Rating: Summary: A treasure for people with a bit of a dark side Review: You may be familiar with Tim Burton's directorial work, and you may be familiar with Edward Gorey, but you aren't familiar with this. I came across this book in a little goth store..., and, as a huge Burton fan, snatched it up immediately. If you like Edward Gorey, you'll like this. Especially if you've read all of his stuff and are looking for more of the same. Burton's book is a tiny bit more twisted and oddball than Gorey (if possible), but the illustrations are delightful and extremely talented. This is a very unique book to add to your library.
Rating: Summary: Great, but... Review: I like the main idea of the book about deformed children. I also like the humor in it (death, sadistic humor, unholy encounters with kitchen appliances, etc). I wish the stories were longer and a few of them didn't flow smoothly. Most of the 100 pages were filled with one verse/drawing and mostly blank. It doesn't take enough time to finish the book. Other than that it is really good.
Rating: Summary: Contagious Review: This book is insightful, stagnant, rambunctious, bombastic, significant, ambidextrous, superfluous, asinine, ingenius, and surprisingly Edwardscissorhandsless despite Ed's obvious origins.
Rating: Summary: High Interest for Teens Review: I used Tim Burton's book to kick off a poetry unit in my 9th grade English class. The kids were so into it! Many of them thanked me for bringing it in. About a dozen of them bought the book that night. I still am waiting to see if parents are going to freak out about some of the content (Robot Boy). All I know is that it was a very positive experience for the students. Many of the kids were never into poetry before, and now they love it.
Rating: Summary: A short but very enjoyable collection of strangeness Review: This collection is a disturbing bunch of very short stories that showcase misfit children, whose oddities are grossly exaggerated by Burton's simplistic words and grotesque illustrations. The most disturbing theme of the book is all the children who in some way or another, get in the way of their parents' relationship because of their strangeness. The title poem: "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy," exemplifies this. In this twisted poem with it's frightening black and white pictures, a father barbarically devours his oyster-like child to gain more sexual prowess. I would recommend this book only to people who enjoy Burton's darker movies and his theme of being a misfit, to other people, the poems might seem strangely cruel, and the world outlook would seem dark and pessimistic.
Rating: Summary: yes, it's THAT kind of cringing laughter Review: A friend of mine and I read this book together while holiday shopping at the mall. What was only supposed to be a quick glance became a cover-to-cover readthrough. This is by no means a children's book, just so you know... ...and it's absolutely fabulous. Some stories are gross, others gruesome, and most are far beyond what usually passes for imagination. I laughed and gaped through the progression of stories, cringing when I laughed, and unable to not be amazed and floored with...everything. This is definitely a conversational piece.
Rating: Summary: The influence of Edward Gorey on Tim Burton Review: Burton's images and words remind me of the work of the brilliant Edward Gorey.
Rating: Summary: My Favourite Book! Review: This is my favourit book of all times. Last year I asked for it for Christmas and was so happy when I recieved it. It is pure brilliance. While empathizing with the tragic characters in the book you can also laugh(if you like dark humour) I loved this book so much, I memorized almost every single poem in it. I reccomend it for anyone that has a twisted sense of humour.
Rating: Summary: Comical Neo-gothic Stories, Great Gift Item Review: Tim Burton's "The Melancholy Death..." tickles the dark side of humour. The stories are a strange concoction of Edward Gorey and the "The Stinky Cheese Man". Burton's illustrations are can bring a smile to the face of anyone with a interest in gothic humour. The first story, Stick Boy and Match Girl in Love, is especially touching. The black linen cover makes it a unique coffee table book as well as a good gift item for friends. I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Gorey.
Rating: Summary: Twisted fun for adults who refuse to grow up! Review: I stumbled across this book a while ago and bought it for my sister (who shares my macabre sense of humor and delight for "Gorey-like" illustrations). She loved it so much that she bought a copy to give to me as a "thank you." If you like dark humor as well as the stylistic charms of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams, then this book might just be to your liking.
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