Review- The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine by Justin McElroy & Sydnee McElroy

Title: The Sawbones Book: The Hilarious, Horrifying Road to Modern Medicine

Author: Justin McElroy & Sydnee McElroy

Genre: Adult, nonfiction, medical science

Publication date: October 2018

Published by: Weldon Owen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: A compelling, often hilarious and occasionally horrifying exploration of how modern medicine came to be!

Wondering whether eating powdered mummies might be just the thing to cure your ills? Tempted by those vintage ads suggesting you wear radioactive underpants for virility? Ever considered drilling a hole in your head to deal with those pesky headaches? Probably not. But for thousands of years, people have done things like this—and things that make radioactive underpants seem downright sensible! In their hit podcast, Sawbones, Sydnee and Justin McElroy breakdown the weird and wonderful way we got to modern healthcare. And some of the terrifying detours along the way.

Every week, Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin amaze, amuse, and gross out (depending on the week) hundreds of thousands of avid listeners to their podcast, Sawbones. Consistently rated a top podcast on iTunes, with over 15 million total downloads, this rollicking journey through thousands of years of medical mishaps and miracles is not only hilarious but downright educational. While you may never even consider applying boiled weasel to your forehead (once the height of sophistication when it came to headache cures), you will almost certainly face some questionable medical advice in your everyday life (we’re looking at you, raw water!) and be better able to figure out if this is a miracle cure (it’s not) or a scam.

My rating: ★★★★☆

As I’ve explored genres outside my comfort zone, one subgenre of nonfiction that I discovered that I really enjoy is science. And, specifically, in this case, medical science. When I picked up this book, I was hoping it would sort of be in the same vein as Quackery, and it kind of was! I really enjoyed it!

Review: Kaiju No. 8 (Vol. 1) by Naoya Matsumoto

Title: Kaiju No. 8 Vol.1

Series: Kaiju No. 8 #1

Author: Naoya Matsumoto

Genre: YA, manga, action

Publication date: December 2020

Published by: VIZ Media

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: With the highest kaiju-emergence rates in the world, Japan is no stranger to attack by deadly monsters. Enter the Japan Defense Force, a military organization tasked with the neutralization of kaiju. Kafka Hibino, a kaiju-corpse cleanup man, has always dreamed of joining the force. But when he gets another shot at achieving his childhood dream, he undergoes an unexpected transformation. How can he fight kaiju now that he’s become one himself?!

Kafka hopes to one day keep his pact with his childhood friend Mina to join the Japan Defense Force and fight by her side. But while she’s out neutralizing kaiju as Third Division captain, Kafka is stuck cleaning up the aftermath of her battles. When a sudden rule change makes Kafka eligible for the Defense Force, he decides to try out for the squad once more. There’s just one problem—he’s made the Defense Force’s neutralization list under the code name Kaiju No. 8.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

I really liked this manga! I loved the premise and the execution was great!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? #467: Rough Start to the Month

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Date and Unleashing Reads.

Sunday Post #503: That was Rough...

Welcome to The Sunday Post hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where I talk about what is going on in life and the blog, and show you all the bookish things I got that week!

Review: Night Terror (Bleak Haven #2) by Vincent Ralph

Title: Night Terror

Series: Bleak Haven #2

Previous book in this series: Dead Fake

Author: Vincent Ralph

Genre: YA, horror

Publication date: January 20th 2026

Published by: Wednesday Books

Source: Borrwed from library

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Synopsis: Who the hell holds up a bookstore? That’s what Noah asks when his favorite spot is suddenly targeted by masked attackers.

But these people don’t want a ransom. They are searching for Bleak Haven’s very own urban legend – The Burning Book.

When something with a thirst for flesh creeps from its pages, Noah must team up with the other hostages and try to escape the mall without turning their town into a bloodbath.

My rating: ★★★★⯪

Despite all the real-life killers that Bleak Haven has endured, what scares some folks most is the Burning Book. They believe bad things are hidden within its pages the kind of things that even fire cannot kill.

This book was so freaking fun! I mentioned it in my review of the last book, and I’ll mention it again, I am LOVING the modern-day Fear Street vibes! Ah! It’s SO good! Though maybe I shouldn’t say ‘modern’ for this one, as it takes place in 1987. Lol. But still! My point stands! Lol.