simon_reads03's review
5.0
If you want a book that will make you analyze your whole existence in a quick and almost meditating way, pick this up.
This book takes the reader through a series of disjointed and small fragments of people’s lives in one single shared space through time. The entire book is set painting one single angle of a room in a house, what it was before, and what it was after. Billions of years of history in one singular room. It was great.
It’s actually impressive to see such beautiful work displayed in a way that could potentially be confusing and overwhelming, but ultimately presents a mediating perspective. I found myself in a sort of dreamlike state while reading this, feeling the very small fragments of each year. The pull of emotions is very strong and McGuire does an excellent job calling back specific points, joining very different situations that humans experience but that have the same core, and even creating a rhyme or two in there.
It reads like a painting that you just want to stare at for forever, but here, it changes. You see before your eyes the history of the corner of this room. The people who lived in it, and what I found most fascinating and creative was that McGuire chose to merge contrasting time periods into one page. Each turn was a whisper, humans and animals and nature and time snapping back and forth in my head.
It’s one of those books that makes you really think. And as corny as it sounds, it makes your perspective truly change.
This book takes the reader through a series of disjointed and small fragments of people’s lives in one single shared space through time. The entire book is set painting one single angle of a room in a house, what it was before, and what it was after. Billions of years of history in one singular room. It was great.
It’s actually impressive to see such beautiful work displayed in a way that could potentially be confusing and overwhelming, but ultimately presents a mediating perspective. I found myself in a sort of dreamlike state while reading this, feeling the very small fragments of each year. The pull of emotions is very strong and McGuire does an excellent job calling back specific points, joining very different situations that humans experience but that have the same core, and even creating a rhyme or two in there.
It reads like a painting that you just want to stare at for forever, but here, it changes. You see before your eyes the history of the corner of this room. The people who lived in it, and what I found most fascinating and creative was that McGuire chose to merge contrasting time periods into one page. Each turn was a whisper, humans and animals and nature and time snapping back and forth in my head.
It’s one of those books that makes you really think. And as corny as it sounds, it makes your perspective truly change.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
4.0
“Life has a flair for rhyming events.”
Have you wondered what your house looked like before you lived in it? “Your” property before you owned it? “Your” property 100 years ago? 200? A millennia ago? Millions of years ago? That’s what “Here” is all about.
“Here” is a graphic novel that tells the story of a corner room throughout millions of years (the dawn of life and the eras of the dinosaurs, prehistoric native Americans, colonialists, practically every decade of the 20th century, and the near future). Each page depicts the corner room and multiple eras simultaneously (scrapbook style). For what it lacks it narrative, it makes up in visuals. It is a visual feast.
Have you wondered what your house looked like before you lived in it? “Your” property before you owned it? “Your” property 100 years ago? 200? A millennia ago? Millions of years ago? That’s what “Here” is all about.
“Here” is a graphic novel that tells the story of a corner room throughout millions of years (the dawn of life and the eras of the dinosaurs, prehistoric native Americans, colonialists, practically every decade of the 20th century, and the near future). Each page depicts the corner room and multiple eras simultaneously (scrapbook style). For what it lacks it narrative, it makes up in visuals. It is a visual feast.
jazzyjan94's review
3.0
This was an interesting graphic novel which follows a corner of a room over a span of several million years. It jumps around a lot and it isn't consecutive, but the date is given in each panel. I liked it because we see this corner of the room from all the way back in the prehistoric era all the way through to over 200 years in the future. It was just fascinating to see all the changes that happen, especially from the late 1800s when the corner of the room is just a piece of open land to when it became a house! I gave it 3.5/5 Stars because all though I loved the concept, some of the artwork left much to be desired.
samtana's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
julie_m_mills's review
3.0
I finished this in about twenty minutes. I liked the interesting concept of focusing on a place instead of people, but the implementation doesn't seem to go much beyond that idea. What I really missed was the kind of deeper story similar works build (see my review of Touch, for example).
I would tend to agree with some other reviewers that this should be considered a piece of art rather than a book. It has the mysterious appeal of a painting, and about as much meat.
I would tend to agree with some other reviewers that this should be considered a piece of art rather than a book. It has the mysterious appeal of a painting, and about as much meat.
bookmaddie's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Exploring life through the lens of a single room in a home, over thousands of years. Gorgeous artwork and clever layout choices. Makes you think about the echoes of time and history. Somewhat meditative.
gooeykablooie's review
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
5.0
Just made me happy. Different and wonderful graphic novel where each page is a picture of the exact same location at a different point in time.
andrewb21's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
A fascinating and original concept, with a wonderful art style and some really stunning panels. I do wish it had been a little easier to follow throughlines and story arcs in different time periods, but overall am very glad I read it.