was not raised in such a family, but know people who were, and that is traumatizing in itself. Then the Christmas horror flick that our protagonist secretly gets a glimpse of as a child, takes presidence and effectively runs the show from there. I took away half a star due to the ending. I'm keeping this review void of spoilers, so I will leave it at that.
J
Kristi Demeester weaves a dark and disturbing story, which is emphasized by the 10 fantastic illustrations by Yves Tourigney. If you want to sprinkle a bit of creepiness along with the holiday cheer this season, Unmemory is the perfect quick read!
This short story revolves around a college student who trys to track down a Christmas film that traumatized her as a child.
There are numerous points beyond the obvious, that make this a horror story. The protagonist is raised in a radically religious home, in which the main character describes an actually burning of the family television, records etc., beginning the family's new start in their extreme beliefs. This, in and of itself, makes my skin crawl. I was not raised in such a family, but know people who were, and that is traumatizing in itself. Then the Christmas horror flick that our protagonist secretly gets a glimpse of as a child, takes presidence and effectively runs the show from there. I took away half a star due to the ending. I'm keeping this review void of spoilers, so I will leave it at that.
J
Kristi Demeester weaves a dark and disturbing story, which is emphasized by the 10 fantastic illustrations by Yves Tourigney. If you want to sprinkle a bit of creepiness along with the holiday cheer this season, Unmemory is the perfect quick read!
December 17, 2018
"Unmemory" is my second encounter with Kristi DeMeester's writing, after her "YesNoGoodbye" story from the "Tales of a Talking Board" anthology. I had previously liked her writing, so I was very excited when I received this chapbook in the debut horror subscription box, Night Worms.
The plot follows a college girl who needs to write a paper on the way movies affect our lives. She decides to write her paper on a Christmas movie that traumatized her as a young child. As she starts looking for that movie she's led to an encounter that may be one of the most unsettling scenes I've read in a while.
I love how much of a punch this tiny book packs. The story is very atmospheric, and as I was reading I had this sense that something was looming and would pop up any minute. I feel the main character/ narrator was strongly constructed, despite the small number of pages, and I had a strong sense of who she was as I was reading. As the tension built up I was seriously unsettled.
The tone was also set by the gorgeous illustrations by Yves Tourigny. There are only a few of them, but they are beautifully drawn and are very memorable, especially the ones towards the end of the book.
I highly recommend this story for fans of psychological horror or uniquely unsettling stories. I am very pumped for more of DeMeester's books, and I know my wallet will take a hit soon when I go buy the other chapbooks illustrated by Yves Tourigny.
The plot follows a college girl who needs to write a paper on the way movies affect our lives. She decides to write her paper on a Christmas movie that traumatized her as a young child. As she starts looking for that movie she's led to an encounter that may be one of the most unsettling scenes I've read in a while.
I love how much of a punch this tiny book packs. The story is very atmospheric, and as I was reading I had this sense that something was looming and would pop up any minute. I feel the main character/ narrator was strongly constructed, despite the small number of pages, and I had a strong sense of who she was as I was reading. As the tension built up I was seriously unsettled.
The tone was also set by the gorgeous illustrations by Yves Tourigny. There are only a few of them, but they are beautifully drawn and are very memorable, especially the ones towards the end of the book.
I highly recommend this story for fans of psychological horror or uniquely unsettling stories. I am very pumped for more of DeMeester's books, and I know my wallet will take a hit soon when I go buy the other chapbooks illustrated by Yves Tourigny.
December 3, 2018
Received this book from the Night Worms December package. It looked innocent enough and was a short read. I had not heard of this author before so this was my introduction to her writing.
Have you ever watched a movie as a child that left you traumatized and then you find it years later only it is not as scary as you thought? Well In Unmemory a college student is trying to track down a film she saw in her childhood that traumatized her and when she thinks she finds it a lot happens in a short amount of time. This little chapbook definitely packed a punch and left me going to bed with the lights on. Why did it have to be Santa? I will not be able to look at him the same after this. I cannot say more without giving away spoilers. Just read this, I think you find you will not be disappointed. That all being said despite a weird time transition this was an excellent little horror holiday book and I cannot wait to read more from Kristi DeMeester.
Have you ever watched a movie as a child that left you traumatized and then you find it years later only it is not as scary as you thought? Well In Unmemory a college student is trying to track down a film she saw in her childhood that traumatized her and when she thinks she finds it a lot happens in a short amount of time. This little chapbook definitely packed a punch and left me going to bed with the lights on. Why did it have to be Santa? I will not be able to look at him the same after this. I cannot say more without giving away spoilers. Just read this, I think you find you will not be disappointed. That all being said despite a weird time transition this was an excellent little horror holiday book and I cannot wait to read more from Kristi DeMeester.
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