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econsidine's review
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
I don't really know what I was expecting from a graphic novel called "House of Women" with an art-deco-style cover, but it certainly wasn't the bizarre, sci-fi fable/fever dream about space nuns (?) (honestly still not sure) that reminds me more of Speaker for the Dead than anything else.
It's a good read, though, and really fast — took about an hour to read, tops — so I'd recommend, mainly for the cool art and fun critique of do-gooder missionary colonialism.
It's a good read, though, and really fast — took about an hour to read, tops — so I'd recommend, mainly for the cool art and fun critique of do-gooder missionary colonialism.
lostunion's review
3.0
The art is beautiful. The story is basically a retelling of Black Narcissus and it left me kind of feeling eh.
peyjturner's review
4.0
This is a very intense graphic novel, both in story, themes and art. The story centers around a group of women from an unseen galactic empire who are tasked to civilize the alien population of a wild, recently discovered planet with the aid of a shady man. The art is a stark black and white, simplistic at first glance, but the deft use of light and dark and shadows and contrast make this book a seriously good read. I don’t recommend it for everyone though, because it deals with sexual themes and isn’t afraid to show nudity. But, if you can stand that, you should be good!
iliapop's review
4.0
A science fiction adaptation of Powell & Pressburger's film Black Narcissus. It doesn't improve on the source material, although in fairness that's quite a tall order. Like the film, much of the characterisation is left as subtext. Goldstein extends this approach to the overall world in which the story is set in, which remains mysterious. The heavy use of black is reminiscent of Mike Mignola's Hellboy, an influence that is also felt in the allusions to the crumbling remains of a previous culture's attempts to civilise the planet, as well as the monstrous and tragic transformation of human and alien.
kiri's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tinaathena's review
4.0
Moody, sexy and restrained on story. The style in this is really interesting, with some art nouveau and maybe classic euro fairy tale imagery. The lettering leaves a little too be desired, it's not bad but it's just a hair off in the style to me. Fun world
woowottreads's review
3.0
The art is all black and white, very bold and stark and gorgeous. With a few lines, Goldstein evokes wonderful mood and emotion. What we have is an science fiction tale of nuns trying to give the natives of a "backward" planet religion and civilization and culture. Each nun has a role and fills a different near archetype. The youngest, prettiest one also has a thing for their imperial male contact of a particular corporation doing things on the planet. So does one of her sisters. And we have the age-old jealousy women in love conflict, which was my least favorite part of the book. The scientist nun basically ruins everything because of a dude. Over the trope of jealous female.
That being said, the rest of the book was interesting and tragic and quite lovely to look at.
That being said, the rest of the book was interesting and tragic and quite lovely to look at.
pantsyreads's review
4.0
Goldstein impressed me in 2016 with her short, near-future work [b:The Oven|25080918|The Oven|Sophie Goldstein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437956727s/25080918.jpg|44767317], so I was super excited to read a longer work from her. Thankfully, [b:House of Women|36309646|House of Women|Sophie Goldstein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506458072s/36309646.jpg|57980717] didn't disappoint!
Before I even get to describing the plot, I must mention the beautiful production value of this book. Fantagraphics has bound this in a nice, naked hardback with black sprayed edges. The pages are nice, thick and obviously high-quality. It's seriously so pretty!
As for its literary merits, [b:House of Women|36309646|House of Women|Sophie Goldstein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506458072s/36309646.jpg|57980717] follow four women who have been dispatched to a far-off planet where they are tasked with educating the native population in order to make them suitable to be "citizens of the Empire". Over the few months that they are on the planet, a rift begins to separate the four women when a young, handsome delegate (who was already stationed on the planet) becomes more involved in their lives and their objective.
The plot in this work is spare - readers are given very little world-building (outside of some little morsels here and there) but Goldstein gives you just enough that you can fill in the blanks yourself. While the colonial themes aren't new, Goldstein still manages to make this an enticing read by including the added tension the group is experiencing due to the male delegate they bring in their fold.
The art style is absolutely gorgeous. I read another review that described it as "art deco" and that feels very apt - the stark b&w and geometry at play really give it a historical feel even though this is straight up sci-fi. Goldstein worked the juxstaposition of her art vs the genre to create an aesthetic that's unlike anything I've seen before. (I later found out that this work is actually a retelling of a story from 1939 - the art makes more sense in that context and is a great nod to the original work).
Before I even get to describing the plot, I must mention the beautiful production value of this book. Fantagraphics has bound this in a nice, naked hardback with black sprayed edges. The pages are nice, thick and obviously high-quality. It's seriously so pretty!
As for its literary merits, [b:House of Women|36309646|House of Women|Sophie Goldstein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1506458072s/36309646.jpg|57980717] follow four women who have been dispatched to a far-off planet where they are tasked with educating the native population in order to make them suitable to be "citizens of the Empire". Over the few months that they are on the planet, a rift begins to separate the four women when a young, handsome delegate (who was already stationed on the planet) becomes more involved in their lives and their objective.
The plot in this work is spare - readers are given very little world-building (outside of some little morsels here and there) but Goldstein gives you just enough that you can fill in the blanks yourself. While the colonial themes aren't new, Goldstein still manages to make this an enticing read by including the added tension the group is experiencing due to the male delegate they bring in their fold.
The art style is absolutely gorgeous. I read another review that described it as "art deco" and that feels very apt - the stark b&w and geometry at play really give it a historical feel even though this is straight up sci-fi. Goldstein worked the juxstaposition of her art vs the genre to create an aesthetic that's unlike anything I've seen before. (I later found out that this work is actually a retelling of a story from 1939 - the art makes more sense in that context and is a great nod to the original work).
stupidsalad8's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence