Emotionally, the story is quite gripping. Pretty powerful. And the artwork is good. But the actual storytelling is really blunt and, frankly, tedious Emotionally, the story is quite gripping. Pretty powerful. And the artwork is good. But the actual storytelling is really blunt and, frankly, tedious through most of the narrative. Still, I’m glad I read it for the power it does have....more
Good when it’s good, but inconsistent. Especially w/r/t the dialogue. Solid overall, though.
(Fun to see all the Esperanto, btw. Haven’t studied it in Good when it’s good, but inconsistent. Especially w/r/t the dialogue. Solid overall, though.
(Fun to see all the Esperanto, btw. Haven’t studied it in decades, but I understood almost all of it.)...more
The story & worldbuilding are getting really intriguing again, and the art is as strong as ever. This is really quite a good series—not heavyweight, fThe story & worldbuilding are getting really intriguing again, and the art is as strong as ever. This is really quite a good series—not heavyweight, for sure, but really enjoyable & engaging....more
I didn’t read most of the footnotes & endnotes—I figured I might return to them if I was really drawn in by the story proper. Needless to say, that diI didn’t read most of the footnotes & endnotes—I figured I might return to them if I was really drawn in by the story proper. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. I imagine if you enjoy this book, you might really enjoy it—there are any number of easter eggs & built-in inside jokes. But if it doesn’t quite trip your trigger, it’s not really worth the time....more
Sadly, I was disappointed in this one. The subject matter is incredibly important, of course, and the actual story of it isn’t badly told. The author Sadly, I was disappointed in this one. The subject matter is incredibly important, of course, and the actual story of it isn’t badly told. The author explains in her afterword that she explicitly tried to keep a flat, unemotional tone. I can’t say whether that’s the best strategy, but it was apparent throughout and it did actually seem to give a lot of space for Granny to tell her own story. Which is, of course, a powerful one.
Unfortunately, it’s the artwork that really doesn’t do it justice. I’m not bothered by the primitive, harsh aspect of most of it—quite the opposite, actually. I think that works well, fits the story being told, and definitely adds something to it. What bothered me were the cartoonish drawings of individual characters—including the author, Granny, and others. These renderings don’t at all match the tone or effect of the rest of the work; they really diminish it. It needed either more consistency, or a more purposeful contrast.
Then too, I don’t see why the author herself is so present in the book. There might be some value in framing the story with the modern-day interview, but I didn’t get much from hearing about her own reactions to Granny herself. And I didn’t get anything at all from the coda, where she visits China. She literally explains how they found a hotel for the night: Why? She is a constant distraction throughout the book, and I have to wonder how much better it would have been if she’d had more restraint (or a more ruthless editor)....more
I’m not generally a fan of memoirs, but this one was gripping. It's a story well told, accompanied by gorgeous, compelling artwork. I was stunned to lI’m not generally a fan of memoirs, but this one was gripping. It's a story well told, accompanied by gorgeous, compelling artwork. I was stunned to learn that the author learned comic arts in order to create this book—it's masterfully done; seems to be the product of a sure hand and a clear vision. One of the best graphic novels I’ve read....more
Powerful, stunning artwork by GMB Chomichuk. I'm less impressed with the writing, sadly.Powerful, stunning artwork by GMB Chomichuk. I'm less impressed with the writing, sadly....more
Loading...
