Ripley

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a fascinating collection of strange, bizarre, and extraordinary facts from around the world. With its quirky illustrations and unbelievable stories, it’s an entertaining and eye-opening read that sparks curiosity and amazement in readers of all ages.

The Ripley's Annuals have been a staple in our house for many, many years. When my son was young, it was hard to get him to read. But we found he enjoyed the weird and wonderful, so every Christmas he would receive the latest Ripley's Annual.

Well, he's in his late twenties now.....and he still hasn't lost his love of the strange but true tales you find in Ripley's. The latest entry, Unlock the Weird is newly released. And he will still be reading it cover to cover. But here's the thing - show more it's not just him that enjoys reading it. I've left it out on the coffee table before and everyone who stops by can't help but pick it up. It is addictive - and fascinating to read of the odd, the strange and the downright bizarre. Current day and historical. I dare you to read just one entry! (I can't!)

The cover is 3-D and those eyeballs are a little freaky. Okay, delving in.....

The story of the same greeting card, mailed back and forth between friends for almost 65 years.
The researcher who donned prosthetics and lived like a goat to study the animals.
It is common for Chinese schools to practice fire alarms - using real fire.
How about the guy who tried to smuggle 146 iPhones across a border.
And the man who had his ears removed and his face and eyes tattooed to look like his pet parrots.
Or the man who spent $75000 on plastic surgery to look like Madonna.

Oh my gosh....there's so much more drawing from categories such as: Believe It, World, Animals, Body, Pop Culture, Transport, Feats, Art, Food and Beyond Belief. Be forewarned - there are some gross pictures (in full colour)

Unlock the Weird is another great entry in this series. And the bottom line? Truth is truly stranger than fiction! show less

Handy collection of tales from Gold Key's long-running Ripley's title, a few of them authored by the prolific Leo Dorfman (who also created DC's "true" horror title Ghosts). The art varies in quality, with Gold Key regulars like Frank Bolle representing the lower end of the spectrum and DC ace Luis Dominguez at the top. (Dominguez penciled and inked "The Dancing Strangler," about a British soldier lured into the ruins of an Indian palace by a bewitching beauty who is not what she seems. It's show more the spookiest story of the bunch.) Several stories were illustrated by Jack Sparling, who also split his time between Gold Key and DC and whose work had a jagged, off-kilter quality perfectly suited to the subject matter. ("The Fiendish Spectre," about a ghost that can inflict physical harm, is a particularly good example of Sparling's style.)

Remember, delicate reader: these horrifying tales of the supernatural were based on actual events! Okay, probably not. They aren't especially horrifying, either, but still a lot of fun to read during the Halloween season. show less

The Ripley's books have been a staple in our house for many, many years. My son discovered them as a youngster and he always received the newest book for Christmas. Twenty plus years later, he still enjoys them. And I have to admit, so does everyone else who visits. The latest is Ripley's Believe It or Not! Shatter Your Senses. Its out on the coffee table in the t.v. room and almost everyone picks it up to leaf through.

This 2017 edition brings 1,500 new - and yes, they're all true - stories show more to readers. You can browse by section - Believe It, World, Beyond Belief, Animals, Pop Culture and People or you can browse like me. I just start flipping pages, stopping when something catches my eye. The five senses are targeted in this new entry. Short snippets give you a quick glance into something 'unbelievable', but the pictures will have you pausing to look and wonder at the 'unbelievable." The photos are in full color.

What caught my eye? You've heard of yarn bombing - what about an entire house covered? Air pollution in China is horrific. But citizens can buy a bag of fresh mountain air for a nominal fee. Heading to the beach in China? Make sure to wear your face-kini to protect your skin. I'll pass on visiting Sweetwater, Texas and their rattlesnake festival. *shivers* Or the Poison Garden in England. The most expensive cheese in the world? Made from donkeys in the Balkans. I got lost in popular culture - there are many, many unusual oddities. Dual sided cowboy boots. Celebrity portraits made from shredded currency. Could you fit 138 pencils in your mouth? And that's just a few entries! The cover is eye- catching (and 3D), as are the stories between the covers. Fair warning - some of the stories are definitely not meant for younger children. show less