The Witch's Door

A phenomenal book! Full of interesting photographs of antiques and oddities, as well as the histories of those items and personal anecdotes.

The cover immediately reminded me of Dr. Mutter's Marvels. I think it will be a perfect addition to my collection, because I absolutely love books like this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this unique book!
A wonderful exploration of the world of Oddities and the story that aligns with each one. Each chapter of the book is filled with gripping stories of the lore and world of Oddities.
This story drips with passion and hard work for the love of creating and replicating Oddities. This book should be sold at the Oddities Expos around the world! It literally starts from the bottom, and only goes up from there! I especially liked hearing about the Proposal in the Catacombs (lol). Ryan explains the history and cultural significance behind prominent pieces as well as processing and care for the craft of collecting, preparing, and creating art that can come from all kinds of oddities. This book debunks myths about oddities as well as how to spot fakes, in some cases.
“You never know what you’ll find—even in your own collection”

This is another book review from Lark! Woof! This one gets 5 tail wags from this pupper! This was a wonderful book full of oddities as the title states. This was very interesting to read and I enjoyed it so much I didn't even ask for my treat last night!!

I have been obsessed with oddities and the macabre for the last +/- 15 years but it really took off 10ish years ago when I first found Ryan Cohn on Oddities. I thought his work with skulls was fascinating but as life happens, hobbies come second to work and bills.

During COVID, I was reminded how much I loved all things weird. I was always hunting FB for things, when flea market’s picked up I would search… all because of a little bug in my brain planted by Cohn.

I loved this book. It was so informative but easily digestible. I’m so glad I got to read from Regina’s perspective as well. Super cool book.

If you like the weird and unusual, then you have to read this book. This book will come out during spooky season and let me tell you, I'm totally rereading it then.

Fans of Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities will love this odd tale as the proprietors of a small business explore their unique and often gruesome finds with us. Learn the stories behind the. items, who they belonged to, and what led up to their being with us now.

This is one of THOSE books. You know, one that you have to share with everyone you know because there is so much to keep you engrossed during the binge read it turned into. There is so many stories and histories of those odd and one off "things" that each story will try to out do the next. Literally there is no one who will not find something in this book to say....WOW!

A book of oddities focused primarily on death in both narrative and visual form.

The authors, two interesting people, tell of their adventures in buying, selling and marketing oddities. Ryan was on a TV show about them that I hadn’t heard of and Regina is his wife. They delight in being “spooky” people but also get down and dirty about the business, which is fascinating.

Thank you netgalley
This book is perfect for collectors.

Enter the small oddities shop, and you’re sure to find something interesting, regardless of personal belief in the paranormal. This book is full of interesting stories and images for any lover of the strange and unusual. (Yes beetle juice reference)
Readers should be aware, if looking at remains of human or animal aren’t your thing, this book will not be for you. While I don’t think there were any depictions of cruelty on the shop owners parts, some might find many of the origin stories here disturbing. It’s not a book for everyone.

That being said, I loved this.

Great for fans of macabre/unusual history and who want to learn more about the antiques business. Appreciated the mix of stories and photography.

Part memoir and part a history of gothic collections, RyanCohn and his wife Regina regale us with tales of the offbeat items they buy and sell as well as the collectors they came to know as a result. A totally engrossing read, I learned about the art of collecting while being wholly entertained by their adventures.

A thoroughly enjoyable book! This is a must read for collectors of the unusual and fans of ODDITIES TV show. I hope the Cohns create more books.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

This is a must have for any spooky aficionados out there! I love all things macabre and the history behind it.

I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy upon release.

I wasn't expecting this to be as much memoir as it was, but that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Along with learning about the bizarre oddities and ephemera that they have witnessed and collected we get some very fun, moving, and creepy stories about the people who make up their community of collectors. There are a few genuinely creepy stories in this book but the majority of the stories are lovely tales about how interacting with the morbid and odd items they work with can unlock an even deeper understanding of humanity.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book! I am leaving an honest review.

I am fascinated by the obscure and the odd, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book. There was a lot to like here: the conversational tone, the stories that accompany the many strange and wonderful objects in their collection, the included images of some of the objects and their curiosities, like the carvings in the witch’s door. I enjoyed learning more about these objects and more about the authors through the included stories. I also appreciated the bookends created with the discussion of the door, which made this book feel cohesive despite the varied artifacts and content throughout. Their honesty when it came to hauntings and the supernatural was refreshing. If you are interested in the macabre, the strange, and its history, this is a great read!

I enjoyed this! I love learning about oddities. It was full of wonderful unique stories. If you’re interested in the strange, macabre and history then this read is for you!

This book is so fascinating. I liked all the pictures of oddities and the history of some of the pieces in Ryan and Regina's collection. I also enjoyed the details about other collectors with whom they have done business. This story also makes you think about what your ultimate goal should be for your collection.

A wondrous collection of stories from the macabre for those interested in oddities and fascinating history. Many thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books | Chronicle Prism for access to the digital ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed these first hand accounts of Ryan and Regina. A physical manifestation of an oddities expo fit for any person who finds themselves to be within the esoteric. As someone whose a long time follower of persons like Zak Bagans and his rendition of a collection of oddities within his Haunted Museum; or Greg and Dana Newkirks mobile museum of the unexplained, I found this title to be an exceptional addition to the realm. Perfect for anyone who identifies with these interests, this title will be a positive addition to their collection! Clear your mind, grab a coffee and sit down for a personal discussion of the Cohn's collection. Totally recommend! Great photos, unlike anything I have on my shelf. I can even see this title gaining praise from my favorite podcast narrators on Morbid a True Crime podcast it is just that interesting, matches up well with their mini series regarding listener tales.

The Witch's Door, by Ryan Matthew Cohn, Regina M. Rossi is absolutely fascinating. I learned about things I have never even thought of before. I felt like I've been invited into a secret world, and I want to know more. This is the perfect book for fans of "Oddities" and beyond.

I've been following both Ryan and Regina for many years and have a small collection of oddities myself, so this book was naturally a must-read for me.

*The Witch's Door* feels like an intimate tour through their histories and home. Learning the stories behind the faces that have graced my social media feeds for so long was an enlightening and exciting experience. While I was already familiar with many of the works featured, discovering the tales of their creation and acquisition only deepened my respect and admiration for this unique power couple.

The photographs in the book are stunning and contribute perfectly to its immersive feel. But of course, I expected nothing less from such proven masters of aesthetics.

Overall, this was an easy 10/10 for me, and I'm so grateful that this book exists.

Thanks to NetGalley & Chronicle Books for blessing me with the ARC!

This was a fun book. I had heard of the author before. It was a fun peak into the world of the oddities market (which I've always wanted to go to) and the person behind it.

⭐️3.5⭐️

Regina and Ryan are fascinating people in a fascinating line of work, and this book was truly interesting to read.

Growing up, my grandparents were collectors. I remember being dragged along to antique stores and sitting in auctions throughout most of my childhood, so this gave an insider look into some of my childhood memories.

Fluctuating between memoir and nonfiction recounting of different objects works pretty well throughout the book, but at times it did feel a bit disjointed.

Overall an enjoyable read, and I had fun recognizing a few of the people throughout the book who I had no idea were a part of the world of collecting!

This book is fascinating! The writing is light and casual; it feels like you are listening to a story being told by friends. I love the art and the overall feeling of the book, it is so creepy and spooky but you will not want to put it down! Bravo!

This book is part memoir about Ryan and Regina and part discussion about the oddities they have come to collect over the years. I enjoyed reading about the different items they have. The book is broken into different sections based off of what items are going to be talked about. I enjoyed reading more about these items.
*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review.

🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
This was such a uniquely beautiful and interesting book. I read through it in one day because I wanted to see what other treasures were amoung the pages!

While this book will not be for everyone, it will certainly find its way to those who will appreciate and enjoy the content.

Part memoir for Regina M. Rossi and Ryan Cohn, part oddity extravaganza. It was fun to hear about their stories, both individually and together and learn about the fascinating items they have come across over the years. To be able to see some of the curiosities in the book is such a treat because most of us will never be able to see those items outside of a book. Absolute treasure, thoroughly enjoyed!!!

Thank you to the authors, Regina M. Rossi and Ryan Cohn, NetGalley and the publisher, Chronicle Books, for the opportunity to read this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. The book is set to publish October 1, 2024, perfect for spooky season!👻

#TheWitchsDoor #NetGalley

Thank you for the EArc Chronicle Books and NetGalley. The Witches Door takes us through the collections of both Ryan and Regina and others. The book hi-lights some of their more interesting pieces and tells the story of their romance as well as how their business came to be. I am hoping there’s a sequel so we can see more of their collection and hear the tales behind them. Incredibly fascinating book and I am going to seek out some of their tv shows.

I loved it! As someone who loves historical artifacts along with the interesting stories behind them and just a lover of history period, this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I also enjoyed the section about the McCarthy Dolls, ( I'm a believer in the paranormal as well) This book was well-written and presented in a fun and down-to-earth manner. I give this book a thumbs up! I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC

4.0

The Witch's Door is filled with images and the narrative of both authors learning about their passion of the esoteric. Beginning from the interest in certain hobbies such as collecting skull pieces and fashioning it into an exploded skull. It is an eye opener to these bizarre and eccentric activities. I find it to be fascinating, a good introduction, and contains a lot of historical information and a balance with the author's experiences. I appreciated the images chosen, as a lot of reviewers have mentioned, unless you are familiar with the hobby, it's difficult to understand the process without having a visual guide.

Literature that can help expand your knowledge and mindset. I would definitely pick this up once it arrives on the shelves, as this is an entertaining read that I can pick up over and over again.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the huge collection of oddities and strange objects within it. There are lots of pictures and stories about these weird and wonderful pieces. I would have liked more focus on the objects and less on the personal journey of the authors and their collection, though it does give good insight into the world of collectors.

"The Witch's Door" by Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina M. Rossi is a really interesting read. As a lover of dark academia and all things spooky and weird, I felt like I was invited into a secret world full of fascinating oddities and curiosities. If you're a fan of "Oddities," you'll definitely find this book intriguing.

That said, I was a bit surprised by how much the book focused on the authors' personal lives. I was expecting more stories about oddities and curiosities. While I appreciate learning about their background, it wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Still, it's a compelling read if you're into the peculiar and the extraordinary.

This book gives a interesting look into a niche world. Each chapter is filled with gripping stories in the world of oddities. I was very interested to learn how Ryan Cohn became interested in these items like skulls, shrunken heads, and how he works with collectors.

Rating: 3.75 rounded up. I recently joined Netgalley, and this was my first ARC. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. As other reviewers have mentioned, this book serves mostly as an autobiography for the collectors. While I thought the engagement story and others were humorous and entertaining, I found many of the sections to be repetitive. The progression wasn't chronological so the author spent time revisiting some of the same details. This worked in a sense that the Witch's Door was the introduction and conclusion. Metaphorically, doors serve as portals that can defy space and time, and when I thought if it that way, it didn't bother me. I wish there had been a little more focus on sub-categories of oddities, history, detection of authenticity, etc. Since the author related collectibles along his journey to memories associated with tattoos, I'm sure there are plenty of other stories that could've been shared about individual pieces. Maybe they were not included because the acquisition of collections that had been most career-altering.

P.S.: I hope Mr. Peepers can be restored to full glory.

Witch's Door: Oddities and Tales from the Esoteric to the Extreme
by: Ryan Matthew Cohn + Regina M. Cohn
due 10-1-24
Chronicle Prism
5.0 stars

I am blowing kisses .....I fell in love with this book. It is exactly what you would want from a book by Ryan and Regina Cohn. Strange, Extreme and absolutely wonderful. I was (still am, actually)a huge fan of the television series,'Oddities'. Ryan starred on the reality show and every episode I marvelled at the wild and awesome adventures finding real and true artifacts, and their presentation of them. Ryan is so personable and fun, it made the show even better.

Ryan and Regina kept the dream alive, after the tv series, by forming and founding 'Oddities Flea Market', curating the best artists and collectors of taxidermy, oddities and dark art. It is an actual flea market, and is held in different cities across the USA (and beyond), throughout the year; and is one of the few places you actually can go to see and purchase these amazing artifacts outside a museum. Ryan and Regina travel and scope the world looking for purchases of the odd, strange and extreme. Regina is the co-founder and producer of 'Oddities Flea Market'. Her dedication and hard work helped to expand the Flea Market, from Brooklyn to LA - Chicago- Seattle and many more cities. I loved reading about how they found the actual artifacts, the people they met and dealt with while searching and finding them. It was so interesting to find out what seperated the pieces they kept, from the ones they pass on, of purchase for re-sale. Like, Mr.Peepers, the taxidermy monkey, decorated Kapala skulls. Haunted dolls, and an actual, real Witch's Door. And so many more.... Fascinating stuff.

This is a collectible book I am looking forward to purchasing for myself. Ryan and Regina are such awesome people. Filled with daring photographs and stories, presented with excellence and finesse. Unbelievibly real and true, check this out. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending this e-book ARC for review.
#WitchsDoor #NetGalley

This book was amazing! Its been at least a decade since I have read a full length non fiction book and of all the books in the world I'm so glad that this one made its way to me. There is not a chapter in this book that is not absolutely fascinating. I have so many things floating around in my head that i never thought I would have the know how of. I now know how exploded skulls are made and work, I could in theory make my own shrunken head. A skill I will keep under wraps until the Apocalypse of course. I have an extremely profound new respect for these collections and their respected collectors. I have always had a keen fascination for oddities and tend to lean towards the darker end of the spectrum. I just honestly don't know what else to say. I loved this book so so much and I cannot wait to get my hands on a hard copy for my collection!!

The Witch’s Door is primarily the memoir of Ryan Cohn, who became a collector at a very early age and turned that passion into profit to become one of the foremost collectors of oddities in the world. It is also in part written by his wife Regina, who brought her business sense to the endeavor and pioneered the Oddities Flea Market.

I loved their tales of collecting and the people they encountered along the way. This book definitely focuses more on their personal experiences and while their favorite artifacts are talked about at length and pictured on the page, this isn’t just a book of photographs.

Some of the pieces in their collection gave me weird vibes for sure, but on the whole was fascinated by their lives. I appreciate the lengths they go to ensure the legality of their collecting, but I did also feel some type of way about the tribal artifacts they have collected, and while it was always mentioned that the collection was legal, there was less mention of their ethics.

On the whole I think this book would be the best fit for a reader that likes memoir, and/or has a particular interest in antiques, oddities, art, or curation.

This was such a weird and entertaining book! I loved learning about all the different oddities they showcased. There was also quite a bit about their personal lives included, which sometimes made sense (like how they came to acquire a certain collection) but other times just kind of felt like space filler.

I’ve been a fan of both Ryan and Regina for many years now and was so excited to receive an early copy of their book. As a collector of antiques and oddities myself I loved hearing stories of how they came to acquire some of their most interesting finds as well as some of the ways they have impacted the community. Because I’m a fan I loved the inside look into their personal lives that is mixed in. I had a lot of fun with this book and I think anyone into the macabre and strange will also have a good time. Thanks again NetGally and the publishers for the ARC!

This was a very interesting book. The book is filled with different stories in the world of oddities. It talks about what made the author interested in the different odd items listed in the book. Definitely a book different than anything I’ve ever read.

This is a highly entertaining account of the lives and careers of Ryan Matthew Cohn and Regina M. Rossi, the authors and experts in all things odd and macabre. I'd have liked more writing from Rossi, who is overshadowed by Cohn throughout the book, and some terms could have been better explained--or explained at all. That said, if you've ever poked around at the stranger finds in antique shops, watched the Oddities TV show, or been fascinated with medical specimens, this is the book for you.

In *The Witch’s Door*, Regina and Ryan Cohn invite readers into an exquisitely curated realm of the macabre and mysterious, offering a spellbinding tour through their extraordinary collection of oddities. As the founders of Oddities Flea Market, the Cohns have built a reputation for curating the unusual and the eerie, and this memoir serves as a captivating showcase of their expertise and passion for the bizarre.

The book is a treasure trove of the strange and unsettling. Each chapter reveals a different facet of their collection, from taxidermied curios like Mr. Peepers to the haunting allure of Charlie McCarthy dolls that may harbor ghostly presences. The Cohns have an eye for the bizarre and the beautiful, turning what might seem grotesque or unsettling into an art form. They reveal the backstory of each artifact with engaging narratives that blend historical facts with eerie anecdotes, providing a rich tapestry of the object’s origins and significance.

What makes *The Witch’s Door* particularly enthralling is its combination of vivid photography and captivating storytelling. The book features jaw-dropping images that capture the intricate details of their macabre treasures, each one carefully selected to evoke wonder and curiosity. The photographs complement the stories, allowing readers to visualize the haunting beauty of the artifacts as they are introduced to the peculiarities and histories behind them.

Regina and Ryan Cohn’s dual perspectives add depth to the narrative. Regina’s background in fashion brings an aesthetic sensibility to the curation process, while Ryan’s experience with the reality show *Oddities* offers insider knowledge of the artifact collecting world. Together, they provide a comprehensive look at how they source and select these unusual pieces, offering readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of collecting and selling the strange and unusual.

The memoir also serves as a celebration of the Cohns' role as trendsetters in the realm of oddities. They have not only reinvented the market for collectors but have also brought a new level of appreciation and respect for the art of curating the strange. Their book is a testament to their dedication to preserving and showcasing artifacts that might otherwise be lost to obscurity.

*The Witch’s Door* is a delightful read for fans of *Oddities*, *Atlas Obscura*, and anyone with a penchant for the darker side of life. It’s a visual and narrative feast that delves into the allure of the macabre with a blend of humor, reverence, and genuine fascination. Whether as a gift or a personal indulgence, this book is a must-have for those who revel in the unusual and the unsettling. Regina and Ryan Cohn’s memoir is a journey into the heart of the bizarre and a celebration of the art of curating the strange.

As a fan of the TV show Oddities - I was drawn immediately to this offering. ( Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for a chance to review this book.) This is the memoir of a sorts written by Ryan Cohn - documenting his passion for "oddities" and his rise in the field as creator, collector, and authority.

I was fascinated by his early career, apprenticed to a jeweler, and learning traditional fabrication techniques. I can see how that diverse technical skill base held him in great stead as he began work with trephinated skulls - which he is an authority in during the show. The tales of his youth starting his personal collection were intense! The book goes on to cover the experiences related to filming the show - and then on to his meeting and courtship with Regina. I found it compelling as it continued up until 2020, and related their struggles starting a fledgling business during a global pandemic.

One thing I was struck by was the desire for and joy in finding community. As an artist and a member of the Mythic Arts community - it is a homecoming to find the peers that work in the same motif and share the same passions. I found myself relating to Ryan's experiences among the circuit of collectors and clients... although this isn't my genre, the sense of finding community was so relatable!

I found the book to be a fast and easy read, it is very conversational in tone. It contains many illustrations - which I think are essential to telling its tale. ( Although I wished for more.) I think it would be a great gift, or "coffee table" book for collectors, fans of the macabre, collectors of natural history...

Do you love all things dark and witchy? Do you love trinkets? Antiques? This book is for you! Creators of the Oddities Flea Market reveal their distinctly curated collection. This is so cool!

As I've done in the past with other primary or autobiographical sources, I'm not going to "rate" this book in the traditional way. I don't believe in giving a social media "star 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. One of my favorite shops is The Weeping Glass here in Pittsburgh! 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!

I'll be sure to attend the Oddities Expo someday and thank you Chronicle Books for approving "The Witch's Door" for me on Netgalley!

A fun trip through the world of collecting oddities and curiosities.

This was enjoyable, though I think it’s best as a book you pick up and put down at leisure, reading bits at a time, rather than something to be read straight through.

There’s a lot of personal anecdotes and personal stories included, and though some of that is both expected and welcome, I wish there had been less of that and more detail on history and background of the objects. The authors are interesting enough people, but I wasn’t interested so much in them as in their knowledge of these sorts of art and collectible objects.

The section on cabinets of curiosities was probably my favorite, though there are lots of interesting treasures to be found throughout the book. I much appreciated that many photos were included, and I thought that both the selection and the quality of the photography was good.

I rate non-fiction/biographies differently than I do fiction. It is not up to me to rate other people’s actual life experiences. This book was charming, intriguing and different than my usual reads. When rating true story experiences I judge more on the ability to write and use correct grammar versus the storyline. This was a good read but not something I was able to read in one sitting. I found myself picking it up and putting it back down.

While I have never seen an episode of Ryan’s
Show ‘Oddities’, I do follow him and Regina on Instagram, so I was excited to see they had written a book.

If you have ever been fascinated by the strange and odd in a museum or flea market, this book is for you. If you have thought about buying such items, then this book is for you. The book goes into depth about how certain items in their collections came into their possession. It also tells about their background and how they connected.

A delightful look behind the curtain and one of the most fascinating collecting couple out there.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the digital copy in exchange for my review.

This book was amazing. I loved the stories behind each item. You can tell a lot of time and research has been put into each item that has been added to the collection. The book also gives you a lot of back story of the lives of the collectors themselves.

Enter the world of the macabre …
Honestly, I had a lot of fun reading this book . Perfect for horror enthusiasts and also for the upcoming season, this is definitely a must read for any fan who loves the oddities flea market. The book is filled with anecdotes and personal experiences,and it made me love the Oddities Flea market all the more as I got a behind the scenes look at their buying process as well as the stories behind some of their most interesting finds. They even share their love story,which was such a personable touch.
Regina and Ryan have this electric dynamic that makes them just bounce off one another in a titillating tete-a-tete. They are a great team and they showcase that in the book.
As they travel around the world from Peru to Alabama to the catacombs and beyond, they take us on a tour of all the different things people have collected,and believe me,nothing is too weird.
From skulls wrapped in underwear ,to haunted objects and 19th century gynecological intstruments ,and even shrunken heads.
This book is a delight and a must read for anyone curious about weird objects in history or superfans of The oddities flea market

An engrossing and quirky deep dive into the world of oddities that most people don't see or even know exists. Photos are gorgeous and I enjoyed getting to know Ryan and Regina as they collected their wares.

An incredible book for the lover of the strange and the unusual. Not only is it filled with great stories - but also photographs of incredible oddities and curiosities!