Scan barcode
giftsintogold's review against another edition
3.0
Useful for reference in figuring out which way to tell a cartoon story.
wendylioness's review against another edition
3.0
The concept of this book was the best thing about it. It makes me want to write a book that's similar, except not in comics and without language but with a fairy tale or two.
The introduction intrigued me the most, and a few versions of the comic (only one page long) are amusing.
"Can a story, however simple or mundane, be separated from the manner in which it is told? Is there an essential nugget from which all stylistic and physical characteristics can be stripped? What would that core look like? .... Suddenly it's clear that what appear to be merely 'stylistic' choices are in fact an essential part of the story."
The introduction intrigued me the most, and a few versions of the comic (only one page long) are amusing.
"Can a story, however simple or mundane, be separated from the manner in which it is told? Is there an essential nugget from which all stylistic and physical characteristics can be stripped? What would that core look like? .... Suddenly it's clear that what appear to be merely 'stylistic' choices are in fact an essential part of the story."
gef's review against another edition
3.0
This is a lot of fun, especially for fans (like me) of comic book art. Madden has a skillful pen (and brush and photographer's eye, because he uses various media), and is good at imitating the styles of other cartoonists he admires. The question he poses (as did Raymond Queneau, whose 1947 book Exercices de style inspired this one) is whether, by changing point of view, tense and tone, we are really telling the same story. Like Queneau, he begins with a very simple (rather silly) anecdote: comic artist (Madden) gets up from his desk to go to the refrigerator, is interrupted by his partner's question about the time, and forgets what it was he was looking for in the refrigerator. That seems to be a story about forgetfulness. But when the point of view is that of the refrigerator, it's about the ridiculous and confused meddling of human beings with the calm mechanical life enjoyed by the 'fridge. Or if the p.o.v. is of the lady friend who asks the time, it's about the unreliability of her partner. And if it's set in the future on a space ship, it may be about the bewilderment caused by supersonic travel. And so on.
No, it no longer is the same story if, for example, the Odyssey is told from the point of view of Leopold Bloom in Dublin in 1904, instead of the weary, crafty warrior Ulysses on the sea in the far more distant past.
No, it no longer is the same story if, for example, the Odyssey is told from the point of view of Leopold Bloom in Dublin in 1904, instead of the weary, crafty warrior Ulysses on the sea in the far more distant past.
bookishjade's review against another edition
5.0
Read this all in one go and really enjoyed it! A lot of fun to read, especially the more imaginative ones. Inspired by [b:Exercises in Style|319790|Exercises in Style|Raymond Queneau|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327879342s/319790.jpg|310551] by [a:Raymond Queneau|15957|Raymond Queneau|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1225922573p2/15957.jpg] , I would recommend reading the Queneau exercises first, because I think Madden's will then be more enjoyable.
remusreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is an absolute gem of a book that I stumbled across in my university library. I thought it looked whimsical and unique and so I just had to pick it up - and I was not disappointed at all. This was charming, funny, hysterical and definitely made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions. Matt takes one scenario and twists it to fit different prompts and buzz words, which gives the story hilarious and refreshing twists. Some of them are so absurd that they don't quite make sense, but that makes it even funnier. It offers a way of looking at things from a different perspective and teaches you that you can always take one thing and make it into so many different things. It teaches the idea that your ideas are not linear - you can take your initial idea, present it in one way and then continue adapting it. It shows the flexibility of ideas and creativity and truly offers a different method of thinking and looking at things. Whilst teaching this useful lesson, it offers something very amusing, quirky and delightfully interesting. I thoroughly loved every page of this. I would recommend it if you are a designer, illustrator, writer, etc. If you feel it is useful to you, or if you feel you would get some good amusement from it, then definitely pick it up. I can't recommend it enough!
rexlui's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best graphic novel of all genre. It looks like just another comic how-to textbook. And it is indeed a good one. But what made this book a genius is that the author utilized all these 99 different formats of graphic novel to tell a humorous, yet philosophical story.
jhliu's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book exploring different ways to tell the same story in comics format. Came across the book while watching the "Brainstorm" interviews at OMSI - one guy from Wieden+Kennedy was talking about it. Only later discovered that author Matt Madden is married to Jessica Abel, and the book cover was done by Charles Orr.
suvij's review against another edition
3.0
Сама ідея виглядає дуже звабливою. Але переглядати/прогортувати комікс туди-сюди значно цікавіше, ніж «читати», бо історя та сама, а різниця між стилістиками часом геть губиться.
More...