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Midwestern Strange: Hunting Monsters, Martians, and the Weird in Flyover Country
Midwestern Strange chronicles B.J. Hollars’s exploration of the mythic, lesser-known oddities of flyover country. The mysteries, ranging from bipedal wolf sightings to run-ins with pancake-flipping space aliens to a lumberjack-inspired “Hodag hoax,” make this book a little bit X-Files , a little bit Ghostbusters , and a whole lot of Sherlock Holmes . Hollars’s quest is not to confirm or debunk these mysteries but rather to seek out these unexplained phenomena to understand how they complicate our worldview and to discover what truths might be gleaned by reexamining the facts in our “post-truth” era.
Part memoir and part journalism, Midwestern Strange offers a fascinating, funny, and quirky account of flyover folklore that also contends with the ways such oddities retain cultural footholds. Hollars shows how grappling with such subjects might fortify us against the glut of misinformation now inundating our lives. By confronting monsters, Martians, and a cabinet of curiosities, we challenge ourselves to look beyond our presumptions and acknowledge that just because something is weird, doesn’t mean it is wrong.
Part memoir and part journalism, Midwestern Strange offers a fascinating, funny, and quirky account of flyover folklore that also contends with the ways such oddities retain cultural footholds. Hollars shows how grappling with such subjects might fortify us against the glut of misinformation now inundating our lives. By confronting monsters, Martians, and a cabinet of curiosities, we challenge ourselves to look beyond our presumptions and acknowledge that just because something is weird, doesn’t mean it is wrong.
208 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2019
21 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
B.J. Hollars
30 books72 followersB.J. Hollars is the author of several books, most recently Wisconsin for Kennedy: The Primary That Launched a President and Changed The Course of History, Year of Plenty: A Family's Season of Grief, Go West Young Man: A Father and Son Rediscover America on the Oregon Trail, Midwestern Strange: Hunting Monsters, Martians and the Weird in Flyover Country, The Road South: Personal Stories of the Freedom Riders, Flock Together: A Love Affair With Extinct Birds, From the Mouths of Dogs: What Our Pets Teach Us About Life, Death, and Being Human, as well as a collection of essays, This Is Only A Test. Additionally, he has also written Thirteen Loops: Race, Violence and the Last Lynching in America, Opening the Doors: The Desegregation of the University of Alabama and the Fight for Civil Rights in Tuscaloosa, Dispatches from the Drownings, and Sightings. He and his film partner, Steve Dayton, have also completed a documentary When Rubber Hit The Road,
Hollars is the recipient of the Truman Capote Prize for Literary Nonfiction, the Anne B. and James B. McMillan Prize, the Council of Wisconsin Writers' Blei-Derleth Award, the Society of Midland Authors Award, and received a 2022 silver medal from the Midwest Book Awards.
He is the founder and executive director of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and the Midwest Artist Academy, as well as a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a columnist for The Leader-Telegram. He lives a simple existence with his family.
Hollars is the recipient of the Truman Capote Prize for Literary Nonfiction, the Anne B. and James B. McMillan Prize, the Council of Wisconsin Writers' Blei-Derleth Award, the Society of Midland Authors Award, and received a 2022 silver medal from the Midwest Book Awards.
He is the founder and executive director of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild and the Midwest Artist Academy, as well as a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and a columnist for The Leader-Telegram. He lives a simple existence with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 19, 2019
B.J. Hollars’ Midwestern Strange is an interesting, well-organized, and entertaining account of the author’s exploration of strange creatures, aliens, and odd happenings in Flyover Country. I enjoyed this well-written and personable book but I would have liked more pictures and I wish the writing was livelier and less meandering.
I had no idea that the Midwest was such a mysterious place! I loved reading about the fascinating folklore, history, and people. This book is a great resource for paranormal enthusiasts or those who just like reading about strange phenomena. I hadn’t heard about so many of these incidents and creatures before.
The book is well-written and well-organized. It covers nine phenomena and is divided into case files under the headings of Monsters, Martians, and The Weird. I love that the book focuses on a blend of familiar creatures like The Beast of Bray Road and Mothman as well as lesser-known incidents like pancake-making aliens (yes, really) in Wisconsin and Oscar the Turtle in Churubusco, Indiana.
I like that Hollars doesn’t offer definitive answers about these mysterious creatures and occurrences. He neither confirms nor debunks anything. Instead, he presents information and findings from experts and eyewitnesses. Furthermore, I appreciate his unbiased stance and that he never negatively judges the people or the situations.
I also love that each case file strongly features the people involved in these situations and Hollars often talks to their descendants. I particularly like that he also examines these small towns and the effects that the strange happenings have had on them. This gives the writing a great personal and human touch.
Hollars’ writing style is approachable and witty. However, the writing is sometimes too dry and meanders a bit. Furthermore, some of the case files have too much information and they drag and get boring after a while. Additionally, although there are some pictures in each case file, more pictures would have really livened up the book.
Midwestern Strange is perfect for any mystery or paranormal enthusiast. Although I wish the writing was tighter and more pictures would’ve been nice, this is a great and quick read. I would definitely check out more of Hollars’ work!
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🛸 🛸 🛸 ½ flying saucers out of 5!
I had no idea that the Midwest was such a mysterious place! I loved reading about the fascinating folklore, history, and people. This book is a great resource for paranormal enthusiasts or those who just like reading about strange phenomena. I hadn’t heard about so many of these incidents and creatures before.
The book is well-written and well-organized. It covers nine phenomena and is divided into case files under the headings of Monsters, Martians, and The Weird. I love that the book focuses on a blend of familiar creatures like The Beast of Bray Road and Mothman as well as lesser-known incidents like pancake-making aliens (yes, really) in Wisconsin and Oscar the Turtle in Churubusco, Indiana.
I like that Hollars doesn’t offer definitive answers about these mysterious creatures and occurrences. He neither confirms nor debunks anything. Instead, he presents information and findings from experts and eyewitnesses. Furthermore, I appreciate his unbiased stance and that he never negatively judges the people or the situations.
I also love that each case file strongly features the people involved in these situations and Hollars often talks to their descendants. I particularly like that he also examines these small towns and the effects that the strange happenings have had on them. This gives the writing a great personal and human touch.
Hollars’ writing style is approachable and witty. However, the writing is sometimes too dry and meanders a bit. Furthermore, some of the case files have too much information and they drag and get boring after a while. Additionally, although there are some pictures in each case file, more pictures would have really livened up the book.
Midwestern Strange is perfect for any mystery or paranormal enthusiast. Although I wish the writing was tighter and more pictures would’ve been nice, this is a great and quick read. I would definitely check out more of Hollars’ work!
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.
🛸 🛸 🛸 ½ flying saucers out of 5!
July 18, 2019
This book was, to paraphrase Val Johnson in the book, so flat that if you got up on a stepladder on Wednesday you could see both Sundays. I expected a book dealing with monsters and aliens and the mysteries of midwest to be at least a little exciting but it LITERALLY put me to sleep multiple times. I found that it dragged on and on. I think that the author has done himself a disservice writing this as a book instead of perhaps a pod cast, to which I think it would be better suited, in the vein of Wild Things. The material itself is interesting, but the delivery was just too dry.
September 11, 2025
perfect, no notes.
May 23, 2020
"No matter what you believe, here’s one truth we can all agree on: We humans— with all our complexities— are surely the crown jewel in any cabinet of curiosities. Embrace it. We are who we are. Our greatest mystery is our capacity for wonder."
This book is a charming and earnest exploration of tall tales, UFO sightings, and regional peculiarities all from the midwest (or close enoug). It's a quick read, divided into "case files" that read like a pleasantly chatty mix of personal essay and interview/profile articles.
Thoroughly lives up to the oh-dang-this-is-gonna-be-good feeling I got when I first saw the cover.
This book is a charming and earnest exploration of tall tales, UFO sightings, and regional peculiarities all from the midwest (or close enoug). It's a quick read, divided into "case files" that read like a pleasantly chatty mix of personal essay and interview/profile articles.
Thoroughly lives up to the oh-dang-this-is-gonna-be-good feeling I got when I first saw the cover.
June 23, 2019
This is a fun read that will be particularly enjoyable for Midwesterners, of course. I found myself especially interested in the two stories that take place in my home state of Minnesota, one of which our family visited as a homeschool field trip (the Kensington Runestone).
The author, a college professor, took a year to visit small towns of the Midwest that had legends of alien visits, giant creatures and other World Weekly News sort of stories. There are the two young married couples who saw a giant "mothman" that flew alongside their car as they raced away from it. There's the huge wolfman-like creature in another town that residents have claimed to see for years. There's the turtle the size of a large dining room table that fishermen spotted in a rural lake. There's the poor guy who swore he was visited by three short aliens who "looked like Italians" and offered him bland tasting pancakes. There's also the Kensington Runestone, the giant stone that was unearthed in 1898 by a Norwegian farmer in his field and which told the story in runes of Vikings traveling to the area but fleeing after some of their party were brutally murdered (hundreds of years before historians say they were in the area). Scholars have argued for over 100 years over whether the runestone is authentic, and it makes for a pretty good mystery (one detail the author left out is that the runestone was wrapped in the roots of a massive tree, meaning that if it was a hoax perpetuated by someone who knew how to write in runes then they also had to do it years before and have the patience to wait for the tree's roots to grow all around it).
Hollars is a good story teller who really investigated each story well -- even though most of them are probably untrue and have become more about bringing in tourists than anything else. I especially enjoyed the epilogue, where he talks about what he learned through the year's travels.
This would make a fun family read for folks who live in the Midwest or are planning some travels here, and would make a good gift for Midwesterners who enjoy a good (campy) mystery.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.
The author, a college professor, took a year to visit small towns of the Midwest that had legends of alien visits, giant creatures and other World Weekly News sort of stories. There are the two young married couples who saw a giant "mothman" that flew alongside their car as they raced away from it. There's the huge wolfman-like creature in another town that residents have claimed to see for years. There's the turtle the size of a large dining room table that fishermen spotted in a rural lake. There's the poor guy who swore he was visited by three short aliens who "looked like Italians" and offered him bland tasting pancakes. There's also the Kensington Runestone, the giant stone that was unearthed in 1898 by a Norwegian farmer in his field and which told the story in runes of Vikings traveling to the area but fleeing after some of their party were brutally murdered (hundreds of years before historians say they were in the area). Scholars have argued for over 100 years over whether the runestone is authentic, and it makes for a pretty good mystery (one detail the author left out is that the runestone was wrapped in the roots of a massive tree, meaning that if it was a hoax perpetuated by someone who knew how to write in runes then they also had to do it years before and have the patience to wait for the tree's roots to grow all around it).
Hollars is a good story teller who really investigated each story well -- even though most of them are probably untrue and have become more about bringing in tourists than anything else. I especially enjoyed the epilogue, where he talks about what he learned through the year's travels.
This would make a fun family read for folks who live in the Midwest or are planning some travels here, and would make a good gift for Midwesterners who enjoy a good (campy) mystery.
My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost
I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.
May 12, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Midwestern Strange is a series of case studies of the weird/paranormal by essayist B.J. Hollars. Due out 1st Sept. 2019 from the University of Nebraska press, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
I really enjoy expository writing and I also enjoy essays. This book is what happens when an academic writer turns to unusual, somewhat outré subject matter. This is a study of the author's personal study of Midwestern, generally rural stories of sightings of UFOs, monsters, wolfmen, gigantic turtles, aliens and the like.
I've been impressed with other titles from the University of Nebraska press and this one was so odd and at the same time well written that it was quite refreshing to read. The author does a remarkable job of remaining unbiased whilst recounting his road trips across the rural American heartland talking to the descendants of the original witnesses and researching newspaper files and photographs.
I don't honestly know how to solidly classify these stories. The author draws no specific conclusions, nor does he attempt to lead the reader, so it's not really technically expository writing. It is, however, quirky and charming and I read it cover to cover in one sitting.The author is adept and the writing is crisp.
Four stars. Five for fans of Roswell, X-Files and the like.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Midwestern Strange is a series of case studies of the weird/paranormal by essayist B.J. Hollars. Due out 1st Sept. 2019 from the University of Nebraska press, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.
I really enjoy expository writing and I also enjoy essays. This book is what happens when an academic writer turns to unusual, somewhat outré subject matter. This is a study of the author's personal study of Midwestern, generally rural stories of sightings of UFOs, monsters, wolfmen, gigantic turtles, aliens and the like.
I've been impressed with other titles from the University of Nebraska press and this one was so odd and at the same time well written that it was quite refreshing to read. The author does a remarkable job of remaining unbiased whilst recounting his road trips across the rural American heartland talking to the descendants of the original witnesses and researching newspaper files and photographs.
I don't honestly know how to solidly classify these stories. The author draws no specific conclusions, nor does he attempt to lead the reader, so it's not really technically expository writing. It is, however, quirky and charming and I read it cover to cover in one sitting.The author is adept and the writing is crisp.
Four stars. Five for fans of Roswell, X-Files and the like.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
January 31, 2020
Do you enjoy hunting for "The Truth [that] is out there?" Or maybe you watched Haunted Indiana on PBS like I did in the 1980s. Or maybe you read Chariots of the Gods and others of that ilk growing up. If so, you would likely be interested in Midwestern Strange where beasts roam, saucers fly, and the "weird" wanders about.
B. J. Hollars, an English professor at a Midwestern university, took a year to explore his childhood desire to understand Bigfoot and other creatures of myths and wonders. As a result of his odyssey around the Midwest, he compiled this book of nine cases divided in "Monsters," Martians," and "The Weird." Monsters include The Beast of Bray Road (Elkhorn, WI), Oscar the Turtle (Churubusco, IN), and The Mothman (Point Plesant, WV). Martians include Joe Simonton's Space Pancakes (Eagle River, WI), The Minot Air Force Base Sightings (Minot, ND), and The Val Johnson Incident (Marshall County, MN). The Weird includes The Hodag (Rhinelander, WI), Project ELF (Clam Lake, WI), and The Kensington Runestone (Kensington, MN).
B.J. Hollars makes no claims on solving any of these mysteries, instead he seeks to document each case to the best of his ability with the sources (interviews, documents, radar images, etc.) he has. And he is willing to live with the fact that these mysteries are unsolved, are you? Read Midwestern Strange and decide for your self.
B. J. Hollars, an English professor at a Midwestern university, took a year to explore his childhood desire to understand Bigfoot and other creatures of myths and wonders. As a result of his odyssey around the Midwest, he compiled this book of nine cases divided in "Monsters," Martians," and "The Weird." Monsters include The Beast of Bray Road (Elkhorn, WI), Oscar the Turtle (Churubusco, IN), and The Mothman (Point Plesant, WV). Martians include Joe Simonton's Space Pancakes (Eagle River, WI), The Minot Air Force Base Sightings (Minot, ND), and The Val Johnson Incident (Marshall County, MN). The Weird includes The Hodag (Rhinelander, WI), Project ELF (Clam Lake, WI), and The Kensington Runestone (Kensington, MN).
B.J. Hollars makes no claims on solving any of these mysteries, instead he seeks to document each case to the best of his ability with the sources (interviews, documents, radar images, etc.) he has. And he is willing to live with the fact that these mysteries are unsolved, are you? Read Midwestern Strange and decide for your self.
May 28, 2019
This book seemed like it would be fascinating, or at least funny, but it turned out to be neither. Well, the flying saucer story, with the aliens that looked like Italians, was funny at first; but once you discover the guy who saw them had a bad drinking problem, it wasn't so funny. It also ceased being even remotely believable, like most of the stories in this book. I reached the point of wondering why I was wasting my time reading obviously mostly made-up stories by those with emotional problems, or with agendas involving getting specific locations some fame and fortune. Author B. J. Hollars tackles the reasons such strange stories come into existence, and does a good job of doing so. Yet his sincere examination and possible explanations of Midwestern "mysteries" didn't make me stop thinking it was all definitely a waste of reading time.
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
(Note: I received a free e-ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher or author.)
April 27, 2020
This is a really fun, sweet exploration of strange phenomena in the Midwest. Being from Wisconsin, it’s always fun for me to see midwestern settings in books and adding in an element of the strange makes this book that much more fun to read. The author’s voice brings comedic but sobering tone to nine strange cases throughout the region. There were times I laughed out loud. For anyone from the area, this is a fun look at some interesting stories you may not know. For anyone not from flyover country, this is a great intro to all our strange folk lol.
February 17, 2021
Since I was younger I have always had a spot for cryptids and fantastic beasts of all sorts. As I grew older my interests naturally extended from these interesting creatures to even more captivating Fortean events. As such I love to find books and other resources that explore such topics while giving me a different viewpoint from those I have already heard before as they make me think. Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me.
First of all I will confess I should have read the summary on this book instead of just jumping into it as I normally do since so many newer published books for me lately have had a rather bad track record. Most of them are sticking to new political themes, are memoir-based with little reference to the actual subject or are misleading. Sadly there are a few that combine either a few or all of those elements.
With Midwestern Strange I honestly have to say this book is one big letdown for me. The description states that it is funny but there was really nothing that made me laugh. Instead it was a book that explored each case file by providing one or two instances of a witness before diving into all the scientific/skeptic components that may have contributed to people believing in this particular nonsense or the effects of being a witness or a dedicated record keeper while at the same time he kept insisting upon how lost he felt when overwhelmed or that he didn't really believe what he was looking into before flipping back into he was such a believer.
To me this style of telling dramatically reduced the hunt for monsters and the weird to just getting an introduction to the subject of the case file before the author actually turned around and passed you on to the "expert" of the field. As such it was less about the subject of the story and the author's hunt as you received the education, studies and/or thoughts of those with an "expert opinion". Quite disappointing when you combine this with all the skeptical components nonsense to "find the truth" before being told "mysteries aren't quite so bad".
Another burr to me was the fact that these case files were suppose to take place in the Midwest but a more honest title would have been Great Lakes happenings. Only really could you claim North Dakota as being truly Midwestern apart from the Lakes while West Virginia was just thrown into the mix since it provided the most well-known reference specimen to those who may be starting out in the field of eccentricities thus it also didn't belong in this inclusion.
Other parts that needed fixing in this book was mostly focused on the starting factoid box. Instead of including a scientific name that is N/A as most will be just remove it and throw it back in for those who have one. Also please remove the Witness Testimony book since you basically end up using that whole quote a few more pages into the entry so it is just repetitive fluff. And how can you designate all extraterrestrials to Martians when they may be from other places besides that certain locale?
Finally the writing was dull and the font was small so even though the book is technically only 198 pages it feels like it is a book that takes even longer to read. In the end I have never wanted so hard in my life to toss a book away or burn it then this particular one while I hope that if the author is ever intrigued on this journey again he will forsake the skeptical demands while enjoying the trip that is taking him there for it doesn't take even an English professor to teach people that life is meant to be enjoyed even if it cannot be explained or to embrace the odd instead of sucking it dry with the mummifying effects of skepticism.
How no one else has rated this book a 1 Star has baffled me to no ends but then again that can be part of the world of the odd. But if you are just curious for the creatures or weird events found in these pages there are definitely better sources to review instead of reading this hogwash.
First of all I will confess I should have read the summary on this book instead of just jumping into it as I normally do since so many newer published books for me lately have had a rather bad track record. Most of them are sticking to new political themes, are memoir-based with little reference to the actual subject or are misleading. Sadly there are a few that combine either a few or all of those elements.
With Midwestern Strange I honestly have to say this book is one big letdown for me. The description states that it is funny but there was really nothing that made me laugh. Instead it was a book that explored each case file by providing one or two instances of a witness before diving into all the scientific/skeptic components that may have contributed to people believing in this particular nonsense or the effects of being a witness or a dedicated record keeper while at the same time he kept insisting upon how lost he felt when overwhelmed or that he didn't really believe what he was looking into before flipping back into he was such a believer.
To me this style of telling dramatically reduced the hunt for monsters and the weird to just getting an introduction to the subject of the case file before the author actually turned around and passed you on to the "expert" of the field. As such it was less about the subject of the story and the author's hunt as you received the education, studies and/or thoughts of those with an "expert opinion". Quite disappointing when you combine this with all the skeptical components nonsense to "find the truth" before being told "mysteries aren't quite so bad".
Another burr to me was the fact that these case files were suppose to take place in the Midwest but a more honest title would have been Great Lakes happenings. Only really could you claim North Dakota as being truly Midwestern apart from the Lakes while West Virginia was just thrown into the mix since it provided the most well-known reference specimen to those who may be starting out in the field of eccentricities thus it also didn't belong in this inclusion.
Other parts that needed fixing in this book was mostly focused on the starting factoid box. Instead of including a scientific name that is N/A as most will be just remove it and throw it back in for those who have one. Also please remove the Witness Testimony book since you basically end up using that whole quote a few more pages into the entry so it is just repetitive fluff. And how can you designate all extraterrestrials to Martians when they may be from other places besides that certain locale?
Finally the writing was dull and the font was small so even though the book is technically only 198 pages it feels like it is a book that takes even longer to read. In the end I have never wanted so hard in my life to toss a book away or burn it then this particular one while I hope that if the author is ever intrigued on this journey again he will forsake the skeptical demands while enjoying the trip that is taking him there for it doesn't take even an English professor to teach people that life is meant to be enjoyed even if it cannot be explained or to embrace the odd instead of sucking it dry with the mummifying effects of skepticism.
How no one else has rated this book a 1 Star has baffled me to no ends but then again that can be part of the world of the odd. But if you are just curious for the creatures or weird events found in these pages there are definitely better sources to review instead of reading this hogwash.
August 7, 2019
This book delivers on the premise of its marketing description. It’s part memoir, part journalism, and also a tiny bit travelogue. Much like the author himself, it’s not necessary to believe in things like cryptids or aliens to find the subject matter fascinating. But just like the author had to learn, it’s also helpful to keep an open mind while reading through each personal account.
Separated into three sections (Monsters, UFOs, and The Weird), you’ll journey through the Midwest to discover the facts and myths behind nine different enduring legends.
Is the Beast of Bray Road real? Is the Kensington Runestone proof that Vikings explored America long before 1492? This book won’t definitively confirm or debunk either of these stories, nor is that the point. You’ll learn a lot from experts and witnesses, though. You’ll also find out about a verified military experiment that just might explain the vast majority of UFO sightings in the 1950s and early 1960s.
I enjoyed the writer’s voice, along with his healthy dose of skepticism. At the same time, he never belittled anyone. Instead, he spent a year listening and asking worthwhile questions to uncover even more information. The entire world could learn a lot from this approach to things that seem different, strange, or scary.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
Separated into three sections (Monsters, UFOs, and The Weird), you’ll journey through the Midwest to discover the facts and myths behind nine different enduring legends.
Is the Beast of Bray Road real? Is the Kensington Runestone proof that Vikings explored America long before 1492? This book won’t definitively confirm or debunk either of these stories, nor is that the point. You’ll learn a lot from experts and witnesses, though. You’ll also find out about a verified military experiment that just might explain the vast majority of UFO sightings in the 1950s and early 1960s.
I enjoyed the writer’s voice, along with his healthy dose of skepticism. At the same time, he never belittled anyone. Instead, he spent a year listening and asking worthwhile questions to uncover even more information. The entire world could learn a lot from this approach to things that seem different, strange, or scary.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.
June 25, 2019
Eager to continue my trek into the world of cryptids and UFOs in 2019, I snapped up the opportunity to request Midwestern Strange on Netgalley as soon as I saw it. I was particularly intrigued by the author's focus on stories from "flyover country", a part of the States that I haven't visited or admittedly paid much attention to. The accounts in here therefore were mostly fairly fresh to me (with the exception of Mothman, which is always an interesting topic to read about regardless).
B.J. Hollars tackles these stories of small town folklore and strange phenomena with enthusiasm and refreshingly does not try to lead readers towards one particular viewpoint. His stance remains journalistic throughout, reporting the cases as they are. While the majority of the cases can obviously be seen as exaggerations or hoaxes to drum up interest in an otherwise unnoteworthy town, they are still entertaining and at turns fascinating (the giant turtle sighting and the "italians with pancakes" on the flying saucer were my favorites). As with many books like this, some of the cases were more interesting than others, but overall I found this book to be a pleasant diversion from some of the more serious fare I've read this year.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to University of Nebraska Press.**
B.J. Hollars tackles these stories of small town folklore and strange phenomena with enthusiasm and refreshingly does not try to lead readers towards one particular viewpoint. His stance remains journalistic throughout, reporting the cases as they are. While the majority of the cases can obviously be seen as exaggerations or hoaxes to drum up interest in an otherwise unnoteworthy town, they are still entertaining and at turns fascinating (the giant turtle sighting and the "italians with pancakes" on the flying saucer were my favorites). As with many books like this, some of the cases were more interesting than others, but overall I found this book to be a pleasant diversion from some of the more serious fare I've read this year.
**I was given a copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to University of Nebraska Press.**
June 20, 2021
fun and weird. the last chapter, on the runestone, is maybe the best, but the exploration of these small towns which find something with which to identify makes me want to hop in the car and head back up to wisconsin again, post-haste.
April 2, 2020
In my opinion, what made The X-Files such a good television show was not the aliens or paranormal monsters. It was the balance of Fox Mulder's unwavering belief in such things and Dana Scully's almost unwavering skepticism. They could have been arguing about Chevy versus Ford for all those seasons, as long as they continued that well-written dance of lunge and parry. (The failure of that show, IMO, was the loss of this tension.)
So my favorite chapters of this book are the first and the last, in which Hollars relates his own interest and respect for real-life people doing exactly that. And some of the chapters, partially the ones about aliens and UFOs, contain that same he-believes-she-doesn't-guess-we'll-never-know volley and they are the standout ones. However, some of the stories he has dug up here are too ludicrous to be believed, and so no one really bothers to investigate or even counter-claim, leading to one very weird voice alone in the woods. And those chapters become repetitive as a result.
So my favorite chapters of this book are the first and the last, in which Hollars relates his own interest and respect for real-life people doing exactly that. And some of the chapters, partially the ones about aliens and UFOs, contain that same he-believes-she-doesn't-guess-we'll-never-know volley and they are the standout ones. However, some of the stories he has dug up here are too ludicrous to be believed, and so no one really bothers to investigate or even counter-claim, leading to one very weird voice alone in the woods. And those chapters become repetitive as a result.
September 2, 2019
I was attracted to this book by the title since I grew up in the Midwest. Alas, my 'flyover state' of Kansas didn't make an appearance. No monsters? No oddities? Hmm
The author is obviously fascinated with his subject and it shows in his writing. There's a great deal of research and it's presented well with a witty and humorous style. My favorites were Oscar the turtle and the Viking Runes. My only 'complaint' is that there weren't even more oddities explored! Fascinating subject.
The author is obviously fascinated with his subject and it shows in his writing. There's a great deal of research and it's presented well with a witty and humorous style. My favorites were Oscar the turtle and the Viking Runes. My only 'complaint' is that there weren't even more oddities explored! Fascinating subject.
November 10, 2019
This book includes strange stories through the Midwest and West Virginia. Some of the strange stories include the Mothman, the Beast of Bray Road, and a runestone. Others that I had not heard of were about a turtle, aliens that had pancakes, spaceships. and other stories. Each subject was well covered with the history and people in the area and their views too. This will be especially interesting if you are from this area or know the area.
July 19, 2019
B.J. Hollars writes with a voice that is academic and investigative. Hollars invites us into a journalistic examination of curious occurrences and supernatural reportage across the United States.
This book was entertaining, informative, and carefully written. I would gladly recommend it for other readers.
This book was entertaining, informative, and carefully written. I would gladly recommend it for other readers.
December 23, 2019
A charming (and fairly in-depth) look at several of the mysteries and cryptids of the Midwest. I wish there had been more of a focus on Indiana cryptids, but that's my own personal bias. I especially liked that he included a lot of details about his research process, especially his interviews and oral history gathering.
March 1, 2020
This book reads more like a collection of short stories. It was enjoyable and engaging, marrying journalism and folklore in a way that made my non-fiction loving heart want to learn more about beasts and happenings that were largely mythical.
August 29, 2019
I enjoyed this so much. : )
October 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I actually know some of the locations, too, which is kinda wild. I wish there had been more than 9 case files. You know there is more out there undocumented!
April 7, 2020
Read about these bizarre things in the Midwest. Some I knew about and some I didn’t.
April 20, 2020
Review to come!
June 12, 2021
Entertaining summer read, particularly if you're from the upper Midwest. The book's strength is that it is not a list of sightings of the strange. It is an examination of a select few. Only 9 mysteries are examined. These range from perhaps werewolves to UFOs to what its. The author did his research and read everything he could find about the 9 items selected, as well as conducted interviews with people directly attached to the mystery. All of these remain unsolved or unexplained.
This is also a detriment to the book. I'm from Iowa. Do we not have our share of the unexplained? Perhaps because the author is from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, that limited where he was willing to explore, but he goes to West Virginia; a trip he admits is probably outside "midwest." Yes, yes it is. It's not giving away spoilers to say he investigated the Mothman saga. Heck, pick up any book on strange encounters and the Mothman will be cited. I was more than a little disappointed that reports of Mothmen on the Sears Tower were not as fully investigated as were the original story from West Virginia. Don't "at" me at it being called the "Willis" Tower. If you are from anywhere within 200 miles of Chicago, it's the Sears Tower. A parenthetical to that effect should have been in the description of the event.
Indiana and North Dakota get their due. Illinois gets a mention only because of the aforementioned Mothman episode. This is Wisconsin and Minnesota strange. No doubt there are strange things up there and I would be remiss if I didn't remark on the author's doggedness to explore these phenomena. But, it's not a total "Midwest" and, in that regard, I am disappointed.
The author spends a good about of time at the end of each case tying it back to a philosophical need in knowing the strange and what the strange has to teach us. These ruminations are interesting but should have been about half the size they are. He asks pointed questions about how searching for the strange lead to inner searching; how the need to make the inexplicable true helps us make sense of who we are in the universe; but they could have been half the size and thereby leading to a couple more case studies. Particularly with the rhinestone at the end of the book, it felt like a need to fill up a few more pages to meet a quota.
As with books of this type, the bibliography is extensive. He mentions an incident I don't recall from the Vietnam War and now I will spend hours reading on it because it sounds fascinating. I am always grateful for authors who detail their research. You never know where it will take you.
If you have an interest in the strange, I recommend this book. If you have an interest in the upper Midwest, this is a good read. It's quick and grouping the items by "cases" means you can dash off a case or two while at the doctor's office. It's also the kind of book perfect for passing on to Midwestern friends. Say, have you heard about the Minot, North Dakota UFO incident?
This is also a detriment to the book. I'm from Iowa. Do we not have our share of the unexplained? Perhaps because the author is from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, that limited where he was willing to explore, but he goes to West Virginia; a trip he admits is probably outside "midwest." Yes, yes it is. It's not giving away spoilers to say he investigated the Mothman saga. Heck, pick up any book on strange encounters and the Mothman will be cited. I was more than a little disappointed that reports of Mothmen on the Sears Tower were not as fully investigated as were the original story from West Virginia. Don't "at" me at it being called the "Willis" Tower. If you are from anywhere within 200 miles of Chicago, it's the Sears Tower. A parenthetical to that effect should have been in the description of the event.
Indiana and North Dakota get their due. Illinois gets a mention only because of the aforementioned Mothman episode. This is Wisconsin and Minnesota strange. No doubt there are strange things up there and I would be remiss if I didn't remark on the author's doggedness to explore these phenomena. But, it's not a total "Midwest" and, in that regard, I am disappointed.
The author spends a good about of time at the end of each case tying it back to a philosophical need in knowing the strange and what the strange has to teach us. These ruminations are interesting but should have been about half the size they are. He asks pointed questions about how searching for the strange lead to inner searching; how the need to make the inexplicable true helps us make sense of who we are in the universe; but they could have been half the size and thereby leading to a couple more case studies. Particularly with the rhinestone at the end of the book, it felt like a need to fill up a few more pages to meet a quota.
As with books of this type, the bibliography is extensive. He mentions an incident I don't recall from the Vietnam War and now I will spend hours reading on it because it sounds fascinating. I am always grateful for authors who detail their research. You never know where it will take you.
If you have an interest in the strange, I recommend this book. If you have an interest in the upper Midwest, this is a good read. It's quick and grouping the items by "cases" means you can dash off a case or two while at the doctor's office. It's also the kind of book perfect for passing on to Midwestern friends. Say, have you heard about the Minot, North Dakota UFO incident?
July 3, 2021
This book would be so much better if it didn’t have an agenda, which is apparently that you should believe people that are fundamentally decent, and that create elaborate (or hoarse) hoaxes for the greater good.
Through a series of chapters that examine precisely what the title says, it examines, sometimes directly through eyewitnesses, almost always through primary sources, stories that deal with that, with “the weird” being a description that includes a military project, a (possibly fake) stone inscribed with runes, and things like that.
Let’s look at that one, the Kensington rune stone, a stone slab inscribed with runes that was found in rural Minnesota and that was, very possibly, a forgery. For starters, it’s difficult for it not to be anything else. Vikings don’t simply stay for a time, even a small amount of time, in a place, without leaving some traces, traces which have not been found. But you don’t need to go any further than the Wikipedia to find all possible proofs that it’s a forgery, from language, to the actual use of runes, to the fact that the stone carvings didn’t seem weathered in any way. The book verdicts? It’s a mystery, since nobody has proved who forged it.
Those stories (the last part, indeed) seem a bit duct-taped to the rest of the book to make up for a good 200 pages, which is the minimum in publishing contracts. So one may think that this is, well, can’t happen to other stories of Martian sightings. Well… no such luck. Ockham’s razor leaves way to “this was a fundamentally decent person and they did it to put their godforsaken place on the map”. Well, I can live with the second, it’s understandable. The US of A are full of roadside attractions, from motels that have the shape of wigwams to dinosaur sculptures. If someone decides to have seen a Martian and creates yet another one, they are entirely at liberty to do so. But let’s call a spade a spade, as long as we’re still in Texas. The author does so when everyone and their mother know that’s the case, like with the Hodag. But Martian sightings based on a single person’s account and a few circumstantial evidences? Don’t try to pull that off. At least we’ve been spared the anal probe stories.
There are some redeeming circumstances, however. There’s a bit of what I (maybe) was looking for in that book: a good sense of place, good characters, even the first person narration is lively, personal, and strong. Would it have been put to better use…
Through a series of chapters that examine precisely what the title says, it examines, sometimes directly through eyewitnesses, almost always through primary sources, stories that deal with that, with “the weird” being a description that includes a military project, a (possibly fake) stone inscribed with runes, and things like that.
Let’s look at that one, the Kensington rune stone, a stone slab inscribed with runes that was found in rural Minnesota and that was, very possibly, a forgery. For starters, it’s difficult for it not to be anything else. Vikings don’t simply stay for a time, even a small amount of time, in a place, without leaving some traces, traces which have not been found. But you don’t need to go any further than the Wikipedia to find all possible proofs that it’s a forgery, from language, to the actual use of runes, to the fact that the stone carvings didn’t seem weathered in any way. The book verdicts? It’s a mystery, since nobody has proved who forged it.
Those stories (the last part, indeed) seem a bit duct-taped to the rest of the book to make up for a good 200 pages, which is the minimum in publishing contracts. So one may think that this is, well, can’t happen to other stories of Martian sightings. Well… no such luck. Ockham’s razor leaves way to “this was a fundamentally decent person and they did it to put their godforsaken place on the map”. Well, I can live with the second, it’s understandable. The US of A are full of roadside attractions, from motels that have the shape of wigwams to dinosaur sculptures. If someone decides to have seen a Martian and creates yet another one, they are entirely at liberty to do so. But let’s call a spade a spade, as long as we’re still in Texas. The author does so when everyone and their mother know that’s the case, like with the Hodag. But Martian sightings based on a single person’s account and a few circumstantial evidences? Don’t try to pull that off. At least we’ve been spared the anal probe stories.
There are some redeeming circumstances, however. There’s a bit of what I (maybe) was looking for in that book: a good sense of place, good characters, even the first person narration is lively, personal, and strong. Would it have been put to better use…
January 22, 2025
Annoying and frustrating: The author claims to want to keep an "open mind" to the "facts" of each "case file," but what this appears to mean is that he has no interest in doing the work needed to assess the "facts." For instance, for the Kensington Runestone, why not ask a Norse scholar if the runes are or are not historically consistent with the content? No one in the lat 19th c who knew what they were talking about thought so. For the ELF project, why not ask a physicist to explain extremely low frequency signals and any effects they might have (you know, like the invisible and harmless radiowaves all around us). Hollars also slides glibly from the "facts" to "conclusions" that are not warranted. For instance, he reports on the strange lights seen at Minon AFB. The lights then become a "craft." How? What else can be seen on radar besides "crafts" that might also be perceived as a light? He willfully refuses to accept mundane explanations (except for the Hodag, a known hoax). Instead, he continues to push the line that we "just don't know." Yes. We do know. I am sorry you do not like the answer.
February 28, 2024
Midwestern Strange by B.J. Hollars is a tremendously enjoyable and easy-to-digest book that delves more into the curiosity of how strange stories develop than of trying to prove strange stories. In fact, as you read through each case, you realize that, despite his rampant curiosity about these stories of monsters, aliens and all things weird, he is far more interested in each story’s development, and its effect on their location and people. Without any more than delicately grazing the surface of the issue, the book is far more about how human beings and society have a natural urge and desire to “fill in the blanks,” to “come to conclusions,” and to, “look for anything to support or enhance what we want to believe,” which is so pertinent to us today and how we react to, and feed, mainstream and social media. Whether interested in the strange and the weird, or simply intrigued by the human condition, I strongly recommend this book.
December 28, 2020
This was a quick read for me and the organization of the book worked (one chapter per event, a summary at the beginning). The anecdotal narratives didn't lean into skepticism or belief, just a road-trip version of let's go in search of mystery and what that means when the 'mystery' is deliberate/managed and what it can mean when it's a singular experience in an individual's life. The style was slightly unwieldy for me--I found that I enjoyed the sections where the author was talking to the people directly involved or discussing his own interest in various creatures/events and was less than interested in the UFO-related sections. Maybe they feel less tied to particular places? Less community-oriented and more personal stories? Definitely a personal preference for stories about giant turtles. :)
May 25, 2025
“Perhaps the key we’re really after unlocks a more personal mystery: how to live our lives to ensure that neither science nor imagination are deemed liabilities. Better still if we view their convergence as a strength.”
Enjoyable collection of “case files” of the strange and supernatural in the Midwest (including a Mothman sighting on top the Sears Tower in Chicago!)* I especially loved the chapter on the Hodag, since I went to summer camp near Rhinelander, and heard my share of Hodag stories around the campfire.
*I’ll forgive the author for referring to it as the Willis Tower
Enjoyable collection of “case files” of the strange and supernatural in the Midwest (including a Mothman sighting on top the Sears Tower in Chicago!)* I especially loved the chapter on the Hodag, since I went to summer camp near Rhinelander, and heard my share of Hodag stories around the campfire.
*I’ll forgive the author for referring to it as the Willis Tower
April 16, 2024
One of a great Midwestern ( in Midwestern Life magazine, that would include areas from Ohio to Louisiana? Wait what?) travel books that look at the paranormal of roadside tales of real events. As the cover includes hunting monsters, Martians, and the weird over flyover country, B.J. Hollars spins the stories of giant turtles to the Mothman Museum. A fun read of the people behind these stories we may have wondered about.
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