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rkking's review
4.0
It also goes into some history regarding monsters and myth, and how much it all inspired him and other creatives in their work... exactly like myself!
If only I could ever visit the Bleak House in person one day.... *sigh*
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geekwayne's review
5.0
'Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters: Inside His Films, Notebooks, and Collections' by Guillermo del Toro was written as a companion piece to a museum exhibit by three museums. I think even without the exhibit, it's a completely fascinating read.
Guillermo del Toro is known best as a film director, but he is also an avid collector of all kinds of things. His home, Bleak House, is stuffed with items, but his house is also meticulously curated like a museum. He uses the rooms and objects as inspirations for his film ideas. They include life-size statues of famous horror creators and actors, like characters from Tod Browning's Freaks, and H.P. Lovecraft. The Frankenstein monster holds a special place for him and it is a feature in his house.
The book includes a series of essays and interviews separated into two parts. Part one is about collecting monsters and talks about Guillermo del Toro's collecting passion and an interview. The second part is called Inspiration and Obsession and talks about the things that influence the director, like Victoriana, magic, freaks and monsters, and death and the afterlife.
Throughout the book are pictures of the items in the director's house. There are also pictures of his notebooks.
I almost got to see this exhibit last year at LACMA, but the museum was closed on the only day I could make the trip. I really wish I'd been able to view this in person. Guillermo del Toro is a film buff, a culture collector, and appreciates both high and low forms of art with no distinction between the two. He is also creative and passionate about his art, as you can tell from this book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Guillermo del Toro is known best as a film director, but he is also an avid collector of all kinds of things. His home, Bleak House, is stuffed with items, but his house is also meticulously curated like a museum. He uses the rooms and objects as inspirations for his film ideas. They include life-size statues of famous horror creators and actors, like characters from Tod Browning's Freaks, and H.P. Lovecraft. The Frankenstein monster holds a special place for him and it is a feature in his house.
The book includes a series of essays and interviews separated into two parts. Part one is about collecting monsters and talks about Guillermo del Toro's collecting passion and an interview. The second part is called Inspiration and Obsession and talks about the things that influence the director, like Victoriana, magic, freaks and monsters, and death and the afterlife.
Throughout the book are pictures of the items in the director's house. There are also pictures of his notebooks.
I almost got to see this exhibit last year at LACMA, but the museum was closed on the only day I could make the trip. I really wish I'd been able to view this in person. Guillermo del Toro is a film buff, a culture collector, and appreciates both high and low forms of art with no distinction between the two. He is also creative and passionate about his art, as you can tell from this book.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Insight Editions and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
cat_thecatlady's review
4.0
this is mandatory read for any del Toro fans! it's only a little glimpse to the mind and influences of the man himself, but it's fascinating because it's personal and seems very accurate and precise. there's no other director I wish I had the opportunity to sit and talk to with, specially about monsters. I relate heavily with him, specially since we both have a childhood traumatised by the outside notion that our fondness with the dark and misunderstood creatures can only be bad.
I would love to visit bleak house but I fear I would never want to get out.
I would love to visit bleak house but I fear I would never want to get out.
erichart's review
4.0
A great complement to Guillermo del Toro's "Cabinet of Curiosities". The articles and interview shed a light on Del Toro's creative process, but the earlier volume goes deeper. Worth it for the first 60 pages - the interview and career analysis - the rest, though visually great, is mostly filler.
lamusadelils's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Las entrevistas e incluso la selección de citas me gustaron porque ayudan a entender la curaduría detrás de la exposición pero las imágenes, fuentes y demás detalles pudieron ser mejores para lo que cuesta el libro y para la bellísima expo. No quiero compararlo mucho con At Home with Monsters, aunque son muy similares, pero si explora temas similares explicando la visión y el proceso creativo del tío Memo.
Creo que es un libro que vale la pena siempre en conjunto con la exposición y especialmente si no han explorado otras entrevistas del tío Memo, para que la experiencia cobre otra dimensión.
Yo lo veo como un panfleto elegante y un souvenir bonito de una experiencia única.
Las entrevistas e incluso la selección de citas me gustaron porque ayudan a entender la curaduría detrás de la exposición pero las imágenes, fuentes y demás detalles pudieron ser mejores para lo que cuesta el libro y para la bellísima expo. No quiero compararlo mucho con At Home with Monsters, aunque son muy similares, pero si explora temas similares explicando la visión y el proceso creativo del tío Memo.
Creo que es un libro que vale la pena siempre en conjunto con la exposición y especialmente si no han explorado otras entrevistas del tío Memo, para que la experiencia cobre otra dimensión.
Yo lo veo como un panfleto elegante y un souvenir bonito de una experiencia única.