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sylveraxwinters's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
theartofguiltripping's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
bradley_jf's review
2.0
Interesting art style. Read it in about 20 minutes while standing in the aisle at Forbidden Planet. The androgynous look of the boy (which is specifically stated in the text, if it wasn't obvious from the illustrations) was a little odd and felt unnecessary in terms of furthering the plot. The only reason I kept reading it really was because I wanted to know what happened to the talking cat, Josh LeChat (how unoriginal a name...)
amalia1985's review
5.0
''The light faded and the forest became darker and darker. The chill wind blew through the branches, which seemed to bend towards the bay like threatening claws. Every sound further convinced Sasha that he was not alone. A shiver ran down his spine as he noticed a mound of dead leaves in the middle of the path rustling, slowly moving.''
Paris, 1920s. A beautiful young boy finds himself alone in the City of Light. When he tires of spending his days in the dirty alleys and the cemetery of Paris, he heads to the forest. And there awaits a surprise. A feline with green eyes becomes his companion. Together they come across the Misty Circus and Ludovico Dragomir, a circus that comes and goes, a home for abandoned children. Sasha and Josh find their shelter. During a mysterious Samhain night, their steps lead them to the spells of a young blind witch.
''The wind began to whine, driving rattling, dry autumn leaves inside the tent. When darkness seemed to envelop the forest completely, an even eerier, more mysterious sound made Sasha and the cat shudder.
That sound grew louder and louder. The two friends decided to take a peek outside, putting out their heads through the gap between the curtains that formed the walls of the circus tent. A ghostly silhouette in the distance appeared to advance through the woods, into the clearing, and towards the circus.''
The well-known Spanish artist Victoria Francés is famous for her unique style that balances the romantic, the whimsical and the dark Gothic aesthetic. In Misty Circus, she has created a beautiful, bittersweet and deeply touching tales of a child gifted with a special talent that helps him overcome his sorrow. It is a tale of the deep friendship between a human being and an animal, a story about hope and second chances, about friendship and finding your way through misfortune.
Incredibly beautiful, atmospheric artwork takes us into the heart of a mysterious forest, in a time when magic is still alive, a time when witches and magicians can help us escape a bleak reality.
The last word belongs to one of the most beautiful moments in Opera.
'Vesti la giubba,
E la faccia in farina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
Ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudir!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
In una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor,
Ah! Ridi, Pagliaccio,
Sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che ti avvelena il cor!''
('' Put on your costume
and powder your face.
The audience pays and wants to laught,
And if Harlequin
steals Colombina from you,
laugh, Pagliaccio...
and everyone will applaud!
Turn into jest,
your anguish and your sorrow
into a grimace
your sobs and your grief!
Laugh, clown,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the pain
which poisons your heart!'')
From Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
Paris, 1920s. A beautiful young boy finds himself alone in the City of Light. When he tires of spending his days in the dirty alleys and the cemetery of Paris, he heads to the forest. And there awaits a surprise. A feline with green eyes becomes his companion. Together they come across the Misty Circus and Ludovico Dragomir, a circus that comes and goes, a home for abandoned children. Sasha and Josh find their shelter. During a mysterious Samhain night, their steps lead them to the spells of a young blind witch.
''The wind began to whine, driving rattling, dry autumn leaves inside the tent. When darkness seemed to envelop the forest completely, an even eerier, more mysterious sound made Sasha and the cat shudder.
That sound grew louder and louder. The two friends decided to take a peek outside, putting out their heads through the gap between the curtains that formed the walls of the circus tent. A ghostly silhouette in the distance appeared to advance through the woods, into the clearing, and towards the circus.''
The well-known Spanish artist Victoria Francés is famous for her unique style that balances the romantic, the whimsical and the dark Gothic aesthetic. In Misty Circus, she has created a beautiful, bittersweet and deeply touching tales of a child gifted with a special talent that helps him overcome his sorrow. It is a tale of the deep friendship between a human being and an animal, a story about hope and second chances, about friendship and finding your way through misfortune.
Incredibly beautiful, atmospheric artwork takes us into the heart of a mysterious forest, in a time when magic is still alive, a time when witches and magicians can help us escape a bleak reality.
The last word belongs to one of the most beautiful moments in Opera.
'Vesti la giubba,
E la faccia in farina.
La gente paga, e rider vuole qua.
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina,
Ridi, Pagliaccio, e ognun applaudir!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto;
In una smorfia il singhiozzo il dolor,
Ah! Ridi, Pagliaccio,
Sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol, che ti avvelena il cor!''
('' Put on your costume
and powder your face.
The audience pays and wants to laught,
And if Harlequin
steals Colombina from you,
laugh, Pagliaccio...
and everyone will applaud!
Turn into jest,
your anguish and your sorrow
into a grimace
your sobs and your grief!
Laugh, clown,
at your broken love!
Laugh at the pain
which poisons your heart!'')
From Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
librarianryan's review
4.0
4 Stars
This book is exquisite. Each page is fully illustrated, but it much more than just another picture book. Sasha is a beautiful boy. His family dies and he runs away to join the circus. This is actually two stories originally published as comic books. They don’t have the feel of a comic book, which will help it appeal to more people.
This book is exquisite. Each page is fully illustrated, but it much more than just another picture book. Sasha is a beautiful boy. His family dies and he runs away to join the circus. This is actually two stories originally published as comic books. They don’t have the feel of a comic book, which will help it appeal to more people.
mordredrisika's review
4.0
“From a very early age Sasha was known for his androgynous looks, his profound shyness and, about all, his mercurial moods, which alternated between episodes of excessive elation and utter sadness.”
Misty Circus by Victoria Francés
I am a huge fan of Victoria Francés, and have been since I first stumbled across some of her gothic paintings. As I write this, I have two of her prints framed and hanging on my wall. I also own English versions of the three Favol books. However, I have not gotten a chance to read some of her newer books, the ones where she has turned away from the more traditional gothic artwork. So I was very excited to be able to read Misty Circus (which is actually the first two books/episodes for this world in one binding; 1. Sasha, the Little Pierrot, and 2. Witches Night). Just as a note this is not a novel, but more of a picture book/art based book, and is only 74 pages.
The book tells the story of little Sasha, a young Parisian boy whose dad was a mime and whose mother was a home maker. However, tragedy strikes when his mother dies, and his father, overcome by grief, leaves. Left wandering Paris, Sasha eventually stumbles across the Misty Circus. The second story follows Sasha and his cat as they see some witches on Halloween, and they meet the young, blind witch Chloë.
I should never have doubted Francés, her artwork is still impeccable and undeniably gothic. I was not sure how I was going to like these more doll-like characters (with her previous book being based specifically on Japanese ball jointed dolls, which luckily I have learned a bit about because one of my best friend has this hobby), but Sasha will win your heart over. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and dark. The old fashioned circus and clown elements are excellently done (I have had a class only about clowns).
The story is much better written than the Favol series. It probably helps that it is an actual story instead of poetry, but there is still a feel of poetry in the narrative. There are poems and rhymes in several languages sprinkled throughout the book (with English translations included). It is a picture book, so there are pages with no writing, and there is not very much included. Having said that though, it is an intriguing story, and I really cared about what happened to Sasha and later Chloë. I would also warn people that this is not really a story for young children either, it is a little dark.
I am hoping there will be more episode/books in this series. There is something wonderful about a dark story and beautiful artwork. Plus I want to learn more about Sasha and Chloë.
Final Verdict: A beautiful dark picture book for those interested in gothic stories. One that I have already ordered!
Originally Posted: http://francesandlynne.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/frances-victoria/
Misty Circus by Victoria Francés
I am a huge fan of Victoria Francés, and have been since I first stumbled across some of her gothic paintings. As I write this, I have two of her prints framed and hanging on my wall. I also own English versions of the three Favol books. However, I have not gotten a chance to read some of her newer books, the ones where she has turned away from the more traditional gothic artwork. So I was very excited to be able to read Misty Circus (which is actually the first two books/episodes for this world in one binding; 1. Sasha, the Little Pierrot, and 2. Witches Night). Just as a note this is not a novel, but more of a picture book/art based book, and is only 74 pages.
The book tells the story of little Sasha, a young Parisian boy whose dad was a mime and whose mother was a home maker. However, tragedy strikes when his mother dies, and his father, overcome by grief, leaves. Left wandering Paris, Sasha eventually stumbles across the Misty Circus. The second story follows Sasha and his cat as they see some witches on Halloween, and they meet the young, blind witch Chloë.
I should never have doubted Francés, her artwork is still impeccable and undeniably gothic. I was not sure how I was going to like these more doll-like characters (with her previous book being based specifically on Japanese ball jointed dolls, which luckily I have learned a bit about because one of my best friend has this hobby), but Sasha will win your heart over. The art is absolutely gorgeous, and dark. The old fashioned circus and clown elements are excellently done (I have had a class only about clowns).
The story is much better written than the Favol series. It probably helps that it is an actual story instead of poetry, but there is still a feel of poetry in the narrative. There are poems and rhymes in several languages sprinkled throughout the book (with English translations included). It is a picture book, so there are pages with no writing, and there is not very much included. Having said that though, it is an intriguing story, and I really cared about what happened to Sasha and later Chloë. I would also warn people that this is not really a story for young children either, it is a little dark.
I am hoping there will be more episode/books in this series. There is something wonderful about a dark story and beautiful artwork. Plus I want to learn more about Sasha and Chloë.
Final Verdict: A beautiful dark picture book for those interested in gothic stories. One that I have already ordered!
Originally Posted: http://francesandlynne.wordpress.com/category/book-reviews/frances-victoria/
glennisleblanc's review
2.0
I have to say the cover art is what got me to pick up the book. The story, not so much. It felt like the start of a story and not a complete story. The orphan finds a new home with a circus in the woods and makes some new friends but we never see how he lives in the circus and the ringmaster/wizard gives him shelter but not much info. If you like sad emo looking art then this is the book for you. The overall quality of the art is great but picture after picture of sad red rimmed eyed children does tend to wear.
Digital review copy provided by Netgalley
Digital review copy provided by Netgalley
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