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cimorene1558's review against another edition
5.0
I have loved Edward Gorey since about the age of six--a friend gave my mother a copy of the Utter Zoo, and I have never looked back!
krish_'s review against another edition
4.0
Yes, I discovered Edward Gorey on Tumblr.
Yes, I bought this from a garage sale for one stinkin' dollar.
Yes, this is totally up my alley.
No, I do not condone the carnage of children.
Yes, I enjoy the sinister, the gloom, and macabre.
Yes, the Pacquiao-Bradley match is a conspiracy.
Yes, I bought this from a garage sale for one stinkin' dollar.
Yes, this is totally up my alley.
No, I do not condone the carnage of children.
Yes, I enjoy the sinister, the gloom, and macabre.
Yes, the Pacquiao-Bradley match is a conspiracy.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
I've read The Gashlycrumb Tinies before and loved it (basically a macabre alphabet). While I really enjoy Gorey's art, the play on the alphabet, the macabre-ness, the rhyming/play on and with words and the limericks, I did not care for his nonsensical stories.
About half 2/3rds of this are brilliant and the other 1/3, not-so-great.
I can definitely see his influence in other writers like Neil Gaiman and Emily Carroll, even if they were not directly influenced by him.
About half 2/3rds of this are brilliant and the other 1/3, not-so-great.
I can definitely see his influence in other writers like Neil Gaiman and Emily Carroll, even if they were not directly influenced by him.
sarasofraz's review against another edition
4.0
I was browsing in my library when I happened upon this little book by Edward Gorey.
It contains 15 different stories and it is marvellous. I didn't expect the stories to be so gruesome, and compelling at that.
The story with children dying in various violent deaths at every letter was so good, it was my favourite, but i really enjoyed "The Listing Attic" too.
It contains 15 different stories and it is marvellous. I didn't expect the stories to be so gruesome, and compelling at that.
The story with children dying in various violent deaths at every letter was so good, it was my favourite, but i really enjoyed "The Listing Attic" too.
endemictoearth's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
4.0
I somehow own the second third and fourth Amphigorey books, all collected across a lot of book sales and thrift stores, but never found a copy of the original, so I borrowed it from the library. Now I'm ready to continue on and keep reading the rest of the dreary wodge.
jennifermreads's review against another edition
1.0
Amphigorey is proof that “every book its reader”. What makes a book or story click with a reader? What (or who) gives a book “classic” status? Is a classic only called so because of a book’s age? Or is there something in its contents that pushes it to “classic status”?
I wish I remember how this crossed my radar. I think it was because of The Gashlycrumb Tinies but I’m not 100% sure. And, while it was amusing (???) to read the alphabetic rhyming list of children, each who dies in a different morbid way (assaulted by bears, choking on a peach, sucked dry by a leech, embedded in ice, etc.), I do not see the enduring, lasting value of the work. The artwork did not appeal to me and, while some of the rhymes were catchy, I could not get past the opening paragraphs of others.
Looking at the Goodreads rating average (4.04 as write & post), I guess others have found nuggets within the pages. It just didn’t click with me.
I wish I remember how this crossed my radar. I think it was because of The Gashlycrumb Tinies but I’m not 100% sure. And, while it was amusing (???) to read the alphabetic rhyming list of children, each who dies in a different morbid way (assaulted by bears, choking on a peach, sucked dry by a leech, embedded in ice, etc.), I do not see the enduring, lasting value of the work. The artwork did not appeal to me and, while some of the rhymes were catchy, I could not get past the opening paragraphs of others.
Looking at the Goodreads rating average (4.04 as write & post), I guess others have found nuggets within the pages. It just didn’t click with me.
rebeccacider's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating, atmospheric, inimitable. The West Wing is probably the most disturbing comic I have ever read.
charlieschu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0