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trin's review against another edition
3.0
This was...okay. It's possible all the hype raised my expectations too high, and thus dampered my enjoyment. Ferris' art is beautiful, but the story was overloaded with characters and plot elements -- it could have really used some focused editing. Also, it was often really difficult to navigate the movement of the panels and dialogue; I got lost and read the wrong way not just once or twice, but with extreme frequency. And I say this as someone who reads a lot of comics and graphic novels, and is therefore pretty darn familiar with the usual structural conceits. There were places where the House of Leaves-style textual manipulation worked, but many many others where it seemed like Ferris wanted to have the reader proceed in a somewhat linear fashion...except it was nearly impossible to tell what that was.
Also on the subject of expectations: I'd been led to believe that this was mostly a story about a girl obsessed with monsters and how she views the world. Actually, a solid third or more is a Holocaust narrative filled -- even before the Nazis show up! -- with graphic and brutal sexual violence. I understand the links Ferris is drawing between different kinds of monsters, but there was one I thought I was signing up for here, and one I wasn't.
Also on the subject of expectations: I'd been led to believe that this was mostly a story about a girl obsessed with monsters and how she views the world. Actually, a solid third or more is a Holocaust narrative filled -- even before the Nazis show up! -- with graphic and brutal sexual violence. I understand the links Ferris is drawing between different kinds of monsters, but there was one I thought I was signing up for here, and one I wasn't.
knittingchaos's review against another edition
5.0
This tale of a young girl dealing with a hard life is excellent. The artwork is phenomenal. I can't wait until volume 2 comes out.
bookwormmelissa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
aimeeverret's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Pedophilia, War, Trafficking, Alcohol, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Deportation, and Genocide
Moderate: Homophobia, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Gore
magsreadingjourney's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thebeercanon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
A monsterpiece! Incredible...ly disturbing! I wanted to read this because it takes place in Uptown Chicago in the 1960s and I am basically here for all the new left stuff happening there at that time, and the hillbillies of course... but that's barely even background noise in this book. I am glad I didn't know there'd be a lot of Holocaust in it, but breaking it up with funny Chicago mobsters, trips to the Art Institute and other bits and bobs of humor kept me from drowning in my own tears. Like others, I had some beef with some of the plot and I really don't like the survivors-were-prostitutes thing which gets way more evil use here in the German language area than in Chicago I bet... but I am reserving any judgement on that until I can read the conclusion.
sandrarn's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
matchamademoiselle's review against another edition
2.0
J'avais énormément d'attente quant à ce monument de papier, autant par sa forme que par les éloges faits à son sujet, et j'en reviens de loin…
J'ai été incapable de dépasser la moitié de l'ouvrage.
Artistiquement, c'est très intéressant et vaste. J'aime beaucoup le fait que ça soit organisé comme un carnet, le tout stylo bic, les centaines de traits, les détails, les fausses couvertures horrifiques, les portraits de Anka qui sont très beaux. Mais pour le reste ...
Les histoires s'emmêlent trop, la narration est lourde, les changements de sens des phrases gênent dans ma lecture, j'ai été incapable de m'attacher un minimum à l'enfant (je ne me souviens même plus de son nom). L'ennui m'a assaillie dès les 10 premières pages.
J'en ressors très déçue, peut-être n'ai-je pas la capacité à pouvoir l'apprécier ou peut être n'est-il absolument pas fait pour moi. Néanmoins, je comprends qu'il ne laisse pas indifférent.
J'ai été incapable de dépasser la moitié de l'ouvrage.
Artistiquement, c'est très intéressant et vaste. J'aime beaucoup le fait que ça soit organisé comme un carnet, le tout stylo bic, les centaines de traits, les détails, les fausses couvertures horrifiques, les portraits de Anka qui sont très beaux. Mais pour le reste ...
Les histoires s'emmêlent trop, la narration est lourde, les changements de sens des phrases gênent dans ma lecture, j'ai été incapable de m'attacher un minimum à l'enfant (je ne me souviens même plus de son nom). L'ennui m'a assaillie dès les 10 premières pages.
J'en ressors très déçue, peut-être n'ai-je pas la capacité à pouvoir l'apprécier ou peut être n'est-il absolument pas fait pour moi. Néanmoins, je comprends qu'il ne laisse pas indifférent.