Reviews

Ex Libris by Matt Madden

mschlat's review

1.0

One of Matt Madden's biggest strengths is the ability to cartoon effectively in so many different styles (one of the reasons why I liked [b:99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style|162074|99 Ways to Tell a Story Exercises in Style|Matt Madden|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309209474l/162074._SX50_.jpg|1173573] so much). Here, Madden writes a story that uses that strength; our protagonist is in a room filled with graphic novels and reads many of them (thus producing changes in tone), with some of them being exploration of still more comics and cartoons. It's all very meta, and that's part of why I ended up disliking the book so much. There is the bare bones of a plot (who is our protagonist? why are they in the room? what happened in their failed relationship?), but the conceit of showing all the different comic genres and art robs much of the emotion out of the text. Once you add to that a vague and repetitive narration, I pretty much wanted the book to end.

noellepb's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

prynne31's review

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

themattacaster's review

emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

renko's review

1.0

If I wanted to look at someone's art portfolio, I would have done that. There's no doubt they have artist talent, but I wanted a plot. 

anice's review

3.0

Fun and short, a bit masturbatory, but does enough cool things that my eyes never quite finished rolling.

neblovescoffee's review

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

rebus's review

4.5

While I could never get through or enjoy much of the type of avant garde literature this is based upon, I can say that I enjoyed this one immensely. I especially appreciated that school taught the narrator how to act and speak convincingly about things he didn't understand, which I see in almost 100% of the upper middle class professional types who are the idiots sadly running our world (oh, but they came from good backgrounds and speak so well, validated by corrupt parents who turned them into narcissists). I also found it amusing that he makes fun of the simulation theory some moronically adhere to (it allows even more corruption to go on, of the sociopathic variety). We all see ourselves in these stories. Indeed, the entire conflict of life becomes evident when he says he is tired of allowing outside forces determine his narrative, for isn't that the sole purview of the privileged. 

I supposed what I loved most was the theme of being trapped, as I've always felt my life was one of running away....

readingundertheradar's review

2.0

I waited for this for months to come in to my library because I saw a great review somewhere, and it finally came yesterday. It’s so much shorter than I anticipated, and wasn’t as engaging as I wanted it to be. Mostly just books within books, this is a philosophical little book that asks who has control of the story, but since it was so short and resolved quickly, I’m left feeling rather disappointed. If you like meta reads or lots of pop culture genre references you may like this.

sierrajhansen's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

wow wow wow

i’m really surprised this book doesn’t have more reviews. i thought this was so witty and spooky and endearing and interesting. i loved that it played around with so many interesting art styles and topics while leading back to the main “plot.” 11/10