Unnatural Acts [ペーパーバック]

Taylor takes readers on a journey into the darkest realms both real and imagined. She writes with unflinching brutality about the grotesque, the disgusting, the shocking and nothing is taboo. I read this in one fell swoop, unable to stop even when repulsed beyond belief, until I had finished the very last page. The standout story for me just happens to be the one depicted so grossly on the cover called "Baubo's Kiss". It tells about a plain young woman on a trip with her faithless girlfriend who discovers her sexuality in a most unexpected place. Her transformation from doormat to goddess was awe-inspiring. "Making the Woman" is probably the story that disturbed me the most. It's very short but unforgettable. It's about two troubled twelve year olds who have seen way too much of the dark side of life. One day they decide to make themselves a woman. The cold calculated way in which they perform their task and the final revelation is haunting. "Idol" is a dark, dirty tale about a young man named Conners who is obsessed with a wrestler. When Darius the Python picks Conners out of the crowd to be his sexual partner for the night Conners romantic dreams of forever come true in an unexpectedly twisted way. Many of the other stories feature cruel men while revenge and the search for pleasure (even when the cost may be intense pain or death) is a common thread that binds them.

Lucy Taylor writes extreme horror that can be very unpleasant to read. So, do I recommend it? Yes, but only if you know what you're in for. You've been warned. Now go find a copy of the book!

~LS