I thoroughly enjoyed the book The Gothic Life it’s extremely fun to read, it does easily convey the entire lifestyle to be gothic and how to design the smallest of areas, face it, fans of this genre all dream of the Victorian mansion but when that is unavailable then just a room will do. However, for the author his career affords him the pleasure to use his entire apartment as his creepy sanctuary. One aspect I found in the earliest chapters is that influence can come in a multitude of places which might include films, Pinterest, and well simply Halloween does contribute quite the biggest aspect is from yourself, you have the freedom to mix and match and create your own world in a lifestyle that welcomes all, without needing to conform to rules or standards. Author Aurelio Voltaire, who I have personally seen his film work X-Mess Detritus (2008) and he has acted in such horror film as Model Hunger [2016] and Dead West [2016], heard is gothic-punk meets horror-punk music, seen his YouTube creations so an ideal treat to learn more about this vampire and his hidden away Lair.
Photo Credit Epic Ink
An important takeaway that is repeated often in various chapters is to use your personality and imagination to create your home or lair to explore your ghoulish interests and celebrate them year-round with others. Another chapter of interest to me was number 10 – Creepy Christmas, I like many others first celebrate Krampus and then our trees are decorating with a spookfest theme, the ornaments are just one likely think they are skeletons, bats, witches, ghosts, etc. There are often purple or orange lights, and a horror themed village complete with a Halloween train beneath it. Yes, might seem sacrilegious to some it’s highly acceptable especially as The Nightmare Before Christmas plays in the background. It was also very good that the author included some of his friend’s lairs and homely touches to paraphrase the author “this book in one hundred hands might give one different creation creations.”
Perhaps one aspect I found missing the book is regarding of how to decorate the outside or their vehicle as not everyone has a hearse (not saying he does) just a popular wish list item and a misconception from those not included in our world seem to believe we all drive.
Photo Credit Epic Ink
As for the book itself, very fine quality slick pages and beautiful pictures, the print is easy to read, and every photo is clearly labeled at 208 pages it’s a quick read which includes a few recipes which I sadly did not try to recreate yet. There are even a few outdoor summer treats such as Gore Hole which is a variation on cornhole a popular bar-b-que game, except herein Voltaire explains it with laid out instructions to use Halloween props of heart and brains to represent each team and how to fill them with sand and seal them as to supply weight to toss them easier and paint the board with blood spray. Not bad however I played it as Gore Galore we laid a white sheet on the ground and dripped the same items into blood and toss them, yeah sickos… do not care just enjoy the lifestyle you like. ole which is a variation on the cornhole a popular bar-b-que game, except herein Voltaire explains it with laid out instructions to use Halloween props of heart and brains to represent each team and how to fill them with sand and seal them as to supply weight to toss them easier and paint the board with blood spray. Not bad however I played it as Gore Galore we laid a white sheet on the ground and dripped the same items into blood and toss them, yeah sickos… do not care just enjoy the lifestyle you like.
Gore Hole (Cornhole)
I personally took from the book, how my dedication to the Horror Lifestyle might deem unusual to many but I am content with having it every day like a cross between Halloween and a Horror Film set, with dangling limbs, macabre artwork, kooky pieces decorating each room has a choice name for them, for example my home office is ‘the chamber’. Therefore, I found the book as a positive reinforcement for those that do not fit the customary ‘normal world,’ for what we have each chosen is our normal.
Publisher: Epic Ink (August 20, 2024)
Language: English
Hardcover: 208 pages
ISBN-10: 0760388326
ISBN-13: 978-0760388327
Photo Credit Epic Ink
About the Author:
https://www.instagram.com/aureliovoltaire/
https://www.youtube.com/@TheLairofVoltaire/featured
https://aureliovoltaire.bandcamp.com/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0901807/