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indeedithappens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Kidnapping, Drug use, Sexual content, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Grief, and Abandonment
subgirl's review against another edition
5.0
So. Freaking. Incredible.
I may or may not have cried while reading this, overwhelmed by the art and story. I won't confirm or deny it. (I totally did.)
The art is how I dream I would draw a comic if I could do so. I just don't have an illustrative style but if I did, I'd want it to be like this. This book is meticulous, the author/artist sings in the format. I want more, yet do not want more of this story. The extras in te back were nice to see. I love LOVE LOOOVVE drawn drawing-tool lists.
I may or may not have cried while reading this, overwhelmed by the art and story. I won't confirm or deny it. (I totally did.)
The art is how I dream I would draw a comic if I could do so. I just don't have an illustrative style but if I did, I'd want it to be like this. This book is meticulous, the author/artist sings in the format. I want more, yet do not want more of this story. The extras in te back were nice to see. I love LOVE LOOOVVE drawn drawing-tool lists.
citizen_noir's review against another edition
4.0
The first full length graphic novel by Marian Churchland, BEAST is the story of an aspiring sculptor, Collette, who gets hired by a shadowy benefactor to carve a centuries-old piece of marble. As the figure in the stone becomes apparent, I couldn’t help but think of Michelangelo’s famous statement that every block of stone has a statue inside of it, and it’s the sculptor’s job to find it.
This is an entertaining mystery, with nice illustrations by Churchland. I’m eager to see what else she has created.
This is an entertaining mystery, with nice illustrations by Churchland. I’m eager to see what else she has created.
the8th's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Utterly beautiful.
rebeccacider's review against another edition
4.0
Gosh darn it, I wrote a detailed review and my computer ate it.
This book was pretty! The art was sculptural (just like the story)! The figures and facial expressions were stiff, but I'd bet Churchland has since figured out how to add expressiveness to her hyper-realistic art.
A loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this atmospheric tale of art, love, and terror was subtle and not too pat - and best of all, it felt like a heartfelt and authentic exploration of Churchland's experiences as a young artist.
Definitely a First Novel, but a very good one despite some hiccups.
This book was pretty! The art was sculptural (just like the story)! The figures and facial expressions were stiff, but I'd bet Churchland has since figured out how to add expressiveness to her hyper-realistic art.
A loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this atmospheric tale of art, love, and terror was subtle and not too pat - and best of all, it felt like a heartfelt and authentic exploration of Churchland's experiences as a young artist.
Definitely a First Novel, but a very good one despite some hiccups.
arkham's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
night_starry's review against another edition
2.0
This graphic novel was a fast read. It was an interesting spin on the Beauty and the Beast story but it needed more depth. When I finished I was left with a "I'm still hungry" feeling.
juliemhowe's review against another edition
4.0
Unless we discount Stockholm syndrome, the plot here is weak, even unlikeable. Our sculptor (who even sculpts anymore?), Colette, finds a mysterious benefactor with a large chunk of marble needing an artistic hand. She goes to his house, sees him, faints, and stays there for about a month, or until the task of sculpting the Beast's likeness in marble is done. He tells her to call him the Beast, comes to talk to her about once a day, and somehow she stays there the whole time.
A retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast, the real element to look for here is the actual art. Churchland's style is thin and elegant; fine lines make up Colettes face, haphazard scribbles comprise the Beast's, who remains oddly charismatic, even without expression. It's a very delicate and careful style, one that often isn't seen in the world of graphic art, and lovely. There are several lovely renderings of lower animals, or beasts, here that are breathtaking. Her style captures movement in a minimalistic way, and while she purports in the back to have not quite captured how to draw Colette's face, her art proves otherwise.
Pick this up, if only to admire Churchland's delicate work and how effortless she makes drawing look.
A retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast, the real element to look for here is the actual art. Churchland's style is thin and elegant; fine lines make up Colettes face, haphazard scribbles comprise the Beast's, who remains oddly charismatic, even without expression. It's a very delicate and careful style, one that often isn't seen in the world of graphic art, and lovely. There are several lovely renderings of lower animals, or beasts, here that are breathtaking. Her style captures movement in a minimalistic way, and while she purports in the back to have not quite captured how to draw Colette's face, her art proves otherwise.
Pick this up, if only to admire Churchland's delicate work and how effortless she makes drawing look.
spiringempress's review against another edition
3.0
Mainly, I was interested in reading this graphic novel because I had recently read Marian Churchland's other work,[b:From Under Mountains|30220906|From Under Mountains|Claire Gibson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465607683s/30220906.jpg|50674412], and wanted to see how the two compared. This one is entirely different. It follows Colette, an artist, who has been commissioned to finish a slab of carrara marble for a mysterious benefactor known as the Beast. Her task is simple: create a portrait of the Beast but this proves to be quite challenging. Not only is she expected to live in the house until the work is completed, but the owner, Roz, and the benefactor, don't really offer an explanation for anything.
Every night, Colette works on the marble and the Beast visits. On the first night, he tells her the story behind the marble and doesn't beat around the bush. The marble belonged to his master, who lived in the 16th-century, and lost a bid to win the slab of marble that would become David. Obsessed with carrara, he spends his life trying to find his own and when he finally acquires one, his sister begins to work on it instead. He dies unaccomplished and unknown. The beast somehow gains possession of the marble and has been looking for an artist to finish it. It's also hinted that he had a relationship with the sister at one point. So, Colette finishes the marble, goes home, sees her ex boyfriend and then decides that she needs to return to the Beast.
The graphic novel ends here and while it's more polished than From Under the Mountains, I still feel that the story ends on a cliffhanger and doesn't offer an explanation for anything. However, the artwork is wonderful. The panels alternate between sepia and indigo tones to indicate night and day, which is a nice choice. I also just love her art style overall, which is naturalistic in a simple way.
Every night, Colette works on the marble and the Beast visits. On the first night, he tells her the story behind the marble and doesn't beat around the bush. The marble belonged to his master, who lived in the 16th-century, and lost a bid to win the slab of marble that would become David. Obsessed with carrara, he spends his life trying to find his own and when he finally acquires one, his sister begins to work on it instead. He dies unaccomplished and unknown. The beast somehow gains possession of the marble and has been looking for an artist to finish it. It's also hinted that he had a relationship with the sister at one point. So, Colette finishes the marble, goes home, sees her ex boyfriend and then decides that she needs to return to the Beast.
The graphic novel ends here and while it's more polished than From Under the Mountains, I still feel that the story ends on a cliffhanger and doesn't offer an explanation for anything. However, the artwork is wonderful. The panels alternate between sepia and indigo tones to indicate night and day, which is a nice choice. I also just love her art style overall, which is naturalistic in a simple way.