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dembury's review against another edition
3.0
I feel slightly confused and partially awestruck and a little bit existential after finishing this.
Beautiful little illustrations and strange short stories that are very odd and sometimes satirical. It's honestly a little choppy, and weird, but- it worked. I would read more by Davis.
Beautiful little illustrations and strange short stories that are very odd and sometimes satirical. It's honestly a little choppy, and weird, but- it worked. I would read more by Davis.
preezilla's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
categj's review against another edition
4.0
The illustrations in How to Be Happy are amazing — the bold colours, the gorgeous linework — every page* is a delight to behold. I feel that the movement and emotion of Davis' artwork is the best part of this book.
Don't be fooled by the title or the gorgeous cover art — this book is NOT a guide book to happiness!
I found the stories quirky, weird and thought-provoking although I feel that I may have missed the point in many of the pieces. I definitely felt a lot of emotion as I was reading through this book — sadness, loneliness and hopelessness were the major feelings I experienced even as I marveled at the beautiful images. Perhaps that was the author's intent — to evoke an understanding of human longing, to find happiness, to belong.
All in all, I liked this book a lot. I feel that it is a book that I can revisit many times and experience a deeper understanding with each re-reading.
*well, almost every page — some, while exquisitely produced, were a little disconcerting — the fox tale comes to mind.
Don't be fooled by the title or the gorgeous cover art — this book is NOT a guide book to happiness!
I found the stories quirky, weird and thought-provoking although I feel that I may have missed the point in many of the pieces. I definitely felt a lot of emotion as I was reading through this book — sadness, loneliness and hopelessness were the major feelings I experienced even as I marveled at the beautiful images. Perhaps that was the author's intent — to evoke an understanding of human longing, to find happiness, to belong.
All in all, I liked this book a lot. I feel that it is a book that I can revisit many times and experience a deeper understanding with each re-reading.
*well, almost every page — some, while exquisitely produced, were a little disconcerting — the fox tale comes to mind.
coleycole's review against another edition
5.0
love the illustrations, love the stories/vignettes, love, love, love.
adenhailemariam's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 The push from a 3 to a 3.5/4 is that I adore the illustration styles and, immediately after finishing reading a digital version of this book, I wanted to purchase a physical copy to have somewhere in my house I can see all the time.
This *seems* like something I’d really like. I like sequential art and short stories. I keep thinking, though, that this and other books/collections I’ve read are a mashup of comic strips and short stories that don’t quite mesh. I’ve gotten a lot out of three-panel strips, to say nothing about what a one-panel comic can do. I own plenty of books collecting the work of my favorite webcomic artists. It feels sometimes like vignettes like those in this book don’t quite do what a comic strip or a comic book or graphic novel or a more plotted short story could do…but maybe that’s just it. Maybe it’s that they’re vignettes.
As other reviews have mentioned, the stories can be a bit too short, have little plot, or a plot or message that went over people’s heads. Still there were at least a few that were moving and relatable. A little too close to home, even. I enjoyed the illustration in all of them except the one about the fox that died but that’s more the content of the illustration rather than the style.
I imagine I’m going to be thinking about this book a lot even if just In the next couple days.
This *seems* like something I’d really like. I like sequential art and short stories. I keep thinking, though, that this and other books/collections I’ve read are a mashup of comic strips and short stories that don’t quite mesh. I’ve gotten a lot out of three-panel strips, to say nothing about what a one-panel comic can do. I own plenty of books collecting the work of my favorite webcomic artists. It feels sometimes like vignettes like those in this book don’t quite do what a comic strip or a comic book or graphic novel or a more plotted short story could do…but maybe that’s just it. Maybe it’s that they’re vignettes.
As other reviews have mentioned, the stories can be a bit too short, have little plot, or a plot or message that went over people’s heads. Still there were at least a few that were moving and relatable. A little too close to home, even. I enjoyed the illustration in all of them except the one about the fox that died but that’s more the content of the illustration rather than the style.
I imagine I’m going to be thinking about this book a lot even if just In the next couple days.
chaz_dickens's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
rebekahmm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic depiction and description of an animal being skinned. Kinda gruesome.
thaoeatworld's review against another edition
4.0
An incredibly quirky collective. Definitely made me more introspective and sad than happy.