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book_concierge's review against another edition
5.0
I read this slim little novella when it first came out (and have a first edition). I was completely captivated and was thrilled that the feeling remains the same on my second reading.
Griffin Moss is an artist living in London. He produces a series of postcards that are beautifully illustrated with his artwork. One day he receives a cryptic postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman living in the South Pacific island nation of Sicmon Islands. She asks him to send a particular postcard, and mentions an earlier version. But how could she know about that earlier version? Griffin never showed it to anyone and changed the design before ever producing the cards.
Thus begins an extraordinary correspondence between these two souls. Sabine explains that she has been seeing visions of his art for many years, though she cannot really explain why or how. He confesses he has felt “watched” but put it down to paranoia; now he feels exhilarated to have found her.
The reader feels as if she is eavesdropping on a particularly intimate exchange between two lovers as they learn more about each other and pour their hearts out in their letters and cards to one another. The illustrations begin as beautiful, colorful, drawings; Griffin’s are whimsical (a kangaroo in a red hat); Sabine’s focus on the island fauna. But as their correspondence continues the drawings become ever more fantastical and disturbing, hinting at madness and violence.
The ending takes the reader by surprise, and leaves one hanging, wanting more.
Griffin Moss is an artist living in London. He produces a series of postcards that are beautifully illustrated with his artwork. One day he receives a cryptic postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman living in the South Pacific island nation of Sicmon Islands. She asks him to send a particular postcard, and mentions an earlier version. But how could she know about that earlier version? Griffin never showed it to anyone and changed the design before ever producing the cards.
Thus begins an extraordinary correspondence between these two souls. Sabine explains that she has been seeing visions of his art for many years, though she cannot really explain why or how. He confesses he has felt “watched” but put it down to paranoia; now he feels exhilarated to have found her.
The reader feels as if she is eavesdropping on a particularly intimate exchange between two lovers as they learn more about each other and pour their hearts out in their letters and cards to one another. The illustrations begin as beautiful, colorful, drawings; Griffin’s are whimsical (a kangaroo in a red hat); Sabine’s focus on the island fauna. But as their correspondence continues the drawings become ever more fantastical and disturbing, hinting at madness and violence.
The ending takes the reader by surprise, and leaves one hanging, wanting more.
yannan_mw's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
porcupinesnuggles's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
5.0
Beautiful art and the experience of pulling out the letters to read enhanced the experience. Now I need to get the other books in the series
rescuingsteele's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot say enough good things about this story. I do recommend making it last and spreading out the opening of the different bits. You can easily fly through but it’s too different!! Don’t! Soak it in.
alikatson's review against another edition
5.0
I remember loving this book - more like interactive art - as a child. I hope my parents still have it, I'd love to re-read it soon.
deashabooya's review against another edition
5.0
I’m mad I only found out about this in the year 2023 of our lord and savior.
corvingreene's review against another edition
5.0
These books were some of my favorites when I was in high school. I read this in 1997. My notes then were: "Excellent artwork, as well as a compelling story. Easy read, but fascinating and unique."
helena_handbasket's review against another edition
4.0
I think that one of the best things that can happen to a reader is being pleasantly surprised by a book. Especially a book that you expect less than nothing from, one that you've never ever even heard of. Sometimes being surprised in a good way by a book can make us love that book more that it might deserve.
This is the case, I think, with the Griffin & Sabine trilogy. These books were gifts to my eight year old daughter, a lovely thought, but they're not children's books (there be 'eff' words and 'lovemaking' lurking within). After seeing a bit of the art, I thought I'd best read these books before my eight year old and I was utterly enchanted with the first two books in the trilogy. The third got a little complicated for my tastes. The beauty of the first two, in my opinion, was the simplicity.
The artwork is really compelling and beautiful. The story, told in postcards and letters between Griffin and Sabine is pure chick-lit romance stuff, with a little sci-fi twist... but I liked it. There's something to be said for a good old-fashioned romantic letter and that's all I have to say about that.
This is the case, I think, with the Griffin & Sabine trilogy. These books were gifts to my eight year old daughter, a lovely thought, but they're not children's books (there be 'eff' words and 'lovemaking' lurking within). After seeing a bit of the art, I thought I'd best read these books before my eight year old and I was utterly enchanted with the first two books in the trilogy. The third got a little complicated for my tastes. The beauty of the first two, in my opinion, was the simplicity.
The artwork is really compelling and beautiful. The story, told in postcards and letters between Griffin and Sabine is pure chick-lit romance stuff, with a little sci-fi twist... but I liked it. There's something to be said for a good old-fashioned romantic letter and that's all I have to say about that.