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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I bought all of the Griffin and Sabine books, at least 20 years ago, probably longer. I was on a Nick Bantock kick after reading [b:The Museum at Purgatory|92201|The Museum at Purgatory|Nick Bantock|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1171244496l/92201._SX50_.jpg|334196] and loving it. I was also into a lot of postmodern stuff, anything different, bucking the normal structure or patterns of story.
BUT for some reason I never got around to them. I think I was worried they would be boring and not include enough "magic" or "monsters". So, after waiting all this time, I read this first book to my wife in two sittings on the same day.
There was "magic" and mystery and the format was cool and interesting. Looking forward to where this story goes.
BUT for some reason I never got around to them. I think I was worried they would be boring and not include enough "magic" or "monsters". So, after waiting all this time, I read this first book to my wife in two sittings on the same day.
There was "magic" and mystery and the format was cool and interesting. Looking forward to where this story goes.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The drawings and story are quirky and whimsical. The book is comprised of a series of postcards and letters and only took about 30 minutes to read. This was a book club pick but I’m not sure how much there will be to discuss. I enjoyed the animated YouTube video companion alongside the physical book.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-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:
Yes
One day this book magically appeared, and it was so gorgeous, that I told my husband that we should sit down and read it together. And that is exactly what we did.
It was such a delightful experience opening each page, because it truly is, "an extraordinary correspondence."
There are beautiful artful postcards on the pages, and then, envelopes you can open and peak in and take the letters out and read them.
It is truly a love story told in this beautiful unique way - through letters and postcards. Not that we have never seen this done before, but in this artsy way...is gorgeous.
We don't know exactly how the story will end (there are 2 more books). But that doesn't matter. At least, it didn't to this reader. Or to my husband. We just enjoyed the unraveling of each beautiful page.
It was such a delightful experience opening each page, because it truly is, "an extraordinary correspondence."
There are beautiful artful postcards on the pages, and then, envelopes you can open and peak in and take the letters out and read them.
It is truly a love story told in this beautiful unique way - through letters and postcards. Not that we have never seen this done before, but in this artsy way...is gorgeous.
We don't know exactly how the story will end (there are 2 more books). But that doesn't matter. At least, it didn't to this reader. Or to my husband. We just enjoyed the unraveling of each beautiful page.
Griffin and Sabine is a short, sweet, and physically interesting book. Known for its strange, unique, and intricate form, it remains a staple in modern epistolary fiction and ergodic fiction,
Griffin Moss is a depressed London-based postcard artist, who gets a mysterious postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman from the fictional Sicmon Islands. Sabine explains that she can "see" Griffin drawing his works of art, and this leads to a spiraling, confusing, and thought-provoking story. We wonder: why does Sabine have this power? Who is this Sabine? Is Griffin making this all up in his mind? None of these questions are ever really answered, but this is the first of seven books, so that can be forgiven.
The characters, Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem, are different individuals. Griffin is a depressed, paranoid artist with a dry sense of humor and tragic background which he has seemingly little emotions over. His parents died when he was in grade school, but he never felt any sadness over it, but rather sadness over his aunt's death. Sabine is a quirky, mysterious woman, whose background is compelling and exotic, and who writes cryptically. Throughout the book, Sabine's existence is questioned at the book's end, and is not resolved in the bit until the third book's ambiguous ending.
The main part of this book that keeps people reading is its style. Griffin and Sabine is shown as a series of postcards and letters. However, these postcards are printed out front and back on the book's pages, with intricate, handmade designs o the front and handwritten letters on the back. The letters are something more. The front shows another drawing, but the back is a real envelope flap with loose paper to be taken out and read. The purpose of this is to create a sense of voyeurism and reading through other people's correspondence, which the book blurb assumes everybody loves.
Overall, Griffin and Sabine is a unique read, and although it does lack in story, its style and presentation makes it a great, short read. A Munchkin of a novel, if you will.
Griffin Moss is a depressed London-based postcard artist, who gets a mysterious postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman from the fictional Sicmon Islands. Sabine explains that she can "see" Griffin drawing his works of art, and this leads to a spiraling, confusing, and thought-provoking story. We wonder: why does Sabine have this power? Who is this Sabine? Is Griffin making this all up in his mind? None of these questions are ever really answered, but this is the first of seven books, so that can be forgiven.
The characters, Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem, are different individuals. Griffin is a depressed, paranoid artist with a dry sense of humor and tragic background which he has seemingly little emotions over. His parents died when he was in grade school, but he never felt any sadness over it, but rather sadness over his aunt's death. Sabine is a quirky, mysterious woman, whose background is compelling and exotic, and who writes cryptically. Throughout the book, Sabine's existence is questioned at the book's end, and is not resolved in the bit until the third book's ambiguous ending.
The main part of this book that keeps people reading is its style. Griffin and Sabine is shown as a series of postcards and letters. However, these postcards are printed out front and back on the book's pages, with intricate, handmade designs o the front and handwritten letters on the back. The letters are something more. The front shows another drawing, but the back is a real envelope flap with loose paper to be taken out and read. The purpose of this is to create a sense of voyeurism and reading through other people's correspondence, which the book blurb assumes everybody loves.
Overall, Griffin and Sabine is a unique read, and although it does lack in story, its style and presentation makes it a great, short read. A Munchkin of a novel, if you will.
Very interesting format, dreamy story, the ending felt very threatening, was shocked to see there is a series.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A beautiful book. Intriguing and mysterious. I will now have to read the rest in the series to find out what happens next! There are 7 in total, … 2 trilogies and the final book that links the trilogies together.