ljrinaldi's review against another edition
1.0
This has a good premise, but like a one-trick-pony it just wears out its welcome really quickly.
I get the joke, that the beloved cartoonist behind the family strip is missing a few gears, and that life is not all pure and good and happy. Great. But then to go on for 243 more pages about the divorce, and the kids and the son taking over the cartooning. I got bored I skipped ahead to the end, and was still bored.
Sorry, not sorry, but this book is not worth the non-paper it is printed on. It is not because I don't like satire. It is not because I don't like graphic novels. It is not for any of those reasons. I can see now why it was an instant download from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for an honest review.
I get the joke, that the beloved cartoonist behind the family strip is missing a few gears, and that life is not all pure and good and happy. Great. But then to go on for 243 more pages about the divorce, and the kids and the son taking over the cartooning. I got bored I skipped ahead to the end, and was still bored.
Sorry, not sorry, but this book is not worth the non-paper it is printed on. It is not because I don't like satire. It is not because I don't like graphic novels. It is not for any of those reasons. I can see now why it was an instant download from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley for providing this book for an honest review.
macbean221b's review against another edition
2.0
I received THE FUN FAMILY as an ARC through NetGalley.com.
I've seen several reviews of this book that were written by people who really obviously missed the "joke" and therefore hated it. I get what it's trying to satirise, and I see the aspects of pop culture it's using to do that, and...I still don't like it.
I've seen several reviews of this book that were written by people who really obviously missed the "joke" and therefore hated it. I get what it's trying to satirise, and I see the aspects of pop culture it's using to do that, and...I still don't like it.
kittykult's review against another edition
3.0
The Fun Family is a dark and sometimes surreal satirical take on comic strips like The Family Circus. If you're expecting a happy ending, read something else, because everyone is self-serving and crazy right up until the last panel.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book NetGalley. I received no incentive to read or review this book other than said copy of work. The review below contains my own thoughts and opinions. Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book NetGalley. I received no incentive to read or review this book other than said copy of work. The review below contains my own thoughts and opinions. Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
kaitwalla's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fantastic graphic novel that everyone seems to have expected to conform its storyline and characters to its style. It's satire, and fairly well-baked at that. My only quibble is that the ending seemed rushed, and could have used more room to explore.
library_hungry's review against another edition
2.0
This is...too weird. I'm not entirely sure if I get the point this book is trying to make--probably that modern life alienates you from yourself and everyone around you?
jbosio's review against another edition
4.0
I don't even know how to describe this book..."Do you have cherished memories of Family Circus that you want to destroy?" Or let's put a positive spin on it..."Do you worry that you are a bad parent? Read this book and know that you are not." I have no idea how this book sucked me in. I don't normally read graphic novels, but I finished this in one day. And now I weep for this day that I have lost. Whatever. I need to go crawl into bed now.
starnosedmole's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderfully dark parody of Family Circus, with lots of social and religious commentary mixed in. One of my favorites of 2016.
konna's review against another edition
4.0
Read review at: http://thereadingarmchair.blogspot.gr/2016/06/arc-review-fun-family-by-benjamin-frisch.html
The Fun Family must be one of the most misleading books I've ever read! The cover design, the vivid colours, the font, didn't prepare me for what I was about to read. The Fun Family was not fun at all! Instead of a light comedy about a family, this was a heart-wrenching comic about a family that was steadily falling apart.
This lack of communication, that appeared to be at the root of everything, began when the grandmother died. The father acted completely indifferent to any other member of the family and the mother became an easy victim of Dr. Connoy, a celebrated therapist who could change her life. Under his influence, she left her home, she abandoned her children, and cared only for her well-being. Even the youngest child, that she took with her was left aside for the sake of her own needs. The remaining children had to deal with an absent father, who refused to work, and a mother that didn't even visit them and only called to ask for her money.
This story made me question the bonds they had as a family prior to these events. Was it the grandmother that kept them together? Can grief really change people that much? The eldest daughter of the family encountered and spoke to the ghost of the grandmother and, with the ghost's suggestion, she turned the house into a church. I know that there are many who turn to religion for comfort, but this is extreme! The only sane one was the middle child, who tried to make ends meet, but what could a ten year old do?
The art style, as is apparent in the cover, reminded of another era. I would expect to see something like this in an old Archie comic strip, which I like. But I had a big problem. The eyes of characters were just white circles, and this was so weird because they seemed so empty. Especially when they were crying the image was so unsettling!
The Fun Family was a depressing read. It was a comic that made you wonder who is the sane one in an insane world. It told the story of irresponsible parents and irresponsible therapist, and what mark these behaviours left to the children. If you can get past the title and the cheerful cover, then you'll discover a deep comic worth reading.
The Fun Family must be one of the most misleading books I've ever read! The cover design, the vivid colours, the font, didn't prepare me for what I was about to read. The Fun Family was not fun at all! Instead of a light comedy about a family, this was a heart-wrenching comic about a family that was steadily falling apart.
This lack of communication, that appeared to be at the root of everything, began when the grandmother died. The father acted completely indifferent to any other member of the family and the mother became an easy victim of Dr. Connoy, a celebrated therapist who could change her life. Under his influence, she left her home, she abandoned her children, and cared only for her well-being. Even the youngest child, that she took with her was left aside for the sake of her own needs. The remaining children had to deal with an absent father, who refused to work, and a mother that didn't even visit them and only called to ask for her money.
This story made me question the bonds they had as a family prior to these events. Was it the grandmother that kept them together? Can grief really change people that much? The eldest daughter of the family encountered and spoke to the ghost of the grandmother and, with the ghost's suggestion, she turned the house into a church. I know that there are many who turn to religion for comfort, but this is extreme! The only sane one was the middle child, who tried to make ends meet, but what could a ten year old do?
The art style, as is apparent in the cover, reminded of another era. I would expect to see something like this in an old Archie comic strip, which I like. But I had a big problem. The eyes of characters were just white circles, and this was so weird because they seemed so empty. Especially when they were crying the image was so unsettling!
The Fun Family was a depressing read. It was a comic that made you wonder who is the sane one in an insane world. It told the story of irresponsible parents and irresponsible therapist, and what mark these behaviours left to the children. If you can get past the title and the cheerful cover, then you'll discover a deep comic worth reading.
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