Rating: 
Summary: Good-bye, Chunky Rice is beautiful, sad, and impressive.
Review: "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" is among the best graphic novels I've ever read. It tells several interweaving heart-breakingly sad stories--each of which becomes more layered and interesting as the story goes on. Plus the art is a real wower! I recommend it for anyone--most of my friends who do not read comic books found themselves transported by this impressive and transporting work.
Rating:
Summary: Good-bye, Chunky Rice is beautiful, sad, and impressive.
Review: "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" is among the best graphic novels I've ever read. It tells several interweaving heart-breakingly sad stories--each of which becomes more layered and interesting as the story goes on. Plus the art is a real wower! I recommend it for anyone--most of my friends who do not read comic books found themselves transported by this impressive and transporting work.
Rating:
Summary: Wistful...don't look back in anger.
Review: A potent story to pass around...skirts the edge of the maudlin, but is rescued by the author's keen sensibilities. Reinvigorates the American graphic novel.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating tale of the ongoing struggle to find ones home.
Review: Chunky Rice is like no other book I've ever read. Its at one time adorable and depressing, but always captivating. Comparable to Melvile's MOBY DICK, this tale of a wandering sprit's driving desire to leave his safe and almost perfect life in exchange for the uncertantity of life at sea is one that anyone can relate to. The fact that the central character is an almost genderless cartoon turtle makes him truly iconic so that anyone can put their own identity into the character's life journey. Once Chunky Rice sets sail we are introduced to a strange crew of freakish characters each with a striking vulnerability that they try to keep buried within them only to find it constantly resurfacing. This is the type of book to read and then share with a friend. I Highly encourage everyone one to pick up this book. It's quietly poetic and beautifully drawn with a wild imaginative style that truly stands out.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible first book by a new talent
Review: Craig is a master beyond his years. Moi, j'chapeau l'mec.A book about the deep feelings and longings that are possible in the world of existence, told through a mythologized melange of lumpy dumpy bumpy people, "funny animals", a neurotic bird, motown, moments of passion, clinking clunking bottles, interpersonal and intrapersonal ignorance and discovery. A very rich comic experience, sure to capivate those who already know the comics universe is bigger than many think, and probably a safe bet first foray for those who are looking to start exploring that universe. I bought this at the Knockabout stall at the Angouleme (France) comics festival in January of 2000. But you don't have to go to France. If it will help you make the decision to buy this book, then think of buying this book via Amazon as possessing the magic and mystery of going to France. There; did that work?
Rating:
Summary: Incredible first book by a new talent
Review: Craig is a master beyond his years. Moi, j'chapeau l'mec. A book about the deep feelings and longings that are possible in the world of existence, told through a mythologized melange of lumpy dumpy bumpy people, "funny animals", a neurotic bird, motown, moments of passion, clinking clunking bottles, interpersonal and intrapersonal ignorance and discovery. A very rich comic experience, sure to capivate those who already know the comics universe is bigger than many think, and probably a safe bet first foray for those who are looking to start exploring that universe. I bought this at the Knockabout stall at the Angouleme (France) comics festival in January of 2000. But you don't have to go to France. If it will help you make the decision to buy this book, then think of buying this book via Amazon as possessing the magic and mystery of going to France. There; did that work?
Rating: 
Summary: cute & sweet
Review: good-bye, chunky rice is a short little cutie of a comic & it carries some sweet poignancy about friendship & finding a place in the world, but i didn't find it quite as profound as some of the other reviewers. i think some of the flashbacks were a bit off-putting as in 'wait, where are we now?" & although chunky rice was certainly a darling little character- what was he searching for? i longed for a bit more depth. warning! this little book took me under 20 minutes to read- so i recommend getting it from the library or borrowing it from a friend first. if you love it (and most of the reviewers really did), then buy it. it's pretty pricey for such a quickie read.
Rating:
Summary: cute & sweet
Review: good-bye, chunky rice is a short little cutie of a comic & it carries some sweet poignancy about friendship & finding a place in the world, but i didn't find it quite as profound as some of the other reviewers. i think some of the flashbacks were a bit off-putting as in 'wait, where are we now?" & although chunky rice was certainly a darling little character- what was he searching for? i longed for a bit more depth. warning! this little book took me under 20 minutes to read- so i recommend getting it from the library or borrowing it from a friend first. if you love it (and most of the reviewers really did), then buy it. it's pretty pricey for such a quickie read.
Rating: 
Summary: I would buy anything Craig Thompson produced,,
Review: Honestly, what a wonderfully innovative artist and writer Thompson is. His drawings are absolutely maginficant in both this and 'Blankets', and his tales are sweet and utterly likable. I daresay, at the tender age of 28, Thompson has some wonderful years of graphic novels writing ahead and we are in for some divine and quirky treats.
This little work is bittersweet and kind and sensitive and beautifully texturised. It is also quite a novel concept for this genre, and I daresay I have read no graphic novel which even lends itself to some kind of comparison. Its just delightfully simple and there is so much in the artwork. Every glance warrants a new discovery, and Thompson is already a master at evoking feeling. I particularly loved the frames where Chucky and his mouse love were lying under a quilted blanket and Chunky was telling her not to cry. Just gorgeous.
However, the work is relatively short and can be difficult to follow. It is not flawless, but remains a timeless addition to any graphic novel collection. 'Blankets; is clearly Thompson's incredible and unusual masterpiece, and while both are worth getting, 'Blankets' illustrates how Thompson has developed as a writer and artist in the last four years.
That said, I would still highly recommend 'Good-bye, Chunky Rice.' It stands alone as utterly beautiful work and a gentle and innovative credit to the graphic novel genre.
Rating:
Summary: hate to crash the 5-star party, but...
Review: I agree with the positive things everyone else said. Certainly about the artwork; it's teriffic. One little snag is that the layouts are a little too mechanical and boxes-within-boxes intricate for the material. Anyway, Thompson should have done some research about what it's like to be on a ship -- clearly he was completely guessing. Also, the guy whose name I forget, the turtle's friend -- NO ONE talks like that. Also, just plain, why did Chunky Rice leave? He could have had SOME kind of reason. I don't know, maybe I'm just too logical. great book -- read all the positive things everyone else said -- i agree with them. note that (as of the writng of this review) the cover pictured on the top of the page is the current printing's cover; the "look inside the book" pictures are from the old edition. The book was re-designed (cover, endpapers, etc.) by the author last year. -yakov.
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