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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If Arthur Rackham and H. P. Lovecraft had an artist lovechild, that artist might create fanciful horror illustrations like Omar Rayyan's lush watercolor and oil images. I discovered Rayyan long ago on on his Etsy studio page, where his print of his oil painting titled "The Socialite" made me laugh out loud. Finding that Rayyan had released an illustrated interpretive edition of Christina Rossetti's iconic poem Goblin Market was a delightful surprise that made great sense, when I think of some of Rayyan's frightful yet humorous creatures. It's easy to imagine that Goblin Market has long fascinated him.
This is a book targeting adults, based on its somewhat steep $35 price tag. But if you love his work, you'll know that it's a real bargain to have so many of his illustrations. And if you love the poem that has inspired so many writers of magic, it's all the better. My only criticism is that if you want to read the verses paired to the many images, the delicately drawn text is rather difficult to read. Though the full poem is offered in clear bold text at the back, flipping back and forth reduces the enjoyment and flow of his illustrations. I'd suggest reading the full poem first and then paging through the 80+ pages of illustrations, letting the imagery lead you through Christina Rossetti's sensuous masterpiece of sisterly love overcoming goblin malice.
This is a book targeting adults, based on its somewhat steep $35 price tag. But if you love his work, you'll know that it's a real bargain to have so many of his illustrations. And if you love the poem that has inspired so many writers of magic, it's all the better. My only criticism is that if you want to read the verses paired to the many images, the delicately drawn text is rather difficult to read. Though the full poem is offered in clear bold text at the back, flipping back and forth reduces the enjoyment and flow of his illustrations. I'd suggest reading the full poem first and then paging through the 80+ pages of illustrations, letting the imagery lead you through Christina Rossetti's sensuous masterpiece of sisterly love overcoming goblin malice.
This is a beautiful little book, gorgeously illustrated by the author's brother.
The opening pages, where Goblin Men call out to the women about their market wares, reads a bit like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
The opening pages, where Goblin Men call out to the women about their market wares, reads a bit like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:
Rare pears and greengages,Whimsical, rhyming and vaguely ominous. Twin sisters hear their call; one quickly falls prey to their voice while the other resists. After Laura becomes despondent when she can no longer "[suck] until her lips are sore" (the Goblin Men's calls do not fall upon her ears any longer), Lizzie takes it upon herself to approach them and get "the antidote" for her sister's woes. By taking their abuse of fruit upon her person, but refusing steadfastly to ingest it, she is able to bring it home with her and Laura can partake once more in an uncomfortably erotic recitation:
Damsons and bilberries,
Taste them and try:
Currants and gooseberries,
Bright-fire-like barberries,
Figs to fill your mouth,
Citrons from the South,
Sweet to tongue and sound to eye;
Come buy, come buy.
She clung about her sister,It quickly becomes a heavy-handed metaphor for Victorian morality; the "fallen" one with the saintly pious sister. Joyce Carol Oates says in the afterword that this lesson is shown "perhaps too clearly for contemporary tastes", which I can certainly agree with. Still, there are many possibilities that can be drawn from the simplistic, lyrical tone. Are the Goblin Men representative of all men who tempt women from their chastity? Or are they just a representation of sexual desire that all Righteous Women, "full of wise upbraidings" should resist? One thing is made clear: men are not to be trusted.
Kissed and kissed and kissed her:
Tears once again
Refreshed her shrunken eyes,
Dropping like rain
After long sultry drouth;
Shaking with aguish fear and pain,
She kissed and kissed her with a hungry mouth.
I wasnt sure how I felt reading this collection until I realised Rossetti had depression and suddenly I understood I felt uncomfortable because a lot of the poetry resonated with me on a deeply personal level
This was so spellbinding, bedraggled, twisted, messed up, synonyms. If I say I'm NOT dreading writing an essay about it, would you believe it?
