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r_for_tsundoku 's review for:
Strange Pictures
by Uketsu
It's my first time reading a thriller book that has drawings but as part of the plot and not just for illustration purposes. It's a very different experience from reading manga or a comic book or a graphic memoir. And my personal rating is based mostly on the novelty of the experience.
Some say the book is horror, some say it is a thriller. I don't have my copy on hand anymore but the first full length chapter was closer to horror than thriller. I chose to read the book at 2am on a insomnia-ridden stormy night and that probably was a contributing factor. It was unsettling to read, the drawings were deceptively plain yet eerie, and the pace was great. It was excellent. The next chapter was not as scary but still had a bit of a horror vibe to it. However, the rest of the book is actually an extremely typical mystery thriller. So if you're someone like me who never reads horror and doesn't want to, you can actually make an exception for this book because it is not very scary at all. It is really just a formulaic thriller with moments of a horror-esque ambience.
The book is also advertised like a series of short stories and while it may seem like it, all the stories are connected by a larger plot that is revealed in the end. I thought it was important to mention because the individual stories feel very unfinished and unsatisfying otherwise and might make people want to DNF the book.
All the drawings in every chapter are connected or understood via a gimmick of sorts. All the gimmicks were new to me so that was very enjoyable to uncover and learn. The writing itself was extremely simple, simply laying down facts and devoid of imagery, metaphor, etc. I am completely fine with that because that was not the central focus of the book and it can be refreshing occasionally to read a plot so clearly without hacking through miles of descriptive prose. But this might even come across as juvenile writing to other readers. Without giving away plot spoilers, I will say some of the things in the second half of the book were predictable and almost amateurish for experienced thriller readers. Unfortunately the very last chapter and the larger plot connecting all the preceding chapters was very weak, with large leaps in logic and unclear character motives. Overall, the promise held by the first three chapters wanes heavily in the second half.
Individual elements of the book can be reviewed independently, and praised or forgiven accordingly. Loved the way drawings were the actual plot mechanic. There is no character depth whatsoever, just plain names of actors whose not so motivationally clear actions progress the plot. The individual stories are better than the weak contrived overall plot. A seasoned thriller reader will not be impressed and should avoid the book if they're seeking for groundbreaking and mindbending twists. But you can pick up the book if you're intrigued by the drawing aspect, looking for a light read that's still a thriller and want to give your brain cells a break while not letting them get bored. As a reading experience, it is unique and interesting enough that I highly recommend it. Read it more with your eyes than your brain.
Some say the book is horror, some say it is a thriller. I don't have my copy on hand anymore but the first full length chapter was closer to horror than thriller. I chose to read the book at 2am on a insomnia-ridden stormy night and that probably was a contributing factor. It was unsettling to read, the drawings were deceptively plain yet eerie, and the pace was great. It was excellent. The next chapter was not as scary but still had a bit of a horror vibe to it. However, the rest of the book is actually an extremely typical mystery thriller. So if you're someone like me who never reads horror and doesn't want to, you can actually make an exception for this book because it is not very scary at all. It is really just a formulaic thriller with moments of a horror-esque ambience.
The book is also advertised like a series of short stories and while it may seem like it, all the stories are connected by a larger plot that is revealed in the end. I thought it was important to mention because the individual stories feel very unfinished and unsatisfying otherwise and might make people want to DNF the book.
All the drawings in every chapter are connected or understood via a gimmick of sorts. All the gimmicks were new to me so that was very enjoyable to uncover and learn. The writing itself was extremely simple, simply laying down facts and devoid of imagery, metaphor, etc. I am completely fine with that because that was not the central focus of the book and it can be refreshing occasionally to read a plot so clearly without hacking through miles of descriptive prose. But this might even come across as juvenile writing to other readers. Without giving away plot spoilers, I will say some of the things in the second half of the book were predictable and almost amateurish for experienced thriller readers. Unfortunately the very last chapter and the larger plot connecting all the preceding chapters was very weak, with large leaps in logic and unclear character motives. Overall, the promise held by the first three chapters wanes heavily in the second half.
Individual elements of the book can be reviewed independently, and praised or forgiven accordingly. Loved the way drawings were the actual plot mechanic. There is no character depth whatsoever, just plain names of actors whose not so motivationally clear actions progress the plot. The individual stories are better than the weak contrived overall plot. A seasoned thriller reader will not be impressed and should avoid the book if they're seeking for groundbreaking and mindbending twists. But you can pick up the book if you're intrigued by the drawing aspect, looking for a light read that's still a thriller and want to give your brain cells a break while not letting them get bored. As a reading experience, it is unique and interesting enough that I highly recommend it. Read it more with your eyes than your brain.