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Rating: 
Summary: a fun book to read
Review: Everyone has heard at least one of the legends presented in this book. While I hadn't heard of many of them, there were a couple that were familiar to me. The legend that was the most familiar to me was the one that states that if you are in college and your roommate commits suicide you will get an automatic 4.0 Grade Point Average for the year. There were others that I heard as jokes, and some that were presented as real.Jan Brunvand is a columnist who specializes in urban legends. He has put together a collection of legends in this book and he has organized them into several subject headings: Horrors, Automobile Legends, Animal Legends, Other Legends of Accidents and Mishaps, Sex and Scandal Legends, Business/Professional/and Government Legends, and Academic Legends. By far, my favorite section of the book was the one with the academic legends. I don't know if it was because I am still close enough in age to the college years that I still appreciate some of the legends and myths, but I found those to be the most entertaining. The format of each essay is that Brunvand identifies the legend, tells the main story of the legend, and then tries to trace the origins of the legend. Sometimes we find out that there is a true life story behind the legend, and it just got twisted in the retelling, and other times we simply learn that nothing like that ever happened, even though it feels like it could have. Naturally, some legends are more interesting than others. As a whole, this was a very interesting book and it exposed me to some urban legends that I'm sure to recognize when I hear them. This book is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: a fun book to read
Review: Everyone has heard at least one of the legends presented in this book. While I hadn't heard of many of them, there were a couple that were familiar to me. The legend that was the most familiar to me was the one that states that if you are in college and your roommate commits suicide you will get an automatic 4.0 Grade Point Average for the year. There were others that I heard as jokes, and some that were presented as real. Jan Brunvand is a columnist who specializes in urban legends. He has put together a collection of legends in this book and he has organized them into several subject headings: Horrors, Automobile Legends, Animal Legends, Other Legends of Accidents and Mishaps, Sex and Scandal Legends, Business/Professional/and Government Legends, and Academic Legends. By far, my favorite section of the book was the one with the academic legends. I don't know if it was because I am still close enough in age to the college years that I still appreciate some of the legends and myths, but I found those to be the most entertaining. The format of each essay is that Brunvand identifies the legend, tells the main story of the legend, and then tries to trace the origins of the legend. Sometimes we find out that there is a true life story behind the legend, and it just got twisted in the retelling, and other times we simply learn that nothing like that ever happened, even though it feels like it could have. Naturally, some legends are more interesting than others. As a whole, this was a very interesting book and it exposed me to some urban legends that I'm sure to recognize when I hear them. This book is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Classic tales from the 80s
Review: I just bought this book the other day after seeing the movie "Urban Legends." I thought it (the book) would be scarier than it was. It really wasn't the book that I had intended on buying, but it was the only book left about the subject. I gave this book 3 stars because it was pretty good, but again, it wasn't scary enough and I think the author, Jan Harold Brunvand, used to much first person. I still intend on buying "The Big Book of Urban Legends" by this author and would appreciate any e-mails concerning how this (the book I just mentioned) is and if it's any better than the one I've already read. Buy it if you're desperate, but don't if you're not!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great book debunking popular urban legends
Review: It appears that many of those who have reviewed this book misunderstood its purpose. It is not a "scary story" book; rather, it is a compilation of common urban legends and myths, complete with debunkings. I thought this book was vastly interesting and entertaining. If you're interested in whether some of the stories you've heard are true or not, or in how urban legends get altered as time goes on, you should definitely give it a read.
Rating:
Summary: Great book debunking popular urban legends
Review: It appears that many of those who have reviewed this book misunderstood its purpose. It is not a "scary story" book; rather, it is a compilation of common urban legends and myths, complete with debunkings. I thought this book was vastly interesting and entertaining. If you're interested in whether some of the stories you've heard are true or not, or in how urban legends get altered as time goes on, you should definitely give it a read.
Rating:
Summary: Classic tales from the 80s
Review: Jan, the mistro of modern folklore, pushes forward with this book that is not only fun and easy to read, but is a great start for folks wanting to learn more about urban legends and moderen folklore. Possibly the best Jan has done, Curses! Broiled again! is a good buy for anyone interested in cultural studies.
Rating:
Summary: Another excellent urban legend collection
Review: This is one of those books that are just plain fun to read. Almost everyone who picks up this book will be familiar with one or two of the tales presented, if not more. That was the greatest joy of reading this and Jan's other books. For those who enjoy well-known stories with ironic twists, pick this one up for those special campfire nights.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: When I purchased this, I had already read Brunvand's work so I knew it would be fun and interesting. I have to admit this suprised me. Everything was well told and explained. Brunvand didn't only give you the story, but also it's orgins and facts. After I read this, I became an urban legend fan and now I can pick them out when they're told to me in everyday conversations.
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