amandasbookclub's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating premise, amazing illustrations, creative execution. However, I wish the plot had given me something... more. I love books that push the boundary of what books can do, and I think this book does that. I just wished for something more from the actual plot of the story.
dammitalexis's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the illustrations but I don't see how this would translate into a viable movie. I'm disappointed.
itacuz's review against another edition
2.0
The Good Inn is fun. The story goes off the rails in a really delightful way, but afterwards doesn't really find its footing. I loved the introduction of the doppelgängers, there just wasn't an explanation for them; I loved George and Nickie, I really did, but why were they a plot and not just the plot? There were a lot of really cool ideas going on in this, but they never really connected in a satisfying way and when they started to come together the book ended.
I wanted to give this book 3 stars, but there was a section near the end where the writer on the team seemed to give up and let Black Francis write a shitty Dr. Seuss riff that felt unreadable. This was right after some really cool world shattering stuff, and I liked what the characters were doing, I just hated the way it was presented. The worst parts of this book felt like they were trying to bridge the medium of literature and music.
The best parts of this book bridged literature and art; watercolor, line work, and what seemed like charcoal, I know nothing about art and loved the visual parts more than anything else. Also, this book is horny until it turns nudity into a stark reminder of something something. So much potential! Mediocre execution... Wah werh. I would love to judge the art on its merit, but it was working with what it had so any fault I'd just shrug onto the writing. Wish the book was 100 pages longer and by a different author, or just one author.
I wanted to give this book 3 stars, but there was a section near the end where the writer on the team seemed to give up and let Black Francis write a shitty Dr. Seuss riff that felt unreadable. This was right after some really cool world shattering stuff, and I liked what the characters were doing, I just hated the way it was presented. The worst parts of this book felt like they were trying to bridge the medium of literature and music.
The best parts of this book bridged literature and art; watercolor, line work, and what seemed like charcoal, I know nothing about art and loved the visual parts more than anything else. Also, this book is horny until it turns nudity into a stark reminder of something something. So much potential! Mediocre execution... Wah werh. I would love to judge the art on its merit, but it was working with what it had so any fault I'd just shrug onto the writing. Wish the book was 100 pages longer and by a different author, or just one author.
jeaninew's review against another edition
3.0
Overall I enjoyed the book, although it was confusing at times. I picked it up not realizing it was an illustrated book which made it go so much more quickly than I expected.
night_owl's review against another edition
4.0
Better than I could have expected, a very fun and surreal adventure through the looking glass with Michel Gondry providing the visuals. whimsical and only slightly bawdy illustrations carry it along and keep it brisk
sue3's review
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
fantasticmiddle05's review
3.0
I was excited to recieve this book as a Goodreads first reads. This book was an incredible look at the history of cinema. The book was sometimes hard to follow and this book requires your full attention in order to grasp what is going on. Overall this book was really interesting and unlike anything that I have ever read before.
mirrormir's review
3.0
I would love to see this book adapted as a film. It was at times a confusing read given that it cuts to and from a film's fictional story inside an already half-fictional story. The illustrations I think match the feel of the story perfectly and I actually really love how most of the story is framed as a script.
The premise is that the story follows Soldier Boy- a character in the first porn film ever made- as he finds his way out of the movie to the "real" paris but he has not realized he is just a collection of light, or photons traveling through time to make the images in the film. So, the entire book is a bit confusing because he himself is confused as to what's real and whats not. It was a short read and a fun one!
The premise is that the story follows Soldier Boy- a character in the first porn film ever made- as he finds his way out of the movie to the "real" paris but he has not realized he is just a collection of light, or photons traveling through time to make the images in the film. So, the entire book is a bit confusing because he himself is confused as to what's real and whats not. It was a short read and a fun one!
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