E-Mails From Hell:
The Wrath of William Wyndell

David Earthman

Review is by Molly

The writer states in his introduction that he created William Wyndell and the E-Mails from Hell for the sole purpose of making a book that would make people laugh. He says that the book is universally hilarious; everyone is a potential target.

The book is set up in chapters dedicated to everything from Death, Education, Marriage, and Employment to Roomates, Hobbies, Pets, Customer Service and Transportation. He closes with Conning the Con Man. Writer Barthman says the idea for his book came about when he 'began responding to online advertisements . He began peppering various businesses and schools with outlandish requests and comments.'

The book opens with a series of letters to and from a local Funeral Service in which William Wyndell poses the question of having his father stuffed for mounting over the living room fireplace. Continuing in that vein Wyndell moves on to contact the local public school with queries about his child who has a bogus medical problem, a teacher who moonlights by teaching Portuguese. William branches out to queries about wedding rings and wedding dresses, employment with a variety of potential companies, and a variety of mail back and forth with several businesses or free lance contractors. Emails regarding potential roommates, drummer for a band, collection of memorabilia, and a chain saw move the book forward. Wyndell next targets folks with lizards, kittens, goats and other pets to sell or locate. The book closes with Conning the Con Man in which William gives as well as he receives from scammers wanting to share their money or other valuables with him.

I will have to be honest, I did not care much for this book. It is well written, is sure to appeal to many in the reading public and will no doubt be popular among the target group of readers. The notion that yet another bothersome spammer might decide to contact me because I have an email addy and for only he knows why, does not send pitty pats of joy through my being. Thank goodness for spam blockers.

As for Earthman/Wyndell conning the con man; THAT chapter was a delight. As with many in today's society; I too have been the recipient of many similar emails, and how refreshing it is to know that Writer Earthman as his alter ego Wyndell has done at least a little something to annoy those folks. I enjoyed reading that chapter very much.

Earthman stated 'I have spent the last few years e-mailing people under the fictitious name, William Wyndell. Why William Wyndell? It was the first name that popped into my head. Under this assumed identity, my time was spent answering online ads, inquiring businesses, and basically menacing anyone who had an e-mail address.

As my collection of rude and obnoxious e-mail conversations grew, my demand from friends to send them the latest story became greater. The dialogue I (William Wyndell) carried with these unsuspecting people has turned into a hilarious book, and the first of a series.'

As for Earthman simply becoming another spammer who bothers people; I didn't find the recounting enjoyable reading or particularly funny. Independent contractors, folks with items to sell or schools as targets of Earthman's foolishness are forced to waste time and maybe lose a real contract, sale or time. I have advertised a pet for sale only once, years ago and before internet, but I am a teacher and know how busy our secretaries are and our administration is. To realize that anyone would consider it hilarious to take their time for thoughtless silliness is hard to fathom.

We all seem to receive so much spam everyday, suggestion to writer Earthman; return the emails you receive from some of YOUR spam and make them the focus of your next book. Now, in my opinon, THAT would make for hilarious reading.

For review I received a trade paperback from a publicist.

You can find more about this book at .