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kerrig's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
luentreletras's review against another edition
4.0
Nunca había escuchado hablar de esta novela gráfica antes y la verdad que es una pena que no sea más conocida porque está muy buena.
Heart in a Box nos cuenta la historia de Emma, una chica a la que le acaban de romper su corazón. Emma, debido a su gran tristeza y desilusión amorosa decide deshacerse de su corazón con la ayuda de Bob, un hombre que trabaja en la industria de recolección y redistribución de corazones. Sin embargo, poco después de tomar esta decisión, Emma se arrepiente y le pide a Bob su corazón de vuelta. Sin embargo, Bob no se lo puede devolver porque este está ahora dividido en 7 partes entre un montón de gente que según el "lo necesitaba". Emma entonces debe enfrascarse en la búsqueda de cada parte de su corazón, la cual debe recuperar y poner dentro de una caja que Bob le entrega para que así su corazón este completo de nuevo y con ella.
Esta novela gráfica es super extraña y curiosa. Me gustó mucho el concepto de como la gente con corazón roto puede elegir abandonar su corazón para siempre y dárselo a alguien más que lo necesite. Los dos personajes principales, tanto Emma como Bob me encantaron. Su relación me hacía reir muchísimo y siento que es una parte primordial del libro.A su vez, me gustó mucho como termina la historia y como todo termina teniendo un sentido de alguna forma. Fue muy entretenido leer esta novela gráfica y sin duda la recomendaría. Además, es una lectura super rápida y cortita, no tiene más de 100-130 páginas. Se le tranquilamente de una sentada y es muy entretenida.
Heart in a Box nos cuenta la historia de Emma, una chica a la que le acaban de romper su corazón. Emma, debido a su gran tristeza y desilusión amorosa decide deshacerse de su corazón con la ayuda de Bob, un hombre que trabaja en la industria de recolección y redistribución de corazones. Sin embargo, poco después de tomar esta decisión, Emma se arrepiente y le pide a Bob su corazón de vuelta. Sin embargo, Bob no se lo puede devolver porque este está ahora dividido en 7 partes entre un montón de gente que según el "lo necesitaba". Emma entonces debe enfrascarse en la búsqueda de cada parte de su corazón, la cual debe recuperar y poner dentro de una caja que Bob le entrega para que así su corazón este completo de nuevo y con ella.
Esta novela gráfica es super extraña y curiosa. Me gustó mucho el concepto de como la gente con corazón roto puede elegir abandonar su corazón para siempre y dárselo a alguien más que lo necesite. Los dos personajes principales, tanto Emma como Bob me encantaron. Su relación me hacía reir muchísimo y siento que es una parte primordial del libro.A su vez, me gustó mucho como termina la historia y como todo termina teniendo un sentido de alguna forma. Fue muy entretenido leer esta novela gráfica y sin duda la recomendaría. Además, es una lectura super rápida y cortita, no tiene más de 100-130 páginas. Se le tranquilamente de una sentada y es muy entretenida.
pantsyreads's review against another edition
4.0
It's been over a month since I read this, so my thoughts might be a little muddled, but here we go.
When Emma's boyfriend (The Name With No Name) breaks Emma's heart, she wishes she could be rid of it so she can stop hurting. Her wish is granted, but after experiencing the listlessness of feeling nothing, she finds herself wanting it back. However, it's been broken into 7 pieces and dispersed. To get them back, Emma must embark on a roadtrip across the country and track them all down.
As you can gather from the summary, this book has a pretty unique premise. Does Thompson pull it off? Mostly, I'd argue. This comic is very short, so it felt rushed in some aspects (the mechanisms of the heart stuff was a bit confusing at times), but it was also a very poignant read that benefited from its economic page count.
Emma is a full-realized character and Thompson's writing of her was really spot-on, but where she really shone was in her body language and facial expressions. Meredith McClaren's art is what really breathed life into this book. It has a weird, almost manga-like, style to it that initially caught me off guard, but I acclimatized, I couldn't imagine it any other way. The exaggerated style really highlights the emotions and a lot is conveyed to the reader using very little - a feat that looks easy, but is most definitely not.
With Thompson's astute writing and McClaren's evocative art, they bring the very real pain and heartache that comes with heartbreaks to life. The first several pages of this were relatable in a very real and uncomfortable way. There were a few other touching moments too, such as whenthe cat gives his piece of Emma's heart back to her, but then doesn't recognize her anymore and runs away. ;__; That scene could've been so corny and contrived, but Thompson and McClaren make it work.
This wasn't what I was initially expecting, but I enjoyed it all the same. It certainly has its flaws, but it's emotional core really holds it together and kept me along for the ride.
When Emma's boyfriend (The Name With No Name) breaks Emma's heart, she wishes she could be rid of it so she can stop hurting. Her wish is granted, but after experiencing the listlessness of feeling nothing, she finds herself wanting it back. However, it's been broken into 7 pieces and dispersed. To get them back, Emma must embark on a roadtrip across the country and track them all down.
As you can gather from the summary, this book has a pretty unique premise. Does Thompson pull it off? Mostly, I'd argue. This comic is very short, so it felt rushed in some aspects (the mechanisms of the heart stuff was a bit confusing at times), but it was also a very poignant read that benefited from its economic page count.
Emma is a full-realized character and Thompson's writing of her was really spot-on, but where she really shone was in her body language and facial expressions. Meredith McClaren's art is what really breathed life into this book. It has a weird, almost manga-like, style to it that initially caught me off guard, but I acclimatized, I couldn't imagine it any other way. The exaggerated style really highlights the emotions and a lot is conveyed to the reader using very little - a feat that looks easy, but is most definitely not.
With Thompson's astute writing and McClaren's evocative art, they bring the very real pain and heartache that comes with heartbreaks to life. The first several pages of this were relatable in a very real and uncomfortable way. There were a few other touching moments too, such as when
This wasn't what I was initially expecting, but I enjoyed it all the same. It certainly has its flaws, but it's emotional core really holds it together and kept me along for the ride.
claudiap's review against another edition
2.0
"Heart in a Box" presents interesting concepts - to be careful with what we wish for and the need to experience negative emotions in the grieving process. However, despite having enjoyed the base concepts, the execution was only average-poor.
There are so many things in the plot that aren’t explained. The narrative, that tries to be deep, becomes inconsistent. The heart division process is not explained, as it is not focused how the heart fragments are distributed across multiple characters. Above all, the main character, in her quest to gather her heart, only uses every character she meets. All the journey seems random and the introduced characters didn’t bring anything to the plot.
I liked the drawing and colouring, but honestly can’t get past the flaws pointed out. When I finished reading the graphic novel I gave it 3 stars, pointing more to 2.5. However, the more I think about the story, more I consider that the actual ratting is 1.5-star....
There are so many things in the plot that aren’t explained. The narrative, that tries to be deep, becomes inconsistent. The heart division process is not explained, as it is not focused how the heart fragments are distributed across multiple characters. Above all, the main character, in her quest to gather her heart, only uses every character she meets. All the journey seems random and the introduced characters didn’t bring anything to the plot.
I liked the drawing and colouring, but honestly can’t get past the flaws pointed out. When I finished reading the graphic novel I gave it 3 stars, pointing more to 2.5. However, the more I think about the story, more I consider that the actual ratting is 1.5-star....
booksandcecilia's review against another edition
5.0
This comic touched my heart in so many ways. <3
foxyreadings's review against another edition
2.0
After a painful breakup, Emma wishes to have her heart taken away from her to be free from the pain, and gets her wish granted by a strange man. However, she soon realizes that llife with no heart is worse than life with a broken heart, so she wants to get it back. For this, she'll have to travel across the country to get the pieces of her heart from the people they've been given to, and find a way to convice those people to give her the piece back.
I liked the general idea of this graphic novel, however, I found it too short and not deep enough. I would have loved to know more about this system of trading heart pieces, or about this strange man thanks to whom it all started. But I understand that the graphic novel format doesn't allow to go in as much detail as a novel would. That's actually why I normally never read graphic novels (I only picked this one because I got it as a gift).
Also, I really didn't like the drawings, which definitely is a hamper in a graphic novel.
I still recommend you to read it if it sounds interesting. I'm clearly not the right reader for this kind of book but it doesn't mean it isn't good!
I liked the general idea of this graphic novel, however, I found it too short and not deep enough. I would have loved to know more about this system of trading heart pieces, or about this strange man thanks to whom it all started. But I understand that the graphic novel format doesn't allow to go in as much detail as a novel would. That's actually why I normally never read graphic novels (I only picked this one because I got it as a gift).
Also, I really didn't like the drawings, which definitely is a hamper in a graphic novel.
I still recommend you to read it if it sounds interesting. I'm clearly not the right reader for this kind of book but it doesn't mean it isn't good!
electricbloom's review against another edition
4.0
I got this book as an ebook ARC from Edelweiss.
This was fantastic. The story is about a girl who has her heart wished away and after seeing how bad it is without feeling has to go on a journey to get the pieces back to make her whole.
First of all, the illustrations were beautiful. Absolutely stunning. The colors were perfect and everything just looked amazing. The frames weren't too busy and every thing flowed. Nothing was abrasive about the way it was setup.
The story was wonderful too. Through all her hardships, she realized that having a heart is so much better; that having emotion is what makes us alive. The ending was so perfect. It was so heartfelt and made me just so happy. Well composed and well written. This story had an easy time pulling on my heartstrings. The main character, Emma, was so easy to relate too...I know that many people have gone through hard times and felt like nothing mattered. This story just really spoke to me.
I'd gladly recommend this to other people. It was a perfect blend of illustration, story-telling and above all else, heart.
This was fantastic. The story is about a girl who has her heart wished away and after seeing how bad it is without feeling has to go on a journey to get the pieces back to make her whole.
First of all, the illustrations were beautiful. Absolutely stunning. The colors were perfect and everything just looked amazing. The frames weren't too busy and every thing flowed. Nothing was abrasive about the way it was setup.
The story was wonderful too. Through all her hardships, she realized that having a heart is so much better; that having emotion is what makes us alive. The ending was so perfect. It was so heartfelt and made me just so happy. Well composed and well written. This story had an easy time pulling on my heartstrings. The main character, Emma, was so easy to relate too...I know that many people have gone through hard times and felt like nothing mattered. This story just really spoke to me.
I'd gladly recommend this to other people. It was a perfect blend of illustration, story-telling and above all else, heart.
glitterandtwang's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The concept -- a girl wishes her heart away and then has to collect the eight pieces that have been dispersed throughout the country -- could have gone any number of directions. Bits of the protagonist's heart end up in a huge variety of places, where she must travel in order to either steal back the pieces or get them wished back to her.
I quite liked the variety of places her heart ended up -- taking the idea that we give and take pieces of our hearts over a lifetime and making it literal worked better than I expected. My only complaint is that I wish Thompson had pushed the concept just a little further, since she's already in the realm of fantasy with this story -- and that it had gone on a bit longer. Crossing my fingers that this is a world/character Thompson will return to in the future.
I quite liked the variety of places her heart ended up -- taking the idea that we give and take pieces of our hearts over a lifetime and making it literal worked better than I expected. My only complaint is that I wish Thompson had pushed the concept just a little further, since she's already in the realm of fantasy with this story -- and that it had gone on a bit longer. Crossing my fingers that this is a world/character Thompson will return to in the future.