ericawrites's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning is slow, and at times, the art fails to lead the eye toward the next bit of text. That said, the art is incredible, and stories has tons of substories and layers. I love mysteries.
kjboldon's review against another edition
5.0
A coming of age murder mystery, the story and art are intricate and enthralling.
samxxtha's review against another edition
5.0
beautiful. amazing. wonderful. reread when feeling uninspired.
maureenmcc's review against another edition
4.0
I have never read a graphic novel before, but upon the recommendation of a fellow book club member, I got this book from the library. When I flipped through it, it was nearly 400 pages of densely drawn pictures and text -- including a lot of sex and gore -- and I thought "no way".
But in fact, I was ALL IN by about page 15. It's weird and crazy and not always easy to read or even look at, but the story and how it's told/visually represented are so unique that I was immediately intrigued. There are lots of layers of meanings here and a lot to digest, and being set in Chicago in the 60's made it more personal. I was upset to get to the end and find out this was Part 1 -- Part 2 comes out in October, so you are left hanging with a number of majorly unresolved issues. I'll be back...
But in fact, I was ALL IN by about page 15. It's weird and crazy and not always easy to read or even look at, but the story and how it's told/visually represented are so unique that I was immediately intrigued. There are lots of layers of meanings here and a lot to digest, and being set in Chicago in the 60's made it more personal. I was upset to get to the end and find out this was Part 1 -- Part 2 comes out in October, so you are left hanging with a number of majorly unresolved issues. I'll be back...
aprilthelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
Exceptional graphic novel. I can't wait for the next one.
katiecatbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Horror. Mystery. Told from the perspective of a child.
Story: Karen is a young girl who would prefer to live her life in the world of monsters and demons than deal with the harsh realities of her lower class neighborhood in Chicago. When an upstairs neighbor is found dead, Karen decides to investigate and gets wrapped up into a web of rumors, stories, criminals and shadowy, questionable figures, all while trying to sort our her own troubles with school, friends, bullies and family.
Language: This is a huge graphic novel, physically in size and weight, and length. It is separated into chapters by pulp magazine covers and told in first person perspective by Karen. The art is pencil based, and primarily black and white with accents of red, blue and yellow. The drawings are so rich and precise that readers may find themselves touching parts of the pages to find out if it's two or three dimensional. This is a very dark and adult story with violence, foul language and sexual art.
Characters: Karen is ten years old and writes and draws this story as a sort of diary or journal. She lives with her mother and older brother, Diego, in an apartment in 1960's Chicago. Karen has a huge imagination and a huge amount of self confidence and bravery.
I was surprised at how much I liked this book, especially as it progressed. This is a very deep and complex story with many layers and our little unreliable protagonist gives us enough information to piece things together ourselves and at the same time experience many twists and surprises along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style, and the artist's use of real paintings to tell the story and her use of color. Looking forward to part two.
Story: Karen is a young girl who would prefer to live her life in the world of monsters and demons than deal with the harsh realities of her lower class neighborhood in Chicago. When an upstairs neighbor is found dead, Karen decides to investigate and gets wrapped up into a web of rumors, stories, criminals and shadowy, questionable figures, all while trying to sort our her own troubles with school, friends, bullies and family.
Language: This is a huge graphic novel, physically in size and weight, and length. It is separated into chapters by pulp magazine covers and told in first person perspective by Karen. The art is pencil based, and primarily black and white with accents of red, blue and yellow. The drawings are so rich and precise that readers may find themselves touching parts of the pages to find out if it's two or three dimensional. This is a very dark and adult story with violence, foul language and sexual art.
Characters: Karen is ten years old and writes and draws this story as a sort of diary or journal. She lives with her mother and older brother, Diego, in an apartment in 1960's Chicago. Karen has a huge imagination and a huge amount of self confidence and bravery.
I was surprised at how much I liked this book, especially as it progressed. This is a very deep and complex story with many layers and our little unreliable protagonist gives us enough information to piece things together ourselves and at the same time experience many twists and surprises along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed the art style, and the artist's use of real paintings to tell the story and her use of color. Looking forward to part two.
bluenicorn's review against another edition
4.0
This was really great- visually stunning and a storyline with several compelling parts. I just need closure!!
eraofkara's review against another edition
5.0
Hoo boy.
I actually had to go back and reread the last quarter of the book, because I was sick at the original time of reading, and I wasn't sure if I caught everything or if it was all a crazy fever dream. (I had. It wasn't.) Ferris' work is utterly amazing, both in scope and in form. Her art travels from lurid, R. Crumb-like caricature to realism to pulp horror to scrapey sketched cartoons, and all with a set of regular ol' Bic pens. Just paging through her scenes of late '60s-era Uptown in Chicago blew me away.
My only qualm with the book is that there are so many dang B plots that it was easy to get confused, or have to flip back and remember what was happening with X person. Still, those stories are heartfelt, heartsick, disturbing, and somehow both gorgeous and grotesque. Absolutely recommended, and I can't wait for Book 2.
I actually had to go back and reread the last quarter of the book, because I was sick at the original time of reading, and I wasn't sure if I caught everything or if it was all a crazy fever dream. (I had. It wasn't.) Ferris' work is utterly amazing, both in scope and in form. Her art travels from lurid, R. Crumb-like caricature to realism to pulp horror to scrapey sketched cartoons, and all with a set of regular ol' Bic pens. Just paging through her scenes of late '60s-era Uptown in Chicago blew me away.
My only qualm with the book is that there are so many dang B plots that it was easy to get confused, or have to flip back and remember what was happening with X person. Still, those stories are heartfelt, heartsick, disturbing, and somehow both gorgeous and grotesque. Absolutely recommended, and I can't wait for Book 2.