The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf (Ohio) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

I hadn't ever planned to enter my own review space, but since I noticed this one very negative review has remained near the top of the list for a very long time, I thought I might toss in a few comments in addition to Mr. Troutt's. I want to emphasize that I welcome all opinions and believe in everyone's right to free speech, but this one leaves me wondering if the reviewer really read the book at all. A "bare handful" of sightings would add up to about five. The book chronicles over 20 incidents, plus detailed accounts of the parallel phenomonen The Michigan Dogman, and insight on similar creatures throughout history and the world to help put these sightings in context. The sociological events that occurred in and around these sightings are an integral part of the entire story, and provide a deeper insight than would mere recitation of the facts from each witness alone. The sightings are interesting not only because of their high strangeness, but because they are folklore in the making. Although a few accounts are indeed "second hand," and it's made clear which those are, I interviewed most of the witnesses personally and use their own words whenever possible. Most of the witnesses insist that what they saw was anything but "a big dog." And a glance at the bibliography will reveal that my research extended far beyond quotes from my friends Brad Steiger and Loren Coleman. I'd also like to mention that the "lurid" cover is an original painting by former TSR (inventors of Dungeons and Dragons) artist Jeff Easly, a nationally noted fantasy artist who volunteered to do the painting because he is very interested in the Beast phenomenon. Also, since the book came out, I've collected at least thirty previously unreported sightings in Wisconsin alone, and more from other states. I'm working on a second book at this time. Collectively, it becomes a very large body of sightings, with the most recent in March of 2005. I thank everyone for their support. Sincerely, Linda Godfrey

In 1941 screenwriter Curt Siodmak wrote a screenplay for Universal Pictures, telling a tale about a nice young man named Lawrence "Larry" Talbot, who came home to Llanwelly Village in Wales from school in America, only to discover he'd been better off staying "across the pond". Run-ins with Gypsies (especially with one named Bela...as in Lugosi) left him with a very unwanted physiological affliction. An "ancient gypsy rhyme" (composed very un-anciently by writer Siodmak) bespoke Talbot's affliction: "Even a man who is pure at heart, and says his prayers by night...may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms...and the moon is full and bright."
So began the unfortunate "career' of The Wolfman, one of the most popular of all supernatural cultural icons, a man-monster rooted in the ancient traditions of the werewolf, which reach back AT LEAST as far as Roman times, and no doubt beyond.
Talbot has never been alone in his predicament. There have been untold numbers of both cinematic, literary, television, and, indeed, even radio werewolves. The lycanthropy crowd is ever with us in the media and in good yarns spun around the campfire.
But is that all there is to it? History says no. The belief is strong is Europe and North America and many anecdotal accounts present themselves as authentic tales of strange doings by creatures who may or may not be shapeshifting humans. The Indians of the southwest believe in "skinwalkers". The French Canadians of Quebec and the Cajuns of Louisiana don't always smirk at stories of "loup garou". The belief also extends itself to the workings of the "bokors", the black magic sorcerors of Haiti. And it should be noted that in the real-world literature of the werewolf, the notion that the depredations of such a creature are tied to a full moon is RARE. The strongest traditions involve Satanism and black magic and address themselves to men and women who turn themselves into beasts AT WILL, when they WANT to. They are NOT "moonbound" by a curse. THIS notion (the involuntary full moon transformation triggered by a curse or bite) is a product of SIODMAK and is NOT tied strongly to the historical tradition at all.
This fact tends to make Wisconsin's Bray Road Beast even more interesting. IT is not seemingly tied to a full moon cycle either. It does its thing "whenever". That small fact may render a certain legitimacy in the accounts. Your typical doofus prankster is not going to be that well versed in the "true" history of lycanthropy and most likely would try to time his prank-playing TO the full moon cycle.
In "The Beast of Bray Road" Linda Godfrey has done an excellent job of presenting the historical overview of these odd happenings around Elkhorn and Delavan, Wisconsin. She has done the reporters' base line job of finding out who-what-when-where-and-how in very capable fashion. She also doesn't let her imagination...OR her skepticism...run away with her. She stays practical and contemplative and analytically perceptive the whole way through. And she never loses her witty sense of humour.She keeps her head on straight and produces a very, very good and readable book on a very, very strange subject.
And what do we find out from Ms. Godfrey? That a lot of people(feet-on-the-ground people, not Kooks) over quite some time, have seen a very strange "something" in the fields and forests of rural and semi-rural Wisconsin. It is something that stands about 5 to 5 1/2 feet tall, has a head with the general configuration of a wolf, or dog, or coyote, a broad shouldered, heavy-muscled upper torso, well muscled arms like a body builder's, human-like hands with claws on them, powerful thighs tapering down into skinny "shins" and ankles. This description alone (referencing "arms" and "legs" separately) suggests something bipedal, though the creature often does go to all fours). Accounts also say the back legs look "funny", the implication being that they are jointed animal fashion("crooked as a dog's hind leg" as the saying goes).But the "arms" are not? Odd. The thing is often seen by a roadside, seemingly eating road kill, which it holds(while squatting) in its "hands"(?) with the "palms"(?) turned face up. Most peculiar.
Godfrey takes the reader through possible Satanic associations, cryptozoological connections ( a creature the Ioway Indians called a "shunka-warak'in"),mysterious animal mutilations, and a chilling incident from the 1930s when a nightwatchman encountered a strangely similar creature that snarled out the word "Gaddarah" at him and then turned and walked away with a sneer when the man began praying to God for deliverance.
This book is well worth having, both to read for information and pondering, or for good old-fashioned cheap thrills. If you want to sit in front of the fire on a dark night and scare the bejeebies out of yourself, don't miss it. Will it make you want to jump up and book immediate fare to Elkhorn or Delavan, Wisconsin? Well, I can't guarantee THAT!!!!

I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I like things like local legends, Bigfoot, werewolves, and that sort of thing. I have read 'scary' books before that, well, really weren't all that great, so when I first saw this book at a local bookshop, I thought "This looks cool", but was skeptical. So while I was beginning to read it while sipping coffee, I realized I had to read the whole thing! So now I just finished the whole book (all 170 pages not including the intros, bibliography, and map of sightings), so now comes the review!

First of all, it is true that Linda has a light and breezy way of writing, and I like that fact, because instead of basic, dry facts, etc, you get a story told by a really talented storyteller!

Secondly, there really is no doubt that certain people haven't read the entire book, because these people mention only a couple of things that make this book special and worthwhile, and they say it was a couple hours worth of reading. YES there was an 'almost' movie made, but that's not the point of the book, is it? Yes, there was also a LOT of media coverage. But there were a TON of sightings of this creature mentioned in the book (and probably a LOT MORE not mentioned as well as I'm now awaiting the next follow-up book. And if one does a search in google.com for the "Beast of Bray Road", this person will see that there have been even more recent sightings following the release of this book). Some of these stories are second-hand, but most are first-hand accounts which Linda strived to get from the witnesses themselves!

Also, Linda has many possible theories and histories behind those theories as to figuring out what the heck this creature could be, as well as a lovely summary in the end of the book! My favorite to read about were the 'wildman' theories, but the most mystifying theories were about the creature's related cousin from Michigan, the Dogman.

Anyways, I'm a pretty fast reader, and this book took me a couple of days to finish. It WAS an easy read, because Linda's style of writing is like having your own personal storyteller in the palm of your hands. You aren't just sitting there trying to read the cold facts, rather you are sitting there reading the facts in an entertaining way! The hardest part however about reading this book is trying to shake that eerie feeling after reading some of the accounts with the creature, so this book may not be appropriate for those under 13.

And speaking of which, "an average, general 'scary' reader"? :-O No way! The book mentions how people have been deeply shaken by the sight of the creature as I am deeply shaken just by reading about it! I know how an average, general 'scary' reader goes (and there's tons of them out there), but this by far is NOT one of them! I didn't think at first $16.95 was worth it, but it was more than worth it, and I'm saving up for the next release! This has been a DJ JyMe review.

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Footnote: I think it's unbelievably cool that the author has written in her own review space! :-) It goes to show that she is a very down-to-Earth person, and I really dig that.