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mjfmjfmjf's review
2.0
Huh? I definitely don't understand the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize. Okay so the main part of the story is beautiful. But pointless. And the back end is boring and pointless. So does that mean that the rest of the graphic novels that year were not as good? I think not.
btmarino84's review
5.0
This is an incredibly powerful work. I went into it knowing nothing about it, and I'm glad I did, because I had no idea what to expect or where the book would go. The Immonens have never been better at their craft (and that's saying something as Stuart is one of the best damn artists in the business and Kathryn's comics are always unique.) I really hope they keep making these little GNs together.
A word of warning. It's very very sad, and deals with loss in a poetic and evocative way. It will stay with you.
A word of warning. It's very very sad, and deals with loss in a poetic and evocative way. It will stay with you.
michplunkett's review
3.0
While it was definitely interesting, the ending left me wanting and the main character seemed less than interesting if you leave out the Jumbo the elephant part.
To put it as succinctly as possible, it had beautiful illustrations but suffered from a mostly lackluster plot.
To put it as succinctly as possible, it had beautiful illustrations but suffered from a mostly lackluster plot.
emdoux's review
3.0
This was a very, very strange book and I'm not entirely sure I have any idea what happened in it.
That said, it was beautiful. I loved the style change, and the poetry paired with the broken windows - and the dog...
I just have no idea what happened.
That said, it was beautiful. I loved the style change, and the poetry paired with the broken windows - and the dog...
I just have no idea what happened.
robin_dh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
shinymensch's review
3.0
I found it to be an interesting story. The artwork is really well done. I would read it again.
monique_horn's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
chadleyc's review
4.0
This was...interesting.
A woman goes to work in a remote location. She is stranded in the wilderness. Her depressed lover has trouble leaving the house. And then there's an essay about elephants, death, and motels.
A lot of people have described this as an "experimental" work. It isn't really experimental. It's a piece of literary fiction in a graphic novel format. So, I guess, experimental for the graphic novel world, but using some standard tropes of modern literary fiction.
Russian Olive to Red King is by turns whimsical, dreamlike, and heartbreaking. I very much enjoyed the visual flow of the story and how the characters were on parallel tracks. Stuart Immonen's art has always been a favorite and I enjoyed Kathryn's writing immensely.
The only reason that this is 4 stars instead of 5 is that I felt the essay at the end took up too much of the book. Graphic novels are a marriage of art and word, but the minor visual aspects during the essay chapter didn't help the essay flow . The essay itself is a fine piece of writing, but it felt too stark after the wonderful marriage of art and writing in the rest of the book.
Still, pretty darn cool.
A woman goes to work in a remote location. She is stranded in the wilderness. Her depressed lover has trouble leaving the house. And then there's an essay about elephants, death, and motels.
A lot of people have described this as an "experimental" work. It isn't really experimental. It's a piece of literary fiction in a graphic novel format. So, I guess, experimental for the graphic novel world, but using some standard tropes of modern literary fiction.
Russian Olive to Red King is by turns whimsical, dreamlike, and heartbreaking. I very much enjoyed the visual flow of the story and how the characters were on parallel tracks. Stuart Immonen's art has always been a favorite and I enjoyed Kathryn's writing immensely.
The only reason that this is 4 stars instead of 5 is that I felt the essay at the end took up too much of the book. Graphic novels are a marriage of art and word, but the minor visual aspects during the essay chapter didn't help the essay flow . The essay itself is a fine piece of writing, but it felt too stark after the wonderful marriage of art and writing in the rest of the book.
Still, pretty darn cool.
tracydurnell's review
3.0
Loved the art. The story was pretty nihilistic and bleak, starting with one of the characters already suffering from depression and then having a major loss. The story was divided into 'books,' and I totally didn't understand that the last book (which was in prose with photos) was supposed to be the character's essay until after I gave up on reading it (I thought it was a weird author's note / afterword). Didn't bother to finish reading it even after I realized it was part of the story.