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Ingratitude
Through the revisitation of a kept file of newspaper clippings, Peter Sotos blends formative personal history with an exacting analysis of criminal and victim case reports to render a pornographically freighted study of sexual compulsion and desistance, restitution, and the perpetual churn of memory. “It’s so easy to think you’re worse than you are.”
320 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2018
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About the author
Peter Sotos
36 books222 followersPeter Sotos (born April 17, 1960) is a Chicago-born writer who has contributed an unprecedented examination of the peculiar motivations of sadistic sexual criminals. His works are often cited as conveying an uncanny understanding of myriad aspects of pornography. Most of his writings have focused on sexually violent pornography, particularly of that involving children. His writings are also considered by many to be social criticism often commenting on the hypocritical way media handles these issues.
In 1984, while attending The Art Institute of Chicago, Sotos began producing a self-published newsletter or "fanzine" named Pure, notable as the first zine dedicated to serial killer lore. Much of the text and pictures in Pure were photocopied images from major newspapers and other print media. Sotos also used a photocopy from a magazine of child pornography as the cover of issue#2 of Pure. In 1986 this cover led to his arrest and charges of obscenity and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were dropped, but Sotos eventually pled guilty to the possession charge and received a suspended sentence. Sotos was the first person in the United States ever to be charged for owning child pornography.
Sotos' writings explore sadistic and pedophilic sexual impulses in their many, often hidden, guises. Often using first person narratives, his prose takes on the point of view of the sexual predator. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of falsely being labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.
He was until 2003 a seminal member of the industrial noise band Whitehouse.
In 1984, while attending The Art Institute of Chicago, Sotos began producing a self-published newsletter or "fanzine" named Pure, notable as the first zine dedicated to serial killer lore. Much of the text and pictures in Pure were photocopied images from major newspapers and other print media. Sotos also used a photocopy from a magazine of child pornography as the cover of issue#2 of Pure. In 1986 this cover led to his arrest and charges of obscenity and possession of child pornography. The charges of obscenity were dropped, but Sotos eventually pled guilty to the possession charge and received a suspended sentence. Sotos was the first person in the United States ever to be charged for owning child pornography.
Sotos' writings explore sadistic and pedophilic sexual impulses in their many, often hidden, guises. Often using first person narratives, his prose takes on the point of view of the sexual predator. Despite his early legal troubles, and the seemingly fatal stigma of falsely being labeled a pedophile, Sotos continues to garner support for his ideas and literary output.
He was until 2003 a seminal member of the industrial noise band Whitehouse.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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October 23, 2022Opening:
"Every reason moved to another session. Pretty much the wrong idea since it started to sound like an excuse. My interest in reasoning dissolved."
Closing:
"What you did wrong wasn't expected by others for you or, eventually, from you. Your responsibility to all of us insists that you start separating the sex you have wanted with adults to the children, who are gone, as pictures and stories only. You have decades of this constant aggravating mistake. You left it. You should think of it that way again. Think responsible and it can't magnify, imply."
What the hell is he saying? YOU decide!
"Every reason moved to another session. Pretty much the wrong idea since it started to sound like an excuse. My interest in reasoning dissolved."
Closing:
"What you did wrong wasn't expected by others for you or, eventually, from you. Your responsibility to all of us insists that you start separating the sex you have wanted with adults to the children, who are gone, as pictures and stories only. You have decades of this constant aggravating mistake. You left it. You should think of it that way again. Think responsible and it can't magnify, imply."
What the hell is he saying? YOU decide!
May 5, 2025
A surprisingly decent addition to the Sotos debauchery because it delves into some of his personal relationships, struggles and a hint of hopeless romance. Unfortunately the aim for the entire book is to still blabber on psychotically about abuse cases and the beginning of the book starts with 70+ pages of newspaper clippings. Which gets quite boring.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews