Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OUT OF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND..., 1 Nov 2003
This is a well-researched book about Ed Gein, the mild mannered, Midwestern psychopath from Plainfield, Wisconsin who, in the nineteen fifties, would shock the nation with his gruesome crimes. Ed Gein would become the basis for the best selling book by Robert Bloch, "Psycho", as well as for the Hitchcock film of the same name. Accounts of Ed Gein's heinous crimes would also enter the consciousness of a young Tobe Hooper who, as an adult, would write and direct the classic, cult film, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".The author writes a cogent, factual account of the life of Ed Gein and the grisly crimes that shocked the nation at the time of their discovery. It details the hold that Ed's domineering mother had on him, a hold that would manifest itself in unimaginable ways. It is almost hard to believe that this small, inoffensive man could be such a madman, but who but a madman would do what he did? Ed Gein, it was discovered, had turned his small farmhouse into a gruesome charnel house, replete with furnishings adorned with human flesh and bones. Aficionados of true crime will find this book fascinating, as it is a well-written account of one of the most horrifying and bizarre series of crimes ever to be committed. Eight pages of photographs are included in the book and serve to provide the reader with a brief, visual glimpse into the life of Ed Gein, a man with a secret hobby so depraved that it would shock the entire nation when it came to light. Lovers of true crime accounts will be fascinated by this well researched foray into the life of a seemingly innocuous man from America's heartland who ended up being so deviant from the norm.
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Couldn't be better, 11 Sep 2004
This is a great read. It has all the facts on Ed Geins crimes and alot of valuable insight into his childhood and his life as an adult in the village of Plainfield. This book has everything you could possibly want to know, actually, this book has everything THERE IS to know, about Ed Gein and his crimes. Despite the fact that this book has so much information in it, it never gets boring and you never feel like your being bogged down with facts, due to the writers style, this book is gripping from start to finish, it feels as if you are reading a real novel. As a matter of a fact, when I finished reading the last page, I remember thinking "no!!I want more!" I wanted the book to go on and on even though it couldn't,of course, because there is no more of Ed's life story to tell, he's dead. After reading this book I was left feeling really sorry for Ed Gein, or "the little batchelor" as he is so affectionatley referred to in this book, because the writer portrays everything so well, the way Ed was belittled constantly by the mother he loved so much and who gave him absolutley no love back, the way he was treated by the people of Plainfield, constantly taken advantage of and the butt of all jokes, never shown any real friendship or kindness, it just makes you feel really sorry for him, like he gave gave gave and never got anything back at all, he was just left alone to go crazier and crazier and crazier untill..well..you know.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Weird Eddy's story, 23 Jun 2002
By A Customer
When I read this book I was absolutely amazed that I'd never heard of Eddie Gein before, even though his crimes have influenced some of the greatest films ever made (Silence of the Lambs, Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Ed was extremely sick and the things he did aren't fit to be discussed here but his story is fascinating. Harold Schechter writes in such a way as to not glorify killing but at the same time tell us of the murderer's tragic life. You really end up sympathising with Ed who is really just a simple man beaten in submission by a ferocious mother and a hard life. Schecter gets this across perfectly without forgetting the victims and te truly horrifying things Ed did. A compelling read and highly reccomended for those with the stomach for it.
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