katepowellshine's review against another edition
4.0
Not my favorite art, but the stories were amazing (if also disturbing).
kweekwegg's review against another edition
4.0
Still in the process of re-reading it, as this is for a bookclub next week and I've been taking notes. Really an interesting and enjoyable read. The experimental nature of the book itself could probably put off some people but honestly it's nothing too crazy; the second time I read it, I realized how normal the story lines actually are, how smooth the narrative goes, only occasionally breaking some traditional narrative rules. I love that I have this book and can go back to reread it at any time; its simplicity is deceiving, and definitely rewards close inspection. Also interested to find Alden's first set of stories.
ghosttropics's review against another edition
5.0
The second story in this is just...wow. Lost for words. An immediate all time favourite for me.
starnosedmole's review against another edition
5.0
Pitch perfect. There are no extraneous panels or bits of dialogue. Masterfully execute with raw, rugged art.
attagrrlbailey's review against another edition
4.0
While I didn't enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed [b:It Never Happened Again: Two Stories|18528162|It Never Happened Again Two Stories|Sam Alden|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1380699852s/18528162.jpg|26233798], I was impressed by the depth of story he was able to convey so quickly and efficiently. Alden's strength lies in his economic drawings and storytelling.
"Backyard"
This is an odd story that hit the edge of satire for me just in the way he illustrated this communal living situation. It's already bizarre, with Molly living outside as an animal while the others are argue about how to handle her. But it overcomes what feels like judgment from its author by returning to the very human emotions at the center of it. All that said, this story is probably the most illustrated out of the two books. The environment plays a much bigger role in the story and he expresses the flora against the house in aggressive strokes. These details add well to the strain of the plot.
"Household"
Oh geez was this one a doozy. It deals with a brother who comes to live with his sister and learns that they have different memories of their father. The way it tackles family and loneliness is interesting, but could push most readers away. I had to read it a couple of times just to make sure I was seeing and reading it correctly. What was happening was easily interpreted, but it was the sort of shock that you have to doublecheck just to see if your eyes are deceiving you. I felt this story returned to more of his bare bones frames, making obvious choices when to fill the frame with marks and signifiers.
"Backyard"
This is an odd story that hit the edge of satire for me just in the way he illustrated this communal living situation. It's already bizarre, with Molly living outside as an animal while the others are argue about how to handle her. But it overcomes what feels like judgment from its author by returning to the very human emotions at the center of it.
Spoiler
The confusion and fear when they find all of their backyard chickens have been killed. The resignation when Molly returns to her bipedal ways feels significant, but I'm still trying to shake the simple horror of her snapping those chickens' necks."Household"
Oh geez was this one a doozy. It deals with a brother who comes to live with his sister and learns that they have different memories of their father. The way it tackles family and loneliness is interesting, but could push most readers away. I had to read it a couple of times just to make sure I was seeing and reading it correctly. What was happening was easily interpreted, but it was the sort of shock that you have to doublecheck just to see if your eyes are deceiving you. I felt this story returned to more of his bare bones frames, making obvious choices when to fill the frame with marks and signifiers.
otterno11's review
4.0
Sam Alden is one of the most interesting comic artists I've discovered in the last year or so, writing introspective, realistic accounts of young people drifting through life, with some hints of the bizarre intruding into the everyday. Alden's intense pencilled line work is amazing at evoking his moody, languid stories and instilling in them a sense of detachment that reflects the emotions of the characters. The dialogue in particular is so naturalistic it feels like things people actually say.
The two stories collected in this slim, quickly devoured volume are both set among the New Orleans punk scene, and both begin and end abruptly like so many slices of life. Each deal with some pretty disturbing elements but are presented without comment, allowing the readers to take their own
The two stories collected in this slim, quickly devoured volume are both set among the New Orleans punk scene, and both begin and end abruptly like so many slices of life. Each deal with some pretty disturbing elements but are presented without comment, allowing the readers to take their own
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