This is super interesting. Definitely not one to read too close to bed time though. I found it the right about of creepy and strange, learning about all these mad objects that share our world with us. Perfect for those who have an interest in the supernatural or history (or both).

An interesting book of cursed objects throughout history. This is more of a book that you read in bits and pieces. I found myself getting disinterested if I read too much in one sitting. Definitely recommend this for anyone who is interested in the paranormal and the history of objects throughout time.

This was a diverting, fun book. It had a striking cover and seemed like it would make a good gift (the hardcover version, or paperback, of course). I enjoyed the section groupings and particularly enjoyed the illustrations.

Fascinating compendium of objects from all over the world that are supposedly cursed. I appreciated the mix of both well known items, such as the contents of King Tutankhamen's tomb and the Hope Diamond, mixed with lesser known items. The histories and stories connected to each item were interesting to read about. There were a few that surprised me, such as the Ring of Silvianus, which possibly may have inspired the story of a certain, cursed "one ring." Lovers of obscure and macabre history will relish this collection of vignettes.

Beware, this book you’re holding is a potentially cursed object.
Well, at least I’d like to think it is as it contains many of the world’s most famous and not so heard-of cursed objects of the world.
I am absolutely fascinated. It could not have been more informative or hilarious and I loved every single page of it. This well-researched little book contains objects of curiosity that inflict curses or unleash hell upon people who own them. Believe it or not, you have to admit it’s a concept of wonder how we attribute such meanings and power to objects. I had no idea what to expect from it when I requested to read it but I found it thoroughly interesting, learned that even simple everyday objects such as chairs can come to be known as a cursed item. One note on the author’s style: It’s exceptionally good. I laughed so hard and loved his casual and candid style. A great, informative, fun page-turner recommended for those chasing the supernatural.

A quirky set of stories about curses and spooky happenings! I loved this! The books delves into history we think we know, as well as some stories from present times. Truly fascinating.

I received Cursed Object by J.W. Ocker through netgalley in exchange for an honest review and i wasn't really sure what to expect but I really enjoyed it and would love to check out a finished version where I would be able to jump around to the different sections.

Cursed Objects is a collection of some of the world's most famous cursed items around the world and also a lot of ones i had never heard of! The book is well researched and very well written so that everyone can easily enjoy the book.

There are a great amount of different items throughout the book from all over the world and I really enjoyed the illustrations really wish there were more also some actual photographs would have been even better!

#netgalley #cursedobjects

This a very fun and enjoyable read. The author selves into the history and myths behind many famous cursed objects and their effect on history. This is book that is fun to read cover to cover, but also good if you want to learn about individual items. I like the author’s overall tone of the book, and think it will appeal to both fans of the occult and cursed objects and skeptics. It also had a lot of history in it, which taught me about time periods, people, and places I wasn’t familiar with. I highly recommend this for all kinds of adult readers.

Shorts write-ups on spooky things. It's not anything earth-shattering but I'm a sucker for books like this. Adds some mystery to life. And there seem to be quite a few things I hadn't read about before.

This is the type of books that’s easy to sell and even easier to read – in the good sense of the term!

Filled with anecdotes of cursed objects or places that span through centuries, it’ll take you on a death-and-misfortunes filled adventure, featuring ancient artifacts, cursed dolls (so. many. dolls) and even a couple of pieces of furniture.

It’s quite obvious that the author had a lot of fun researching for and writing this book, and as a reader, that translates into a lot of smiles, and more likely than not, some additional research about some of the objects mentioned.

The main issue i had with this copy (kindly gifted by NetGalley) was that it was a bit wonky to read on a Kindle, with whole paragraphs of text seemingly missing. I have no doubt that this is a highly enjoyable book when reading it in print, however!

I received a copy of Cursed Objects from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I'm having a lot of feelings about this book. Cursed Objects by J.W. Ocker is a fast paced middle grade (?) non fiction book. I really enjoyed all of the cursed objects featured in the book and it was fairly well researched.

I have three minor complaints however. The first is that while reading this book I felt like it didn't know what it was. By that I mean that it didn't know if it wanted to be a book for adults or a book for kids. Most of it was pretty tame but then the author would throw in some super gory details that took me completely by surprise. The second is that I wish it had real pictures of the items described. Unfortuntalely all we got were cartoon depictions and I just wanted to see the real thing. If not for all of them then at least some of them. Lastly the book did feel a little scattered. It jumped around a lot and left me feeling confused more than once.

Overall I liked the book and I think that its a fun resource.

I'm a huge fan of history books that approach history in a bite-sized form like this, picking out a variety of interesting items, anecdotes or examples from history and filling them with life to help paint a wider picture. As a result, when I saw this listed on Netgalley, I immediately wanted to read it. I love anything that plays around the fringes of the paranormal, and this was a concept I hadn't really seen explored in a book before.

Generally, I enjoyed the book. The objects selected are interesting, ranging from more famous 'cursed objects' such as Annebelle the doll (from The Conjuring), Tutankhamun's tomb and the Antikythera mechanism, to less known objects such as books bound in human leather and cursed chests of drawers. Each story is told with a great tone and style, and works as an individual short chapter whilst also feeding into wider themes such as revenge, how curses are born and spread by media etc.

The author goes to some lengths to explain the difference between 'cursed', 'haunted' and 'possessed', though I'm not too sure it's hugely clear (particularly as many of the objects included fall into separate categories), and in general I think this works.

What I think does let the book down is that the stories themselves aren't often hugely interesting. Many of the 'curses' feel rather mundane - for instance, there's many examples of people dying several years after contact with an item. It feels a little lacklustre and many of the stories are thus quite forgettable. I feel like the author might have been better served slimming down the collection of items and dedicating longer passages to some of the more interesting items such as Annebelle the doll, James Dean's car etc.

That said, overall I enjoyed this book. It's very readable and takes a unique look at some of the more unusual items that have cropped up throughout history. Some of the stories are incredibly interesting, particularly when the author delves into how they got their reputation and how media/film/pop culture has built up the mythos of the items., but many of the stories are forgettable and don't make the impact I'd hoped for.

I received an advanced galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest, impartial review. Thanks to Quirk Books for accepting my request.

J.W. Ocker starts his new book by warning you that it is cursed. In short, don't steal this book or you're in for some trouble. Once you've accepted that, its time to delve into some of the world's most infamous cursed items, as well as a wealth of those you've never heard of. Whether it's items like the Hope diamond, a mummy that may have sunk the Titanic, and a ring with a strong curse, Ocker finds some of the coolest items world wide and describes them in detail. He doesn't stop there; he also explores those who investigate the unknown and collect cursed objects. The curse listed in the book? He actually found that during his research. 

Ocker is no stranger to the bizarre and unknown; he runs the popular (and highly entertaining) blog OTIS, Odd Things I've Seen. He even spent an entire October in Salem to capture the community's feel in the book A Season with the Witch.  The book focuses on telling a good story and keeping the reader entertained. At times, he makes sure to emphasize that the story may or may not actually be based in reality.  My only real issue with this book is his description of the owners of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and the Occult. As someone who spends a fair amount of time in their Patreon private chat, I've found them to be nothing but knowledgeable, with a focus on "Curiosity Over Fear."  In short, Ocker's irreverent description of the Newkirks misses the mark. However, his description on some of the others....I'll stop here so I don't get in trouble. Oh, and the Dybbuk box isn't real...anyhow....

Cursed Objects is a fun read that doubles as a jumping off point for those who either want to just enjoy a good story or discover something new to research more in depth.

Cursed Objects is available from Quirk Books September 15, 2020.

Thanks NetGalley and Quirk Books for the ARC!

This is a pretty straightforward book in that it does what you expect: explains the history of cursed objects around the globe. Witty, interesting, if a little bit repetitive sometimes (not the author's fault, just so happens that a lot of cursed objects end up being... not so cursed in the end). Oh, and the illustrations are so cute. I feel like I want this as a coffee table book.

I really enjoyed the stories behind the objects featured in this book. I really wish that actual pictures of the objects were included since the illustrations don’t really do it for me. They make it seem silly and juvenile. Unless, that’s the point? It’d be cool to see the actual object in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a free digital ARC (e-book) of this title. I loved it! Cursed Objects by J. W. Ocker was a great read. I love books about the occult and I am proud to add this to my collection. This book covers everything from the Hope Diamond to Shakespeares grave and even dreaded chain emails. Breaking down the myth behind the most famous curses in history, this book is full of fun facts and interesting lore. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes spooky history facts!