An Introduction to Body Horror: Fleshed Out by Rob Ulitski - Book Review

*I received a free digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

I love the horror genre. But sadly, I don't get to spend as much time exploring the genre as I used to due to my mental health. So, each October, as most people are getting ready to celebrate an entire month of spooky and dark entertainment, I usually sit and pout. Tempting as it is, my mental health can't handle allowing myself to sink into the darkness that it inevitably falls into when I overindulge on horror content.

Every now and then, though, I allow myself a little treat. 

This year, before I even had the chance to decide what to do, I received an opportunity to review a collection of short stories by Rob Ultiski. Fleshed Out is a compilation of 13 body horror stories released on October 14th, 2022.

Over the past year, I have increasingly heard more about body horror in the Books of Horror Facebook group. Fleshed Out is the first book in this subgenre that I have read, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Overall, Fleshed Out is gross and depressing. I know that probably doesn't sound good, but I do mean that in a good way. Body horror is supposed to be repulsive and disturbing, and all thirteen books in this collection meet that standard. I was surprised at how emotional many of the stories left me. I like heartbreaking horror, and this book opens with one I would put on the same level as my favorite horror film, May (2002).

The way Ultiski wrote the characters is so human. The situations they are in (minus the gore, of course) are so easily understandable and relatable. The gore was so well written that I had to take breaks, which had never happened to me before. This is easily one of the most disgusting books I have ever read (I swear I mean this in a good way!). All of these stories would make such good movies or short films. I hope Rob Ultiski considers further developing some of these stories in said medium.

I have never reviewed a collection of short stories before, so I was unsure if I should speak about each story or the collection as a whole. I have decided to take my old music review approach and list each tale, a few notes, and my rating.

Hair  – My favorite from this collection. Super depressing. Since reading, the sensation of hair in my throat won't go away. 5/5

Carnage  – Rob did a fantastic job displaying how evil and bitter some men can be. 4/5

Crystalline  – The desperation and frustration in this are so realistic. 4/5

Heal  – I think I would enjoy this more as a movie. 3/5

Doug  – I don't understand why I loved this so much. It was strangely romantic and empowering. 5/5

Circles  – An okay story, but also the most forgettable of the collection. 2/5

Vending Machine  – Very dark and yet the most realistic situation if governments keep looking at health care the way they currently do. 4/5

Dropoff  – I found this story to be a bit boring, but it could have just been that it came after Vending Machine, which I found to be much better. 2/5

Fused  – I want to know what happens next. You can't just leave it like that. 3/5

Neoton  It is my kind of story, but I didn't click with it for some reason. It may be too fast-paced. 3/5

Roe  – This reminded me of some of the Korean Horror I have read. 4/5

Smothered  – This story hits hard, but it is just beyond the level of grossness that I can handle. 3/5

Replacement  – This ties the collection up nicely. I would love to see this as a film as well. 5/5

Overall rating: ★★★★☆ 3.6/5

Should you read it?

✔ This is a great read for horror lovers but not so much for those sensitive to gore, though.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: October 14th, 2022

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Official Site

Ten Books I Want To Re-read But Don't Have the Time For

Sometimes, while staring at my bookshelves, I find myself lingering on one of them while thinking, "I should really read that again." It never happens, though. There are just SO many books out there to read, and the fact that it is impossible to read all of them is a great injustice. So while part of me waits, longing to return to the worlds I have previously visited, I continue to ignore it so that I can experience even more. So, here are the ten books calling to me like a beautiful siren but so far haven't overpowered my need for neverending new worlds.

10. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Simply put, I need to start the series over to finish it because I took too much time between books.

9. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

An absolute classic and must-read for any fan of literature that somehow I have only read once. 

8. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

This is one of the series that helped get me into YA after high school. Unfortunately, I have only read the series once, and I think it's time to revisit it to see if I still want to keep my physical copies.

7. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

This used to hold the title of my all-time favorite book. I haven't read it in over 15 years, though. With the ways things have changed over time, I have noticed quite a few people claiming this book to be highly problematic, and that is one of the two big reasons I want to go back to it. I want to have it fresh in my mind to understand others' complaints. I also read this as a teenager. I am now in my thirties. I want to see how different the experience of reading Catcher in the Rye is when you are older.

6. Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

I read this book too fast. I want to go back. 

5. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

This is my favorite Haruki Murakami book. However, I read it fast, and while I have fond memories of it, similar to Catcher in the Rye, I have begun to hear people mention some problematic content. Therefore, I want to read it slower with a more critical mindset. 

4. Neverending Story by Michael Ende

This book should be added to the list of books I need to read at least once a year, but somehow I never seem to be able to make time for it. Of course, I do watch the 80s film multiple times a year...but that covers very little of what is in the book.

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Another must-read classic but extra important due to recent events. The only problem is I want to read a physical copy and have yet to fit it into my book budget. 

2. May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

This series is fantastic. I am shocked. I never hear anyone talk about it. My main reason for wanting to re-read right now, though, is that I never got around to book three. For years I kept randomly ordering the third book...only to receive book two over and over again. After the series was reprinted, I finally got the final book in the series...even though it doesn't have the cover I prefer. I need to re-read it before I finish the series.

1. Imajica by Clive Barker

This was one of the most challenging reads of my life. When I finished it the first time, I told myself I would never reread it, even though I really enjoyed it. So, of course, it makes sense that the book that haunts me the most is this one. The more time that passes, the more I miss being in this world. 

So there we are, the ten books I want to re-read the most as of this post. There's definitely a ton more that I could have added to this list, so I may eventually do a part two. So what books are begging you to re-read them?