Oh. My. Goodness. Holymolyholymolyholymolyholymoley.
This is the most hauntingly beautiful book I have ever read! The illustrations alone will creep themselves into your brain and burrow down deep for nightmares to come. The writing and dialogue both have a way of whispering something right into your ear, giving chills and everlasting goosebumps. I don't think I will ever be able to explain in words how absolutely brilliant and freaking creepy and unique this graphic novel is. Emily Carroll has upped my fairy tale expectations to a point that I will probably never be able to happen across a graphic novel that will captivate my heart like this little gem did.
I just want to take a moment to gush over the cover and the illustrations. The cover effectively sets the tone for the stories and it will definitely draw you in whether or not you want to be. The woods are enchanting and inviting (just look at those white trees on the cover!) - they are raised and textured, and if you look closely enough, you can see claws branching out to grab you. You will be captivated by each and every story, and you will probably skim through the whole book needing to see the stories before you can actually bring yourself to read them. That's the beauty of this graphic novel: you don't have to read it in order to feel the eeriness. The words and the dialogue only add to the horror and suspense that you already feel.
There are five stories in this collection, plus an introduction and conclusion.
'Our Neighbor's House' tells the tale of three sisters who are left to fend for themselves when their father does not return from his hunt. What happens when a man in a wide-brimmed hat starts visiting them in the dead of night?
'A Lady's Hands are Cold' has a "Bluebeard" feel, when a young woman goes hunting through her new husband's house for the source of a mysterious song.
'His Face All Red' is my personal favorite. It tells the tale of a man who has it on good authority that the person claiming to be his brother is an impersonator.
'My Friend Janna' is about two friends who get into the medium business; contacting spirits of people's deceased loved ones.
'The Nesting Place' introduces us to Bell, who is staying with her brother and his fiancee while she's on
holiday. . .but she discovers something terrifying in the woods near the house.
And then the ending, the 'conclusion' of the entire book, is a story on its own, too. It is by far my favorite part of the book since it seems to be an obvious nod to Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Yes, the entire book is influenced by this fairy tale as well, but here is where it all starts and ends, and it is truly brilliant!
I know these stories will linger in my mind for years to come. . .and I'm not ashamed to say that I might sleep with the light on tonight.
This is the most hauntingly beautiful book I have ever read! The illustrations alone will creep themselves into your brain and burrow down deep for nightmares to come. The writing and dialogue both have a way of whispering something right into your ear, giving chills and everlasting goosebumps. I don't think I will ever be able to explain in words how absolutely brilliant and freaking creepy and unique this graphic novel is. Emily Carroll has upped my fairy tale expectations to a point that I will probably never be able to happen across a graphic novel that will captivate my heart like this little gem did.
I just want to take a moment to gush over the cover and the illustrations. The cover effectively sets the tone for the stories and it will definitely draw you in whether or not you want to be. The woods are enchanting and inviting (just look at those white trees on the cover!) - they are raised and textured, and if you look closely enough, you can see claws branching out to grab you. You will be captivated by each and every story, and you will probably skim through the whole book needing to see the stories before you can actually bring yourself to read them. That's the beauty of this graphic novel: you don't have to read it in order to feel the eeriness. The words and the dialogue only add to the horror and suspense that you already feel.
There are five stories in this collection, plus an introduction and conclusion.
'Our Neighbor's House' tells the tale of three sisters who are left to fend for themselves when their father does not return from his hunt. What happens when a man in a wide-brimmed hat starts visiting them in the dead of night?
'A Lady's Hands are Cold' has a "Bluebeard" feel, when a young woman goes hunting through her new husband's house for the source of a mysterious song.
'His Face All Red' is my personal favorite. It tells the tale of a man who has it on good authority that the person claiming to be his brother is an impersonator.
'My Friend Janna' is about two friends who get into the medium business; contacting spirits of people's deceased loved ones.
'The Nesting Place' introduces us to Bell, who is staying with her brother and his fiancee while she's on
And then the ending, the 'conclusion' of the entire book, is a story on its own, too. It is by far my favorite part of the book since it seems to be an obvious nod to Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. Yes, the entire book is influenced by this fairy tale as well, but here is where it all starts and ends, and it is truly brilliant!
I know these stories will linger in my mind for years to come. . .and I'm not ashamed to say that I might sleep with the light on tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.