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kittymamers's review against another edition
3.0
mul oli meelest ära läinud, et Niffenegger kirjutab selliseid... creepysid lugusid. mitte otseselt õudsed, aga minu õudustaluvuse piirile ikkagi natuke liiga lähedal.
siin raamatus meeldis mulle see jutt, kus ühel mehel oli pööningul inglite infestatsioon ja et mis siis sai. aga teised lood, haldjatega ja kassidega jne... neil ei olnud viga (ja need, mis olid koomiksiteks joonistatud või muidu piltidega, olid kenad vaadata), aga veidi kõhedad olid ikka.
siin raamatus meeldis mulle see jutt, kus ühel mehel oli pööningul inglite infestatsioon ja et mis siis sai. aga teised lood, haldjatega ja kassidega jne... neil ei olnud viga (ja need, mis olid koomiksiteks joonistatud või muidu piltidega, olid kenad vaadata), aga veidi kõhedad olid ikka.
laranda's review against another edition
3.25
Definitely bizarre. Not sure what most were really about, but some of the stories were enjoyed by me.
annieb123's review
5.0
First published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Audrey Niffenegger and Eddie Campbell team up in a really eclectic collection of graphic stories. Some of these were published before in other non-graphic formats, but all are oddly engaging.
There were several really standout stories included here.
The leading story, Thursdays, Six to Eight p.m. is sublime. It combines shades of Bluebeard with modern neuroses and is humorous in a wonky way. Most of these stories are somewhat off-kilter and unexpected.
The Composite Boyfriend is a sharply funny commentary on gender bias and objectification and expectations. The first couple of pages are set up like old-fashioned paper dolls. There are several outfits, genitalia, accessories, shoes etc from which to choose. The prose which follows is written in a sort of 'choose your own adventure' format with several alternatives to each sentence. The ending (though expected) delivers a nice payoff.
There are 13 vignettes included and all of them are strong; a few are sublime.
I came to the party familiar with both of the creators, but had no idea they were a real life partnership. It works very very well and the book really resonates with both personalities and two completely different creativities. There's a cool synergy at work here and I enjoyed it very much.
Four and a half stars.
168 pages, due out 20th March, 2018 from Abrams publishing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
Audrey Niffenegger and Eddie Campbell team up in a really eclectic collection of graphic stories. Some of these were published before in other non-graphic formats, but all are oddly engaging.
There were several really standout stories included here.
The leading story, Thursdays, Six to Eight p.m. is sublime. It combines shades of Bluebeard with modern neuroses and is humorous in a wonky way. Most of these stories are somewhat off-kilter and unexpected.
The Composite Boyfriend is a sharply funny commentary on gender bias and objectification and expectations. The first couple of pages are set up like old-fashioned paper dolls. There are several outfits, genitalia, accessories, shoes etc from which to choose. The prose which follows is written in a sort of 'choose your own adventure' format with several alternatives to each sentence. The ending (though expected) delivers a nice payoff.
There are 13 vignettes included and all of them are strong; a few are sublime.
I came to the party familiar with both of the creators, but had no idea they were a real life partnership. It works very very well and the book really resonates with both personalities and two completely different creativities. There's a cool synergy at work here and I enjoyed it very much.
Four and a half stars.
168 pages, due out 20th March, 2018 from Abrams publishing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
coupes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
egg_gremlin's review against another edition
3.0
The art style in this book was interesting, and I can't quite decide if I like it or not. It doesn't try to disguise that it was made on a computer, the smooth edges of the digital brush strokes plain to see. It's like something I would have made in MS Paint as a child, if I had had a classically trained artist's sense of anatomy, but then it well suddenly become uncannily detailed. I don't know, it was certainly a book, and the stories are uncanny in much the same way the art is.
spiringempress's review against another edition
2.0
Definitely an unconventional read with a lot of unrequited endings. I really enjoyed the first story "Thursdays, Six to Eight p.m." and the second story, as well, but the art really failed to capture my heart. I read a comment where someone compared it to Microsoft paint and I have to agree with that assessment. Repeatedly, I have stressed that art is very important to me *cough* art history major *cough* and subpar art does not cut it for me.
Now, I don't want you to think that the art work alone earned the two star rating. In fact, the thirteen stories overall were not thrilling or satisfyingly bizarre, but instead random and unfinished. There was one story where the protagonist, Grant, meets three mysterious women in a bar, who are fairies and want to study a human male to learn our ways. They ask him to choose one of them to live with for a certain amount of time and Grant agrees. What ensues is Grant becomes dissatisfied and dreams of another attractive woman, who ends up freeing him from his strange life with Harriet the fairy. After, this other woman feeds Grant and then turns him into a hamster. Really no rhyme or reason behind that story.
This pattern repeats throughout the graphic novel and fails to capture my attention or pique my interest. These stories are just a little too odd with nothing substantial to make me remember the story in a year. In reflecting back on it, the thing I love the most about this title is the cover art...
Now, I don't want you to think that the art work alone earned the two star rating. In fact, the thirteen stories overall were not thrilling or satisfyingly bizarre, but instead random and unfinished. There was one story where the protagonist, Grant, meets three mysterious women in a bar, who are fairies and want to study a human male to learn our ways. They ask him to choose one of them to live with for a certain amount of time and Grant agrees. What ensues is Grant becomes dissatisfied and dreams of another attractive woman, who ends up freeing him from his strange life with Harriet the fairy. After, this other woman feeds Grant and then turns him into a hamster. Really no rhyme or reason behind that story.
This pattern repeats throughout the graphic novel and fails to capture my attention or pique my interest. These stories are just a little too odd with nothing substantial to make me remember the story in a year. In reflecting back on it, the thing I love the most about this title is the cover art...
briarsreviews's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
2.0
Bizarre Romance was an interesting read and not what I was expecting!
I do enjoy picking up a "random" book that I normally wouldn't find in my TBR/book buying journey. Bizarre Romance was one of those books that I looked at and decided I would take a chance. The 16 stories in the book are absolutely marvelous, but I found it really hard to keep engaged with them. Maybe it was bad timing of reading it, or maybe it just wasn't for me. Regardless, beautifully written, amazing illustrations, and overall a good book. But, unfortunately, my enjoyment level just wasn't there.
Two out of five stars.
I do enjoy picking up a "random" book that I normally wouldn't find in my TBR/book buying journey. Bizarre Romance was one of those books that I looked at and decided I would take a chance. The 16 stories in the book are absolutely marvelous, but I found it really hard to keep engaged with them. Maybe it was bad timing of reading it, or maybe it just wasn't for me. Regardless, beautifully written, amazing illustrations, and overall a good book. But, unfortunately, my enjoyment level just wasn't there.
Two out of five stars.
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
Wait, [a:Audrey Niffenegger|498072|Audrey Niffenegger|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1367342548p2/498072.jpg] and [a:Eddie Campbell|5122|Eddie Campbell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261253995p2/5122.jpg] are married?
This is a collection of short stories written by Niffenegger and either illustrated or turned into comics by the great Campbell. Many of the stories have a fantastic, historical, or romantic turn (and often some combination of those). However, nothing really stood out for me. Part of the issue was that Campbell's artwork here often moves away from the scratchy black and white inks I adore to more use of blobs of color to outline figures. (Exceptions - and among the best stories - are "RoseRedSnowRidingBeautyShoesHoodSleepingWhite" and "Motion Studies: Getting out of Bed".) So entertaining, but not a must read.
This is a collection of short stories written by Niffenegger and either illustrated or turned into comics by the great Campbell. Many of the stories have a fantastic, historical, or romantic turn (and often some combination of those). However, nothing really stood out for me. Part of the issue was that Campbell's artwork here often moves away from the scratchy black and white inks I adore to more use of blobs of color to outline figures. (Exceptions - and among the best stories - are "RoseRedSnowRidingBeautyShoesHoodSleepingWhite" and "Motion Studies: Getting out of Bed".) So entertaining, but not a must read.
raohyrule's review against another edition
3.0
Very strange indeed. My favorite was easily The Church of the Funnies.
truleejenann's review against another edition
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0