Crap Taxidermy

I got an ARC of this from Netgalley ages ago and I remembered really liking it, so when I saw that it was on sale for $4.99, I thought it would be fun to revisit this art (anti-art?) book and see if I'd enjoy it as much the second time around. This book is exactly what it purports to be: it's a collection of incredibly bad taxidermy that is somehow both endearing, horrifying, and sad, all at once. It's divided into various sections of bad, so on the one hand you have works of taxidermy with creepy eyes, and on the other, you have anthropomorphized animals that aren't "bad" so much as they look like escapees from a Walter Potter museum.I think the pictures are really funny, but it's kind of a morbid sense of "funny" that won't appeal to everyone. My personal favorites were the frog kicking back with a pint (Australia) and the inflated yellow horse that someone inexplicably turned into a ball (China). I feel like that's the weirdest one in here and I wish I had the backstory on it. Why yellow? Why a ball? Why a horse? I have SO MANY QUESTIONS.In the back is a DIY on how to do your own taxidermy and I thought that section was pretty gross and skimmed over it. I also feel like the author should have really emphasized the fact that working with dead animals introduces the contamination risk for bacteria and the like, so you should make sure to thoroughly scrub any surfaces you worked on and gloves really shouldn't be optional (as the author stated here). Protective eye wear is a good idea, too. A year spent in a biology lab has made me a bit paranoid about that kind of thing.So this was fine but I didn't like it as much this second time around as I did the first time, even though it did make me chuckle a couple times.3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars

Love this book! Not sure what the fuss is about the photo quality, I think they are fine. This is a novelty book of photos of bad taxidermy, not Ansel Adam prints.

The cover photo is probably the funniest picture in the book. Some others are funny but they do sort of go downhill from there in terms of humor. I read it once and that was enough for me. Could be fun as a gag gift.

If like me, you are struggling to get a GIFT for someone smart, that loves to laugh, has EVERYTHING they could ever want, and getting them a bottle of booze or other consumables is just BORING, well THIS is it. If they love to laugh, perhaps under the influence of gummies or other THC, the will be an amazing conduit!

I laughed out loud for quite a while.

this was crazy and I might be anti-taxidermy now??

Big hit for Christmas. It’s great as a white elephant or dirty Santa gift.

Purchased this for a prize for holiday party games and it had us all cracking up.

Yes, this book really is as funny (and somewhat disturbing) as it looks. There is definitely something memorable in there to make most people laugh and/or be surprised at what (bad) taxidermists get up to. However, some people might be offended by some of the content (where different parts of animals are mixed together or animal carcasses used for strange purposes). If you are unsure whether someone would be offended by this book as a gift then avoid it. If you are sure they wont be it makes an excellent bizarre gift which is very memorable. Readers ovely sensitive to animal related issues (e.g. rights activists, hippies,cat or dog ladies) would not be amused and likely give you lots of abuse for years to come. For everyone else: once read, never forgotten.

Bought as a gift. Laugh out loud funny - despite the horrifically non-aesthetic and undignified end these poor animals had.

By far one of the best books EVER printed.It’s full of pictures!!!!It would make a great present for any one.(As long as they have good bladder control) A few of the photos would make a great tattoo. There’s even a bit at the back to show you how to do a spot of taxidermy your self, should you so wish.

Came in good condition and it was a good secret Santa present!!

I found, as is understandable, that the funniest photo is actually on the front cover. Inside the range of photos goes from the bemusing to the downright cruel but as a silly gift to a similarly minded individual it presents a chuckle or two. Needless to say that once you have perused all the pages you probably won't find yourself revisiting the book as an avid reader. If you do.... maybe seek help.