Family don t end with blood

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars SPNFamily or Not this is a Must Read Book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 January 2018

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As an SPNFamily member since 2005 I was actually a bit apprehensive about reading this book, would it burst some bubbles? Would my idols (I am 42 years old and not ashamed to admit I use the word idol in relation to the writers and actors) suddenly loose their glow when I read the things that made them “human” ~ Absolutely Not! This book is like a cup of tea and a chat with friends, with people talking about things that many of us have felt or feel or are going through, even if we don’t know it, can’t or won’t talk about it. Many people who are not fans of Supernatural don’t “get it” and don’t “understand the whole family thing” ~ one such person is a friend of mine, has never watched the show (if it’s not factual then it’s of no interest, fandoms are for children and unhinged adults etc) after much debate this friend sat and read the book (as part of our debate) Afterwards... put the book carefully down, looked me square in the eye and said “I get it ~ this is me” ~ and now is seeking help with depression!!
For me, well I connected with a several of the people's journeys and got through my own share of tears, This book is like a Therapy Session and Self Help Book and Chat With Friends all rolled into one.
And your doing your bit for Charity with a portion of Sales going to Random Acts & Attitudes in Reverse ~ so what’s not to love?

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, emotional.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2017

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Having just finished reading this book all I can say is that I loved every word, every line, every chapter....This fandom means a lot to me, and reading the stories shared by each of the people who wrote a chapter for this book (fans and actors alike) really makes it clear that NONE of us is alone...The SPN Family is there to help and support each and every one of us....It has had a major impact on the lives of so many people and I believe that impact to be positive....Reading these stories brought tears to my eyes,sometimes from laughter, sometimes from sadness, sometimes from an overwhelming sense of understanding what the person writing meant....This book is an emotional read that I would highly recommend to anyone,especially anyone in the SPN Family (New and old members alike). Like the book (And the show) says: Family don't end with blood, and will ALWAYS have your back, and that is exactly what this fandom is - a family....And I have never felt more a part of that family than while reading this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Always Keep Fighting #SPNFamily

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 June 2017

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A labour of love and heartfelt tribute to the enduring legacy and power of fandom. A collection of contributions from both fans and cast members, proving our dear Bobby Singer correct - "Family don't end with blood". Such an appropriate title for this book. The #SPNFamily (Supernatural family, for those not keyed up on the lingo!) is a unique and amazing thing, never before experienced with a television show, that has grown from humble beginnings into something that has literally saved lives. I am proud of our fandom, I am proud that we have this incredible book - thank you Lynn and all of the contributors - we are enough, we will always keep fighting and family, most certainly, don't end with blood!! Buy it now.

3.0 out of 5 stars A narrow view of fandom

Reviewed in Germany on 23 September 2017

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I've been holding off writing this for a long time because I didn't want to step on any toes or hurt the author's feelings. Lynn is a good person and has great insight in the psychology and mechanisms of fandom and being a fan. I enjoyed her book "Fangasm" immensely, so I really hope people don't take this review as an attack on her or on fandom as a whole.

I liked the book a lot, and the chapters written by cast & crew were wonderful. Like most of us, I teared up when reading what Jared had gone through. Kim's and Briana's chapters moved me as well. I've been in a lot of fandoms over the years, but SPN is the first one where I really got the impression that the cast cares about us. Like, genuinely cares. Not just in a superficial "I love you all" manner, but "you changed the way I see things" (thank you, Jensen).

My criticsm, however, has to do with the way fandom itself is presented. It's not SPN fandom, but "people who can afford to go to cons put on by Creation Entertainment multiple times a year" fandom. This might be a little unfair, but almost all of the interactions described in the book take place at CE cons. Fandom is so much more than cons in North America. I get that it's tempting to boil everything down to these events, but they are just a fraction of what goes on, and to put the focus solely on cons doesn't do the fandom justice.

Moreover, a lot of the interactions in the book are a direct result of breaking rules set by the convention organizers. We have a problem in the SPN fandom in that breaking rules often grants you more, longer, and more intimate access to cast members. Examples would be taking elaborate props into photo ops, telling them your life story at autographs, or emotionally manipulating them into being concerned for your well being during an interaction. It leaves people who respect the rules wondering why they even bother, and it creates a divide in fandom between people who do these things and people who forgo them out of respect for the actor.

And at the risk of sounding mean - there was a distinct "My life had no meaning until I met [actor]" vibe throughout many of the fans' accounts. That's a dangerous way of thinking. Because one day, cons will end (or, as we are already seeing, will become too expensive to attend) and that access to cast we take for granted will decrease significantly. If you narrow fandom down to photo ops and autographs, you're in for a very rude awakening once that stops. It's also very unhealthy to put the burden of your happiness on another person, specifically a stranger - and they are strangers! I would have loved more emphasis on friendships among fans instead of actor worship.

Don't get me wrong, I go to cons as well and enjoy them a lot. But this book focuses almost exclusively on CE cons, and that is just a fraction of the SPN fandom.

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 March 2019

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I'll be honest - considering this was fan-made I was anticipating it would be somewhat amateur, and I balked a little at the price. I bought it anyway because I wanted to read Rob's story. As soon as I opened the parcel I was delighted - it's a real sturdy little book, with more content than I'd imagined and picture-pages in the middle. Another thing I wasn't expecting was how good the essays would be; I thought I'd pick at a couple of actors' contributions then leave it for another day. Every one I've started has left me hooked, and emotional enough that I'm actually putting off reading Jared's until I know I can afford to cry for a while. A real achievement, an excellent book for a fan's shelf, and well worth the money.