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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
A really brilliant graphic novel, Sailor, Twain is set on a steamboat in the Hudson River in the late 1800s. It plays off the mythology of the Hudson River valley from Washington Irving, steamboat/river tales from Mark Twain, and a little Moby Dick, all fused together into a dark tale that centers around the captain of the steamboat and a mermaid trapped in the Hudson River. The black-and-white drawings are brilliant, the plot is interesting and moves along at a good pace, and the overall impression is powerful.
I loved this book, however for a YA focus it is a little sexual. The art is beautiful and the setting is a part of the US we don't hear stories from, especially mythical legends. Lovely story, but HS school librarians need to be aware of contents to be able to support it if it is challenged.
This was such an interesting story. Getting to know, and unravel the story, along with Sailor Twain (not the novelist Mark Twain). There is a lot of intrigue in why the Mermaid of the Hudson is being hunted, what she wants, who knows about her, and keeping her a secret on the ship.
I really enjoyed the style of artwork as it lends itself to the era in which its written. It was hard for me to like Twain as a person, but he's a perfectly great character with plenty of faults that he has to contend with by the end of the book. I was quite surprised (and delighted) by the ending and immediately went back to the beginning of the book to read through again with full knowledge of the story.
I really enjoyed the style of artwork as it lends itself to the era in which its written. It was hard for me to like Twain as a person, but he's a perfectly great character with plenty of faults that he has to contend with by the end of the book. I was quite surprised (and delighted) by the ending and immediately went back to the beginning of the book to read through again with full knowledge of the story.
Gillade skarpt! Fina bilder och mystisk berättelse, precis i min smak. Dock förstod jag inte slutet riktigt. Därför jag velat lite mellan en 3a eller 4a men säger tillslut 4.
I liked the art a lot. The misty, creepy hudson river, the steamboat, the 1800s - it was a lovely setting. The women in this book are really pretty. Unfortunately, that's about all they are - either pretty and sexy/fuckable or pretty and evil/monstrous. I liked the mermaid mythology because mermaids were awesome, of course. Unfortunately, I did not like the storytelling and this book was unsalvageable for me. The mythology was never as in-depth as I wanted it. I kind of hated all the characters. It just didn't work for me.
I really enjoyed this story and the twist at the end was welcomed yet a tiny bit predictable.
Alright, so I am a bit late to the party with this one. The original publication of this graphic novel was 2012 but the copy I am reviewing is the 10th Anniversary Edition, due to be published in August 2022.
It isn't often I read graphic novels, but when I do, I usually fail to properly engage with them. I am happy to announce this was not the case with Sailor Twain! I seriously couldn't put this one down (which is why I am writing this review at 1 am!).
The author's simplistic, unsettling charcoal illustrations capture the dark beauty of this historical mermaid tale with ease, hooking in readers and ensuring this book is un-put-downable. The story itself is the kind of stuff that I find myself thinking about for days after I finally put the book down. I also really enjoyed the afterword, which gave some insight into the creative process behind this graphic novel and included some truly stunning colour illustrations.
I am so glad I picked up this novel and gave it a chance!
It isn't often I read graphic novels, but when I do, I usually fail to properly engage with them. I am happy to announce this was not the case with Sailor Twain! I seriously couldn't put this one down (which is why I am writing this review at 1 am!).
The author's simplistic, unsettling charcoal illustrations capture the dark beauty of this historical mermaid tale with ease, hooking in readers and ensuring this book is un-put-downable. The story itself is the kind of stuff that I find myself thinking about for days after I finally put the book down. I also really enjoyed the afterword, which gave some insight into the creative process behind this graphic novel and included some truly stunning colour illustrations.
I am so glad I picked up this novel and gave it a chance!
Hefty, enveloping, and lovingly illustrated in charcoal. The full-page drawings are a sight to see!
I wanted to like this book. I started out reading Sailor Twain as a webcomic and while I liked it, having it complied together seemed showcase some of its flaws. The art is often exquisitely rendered but is just as often completely cartoonish. There are panels that are gorgeous and there are panels that look like they were done by a high school art student (a very talented high school student, but still). The subplot with Twain's wife feels completely tacked on and empty while the story as a whole resolves itself in such a way that is frustratingly unclear and lacking in sense.
more like a 3.5 but the story is cool and i think the black and white really fits it