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A review by michaeljohnhalseartistry
Through the Woods by E.M. Carroll
2.0
Through the Woods is a collection of eerie, chilling, and horrific stories that comes from the imagination of celebrated Canadian graphic novelist Emily Carroll. It tells five different stories, all set within the wooded countryside and illustrated in Carroll's very artistic and unique style. The art style is unlike anything I've seen before (granted my comic book/graphic novel experience is quite limited), but she has a very fluid, animated feel to her work. It's not realistic at all, but very flowing, abstract, and really reminded me of the artwork seen in the children's book Madeline. It's very whimsical and child-like, despite being down right terrifying at times.
Regardless of the artwork, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this graphic novel as a whole, and unfortunately it was because I found the writing kind of poor... I feel like I'm always saying this, but I realize that with comic books and graphic novels the artwork is meant to speak just as much as the words, but for me, a novelist myself, and someone who reads a lot of novels, I always end up wanting more from the written side. Yes, the images are nice, but if there's not much to the story... it falls short for me. And overall, I was just kind of bored by Through the Woods. There were a few points where the imagery was chilling and a little unnerving, but the writing always seemed to interrupt that horror and suspense rather than enhance it.
Would I recommend Through the Woods? Undoubtedly, Carroll's unnerving imagery and abstract style paints a dark and twisted series of stories. It's like a unique blend between children's book visuals (and writing) and more chilling, adult horror. And those two different elements mixed very well together here. Just go into this graphic novel expecting a fun, light read. Don't expect it to thrill you, frighten you, or be some genre altering work, and you'll be fine.
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michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse
Regardless of the artwork, I wasn't overly enthusiastic about this graphic novel as a whole, and unfortunately it was because I found the writing kind of poor... I feel like I'm always saying this, but I realize that with comic books and graphic novels the artwork is meant to speak just as much as the words, but for me, a novelist myself, and someone who reads a lot of novels, I always end up wanting more from the written side. Yes, the images are nice, but if there's not much to the story... it falls short for me. And overall, I was just kind of bored by Through the Woods. There were a few points where the imagery was chilling and a little unnerving, but the writing always seemed to interrupt that horror and suspense rather than enhance it.
Would I recommend Through the Woods? Undoubtedly, Carroll's unnerving imagery and abstract style paints a dark and twisted series of stories. It's like a unique blend between children's book visuals (and writing) and more chilling, adult horror. And those two different elements mixed very well together here. Just go into this graphic novel expecting a fun, light read. Don't expect it to thrill you, frighten you, or be some genre altering work, and you'll be fine.
-----
FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS, MY OWN NOVELS, AND PHOTOGRAPHY, CHECK OUT MY WEBSITE:
michaeljohnhalse.wix.com/michaeljohnhalse