Reviews

Ex Libris by Matt Madden

jstark545's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

wkndstbl's review

challenging hopeful mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

This book is pretty special. It shines the light of an introspective narrative thru a prism of genres, and the result is a psychodrama of the self told across many different art styles. 

Not afraid to be thematic or philosophical, and the various art styles are always done faithfully. It shows a tremendous mastery of the craft to be able to emulate so many styles so cromulently!

verno's review

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

reedmorebooks's review

mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

2.0

thunderdone's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

A fun exploration in style! I think the theme was solid, and the method of exploration of that theme matched well with the style(s) of the graphic novel itself. However, it did get a little repetitive. I really enjoyed the second person point of view, especially with the way it intermingled with the way the main character reading comics worked. 

slipstream's review

mysterious reflective

4.5

I love metafiction so l knew I’d like this, and l did, but l felt like the concept could have been taken even further 

shea_proulx's review

adventurous informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

mschlat's review

1.0

One of Matt Madden's biggest strengths is the ability to cartoon effectively in so many different styles (one of the reasons why I liked [b:99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style|162074|99 Ways to Tell a Story Exercises in Style|Matt Madden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309209474l/162074._SX50_.jpg|1173573] so much). Here, Madden writes a story that uses that strength; our protagonist is in a room filled with graphic novels and reads many of them (thus producing changes in tone), with some of them being exploration of still more comics and cartoons. It's all very meta, and that's part of why I ended up disliking the book so much. There is the bare bones of a plot (who is our protagonist? why are they in the room? what happened in their failed relationship?), but the conceit of showing all the different comic genres and art robs much of the emotion out of the text. Once you add to that a vague and repetitive narration, I pretty much wanted the book to end.

noellepb's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-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? It's complicated

3.75

prynne31's review

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75