As I've done with other primary sources, I'm not going to "rate" this work in the traditional way. I don't believe in giving a rating to someone's life experience as they saw fit to tell it. However, I would like to say that I found this work incredibly charming.

I never watched the Science Channel show "Oddities," so here I was greeted by Ryan and Regina for the first time. I am a natural history fan, so the idea of collecting bones, morbid ephemera, and other curiosities doesn't bother me. That being said, I can only aspire and admire these two for pursuing what they clearly enjoy.

It was refreshing to learn of the respect and dignity that Ryan has achieved for his collection. From self-taught tinkering to museum-worthy pieces. But when making a purchase, the reader finds out how slippery the slope can be. Ryan warns that thorough research, data, and photographs are necessary; assuring all laws are obeyed and with respectable sellers. In the Oddities trade, stolen items and fakes are a constant threat. Along the way, the reader will learn about the misconceptions of shrunken heads, the history of "exploded" skulls, cabinets of curiosities, reliquaries, anatomical wax sculptures, and more!

But what the reader also comes to learn about is the true fondness that Ryan and Regina have for each other. It was a quick courtship, but then again you get the impression that these two don't play by traditional rules. How refreshing it is to see two business partners, lovers, and hosts, work with such heart! In the end, it is a memoir of two people, their happiness, their passions, their struggles, and their friendships! It's a beautiful book inside and out, perfect for the witchy readers, collectors, Oddities Flea Market fans, or simply the curious! ( )