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A review by jiddle
Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock
5.0
Griffin and Sabine is a short, sweet, and physically interesting book. Known for its strange, unique, and intricate form, it remains a staple in modern epistolary fiction and ergodic fiction,
Griffin Moss is a depressed London-based postcard artist, who gets a mysterious postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman from the fictional Sicmon Islands. Sabine explains that she can "see" Griffin drawing his works of art, and this leads to a spiraling, confusing, and thought-provoking story. We wonder: why does Sabine have this power? Who is this Sabine? Is Griffin making this all up in his mind? None of these questions are ever really answered, but this is the first of seven books, so that can be forgiven.
The characters, Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem, are different individuals. Griffin is a depressed, paranoid artist with a dry sense of humor and tragic background which he has seemingly little emotions over. His parents died when he was in grade school, but he never felt any sadness over it, but rather sadness over his aunt's death. Sabine is a quirky, mysterious woman, whose background is compelling and exotic, and who writes cryptically. Throughout the book, Sabine's existence is questioned at the book's end, and is not resolved in the bit until the third book's ambiguous ending.
The main part of this book that keeps people reading is its style. Griffin and Sabine is shown as a series of postcards and letters. However, these postcards are printed out front and back on the book's pages, with intricate, handmade designs o the front and handwritten letters on the back. The letters are something more. The front shows another drawing, but the back is a real envelope flap with loose paper to be taken out and read. The purpose of this is to create a sense of voyeurism and reading through other people's correspondence, which the book blurb assumes everybody loves.
Overall, Griffin and Sabine is a unique read, and although it does lack in story, its style and presentation makes it a great, short read. A Munchkin of a novel, if you will.
Griffin Moss is a depressed London-based postcard artist, who gets a mysterious postcard from Sabine Strohem, a woman from the fictional Sicmon Islands. Sabine explains that she can "see" Griffin drawing his works of art, and this leads to a spiraling, confusing, and thought-provoking story. We wonder: why does Sabine have this power? Who is this Sabine? Is Griffin making this all up in his mind? None of these questions are ever really answered, but this is the first of seven books, so that can be forgiven.
The characters, Griffin Moss and Sabine Strohem, are different individuals. Griffin is a depressed, paranoid artist with a dry sense of humor and tragic background which he has seemingly little emotions over. His parents died when he was in grade school, but he never felt any sadness over it, but rather sadness over his aunt's death. Sabine is a quirky, mysterious woman, whose background is compelling and exotic, and who writes cryptically. Throughout the book, Sabine's existence is questioned at the book's end, and is not resolved in the bit until the third book's ambiguous ending.
The main part of this book that keeps people reading is its style. Griffin and Sabine is shown as a series of postcards and letters. However, these postcards are printed out front and back on the book's pages, with intricate, handmade designs o the front and handwritten letters on the back. The letters are something more. The front shows another drawing, but the back is a real envelope flap with loose paper to be taken out and read. The purpose of this is to create a sense of voyeurism and reading through other people's correspondence, which the book blurb assumes everybody loves.
Overall, Griffin and Sabine is a unique read, and although it does lack in story, its style and presentation makes it a great, short read. A Munchkin of a novel, if you will.