this didn't have much of a plot (besides the very trope-y one we fell into 75% through) or characters (one chahad me at cute book about magical girls!
this didn't have much of a plot (besides the very trope-y one we fell into 75% through) or characters (one character is cute and dumb and cheerful, the other character is mean and smart and cold, that's it) or relationship dynamics (two of the weirdest and least real-feeling romances occur in this book) or an explanation (i do not understand the magic system in this — or if i can even call it that)...
but what it did have is the cutest art ever.
turns out that's mostly enough for a good time, some of the time.
the only thing better than a graphic novel is a coming of age graphic novel.
i often feel like graphic novels are limited in their ability to tell a futhe only thing better than a graphic novel is a coming of age graphic novel.
i often feel like graphic novels are limited in their ability to tell a full story, with full characters, and yet this one managed to relate 3 generational tales with 3 women in one family, sharing fatphobia and homophobia and misogyny, and do all of it convincingly and emotionally.
not going to lie, sometimes i decide i want to read books just because i've seen them on people's bookshelves at house parties.not going to lie, sometimes i decide i want to read books just because i've seen them on people's bookshelves at house parties....more
two of my favorite things (memoirs and conversations).
this is a super lovely and unique medium for discussing topics that are pretty well-tread.
in othtwo of my favorite things (memoirs and conversations).
this is a super lovely and unique medium for discussing topics that are pretty well-tread.
in other words, it is both super original (illustrations done by the author of herself and her loved ones and text bubbles of their conversations are interlaid over photos to create a kind of collage-y graphic novel effect) and filled with a lot of things i have heard a lot of times (it is mostly about how to deal with your in-laws who have voted for trump, a discussion i feel i have heard 900,000 times in the last 9 years).
but still, it's loving and thoughtful and the added touch of it being mostly conversations between the author and her son was also unique.
i think if i had read this when it was published, in 2019, i may have liked it more. but instead i'm a little burnt out of the same sort of discourse.
even if this is the best it's been done.
bottom line: i don't know why i'm complaining so much. i liked this! i'm just also running on 3.5 hours of sleep and waiting for a delayed train in an uncomfortable metal seat.
i'm sorry but if you turn my teenage favorite books into graphic novels i am going to read them.
the ending feels a lot more abrupt in this version, toi'm sorry but if you turn my teenage favorite books into graphic novels i am going to read them.
the ending feels a lot more abrupt in this version, to the extent that i ignored where it said "the end" and "volume 4/4" in the ebook and ignored where it says "the heartwarming final installment" in the synopsis and clicked on the series title to try to add the 5th volume to my tbr.
fangirl is my comfort book in some ways, but it's also my problematic fav: i don't like the simon snow parts, or the part where she submits fanfiction as an assignment, or the unresolved familial issues (more so here).
i love the anxiety representation (so #me) and the yearning (best part of romances).
neither to be found in here, so this was meh for me!
bottom line: i'll always have a soft spot for the original...but not for the adaptations....more
i wanted to read this because it just seemed so goddamn cool. and then it WAS so goddamn cool.
the art of this was incredibly beautiful, AND the story i wanted to read this because it just seemed so goddamn cool. and then it WAS so goddamn cool.
the art of this was incredibly beautiful, AND the story was so cool. that combination deserves the graphic novel achievement award.
i wish there were more time to spend on the romance so it'd be less insta-love-y, but that's often the tradeoff you take with mythology / fairytales anyway.
and i'll take it!
bottom line: all the highs and lows of mythology and graphic novels. but mostly the highs.
i really, really, really, REALLY did not need this book's hamfisted discussion of abortion, featuring a murderous wolf abortionist and the ghost of a i really, really, really, REALLY did not need this book's hamfisted discussion of abortion, featuring a murderous wolf abortionist and the ghost of a fetus' future.
in fact i must ask...who is this for.
also they forgot a couple pretty crucial plot points here, it seems.
namely that these guys were supposed to be killed by a wolf.
this was silly and goofy and weird, and some parts of it were unrealistic to the point of being endlessly annoying — this coming fromhad me at ghosts.
this was silly and goofy and weird, and some parts of it were unrealistic to the point of being endlessly annoying — this coming from a girl who believes in ghosts and thinks it's hyperlifelike that laundromats would be like water parks for them — but i loved the ghost drawings and the town drawing and this was halloween-y.
why does cartoon food look so much better than real food???
that constitutes the majority of my thoughts on this.
that, and the fact that i have a love why does cartoon food look so much better than real food???
that constitutes the majority of my thoughts on this.
that, and the fact that i have a love / hate relationship with the word "supper."
this was cute and fine and i liked the art and i would like a bowl of cartoon mac and cheese, even if this book did put too much on its plate and also put blue cheese in the included and aforementioned mac and cheese recipe...
two significant crimes.
we forgive. kind of.
and probably forget about this book entirely.
bottom line: fine!
(2.5 / thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)...more
the saga continues...get it? because i'm continuing my binge read of this series? called saga?
i'm wasted on you people.
this was not my favorite one ththe saga continues...get it? because i'm continuing my binge read of this series? called saga?
i'm wasted on you people.
this was not my favorite one thus far...riddled with time jumps...pretty convoluted...lots of sweeping generalizations via narrator and time spent in the prison industrial complex...
but there is a small and perfect creature called "ghus" so it's not all Ls.
bottom line: i'm saying it again. THE SAGA CONTINUES....more
when will i stop accidentally buying graphic novel adaptations!
i intended to buy a copy of Kindred, a great book, and mistakenly bought this, a versiowhen will i stop accidentally buying graphic novel adaptations!
i intended to buy a copy of Kindred, a great book, and mistakenly bought this, a version of it that was not for me. this art style isn't my cup of tea, and this medium isn't really for this story. what was an excellent novel is an emotionally and thematically inconsistent and shallow-feeling graphic novel.
but then again, an accidental review is probably not the best one to trust.
Loading...
