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littlebabyducks 's review for:
Ghost World
by Daniel Clowes
I'm definitely not cool enough to love this.
I thought a graphic novel with two cynical besties would be my jam, but man this was bleak. And crass. And I felt like my good(ish) mood went from a six to a one in five minutes flat. I started feeling really irritable about pretty much everything this had to offer. I was not a big fan of the art, but I could have gotten past that. Reading the dialogue, however, felt like actual torture.
Here's the thing. I had a similar set up in high school. I had one very best friend who I could discuss anything with. We definitely gossiped and poured our hearts out and were negative and sometimes snarky and we kept most people out of our (very tiny) circle (of two). And we 100% fell apart after high school. So I thought I would really identify with this.
But WHO TALKS LIKE THIS? According to the back cover - "No one has their eye--or ear--focused on youth as acutely as Daniel Clowes." WHAT? Or this one - "For once in a comic story, people are portrayed as they really act and talk." WHAT? I suppose maybe this is how some people act, but I certainly did not nor was I close with anyone who did. These girls are just...ugh...mean and miserable. They have a mean opinion on everyone - their personalities, their life choices, their looks. Yes, there are some glimpses of a vulnerability. Yes, the last 20 pages or so gets a bit better when their age really hits you and you feel a bit bad. But all in all, I just felt like garbage after reading this.
I watched the movie years ago when it first came out, and I think it was over my head at the time, which is funny being that it came out in 2001 when I actually would have been IN high school and with aforementioned bestie. I may give it another go to see if I can stomach Enid and Rebecca in that format.
2.5 Stars Rounding to 2 So I Can Act as Miserable, Too
I thought a graphic novel with two cynical besties would be my jam, but man this was bleak. And crass. And I felt like my good(ish) mood went from a six to a one in five minutes flat. I started feeling really irritable about pretty much everything this had to offer. I was not a big fan of the art, but I could have gotten past that. Reading the dialogue, however, felt like actual torture.
Here's the thing. I had a similar set up in high school. I had one very best friend who I could discuss anything with. We definitely gossiped and poured our hearts out and were negative and sometimes snarky and we kept most people out of our (very tiny) circle (of two). And we 100% fell apart after high school. So I thought I would really identify with this.
But WHO TALKS LIKE THIS? According to the back cover - "No one has their eye--or ear--focused on youth as acutely as Daniel Clowes." WHAT? Or this one - "For once in a comic story, people are portrayed as they really act and talk." WHAT? I suppose maybe this is how some people act, but I certainly did not nor was I close with anyone who did. These girls are just...ugh...mean and miserable. They have a mean opinion on everyone - their personalities, their life choices, their looks. Yes, there are some glimpses of a vulnerability. Yes, the last 20 pages or so gets a bit better when their age really hits you and you feel a bit bad. But all in all, I just felt like garbage after reading this.
I watched the movie years ago when it first came out, and I think it was over my head at the time, which is funny being that it came out in 2001 when I actually would have been IN high school and with aforementioned bestie. I may give it another go to see if I can stomach Enid and Rebecca in that format.
2.5 Stars Rounding to 2 So I Can Act as Miserable, Too