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top 200 commentsshow all 267

[–]kitchendancer 289 points290 points ago

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Source: The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey

An appalling alphabet which introduces a gallery of enchanting tots and produces a gasp of involuntary mirth when they attain their dreadful demise.

[–]Maj_LeeAwesome 48 points49 points ago

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My first exposure to Gorey was the opening animation to Mystery on PBS. Loved that shit.

[–]drgk 12 points13 points ago

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I used to watch that show just for the intro.

[–]CravingSunshine 2 points3 points ago

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PBS had a game for mystery on their website for a while. It was pretty good. It was all drawn by Gorey.

[–]moarroidsplz 12 points13 points ago

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I loved Gorey's illustrations for one of my favorite kid's books, The Lamp from the Warlock's Tomb. And I will never forget my mom watching Mystery! on A&E, and seeing Gorey's illustrations as the theme. :)

[–]candygram4mongo 10 points11 points ago

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Upvoted for John Bellairs. I still have a bunch of his books somewhere, and sometimes think of giving them a read, but I'm afraid they won't live up to my memories of them.

[–]machinefist 2 points3 points ago

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Please do; they're absolutely amazing at any age. And if you haven't you should definitely give the one non-children's book he wrote a shot: The Face in the Frost. I probably read it twice a year... it's a really quick read and all sorts of fun.

[–]land_shark 1 point2 points ago

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A friend and I got into those in grade school in the mid 80's, we convinced our teacher to do an entire unit on his books. Time to go find my collection!

[–]rottenart 1 point2 points ago

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Oh my god, yes. I still enjoy reading his books. I haven't checked out any of the ones written by his assistants since his death, though... Johnny Dixon mysteries were my faves, just because the professor was such a cranky asshole...

[–]slickerypete 2 points3 points ago

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I have to thank you so much. I have been trying to remember this author but I had nowhere to start from. I had a period where I was obsessed with John Bellairs books and always wanted to re-read them but I completely forgot who wrote them or even what happened in them, I just remember loving them. A well-deserved upvote for you.

[–]pinaygirl 34 points35 points ago

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It's my 5 yo's favorite book. Ever. He finds Bear Grylls eating a maggot most interesting too.

[–]xkranda 6 points7 points ago

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my 7 and 4 year old children both love Edward Gorey. They have Amphigorey and Amphigorey 2, and request that we read them often.

[–]zip_000 15 points16 points ago

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My 3 year old likes it too. We've been reading it to him fairly regularly all his life, but he's just now starting to get what's going on. I always turn the page on Kate done in with an ax before he sees it though - it's a bit more grisly.

[–]chuck_bass 19 points20 points ago

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He's going to spend an awfully long time wondering what that weird forked number is.

[–]MaeveningErnsmau 7 points8 points ago

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Very much enjoyed this as a child. I remember being 7 or so and turning to my dictionary to look up "ennui".

[–]thisissewious 8 points9 points ago

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This has been my favorite book since I was 5.

[–]danceswithscissors 5 points6 points ago

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This is also available as a poster.

[–]pwbdecker 4 points5 points ago*

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My mom got me some of these books in high school. Loved them. T is for Titus who flew into bits.

[–]roastbeefcharlie 1 point2 points ago

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He's got a whole bunch on youtube here. This one is The Epipleptic Bicycle, another good one.

[–]IKilledLauraPalmer 1 point2 points ago

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It really makes a good gift, especially for new parents. Link

[–]wintersolstice 1 point2 points ago

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One of my favorites of all time!

[–]essextwo 0 points1 point ago

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Thank you sir. I look forward to discovering more. I laughed my ass off at this post.

[–]eshemuta 0 points1 point ago

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I thought it looked like Gorey's work.

[–]philonius 0 points1 point ago

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I spent many happy hours in the local library when I was 11 and 12, reading Amphigorey and Amphigorey Too over and over.

[–]brash 0 points1 point ago

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I had this as a kid as part of Amphigorey, very macabre but fascinating book for a child

[–]Wallwillis 0 points1 point ago

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I bought this for my niece when she was born. My sister didn't think it was appropriate so she gave it back and now I'm going to save it for when I have a kid.

[–]fightingpolyglotteam 0 points1 point ago

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There's also "The Utter Zoo Alphabet" by Gorey, which features weird-ass animals. I definitely thought some of them were real when I was a kid.

[–]Rabbito_17 0 points1 point ago

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Lots of mirth

[–]pgup9 0 points1 point ago

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The music on the website is nothing short of "am I going to die"?

[–]captainhotpants 0 points1 point ago

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And here I was about to correct you. I always thought it was "Ghastlycrumb." We've had this book in our house for like 15 years.

[–]thewallbanger 0 points1 point ago

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Thanks! Just bought a hardcover for my 3-year old daughter!

[–]fishrobe 0 points1 point ago

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a friend of mine had that book when we were little kids. maybe we were fucked up, but we loved it.

[–]craywolf 102 points103 points ago

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My favorite is "N is for Neville who died of ennui."

1) Literally bored to death 2) The word "ennui" isn't used often enough

[–]akunin 73 points74 points ago

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For people like me:

"ennui" is pronounced "on-wee"

[–]Epimeric 31 points32 points ago

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Wow, I'm glad I've never tried to use ennui in a spoken sentence.

[–]slaizer 67 points68 points ago

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Yeah, but have ever tried to use it.. ennuid?

[–]mediapathic 27 points28 points ago

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"Being oxyboric isn't normal. But ennuid it is."

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points ago

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Next up in r/trees:

"Have you ever read a ghastly children's book, ennuid?

[–]pifantastic 2 points3 points ago

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You, sir, are brilliant.

[–]litchick 4 points5 points ago

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Thank you. I mispronounced it in my upper-level English course. Most embarrassing moment of my life.

[–]acog 6 points7 points ago

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If that was the most embarrassed you've ever been in your entire life, you're doing quite well!

[–]guysmiley00 21 points22 points ago

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"Ennui" is a bit stronger than "bored", as far as I understand modern usage. "Ennui" seems to imply an existential angst - so, not just boredom now, but a realization that nothing in the world as presently constituted can relieve that boredom. Ennui, in my mind, is the realization that you are bored with life itself.

Of course, I could be entirely wrong.

[–]greginnj 14 points15 points ago

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"Existential", yes -- but "angst", no. "Angst" implies anxiety, unfocused energy, purposeless movement. "Ennui" has the connotation of despairing lassitude. Ennui doesn't cause you to run around in circles -- it causes you to stay in bed all day.

[–]craywolf 1 point2 points ago

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"Bored to death" is a simplification, yes. But I think to literally die of boredom, you'd have to reach a state of ennui.

[–]accharbs 6 points7 points ago

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It is if you're french.

[–]ookle 2 points3 points ago

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I learned this word about a month ago, and since then have heard it used in casual conversation 30-40 times. Literally do not remember hearing it before then. I have dreams about it now.

[–]reddicule 2 points3 points ago

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ennui .. meh.

[–]IHaveALargePenis 54 points55 points ago

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That shit's too fast, I can't enjoy the pictures.

[–]magare808 36 points37 points ago

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[–]anchorless 4 points5 points ago

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Thank you!

[–]moustache_man 8 points9 points ago

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All frames in a grid: http://editgif.com/4761/explode

[–]jingowatt 5 points6 points ago

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i guess we know where all the blood is going

[–]jkdubb 1 point2 points ago

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Pro tip. If you click and drag the image a bit some browsers pause the gif.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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It's all right to read quickly, but this sort of thing requires time to appreciate the atmosphere. You need to read this aloud, slowly, in your best Vincent Price, relishing every syllable, drawing out the agony.

H. Is for Hectorrrrr. [pause for suspense] Done in... by a thug.

[–]KryptKat 13 points14 points ago

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And for a song based on the same idea...

Creature Feature - A Gorey Demise

[–]JibberJab 5 points6 points ago

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Came in to submit the same song. Its nearly the same as the original Gorey story with the names and deaths flipped around here and there. (Instead of tacks he swallowed glass)

[–]CravingSunshine 5 points6 points ago

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I absolutely love creature feature.

[–]stukz 1 point2 points ago

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Wish they would make another album :c Are they even together?

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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I think so? Their website is still selling merch and has some regular updates.

[–]spacecowgirl 8 points9 points ago

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I remember this! I had a poster of this alphabet when I was in university. When my little sister slept over, she was fixated by it and would constantly point at the "Kate- struck by an axe" panel. She was absolutely obsessed with it. I should ask her if I've scarred her for life by having that poster up.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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I need this poster for my overly morose friend, know where I could find it?

[–]lafayette0508 3 points4 points ago

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[–]FlickyG 5 points6 points ago

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For people surprised by the tone of Gashlycrumb Tinies, I challenge you to read Gorey's masterwork, The Curious Sofa.

[–]poetryinthewater 7 points8 points ago

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Nope, just Edward Gorey.

[–]j8ball007 6 points7 points ago

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I'm a fan of this book by Edward Gorey: The Epipleptic Bicycle

[–]knowpunintended 7 points8 points ago

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Kids love the morbid and the grotesque. That thing where adults have to hide death and disaster from children? Yeah, that's mostly for the adults. We're the ones who comprehend death enough to fear it. We're the ones who would prefer to not have to think about it.

For every kid who's traumatized by a death in a story there are ten who are thrilled to see it happen.

[–]LordPineapple 8 points9 points ago

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[–]qrtr_inch_seam 6 points7 points ago

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Sad that a billiant author/artist like Edward Gorey is labeled as WTF. Glad that everyone else isn't as out of touch.

[–]MOS95B 5 points6 points ago

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[–]yurigoul 3 points4 points ago

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Thnx for the link, but purple text on a grey-black-white textured background? seriously?

[–]deepbrown 8 points9 points ago

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'F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech' >_<

[–]little-bird 1 point2 points ago

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Truly a cautionary tale.

This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. To this day, I'm careful when walking over drains.

[–]Rain12913 4 points5 points ago

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My sixth grade English teacher had a poster showing all of these up in his classroom. He sure did love us kids!

[–]terminal157 5 points6 points ago

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I love Gorey. He's become quite influential, you see his style (hard to see in these gifs) all over the place.

[–]timoleon 5 points6 points ago

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Because of the settings and style of Gorey's work, many people have assumed he was British; in fact, he only left the U.S. once, for a visit to the Scottish Hebrides.

My first thought as well.

[–]DubiumGuy 4 points5 points ago

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F is for Fanny sucked dry by a leech?

Being British, that made me audibly snigger...

[–]jlpoole 3 points4 points ago

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Gorey is expanding upon the infamous children's book "Cautionary Tales for Children" by Belloc, first published in 1907, which has moral type stories such as "Jim - Who ran away from his Nurse, and was eaten by a Lion."

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Hilaire Belloc's classic work was itself a loving parody of Heinrich Hoffman's marvellous Struwwelpeter, a lavishly illustrated compendium of miserable children meeting assorted horrifying fates. The best known are probably Augustus, who would not have any soup and so of course he starved to death, and then little Suck-a-Thumb, who... well, let's say he stopped sucking his thumbs and leave it at that.

[–]Kittehhh 3 points4 points ago

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Edward Gorey is brilliant.

[–]kirbs2001 4 points5 points ago

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Gorey. Know it. Love it.

[–]sbon 3 points4 points ago

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YOU DON'T KNOW WHO EDWARD GOREYY IS?!!!?!?!?!

[–]fross 21 points22 points ago

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This was from back in the day before many western countries thought the best way to raise kids is stick them in a protective bubble where they can't hurt themselves, do anything, see anything, and to censor the world around them so it's all cotton candy, baby bunnies and unicorns.

Kids are people, too. They like dark humour. They want to understand the world. More importantly, they need to understand themselves - they need to know about dangerous things, sadness, sex, love, death and everything. If you keep these things hidden from someone until they're 18 then just pile it on all at once, they will be no better prepared, probably just worse.

The job of a parent is to introduce the child to the world (and vice versa), teach them everything, particularly the awkward stuff. Not stick them in a box until they're old enough to vote.

[–]AKADriver 13 points14 points ago

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This was published in 1963, long after such saccharine classics as Pat The Bunny (which is also a fantastic book). It wasn't really intended for children.

[–]fross 5 points6 points ago

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I'm sure you're familiar with the Brothers Grimm fairytales, which often had dark edges, these were 18th century.

[–]noisesmith 4 points5 points ago

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dark edges? hell some of those stories are like 4chan with all the gore and baby raping going on

[–]Magnesus 2 points3 points ago

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Brothers Grimm fairytales weren't intended for children either.

[–]fross 1 point2 points ago

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Wikipedia disagrees, saying they were always published as "Children's Tales", although they did experience some rework among the different editions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimm%27s_Fairy_Tales

[–]benw24 4 points5 points ago

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So, you see a classic work of gothic genius and your reaction is to squeal "WTF?" like a dickhead. Fuck you.

[–]DarthOtter 2 points3 points ago

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Hell yes. Not all children's books have to be fuzzy happy.

[–]thebuccaneersden 2 points3 points ago

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Edward Gorey. A very well known writer and illustrator.

[–]equimanthorn 2 points3 points ago

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EDWARD GODDAMN GOREY

[–]TexasWithADollarsign 2 points3 points ago

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Uncle Ricky, could u read us a bed time story please, oh please? Alright you kids get to bed i'll get the story book. y'all tucked in? Yeah! Here we go...

Once upon a time not long ago, When people wore pajamas and lived life slow, When laws were stern and justice stood, And people were behavin' like they ought ta good, There lived a lil' boy who was misled, By anotha lil' boy and this is what he said: "Me & You, Ty, we gonna make sum cash, Robbin' old folks and makin' da dash", They did the job, money came with ease, But one couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease, He robbed another and another and a sista and her brotha, Tried to rob a man who was a D.T. undercover, The cop grabbed his arm, he started acting erratic, He said "Keep still, boy, no need for static", Punched him in his belly and he gave him a slap, But little did he know the lil' boy was strapped, The kid pulled out a gun, he said "Why'd ya hit me?", The barrel was set straight for the cop's kidney, The cop got scared, the kid, he starts to figure, "I'll do years if I pull this trigga", So he cold dashed and ran around the block, Cop radios it to another lady cop, He ran by a tree, there he saw this sista, A shot for the head, he shot back but he missed her, Looked around good and from expectations, So he decided he'd hit for the subway stations, But she was coming and he made a left, He was runnin' top speed till he was outta breath, Knocked an old man down and swore he killed him, (Sorry!) Then he made his move to an abandoned building, Ran up the stairs up to the top floor, Opened up the door there, guess who he saw? Dave the dope fiend shootin' dope, Who don't know the meaning of water nor soap, He said "I need bullets, hurry up, run!", The dope fiend brought back a spanking shotgun, He went outside but there was cops all over, Then he dipped into a car, a stolen Nova, Raced up the block doing 83, Crashed into a tree near university, Escaped alive though the car was battered, Rat-a-tat-tatted and all the cops scattered, Ran out of bullets and still had static, Grabbed a pregnant lady and pulled out the automatic, Pointed at her head and he said the gun was full o' lead, He told the cops "Back off or honey here's dead!", Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong, So he let the lady go and he starts to run on, Sirens sounded, he seemed astounded, Before long the lil' boy got surrounded, He dropped the gun, so went the glory, And this is the way I have to end this story, He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream, The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream, This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh, Just another case about the wrong path, Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets CAST. Good Night!

[–]DonaldGripper 2 points3 points ago

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Edward Gorey is amazing.

[–]Pruneyy 2 points3 points ago

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CHILDREN'S STORY GIF

Y U NO SLOW DOWN?

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points ago

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your never to young to understand your own mortality

[–]mindkiller317 12 points13 points ago

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you're never too young for a Vietnam flashback.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

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WHAT HAPPENED? VIET-FUCKING-NAM HAPPENED!

[–]mynameisdave 1 point2 points ago

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I don't know, man. I wasn't there.

[–]laviede_la 8 points9 points ago

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I <3 this.

[–]discsid 3 points4 points ago

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Edward Gorey. Get to know him.

[–]Theophagist 8 points9 points ago

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Are you shitting me, this is new to you?

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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Why would you find that surprising, you grow up in the Adam's family?

[–]noisesmith 2 points3 points ago

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Edward Gorey is a very successful illustrator and writer of children's books. You don't actually have to look very hard to find his stuff.

[–]brooklynpolarbear 1 point2 points ago

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Better to be prepared. At least they know.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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LOVE it, think I bought it for my first... I remember reading it to a kid before. You should see the glares he he he he.

[–]americanboners 1 point2 points ago

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I actually really enjoy his stories. The Gilded Bat is super neat.

[–]VanillaMint 1 point2 points ago

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I love Edward Gorey. My children will absolutely be brought up on his stuff.

[–]eldog 1 point2 points ago

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This book taught me the word ennui, I was 7.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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My 7 and 5 y/o nieces adore this book.

[–]ThanklessTask 1 point2 points ago

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Any Brits on here grow up watching the farm safety videos? They were reasonably regularly shown on TV and basically showed a group of kids being done over in various ways on the farm - poison, run over, etc...

[–]groberts1980 1 point2 points ago

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Too fast, Vasili......

[–]inaneInTheMembrane 1 point2 points ago

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TIL you can die from "fits"...

[–]physicscat 1 point2 points ago

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I love the Gashleycrumb Tinies. Actually if you read a lot of the original fairy tales...they're very dark. Disney cleaned them all up.

[–]JavaLSU 1 point2 points ago

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Try reading some Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales. Those are some the most morbid depressing things you'll ever read.

[–]GragGunslinger 1 point2 points ago

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Edward Gorey is a brilliant artist, however I'm not sure if it's considered "Childish Stories"

[–]willemhelmet 1 point2 points ago

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I have that book. It was read to me when I was 9 years old. Ho damn it messed me up.

[–]soviyet 1 point2 points ago

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Edward Gorey, and it's not for children, no.

[–]ShogunBANG 1 point2 points ago

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Is it wrong that this is what first came into my head?

Holy shit, Degrassi:TNG came out in 2001, Fuck I'm old q_q

[–]KILLERB00TSMAN 1 point2 points ago

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Reminds me of Limbo

[–]selfabortion 1 point2 points ago

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It's Edward Gorey yo! Wtf is with the "Wtf?" in the headline?

[–]Oryx 1 point2 points ago

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Apparently it's for speed-reading children.

[–]reeksofhavoc 1 point2 points ago

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What have you got against Edward Gorey?

[–]tastethepain 1 point2 points ago

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"N is for Neville who died of ennui.” All of the Gorey compilations are pretty awesome. The Doubtful Guest, The Hapless Child, The Gilded Bat, The Deranged Cousins. Great wordplay and beautiful pen and ink work: Amphigorey, Amphigorey Too, and Amphigorey Also.

[–]Eugenides 4 points5 points ago

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It's a joke, not a wtf.

[–]ilion 2 points3 points ago

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NO MAN IT'S BASED ON FACT!

[–]spookybeth 2 points3 points ago

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I have an Edward Gorey tattoo.

[–]Pylonius 0 points1 point ago

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My brother got that for his kids.

[–]geordiegill 0 points1 point ago

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Doncha just love a happy ending?.

[–]golden_boy 0 points1 point ago

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seems like a damn good children's story to me

[–]strawcat 0 points1 point ago

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Thanks to my older brother who gifted it to me, I grew up with a poster of this on my wall as a youngster.

[–]coldape 0 points1 point ago

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Story read, NOW GO TO SLEEP

[–]isthebest 0 points1 point ago

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Anyone else read that rapping. No? Okay.

[–]pinkwaffles 0 points1 point ago

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Q is for duck because ducks go, "Quack!"

[–]hooplah 0 points1 point ago

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I have never been terrified of suffocating beneath a giant rug until now.

[–]misterhand02 0 points1 point ago

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How else are you supposed to teach kids not to eat lye? I mean, I can tell them over and over that it's only for when we bury the bodies, but they'll still go down in the basement and want to have a taste.

[–]drgk 0 points1 point ago

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I grew up with this book.

[–]CravingSunshine 0 points1 point ago

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I used to love this as a kid.

[–]accharbs 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah those kids and their gin. Gotta watch out for those.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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[–]jumblebutt 0 points1 point ago

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I learned the word "ennui" from this book!

[–]schist4granite 0 points1 point ago

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Looks awesome but the gif was way to fast for me to really appreciate teh writing and pictures.

[–]JJB-125 0 points1 point ago

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no sleep for me tonight...

[–]FutureSound 0 points1 point ago

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My kids love that book!!

[–]Aarmed 0 points1 point ago

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T is for "too fast"

[–]cryptogram 0 points1 point ago

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Is it wrong I am a bit disappointed that no one has written out the entire thing in the comments here? Do I expect too much? I am a horrible person.

[–]raindove89 0 points1 point ago

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TIL the alphabet.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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How many of these deaths are possible in Dwarf Fortress? That game was the first thing I thought of when I saw "struck down by an axe" and "encased in ice".

[–]Bioluminescence 0 points1 point ago

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I think people forget that some young children love some grisly comeuppances - which is why they love Edward Gorey, some of the old fairy tales, and the stories of Roald Dahl. (Augustus Gloop, the greedy kid, falls into a chocolate river and is turned into fudge!)

Typically, they involve a little moral kick - where someone who did something bad, or stupid, gets gruesome justice inflicted upon them. Most of the pages in the book linked (The Gashlycrumb Tinines, according to kitchendancer) are warnings about what not to do. Don't fall down the stairs like Amy, watch out for bears, or you'll be assaulted like Basil, etc.

This is no more grisly than a parent shooing a child away from an open flame - saying "Careful! Or you'll burn yourself!, or "If you run around in here like that you'll fall and hurt yourself." They just have pictures to help :)

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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story is fine

[–]virus5877 0 points1 point ago

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I've had a poster of the Gashlycrumb Tinies framed above my bed for 20 years :)

[–]2pacsofgum 0 points1 point ago

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i was waiting for something shocking to happen on z.

[–]ohnoes_ibrokedit 0 points1 point ago

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This is awesome, I've had this since I was a kid, handed to me from my mother, who had it when she was young. Actually just got the child for the letter 'T' tattooed on my arm, the letter my name starts with.

T is for Titus, who flew into bits.

[–]Buddhafish 0 points1 point ago

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I smell a Tim Burton movie.

[–]MyRealNameIsTwitch 0 points1 point ago

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haha, my college roommate's favorite book. He has it memorized and reads it in a very dramatic tone (he acts, and is one of the most unique individuals i know). fucking hilarious.

[–]ProbablyNotAGoodSign 0 points1 point ago

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This would make an awesome lullaby.

[–]joedonut 0 points1 point ago

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Oh, nice!

The Fatal Lozenge is also quite good.

[–]Mudokon 0 points1 point ago

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Got to visit Edward Gorey's home one summer, his house is located on Cape Cod, MA and has tours and gift shop.

[–]AustinTreeLover 0 points1 point ago

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My best friend has Edward Gorey tattoos.

[–]headless_bourgeoisie 0 points1 point ago

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That is fucking metal. I should write a concept album about it.

[–]dcampbez 0 points1 point ago

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I have a signed poster of this in my living room. Awesome stuff.

[–]salixman 0 points1 point ago

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I think I have a book by the same author, and have had it since I was a little kid. It had different stories in which little children did something marginally naughty and were, say, eaten by a lion. I remember that one distinctly because only his head was left. I always thought they were hilarious, and assumed that they were a mockery of the old fairy tales which were used to scare children into behaving with horrible fates.

[–]stevetroyer 0 points1 point ago

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I love Edward Gorey. I also loved the John Bellairs books when I was a kid, especially the Edward Gorey pictures in them.

[–]Golden-Death 0 points1 point ago

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They'res a co-op near the UC Berkeley campus that has all of these painted as a mural around their communal kitchen. I thought they had made it, funny to see it here

[–]surfnaked 0 points1 point ago

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Well hell, would you consider Grimms fairy tales, children's stories? Or how about "London bridge is falling down" about the plague? Children's stories have always been a bit gruesome.

[–]Chaotix 0 points1 point ago

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Whats weird is my GF's first AND last name were in there. oooooo

[–]captainhotpants 0 points1 point ago

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obligatory pic of my kid as The Doubtful Guest for Halloween.

http://i.imgur.com/SCFZp.png

Her idea, not ours. She just really liked the story, so we put it together for her.

(This year she wants to be No-Face from Sprited Away)

[–]MannieDex 0 points1 point ago

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Oh, Edward Gorey; I love you so.

[–]ktask2 0 points1 point ago

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Edward Gorey is a macabre genius. Cautionary tales in a way, but more or less just morbid fun

[–]resuni 0 points1 point ago

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I lol'd at the one with bears.

[–]fictionalsleep 0 points1 point ago

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I loved stuff like this when I was a kid. It's not like I identified; my parents were great and I was spoiled rotten.

We don't give children enough credit for their ability to handle and appreciate bizarre shit.

[–]TheDoubtfulGuest 0 points1 point ago

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I have a tattoo of The Doubtful Guest on my forearm. Fucking love Edward Gorey.

[–]shitterplug 0 points1 point ago

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I had this book when I was younger. My uncle bought it for me in New York... probably one of my favorites.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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My seventh grade English teacher showed us this book. I think my favourite thing about it is the totally isolated world each child inhabits in Gorey's illustrations. Like the girl struck by an axe - it's an empty forest, and only her footprints in the snow. How was she hit by a random axe? Also something really tickles me about the kid who choked on a peach, and how he's dining alone at an enormous, foreboding table.

It's just a masterpiece of illustration.

[–]streetlite 0 points1 point ago

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Beautiful Gorey, the masterful creep.

[–]LiraNuna 0 points1 point ago

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I actually got a poster of that thing hung up in my basement.

[–]stevesonaplane 0 points1 point ago

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This was one of my favorite stories as a child. I loved Edward Gorey.

[–]AntiJournalist 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah, there was a time in our history when parents weren't pussies and neither were their children.

[–]TheTChild 0 points1 point ago

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Also a good song by Slick Rick

[–]kibble 0 points1 point ago

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I have loved that book ever since my parents gave it to me when I was 5.

[–]honeybadgerrrr 0 points1 point ago

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I have swallowed tacks before, still kickin.

[–]DrDuncanVonBurndubs 0 points1 point ago

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Olive was always my favorite. Impaled by a giant awl.

[–]squeezin 0 points1 point ago

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Cool repost.

[–]TotalMonkeyfication 0 points1 point ago

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That is awesome!

[–]henergizer 0 points1 point ago

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Works really well if you read it in time with "This is Halloween".

[–]imkirok 0 points1 point ago

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I don't mind the sun sometimes, the images it shows.

I can taste you on my lips and smell you in my clothes.

Cinnamon and sugary and softly spoken lies.

You never know just how you look through other people's eyes.

[–]oscar333 0 points1 point ago

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anybody else have a fast connection become a speedreader to get through this one?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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2412 people are fucking retarded.

[–]CaptainMadDog-Flint 0 points1 point ago

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[–]xombey 0 points1 point ago

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I still have that book

[–]ckuhzzoolahan 0 points1 point ago

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Devoured by mice?!

[–]Cozen 0 points1 point ago

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I had just uploaded this on tumblr yesterday. Hmmm. haha.

[–]Cozen 0 points1 point ago

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I had just uploaded this on tumblr yesterday. Hmmm. haha.

[–]LOFTIE 0 points1 point ago

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Did anybody else see their own name and take it personally?

[–]Pizzaman99 0 points1 point ago

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[–]Xprss 0 points1 point ago

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Because she's a woman.

[–]Vheissu_ 0 points1 point ago

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F is for fanny sucked dry by a leech.

[–]Jwinston3 0 points1 point ago

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"Ten Little Indians", anyone? (Agatha Christie)

[–]Dmoneater 0 points1 point ago

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Gory FTW

[–]chocobaby 0 points1 point ago

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Greatest book ever!

[–]saddat 0 points1 point ago

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Jonathan Davis, make a song out of it.