I suppose it's all right for what it is. The story is interesting and the characters likeable. The stunning artwork elevates the book and endows it wiI suppose it's all right for what it is. The story is interesting and the characters likeable. The stunning artwork elevates the book and endows it with beauty. I enjoyed the experience of reading it. That plot, however. Ooh. I feel like the book couldn't quite decide when to be a fairy tale for adults and when to be realistic, and—given that the premise is a talking whale who apparently never needs to eat, who also has a library inside of her—I found some of the more "realistic" elements of the story to be quite unbelievable, even jarring and out-of-place. This book tried to be a lot of things: atmospheric, beautiful, joyful, funny, and tragic. Unfortunately, they just didn't mesh....more
Garfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personaliGarfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personality. This collection of Garfield tales re-interprets the well-loved feline and showcases a variety of styles, genres, and iterations. Consequently, Jim Davis and his team had more freedom to play with the character; things happen here that could not be done in a typical installment of Garfield's established timeline. See? Jim Davis was reimagining his characters before it was cool!
The storytelling AND artwork vary dramatically between the tales, one of which is even in prose and not comics; and this works well, as each of the nine lives stands apart from every other one. The tone changes, too, with some slapstick, some gentle fun, some horror, and even some noir. The stories can't even be said to take place in the typical Garfield universe, as one might be set on a more magical or even spiritual plane, and one takes place in a city run entirely by humanish cats who wear clothes and have humanoid forms. Since this book pushes the boundaries of Garfield's character, it involves some things that maybe are a bit . . . unorthodox. One of the stories involves a scantily-clad woman and a man who spanks Garfield with a paddle (a possible fraternity hazing?) while another tale implies some romance for Garfield involving a lady cat, alcohol, and a convenient couch. The tone is in many places darker than in other Garfield stories, and sometimes things even border on the macabre. There is, for example, a tale in which a homeless cat (not Garfield) asks for someone to bury him, and another story involving people experimenting on and then dissecting animals. Not for the faint of heart!
These stories are, on the whole, very well-crafted, and the creativity involved is just astounding. Shining through all of it, of course, is a love for Garfield and a desire to play with his character a little bit, to try him out in different circumstances and styles, and (as Jim Davis put it), to stretch him to the limits of the imagination....more
What on earth did I just read? The art didn't really appeal to me; it looked hastily drawn, even amateurish. The characters kept changing a bit from iWhat on earth did I just read? The art didn't really appeal to me; it looked hastily drawn, even amateurish. The characters kept changing a bit from image to image; sometimes the protagonist's fingers would look disproportionately small, or his jawline would change shape a little. It seemed less an artistic decision and more like a few careless mistakes. It was jarring.
The plot was pretty well nonexistent. I guess it was supposed to be an allegory? Or maybe the protagonist is mad? (Or maybe I was, to keep reading?) This wasn't a little bit of ambiguity: it was just a bunch of bizarre moments strung together, too vague to have meaning. This wasn't like that famous optical illusory picture that could look like either a duck or a bunny; this felt more like an inkblot test, designed to absorb whatever meaning someone imposes on it. The story doesn't make sense, the characters aren't all that interesting, and there is therefore not much opportunity for me to become emotionally invested.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. I liked a little of the characters' banter. I was an English major, so when the characters started tossing out creative synonyms for common complaints, I grinned. It was funny. I also liked the book's length. The author made a point, did it succinctly, and trusted the book to stand on it. (I don't think it was a successful book, but that's not the point.) The point is that this author did not feel the need to expound on the book's themes. She did not love to hear herself talk. She trusted in the book's own strengths and didn't belabor her points or bore her readers.
The book's biggest strength was its setting. The ocean, the sky, the boat. The inclusion of different knots, and the mention of various boat-parts (which felt a bit like name dropping, or, I guess, nautical-vocabulary-dropping, but which was still fun). They stereotypical crusty old sailor. The archetype of the waiting woman. The loneliness of it all. The raw beauty of nature. Death.
I think this author was trying for a visual poem of sorts, but it's just not cohesive enough to work as a book or artsy enough to work as a literary fever-dream IMO. It reminds me a little of James Joyce, but visually; there is a stream-of-consciousness style that is vaguely reminiscent of Joyce's distinctive tone, but again, there isn't a lot of substance here. I wouldn't rule out the possibility of reading more by this author. I think I can see what the intent was here, but the execution disappointed. It may be that Villadsen's craft will improve in later stories....more
History in a comic-book format. Very interesting subject matter, but not a lot of depth. Quite funny in places: the author flat-out admits that he madHistory in a comic-book format. Very interesting subject matter, but not a lot of depth. Quite funny in places: the author flat-out admits that he made up dialogue just to get a good joke. And for anyone worried about credibility, he makes it very clear which speech-bubble comments are made up and which ones are verified. A fun romp through history....more
Quite enjoyable! This graphic novel does an excellent job of adapting the classic short story for an audience of children. The plot is clear, the dialQuite enjoyable! This graphic novel does an excellent job of adapting the classic short story for an audience of children. The plot is clear, the dialogue is simplified without being overly so, and the characters are still distinctive and interesting. Baker's marital discord and Holmes' fake gambling are cut from this version. It moves quickly, so there isn't a whole lot of space for the characters to shine, but Goodwin manages to give them their moments. Mr. Baker is endearing, and Mrs. Oakshott's bewilderment at her brother's bizarre behavior is sweetly depicted. She was the perfect mix of patient and frustrated, and I think any child with siblings can relate. Best of all, Watson is smart and capable here, and Sherlock is brilliant as always. It's too bad it couldn't be about 10 pages longer, but it is still lovely all the same. Oddly enough, the thing that bugged me most was Holmes' hair; he's so fanatical about grooming in the stories, and here, his hair is sticking up at all angles. I thought it made him look like more of a teenager than a grownup, but I doubt a child reader would care. A charming take on the great detective....more
This interesting collection of cartoons makes for a quick, easy read. Some of them are funny, but a some fall flat. A few even feel mean-spirited. On This interesting collection of cartoons makes for a quick, easy read. Some of them are funny, but a some fall flat. A few even feel mean-spirited. On the whole, it’s worth reading, but don’t expect too much....more
This was an interesting take on classic books. Some of these are funny, but many of them just feel like short summaries of the actual plot. Still, it’This was an interesting take on classic books. Some of these are funny, but many of them just feel like short summaries of the actual plot. Still, it’s all in good fun, and this book is witty enough to carry my interest. A fine read for a rainy afternoon, perfect for any bibliophile....more
I think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have muI think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have much purpose beyond simply trying to delight their readers, and at that goal, this book excels. The style is a bit different from the daily comic strip, but the humor is completely on point. And of course, Garfield himself is pure gold....more
This graphic novel in 12 installments offered a charming look at Mario, Luigi, and the Princess. Yoshi, ToadThis was wonderful! I am deeply impressed!
This graphic novel in 12 installments offered a charming look at Mario, Luigi, and the Princess. Yoshi, Toad, and Bowser all put in appearances as well. In some respects, it has the feel of one of the video games, but at the same time, it has quite a different vibe. There is quite a bit of humor, some zany action, and some good, old-fashioned fun. I also like that Princess Toadstool is a woman of action here. She makes decisions, she refuses to be pushed around, she leads troops against Bowser, and she is far more than just a person in need of rescuing. She has a backbone in some of the video games, but not many, so this was wonderful to see. There are plot twists along the way. Luigi takes center stage at one point, and his character has a few surprises up his sleeve (so to speak). And of course, Mario has his moments to shine. I also enjoyed the fast pace; a great deal of action was packed into just a few pages, and most installments ended on a cliffhanger. Best of all, everything builds to a satisfying conclusion. Bravo!...more
A delight for any coffee lover! This nonfiction book contains a great deal of information on this popular beverage, and the snarky tone provides just A delight for any coffee lover! This nonfiction book contains a great deal of information on this popular beverage, and the snarky tone provides just the right amount of humor. The illustrations also add depth, as well as a whole new level of enjoyment. The book is divided into different sections, so there is, for example, a chapter on coffee consumption statistics, a chapter on bees and their connection to the coffee plants, a chapter on the “Joe” who inspired the slang term “Cup of Joe,” and so on. The illustrations, too, vary from infographics to a graphic-novel style, depending on the need. This is a very short read, but it sure packs a lot of information into a very few pages. Good caffeinated fun....more
Well, I liked this better than The Gashlycrumb Tinies. It’s more cohesive, and there’s more of a plot. I also liked the vibe much better; whereas thatWell, I liked this better than The Gashlycrumb Tinies. It’s more cohesive, and there’s more of a plot. I also liked the vibe much better; whereas that one just felt gratuitously gory and violent, this one is more atmospheric. It’s unnerving and creepy, but more because of the tension that builds than for anything gruesome. This book also had a bit more humor, as well as an unexpected turn right at the end. I can say that I definitely appreciate Gorey more now that I’ve read this one too, but I doubt I’ll be reading anything else by him any time soon. It’s fine quality for what it is, but it’s just not a style that I particularly enjoy....more
I’m not sure what to make of this. It’s morbid and macabre, and it’s perhaps slightly satirical. I think it might have made more of an impact when it I’m not sure what to make of this. It’s morbid and macabre, and it’s perhaps slightly satirical. I think it might have made more of an impact when it was first published; to me, it’s so similar to so much else that’s come after. This book is bizarre, and that’s fine, but it’s not my cup of tea....more
This is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some aThis is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some are very good, but most of them, in my opinion, were not. While I was reading it, at first, I thought it would be between 3 and 4 stars. Then, as I went on and read more of the stories, it was a solid 3. Then 2.5. Then it got worse yet. I was very disappointed overall. One good thing about this collection is that because it's a collection of so many parts, a few bad stories won't hurt the overall experience—it's a celebration of Sherlock Holmes, and certainly the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Here, though, there were only two stories that I really liked, two more that were nice, and a fifth that was very good but just not my cup of tea. I'm still counting it as plus, since it was so good, and since my opinions are subjective anyway. But that still only leaves five positives out of 14 stories altogether. Again, this is all just my own reaction, but it was not a good experience. I spent most of the time feeling irritated. Then I'd get to a really good one, and I'd get my hopes up again.
Some stuff I didn't like: • Paranormal. I'm okay with it as a genre, but it doesn't fit well into Sherlock Holmes. Maybe I'd feel differently if the writers had done a better job of integrating it, or if it hadn't been used in SO MANY of the tales. • Non-smart Sherlock Holmes. Usually this happens alongside a perfect other character who outsmarts him at every turn. I've no problem with Sherlock being outsmarted, especially if it's by an Irene Adler figure. After all, her victory was in the VERY FIRST short story of the canon. But in that story, Sherlock was smart and clever, and Irene was cleverer still. Here, I think, some of the authors wanted their own characters to triumph, so instead of writing them smarter, they just diminished Sherlock. They made him jump to conclusions (a far cry from the “Data! Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay!” detective of the canon). They made him mild and prone to inaction. There were also some painful scenes of Sherlock meeting an Irene-like character, and falling over himself telling her how wonderful and smart and tough she is. Didn't feel real to me. • Super-perfect non-Doyle characters. Whether it’s a macho tough guy or a badass warrior woman, I would have liked something more interesting than perfect perfection • Gratuitous violence (I know, I know, it’s about a man who solves murders, so of course, there will be murders. It just felt a little over-the-top to me.) • Some of them just felt pretentious.
Some stuff I liked: • The variety. Some of these are stories set in the Doyle-era, starring Doyle characters. Others are set in modern times, still with Sherlock et al. Then there are the ones that have all original characters, but whose heroes assume the roles of Holmes and Watson. And ones where the characters are normal, everyday people who also happen to be Sherlock Holmes fans. And a whimsical Sherlock-is-really-a-bug retelling. And prose. And poetry. And a graphic novel. This is a very rich collection of many different styles and forms. • The humor. A few stories made me laugh out loud. • Whimsy • Fun. Some of these stories had such a nice sense of fun, and they really felt like a celebration of Doyle.
My top 5: Dr. Watson’s Song and The Case of the Naked Butterfly, tied for first. The Case of the Missing Case, honorable mention. A nice origin story for Holmes. Also, they worked music into the plot, so that’s a win. The Adventure of the Six Sherlocks, honorable mention. A lot of fun to read about a mystery at a Sherlock Holmes convention, with a bunch of Sherlock cosplayers as suspects. The mystery element kind of falls apart if you think about it too much, but the story itself was such a hoot that I didn’t much care. Sherlocked. I didn’t care so much for this one, but it was well-written.
All in all, I didn’t enjoy most of this collection. Parts of it were cute, but most of these stories were either irritating or dull. I enjoy a good Sherlock yarn, but this collection just wasn’t for me....more
I didn’t understand some of the humor, and I was puzzled by the tone. Was she poking fun at her mother for being close-minded? Or was she agreeing witI didn’t understand some of the humor, and I was puzzled by the tone. Was she poking fun at her mother for being close-minded? Or was she agreeing with her mother, and mocking the people her mother didn’t like? I didn’t think this was terribly funny, but I know that everyone’s sense of humor is different. And certainly this was meant to be funny. Even so, to me, this felt hurtful, and it left me cold. Not my thing....more
This was a lot of fun. The author’s cat stars as the hero, his son is the lovable sidekick, and the author appears as the villainous dragon. This is cThis was a lot of fun. The author’s cat stars as the hero, his son is the lovable sidekick, and the author appears as the villainous dragon. This is cute, strange, and quirky. It’s fast-paced and bright, and it seems reminiscent of children’s imaginative play, which I’m sure is the point. I think kids would enjoy this, and I think it would also be fun for parents and other grownups who are used to playing with children....more
I enjoyed this. It’s cute and charming and sweet, and it seems designed specifically for one-on-one sharing between a child and parent. It also feels I enjoyed this. It’s cute and charming and sweet, and it seems designed specifically for one-on-one sharing between a child and parent. It also feels less like a picture book and more like a mini graphic novel. The cat’s dialog, for instance, comes from holding up signs. It’s really pretty funny. Great for people who like kids, graphic novels, or cats. This book is a joy....more
Well this was interesting. It's a look at different (male) "geniuses" from history and the things that they've said regarding women. It's an illustratWell this was interesting. It's a look at different (male) "geniuses" from history and the things that they've said regarding women. It's an illustrated depiction of some of these observations, in all their ridiculous glory. (Did they not hear themselves? Did they know what they were saying?) It's a nod to accomplished women who have somehow not made it into the history books. It's a reminder of how difficult things have been for women—for all women, but especially women of color.
The illustrations are amazing, and Fleming approaches the subject with the perfect amount of snark. Laugh-out-loud funny in some places, and very moving in others. Be prepared to roll your eyes in a couple spots. 4.5 stars, rounded up because of the humor....more
Some of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experienceSome of these were good, and some weren’t, but this is definitely a case of the whole being better than the sum of its parts. I enjoyed the experience of listening to these stories far more than I enjoyed some of the individual contributions. These stories are all related to Sherlock in some way, but there is tremendous variety in each interpretation. Some of the stories are about Sherlock, or about minor characters in the Sherlock stories, or about Doyle, or about people who have read the Sherlock stories; the tones are pleasant, or bleak, or serious, or humorous. They are parodies, or straight retellings, or brand-new stories. They are set in modern day, or Victorian England, or WWII. There is one crossover and one graphic novel. This collection, one big celebration of Sherlock Holmes and Sherlock culture, offers the unique chance to see the iconic character from a variety of perspectives. And while some of these stories would get 5 stars from me and some others only 2, I relished the chance to see Sherlock from someone else’s eyes....more
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