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robin_dh's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
sleepingnerd's review
1.0
What a weird fucking book.
I'm ashamed to say it took me a good 20 pages to realize this was a not a children's book – around the third puppet murder. But then, can you blame me? Neil Gaiman is famous for his dark tales for children, like Coraline. I just thought this was... darker than most. But no, this is a horror book, though not one I liked.
I never understood what the story was trying to tell me, what was the point of it. Madness? The helplessness of childhood? Death? I don't know. It begins and ends without saying much. I just know the art was not pretty (even if the mixture of puppets, photography and drawings was interesting), and I constantly wished it was over. At least now it is, I guess.
I'm ashamed to say it took me a good 20 pages to realize this was a not a children's book – around the third puppet murder. But then, can you blame me? Neil Gaiman is famous for his dark tales for children, like Coraline. I just thought this was... darker than most. But no, this is a horror book, though not one I liked.
I never understood what the story was trying to tell me, what was the point of it. Madness? The helplessness of childhood? Death? I don't know. It begins and ends without saying much. I just know the art was not pretty (even if the mixture of puppets, photography and drawings was interesting), and I constantly wished it was over. At least now it is, I guess.
ink_nettle's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
missbookiverse's review
3.0
I listened to the audiobook which was really hard to understand because of the accents. I didn't really get the whole story but I quite liked what I could comprehend. The voice of Mr. Punch was very scary. I'd love to the story in a book.
whtbout2ndbrkfst's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
capodoglio's review against another edition
4.0
Difficile per me essere obiettivo.
Gaiman & McKean sono tra i miei artisti preferiti nei rispettivi àmbiti, e non credo ci sia una coppia artistica che, sulla lunga distanza, mi stia più a cuore di questa.
Anche se forse nessuno dei due è un genio. Forse.
Gaiman & McKean sono tra i miei artisti preferiti nei rispettivi àmbiti, e non credo ci sia una coppia artistica che, sulla lunga distanza, mi stia più a cuore di questa.
Anche se forse nessuno dei due è un genio. Forse.
belle_fiction's review
4.0
This graphic novel is one of Neil Gaiman's earliest but it's still a fantastic read.
There are lots of things to enjoy - particularly the arrangement and composition of the accompanying graphics by Dave McKean and the haunting quality of Gaiman's narrative which focuses on childhood, memories and the sinister world of adulthood.
In most of Gaiman's work these themes regularly occur and in The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch this isn't an exception. He likes to explore the past and how our childhood experiences shape us as adults. There is a haunting nostalgia to this narrative which pervades throughout and stayed with me for a while afterwards.
I've always been scared of Punch and Judy - the dolls are grotesque-looking and all I remember is the constant arguing and fighting that went on between them. If there was a baby in the production (which I honestly cannot remember) I must have blocked it out which is a definite blessing.
I've given it four stars because even though I really enjoyed it, it didn't pack the same punch (if you'll pardon the pun) as some of his other graphic novels (most notably Sandman) and the only character I liked was the narrator.
In this story, Gaiman shows us the huge void between a child's world (how adults keep him ignorant of the awful happenings they partake in) and the violent and seedy underworld of adulthood which is full of corruption and debauchery.
Most children though like to explore and ask questions, and it is definitely these curious individuals who become adults whilst still children; whether that's a blessing or not, is anyone's guess.
There are lots of things to enjoy - particularly the arrangement and composition of the accompanying graphics by Dave McKean and the haunting quality of Gaiman's narrative which focuses on childhood, memories and the sinister world of adulthood.
In most of Gaiman's work these themes regularly occur and in The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr Punch this isn't an exception. He likes to explore the past and how our childhood experiences shape us as adults. There is a haunting nostalgia to this narrative which pervades throughout and stayed with me for a while afterwards.
I've always been scared of Punch and Judy - the dolls are grotesque-looking and all I remember is the constant arguing and fighting that went on between them. If there was a baby in the production (which I honestly cannot remember) I must have blocked it out which is a definite blessing.
I've given it four stars because even though I really enjoyed it, it didn't pack the same punch (if you'll pardon the pun) as some of his other graphic novels (most notably Sandman) and the only character I liked was the narrator.
In this story, Gaiman shows us the huge void between a child's world (how adults keep him ignorant of the awful happenings they partake in) and the violent and seedy underworld of adulthood which is full of corruption and debauchery.
Most children though like to explore and ask questions, and it is definitely these curious individuals who become adults whilst still children; whether that's a blessing or not, is anyone's guess.
ashkitty93's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure what to think of this. Disturbing for sure. Loved the contrasting artwork though. Time to go rewatch DOLLS. And I may reread this eventually.
cauchemarlena's review against another edition
3.0
"The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr Punch" oli sõna otseses mõttes üks jube raamat. Üks lõputu õudusunenägu. Lugu keerleb traditsioonilise nukuteatri etenduse "Punch and Judy" ümber. Selles on vägivalda, võikaid stseene ja kogu lugu on ikka päris sünge. Mulle ei meeldinud illustratsioonid, aga need sobivad looga tegelikult päris ideaalselt. Mulle ei meeldinud ka raamatus kasutatud font, sest seda oli üsna raske lugeda. Ma jõudsin selleni üldse tänu Aaronovitchi "Rivers of London" sarja esimese raamatule, milles sellest etendusest rohkem juttu oli. Nii et, täitsin lünga oma teadmistes.